I got back from the Fat Tire Festival in Eureka Spriings, AR but for several of us in the race is was the Flat Tire Festival. Actually for me I never went completely flat, I cut a sidewall about 3.5 miles into the 18 mile race but it did seal back up. I had to stop and put air into it 3 times but she held to get me thru to the end of the race, I stopped several times to squeeze the tire because it was constantly in the back of my mind. Also I had my brain on my rear shock dialed almost completely firm because I was losing too much power while climbing and I was feeling a lot more thru the seatpost than I am used to, and it felt like I was hitting the rim on rock but it was just the lack of shock compression (which payed off). This is an awesome course, it has a little of everything and a lot of other stuff, let's just say that if you don't like climbing.......just stay at home. It has a lot of climbing, some screaming fast downhills on loose rock, fast flowy singletrack, and some rock ledge drop ins and rocky climbs with rock ledge lifts. I have to say that I wish there was a lot more of the rocky drop ins, the sections on this course were so much fun, I remeber during the race thinking that this would be a blast to ride at night!!! I do however need to work on my lift and lunge, but I will work at it and I know it will come.

Overall things didn't end up quite like I would have liked but that's how racing goes sometimes. It was still a good time and I learn something new at every race. I ran into Lyle down there and he gave me some things to look for and some insight on how to handle some areas plus Coach and James have been great to share some of their wisdom on this race course since the know it inside and out.