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Last spring, I had some choices; I might have gone to work on the East Coast, or the West Coast, or in the south of France. This is a big part of why I chose Madison, WI.

I can ride to this from my doorstep, and in such great company.

I fully expected to enjoy a nice, leisurely ride in the beech woods. I didn’t touch the bike all week after Sheboygan, and twice that week Matt and I had Whitman Sampler and Queso dip for dinner. I was also really excited to ride the trails, which I’d heard were a little technical (but dang, guys! - that was sweeter than just a little technical).

Anyway, the day turned out to be one of my hardest efforts of the year, and not for any of those reasons. Ladies turned out! Ladies who chased me all over that dam* course like some sort of never-ending tag-team. I would drop one of them only to find the other a few yards behind me in the open.

I was once again reminded what it feels like to actually race - it’s hard. It hurts, and it’s emotionally hard. And that - is really fun. I would sponsor Jen and Lindsey to come out and race with me at WORS, because they both gave me a really good run for my money and it would be fantastic to do that more often.

I kept trying because of this picture. I really wanted to stand up there with these two ladies.

Anyway, it was a blast. Matt decided to ride with me for a couple of laps, and that was really fun. Then we had some amazing food, I had too much coffee and I won an electric toothbrush. Score!!

Bad blogger! If it is any consolation, I have spent the entire time chained to my computer. But, let’s get to the happy stuff…

My goal at Sheboygan was to finish - because both times I’ve raced there, I have instead ended the season with a mechanical. And - score! - I not only finished, I also think I set a course record for lamest ride to ever earn a spot on this podium.

I mean, look at these fast girls, and then - me. It was all I could do not to bust out the Garth moment = genuflect + nasal whine “I’m not worthy!”

Before you crack your knuckles over your keyboard - it’s all good. I was kind of relieved the season was at an end because the whole “not really trying” thing this year was OK, but also not great. I’m glad it’s over. With everything else that’s been going on, it was the logical, rational choice. And don’t get me wrong - I had a blast riding, racing, or just pedaling this season - as the mood struck me. But, man, is sort of sucks to not do your best - on purpose. You know?

Anyway, I had a great time at Sheboygan. The course was faster than I’d ever ridden it before, the dirt was great, and I liked the new sections. I made sooo many mistakes each time I climbed the Equalizer, but the dirt was forgiving and I climbed it anyway and learned from it (thank you 2009 dirt). I’m loving the new Superfly! I think my bike got more yells and fan-noise than I did during the race. TeamWORS especially would have given my new bike drool handups if I had let them. And I discovered that having a fly new bike with the kick*$$ 2010 paint job is the BEST way to get groups of 13-year old boys to stare at you as you go by.

But the real excitement was on my last lap, when I fell in the river. It was one of those - BAM! - you’re down - kind of falls. Except it was - BAM! - you’re upside down and water is in your nose. I would highly recommend this if the temperature was above 70. But, at less than 45 degrees, I ended the race with one really cold, disoriented half lap. I spent alot of time shaking water out of my ears, and - for some reason - wondering whether the people standing at the hill would be able to tell I’d fallen in the river. Considering my bike and I were dripping wet, I decided - probably. But kept wondering. Whatever. I should eat more during races.

I fell in the river at exactly the same spot, and in the exact same way that MacIej and SmAshley did - we compared waterlines. This actually earned me a one-armed hug of solidarity from MacIej, which might have been the highlight of my post-race - had I not known he was only trying to steal what little body heat I had left.

photo from KelliP

Darrin Braun and Jenna Rinehart rode with the GoPro cameras, so I hope you will check out their footage. Earlier in the week, when we rode at Lapham, I had asked Nathan Guerra and Darrin to each wear one. That would have been killer! But, I just couldn’t find those guys before the race, so when I saw Jenna getting ready about an hour before the start, I rode over and asked her. She was completely game, and I was so grateful. Watching her video, my immediate thought was that I really should attack the hills more.

WORS GoPro HERO Cam: Jenna Rinehart at Wigwam MTB Challenge in Sheboygan, WI 2009 - 1st lap from Team WORS on Vimeo.

Darrin was also a great sport. He let me attach the camera to his bike as he was literally being called up at the start line. Although he tells me he had a horrible first lap (stuck in his hardest gears and getting killed on the hills), you can hardly tell from the footage. He sticks with the lead group almost the whole lap, and it’s always better footage when you can follow the line of the rider ahead.

WORS GoPro HERO Cam: Darrin Braun at Sheboygan - Part 1 from Team WORS on Vimeo.