Penny Punishes!

It is that time of year again - Sea Otter, that pulsating two-wheeled circus that is total immersion in the culture of the bicycle. Where else can you see hard body roadies rubbing elbows (almost) with downhillers in full body armor and trials riders whose bikes have no saddles? All the Gods and Goddesses of the dirt are there, as well as unicyclists and pit bulls being pulled around in little red wagons. Every year it seems bigger if that is possible, but somehow it still manages to not be intimidating.

I was feeling great and lined up for my XC race with Perry and teammate Mary Ann cheering me on. I really wanted to win this one and was first off the line. We started out on a short climb up the pavement and I saw a Webcore girl pass me there just before turning onto the dirt. So I knew she was the one I had to concentrate on beating. I knew if I could keep her in my sights on the climbs I could make up time on the downhill sections because that is my strength. I almost caught her after one good downhill but lost her when we started to climb a fire road. I like technical stuff and since Sea Otter has very little in the way of technical it is the sort of course that favors roadies and good climbers. So in the end I finished 2nd, which aint so bad either.

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