December FTR

Page 20

“Great course, elevation changes, awesome spectating. Thanks, Sunrunners!”

A Father and Daughter Go Racing

November’s Bartow Hare Scrambles

Haley didn’t have a good day. She has lost some weight by eating right (Isn’t that annoying!) So the bike is definitely too stiff for her now. I told her to ‘Just go and ride, don’t worry where you finish,’ and she did just that. We talked after about her total lack of confidence in what the bike was doing and decided to have

with him and give it the works (sprung correctly, re-valve, etc.) She’s really excited about the next race and so am I...just want her having fun. Speaking of suspensions, I knew my bike had been under sprung for my weight since I bought the bike. I was having so much fun, I didn’t care but now I needed to get the bike to turn better. Tom Fleming, as a band-aid ‘til a stiffer spring could be ordered, put 4 turns in the rear shock (makes rear taller.) Yikes! Turned better, but one problem, I really have a problem now with touching the ground! As the horn sounded, I tried to throw my leg over the bike and just about missed...ha! I struggled to get the kicker down as usual and suffered getting to the first corner. I headed out to the course in 9th place...worse start in a long time and some work to do. My practice lap routine has changed this year as I’m really looking for new lines to make passes. As we dump into the long woods section, it starts to pay-off. I manage to pick-off a few riders by making good choices. I see Troy Weeks (#863) ahead and watch as he takes the high line and misses a newly formed and straighter line...pass made for now. I apologize profusely as I pass a slower rider and push him to the outside of a corner I came in too hot for: “Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”

Tom Fleming take

Eventually I’m at the chicane to end the 1st lap and that’s where

the bike back

another issue raises it’s head: I can’t figure out what position I’m

continued on page 19


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