SICK weekend for Team AO cycling right here at home in CB. Many a race were contested and the top step on the podium was realized in both the MSC Fat Tire 40, and the Open Wildcat 40. Travis Scheefer won the Fat Tire 40 with commanding speed and newcomer and youngster Bryan Dillon took the win in the Wildcat 40. Travis' winning time was 3:43:46 while Bryan won in 3:53:57. Totally awesome having AO on the top step for both races. Ethan Passant placed 4th in the pro race, just missing the podium but riding super strong.

The pro ladies had some good competition, and Jari Kirkland took 6th place overall. Our other Fat Tire 40 contingents were Cat 1 riders Stewart Gross and Tim Curry. Stewart rocked his way to 5th, while Tim Curry and seemingly the whole Curry contingent flatted twice and took 11th. TJ curry had the same mishap, and didn't get to finish. Pete Landry took 8th in the Junior men MSC race as well - rep'ing the Jr's with some toughness as he came across the line with only one hand on the bar. Apparently he had a mishap with a tree, but hung in there to ride with one arm.

In the Open Wildcat 40, we had Bryan on the top step, and roadie hardman Nicholas Kempin rocking a 10th spot, Torrey Carrol just behind in 12th, and super groovy sponsor and rider Paul Pike took out 19th - just surviving some locked legs coming across the line.

The ladies were awesome little Wildcat's - raaarrhhhhh (cat noise) with Dawn Passant taking out 4th place, Missy Ochs in 5th, and Sarah Gillis in 6th. These ladies were 1,2,3 in their 30-39 category, and stole all the podium there too.

Topping things off, Junior Downhiller and recently attached at the arm to his new honey Melissa, Teo Bradbury totally stomped his run and took out 2nd place in the Cat 2 15-18's. He would have

been 4th in the Cat 1's, and 30th in the pro field. This boy is only on the up and up and the DH racing is just starting up in earnest.

quick wildflower update

The AO pro team had a great result this weekend with Travis winning the pro men category.  The AO team also scored wins in the wildcat men catedory and a fifth place in CAT 1 19-29.  Here are some shots of Travis on his way up to the podium:

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The junior team did not have the strongest opening race with only half the team at the race (the rest of the team had prior commitments), and during the race TJ had a double flat and was pulled then Pete got up close and personal with a tree on the course and had a injured shoulder for the rest of the race (however, he still pulled out a great finish and was right up at the front of the pack).

That is the short version of what occured at the Wildflower Rush; wait for the full version of what happened this weekend from Dave Ochs.

Teva Mtn Games and Angel Fire - MSC #3

Nice weekend of racing all! Tim and Stuart were duking it out in the heat down at the MSC race, (see post below) while Travis and Jari were over in Vail throwing down with some big names on both the mountain and road scene. Travis took out 10th place in the Pro Men XC race with not much time for him needed to get in the top 5, and Jari took out 18th in the Pro Women XC, and 2nd in the whole shebang - the GNC Ultimate Mtn Challenge. Travis went on to rock 14th place in the Uphill Road Time Trial, throwing down with some of the big name domestic scene Pro Roadies.

Our Downhill rider Teo Bradbury had a good start in the preliminary runs down in Angel Fire, but wound up tangling up with a rock and kissing a tree on the run that counted. The downhill phenom bent his bars, but he walked away un-harmed, and is glad to have the first one out of the way. You always need one race to get the race back in ya', so Teo's psyched to be into the season and looking forward to the next race, MSC #4 - the Wildflower Rush here in CB.

Angel Fire MSC

It was a hot one down in Angel Fire New Mexico for the third stop of the MSC with race start temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees.  However, that did not stop new club rider Stewart from taking a huge lead in the first lap of the CAT 2 19-29 race and holding on to it for a win (by several minutes!).  Big props to Stew for kicking some butt at Angel fire in the sweltering heat.

Yours truly (Tim Curry) did not deal with the heat as well.  At the end of the first lap i was sitting comfortably in second feeling awsome and then the heat got to me.  At the beginning of lap 2 I found one of the nasty side effects of hot weather called heat exhaustion and, in turn, dropped like a rock to a finish in 12th.  Guess thats what happens when you go from riding in 60-70 degrees to a race at 90 degrees.

Congrats again Stewart on the big win and photos from the race will be posted as soon as i get them!

CBMBA Budd Trail workday

Super Groovy Sponsor and Trail Maintenance and Advocacy group - the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association had a huge workday this past weekend. Over 180 people came out to lend a hand, swing a tool, and create the Budd Trail. Connecting the North end of the Woods walk with the top of the Upper Lower Loop Climb, the Budd trail is 1.4 miles and crosses Land Trust, Peanut Mine, and Budd Family land. Click on the CBMBA link below for more details and stories, check out CrankCollective for more groovy details, and don't forget to come out and support CBMBA in all that they do.

The AO riders that weren't racing at the Teva Mountain Games and Angel Fire (MSC#3) were there in force, we had Junior's helping out there, and a great day with great trail education was had.

AO's famed trail maker, and creator of many a classic trail at Hartman's Rocks was on hand to help out in the preceding weeks to get the best line we could out there. Thanks Jeff for helping CBMBA and the time you gave!

LA Birthday Ride

Last Thursday we rocked out the first 'bandit' ride of the season with a little fun ride for Laura Anderson's 40th Birthday. You wouldn't know she was 40 - that's for sure.