4.3 mile lap
6 laps
Time 1:53, +1 lap
So this is something really interesting. During the race for the 2010 Mountain Bike National Championships there are a ton of spectators. And a guy like me really benefits from this because mountain bikers are just that cool. Because everyone who’s cheering for JHK and Todd Wells  is also cheering for me – literally…
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I’ve been in this rodeo for a while now, and the first sponsorship deal I got was way back in 1992 when I got a product deal from Grafton Performance. But NEVER – NEEEVER have I gotten as much spectator feedback as I have this year in regards to a particular team supporter. My new nickname: Big Mac.
” C’Mon Big Mack!!” “Let’s Go hamburger!!” I mean seriously – I have never endured as much sponsorship enthusiasm for any other organization. Groups in the dozens with coolers of beer out in the forest doing the waaaave as I raced by.  But my personal favorite was something I’m not entirelly proud of, that was yelled at me as I began lap 4….. “Go get ‘em chest hair…!”  Whaaat?? People have fun at these big events and it shows.
This course was brutal. It was hot, it was bumpy, and it was worthy of crowning a national champion. My view of the dusty debacle… raise your hand if you see the golden arches…70+ pro’s all gunning for the same thing…
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In the end, Todd Wells would slay all, and would lap me not three minutes before this picture…
 He deserves every cent he earns…
I was sure to ask Todd if I could meet him at the after-race party for a shot later that night as he screamed by me….. he must not have heard me cause he just kept on riding, grimacing at the pain…
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To put things into perspective, the winner of last weekend’s Winter Park Series race would end up in 28th place. And I’d end up a ways behind him… sheeeezus…
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One thing’s for certain – these boys are tough and there’s nowhere to hide. These are the John Tomacs and the Ned Overends of our days. These are the Don Myrahs and the Rishi Grewals of today. The Daryl Prices and the Travis Browns of our era.  I was there to watch them back then as a kid; and even though I may not finish with them, I’m proud to be on the start line with them now…
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John Tomac: 1990 World MTB Championships, Durango, CO.
