The Squealer!   4th year in a row.   I was out of shape, and like every year, could not sleep the night before.   At least the lighter and faster Hei Hei would help me.   Bombing down the 2 big tech descents at 20 mph on the Heckler is nice, but that lasts about 12 minutes and gains you very little from going 16 on the leaner, lighter 29er.   Climbing at 7mph instead of 6 is huge when it takes 1.5 hrs.

G is proficient in the art of Stickers, and helped me burn in the first bike stand setup in the new house

From the first moment carrying the Hei Hei up to the start atop the Rigdgeline trail, I knew it was the right decision for speed.   I couldn’t help but notice last year how i kept getting passed on the hike-a-bikes – passed while walking!!!!! – with my giant 6inch travel brick.   This year I knew would be faster.

The guy behind me was named Helm Hanson, or something that similarly reeks of viking brutality.   From the gun all i thought was “Helm Hanson is coming to get me.   the wrathful Helm Hanson, the terrible Helm Hanson, the dread Helm Hanson“. I was on top of Widowmaker at barely 15 minutes, the Hei Hei so fast it pushed me too hard, and from the first few minutes the challenge would be to sustain this pace and keep up with the bike and not go anaerobic.   I did pretty good, if not being able to ride out of the wash the race ended in is indicative of leaving it all on the field.   I reached BV in 40 min (a PR) and Telegraph Pass in 1:02 (a PR).   It would have been faster, but a fellow rider endo’d 4 feet in front of me on the Catwalk on National.   I jumped off to avoid running him over, and congratulated him at the Awards Ceremony when he won for Bloodiest.   Bob   rolled up on me exiting at Telegraph, and i used him to pace me on the hike-a-bike.   Bob bolted out 2/3rds of the way up, but i noticed that i passed 1 person, and dropped all behind me. I no longer feared the dreaded Helm Hanson.

The next 40 minutes is mostly a blur, a countdown between the juice left in my legs vs the remaining steeps vs not wheezing for air on the loose, steep descents.   I could have done better if i was in better shape, but did pretty good nonetheless.   The steep-and-loose exit off West National is just not that bad anymore.   Its fun to go big, but its nice to go fast.   I checked in at 2:01 – a minute off my goal! I finished in about 2:35 my first Squealer 3 yrs ago, and 1:50 is a reasonable goal.   Bob hit 1:45, Doug 1:46, James a very respectable 2:40 after picking up a bike only a year ago.

a great lady named Bev makes these most excellent chocolate chip cookies that are as big as your fist.   I have known of her brilliance since last Squealer, again at the Crazy 88, and finally met her when James and Bob introduced me.   G and Alana say thanks for the cookie and another great Squealer.