Hey all! James and I are back from Sol Vista and a butt kicking from all the altitude junkies. When they say that you lose 15-20% of your power when you go to altitude, they aren't kidding.

The one good thing about my butt whipping was that the guy that took 2nd last year, from Evergreen, Colo., won the title and he is such a nice guy and well deserving. I'm sure we are setting up some future battles on a course that is not in the clouds.

The race started on a 19% climb that was actually two climbs with a short 20 yard flat spot between the two sections. Both I and James started fast and were in the top 3 at the top of the climb. The only problem was, you had another 2 miles of climbing till you had a chance to recover. I never did. As much as I wanted to turn the pedals a little faster, I was more concerned with trying to breath and not pass out. I'm done whining. It is important that the national be moved around and riders from all areas have a chance to compete. I won't race at altitude again, unless I can be out there for at least a month.

The race lap was designed mostly be guys that are downhillers so it was a lot of fireroad then some single track that was ok. They build some new single track that we raced on that was not burned in, had stumps and roots everywhere, and a big drop with a nice tree to crash in at the bottom. All the "altitude" junkies were whining about how someone was going to get killed. James and I loved this section as it was the only area we had an advantage. Many of these guys had terrible technical skills, but they kicked my butt!

I'm stronger for doing the race and I knew going in what I was getting myself in for. If your going to be a good all arounder, you got to race at different places. I'll have another day at an altitude and course that will be more to my liking.

Nationals will be at Sol Vista again next year, then will move out of the mountains to somewhere else, hopefully with lots of rocks, roots, and oxygen!!!!

Congrats on giving it your all. The body can only do so much. Lets go tear up the circuit around the midwest!!!!!!