Ebony, Ivory.....and Ken

The streak ended this weekend at Midland City Forest.  If you are wondering what possible could be built in something called a 'city forest' well I'll tell you.  Some of the funnest, tightest, technical riding a trail could offer....when dry.  Unfortunately, it wasn't dry.  Jon, Aryn and Ken made the trip upstate to take on this new to the Tailwind Series venue.  Ken pre-rode it the day before and knew what he was in for if dry.  Aryn and Jon however had no idea.

"What bridge?!"

After the mud pit to sand pit to sled hill climb start for Aryn and Jon their positions in the pack weren't all that bad.  Could have been better but with this class, being in the class is still a good position.

Well it didn't take long for the trail conditions to start ejecting people from their bikes.  Not to long into lap #1 Robert Parish was seen off his bike gathering his thoughts.  About 2 miles later a recent grabber of podium finishes Andy Fedewa went down.  And this was just what happened in the first few miles of lap one in front of Aryn.

Lap #2 Aryn went down as well as Jon.  Lap #3....pretty much the same thing....for them and everyone else in their class.  They guys are still waiting on final confirmation but last they heard there was only 1 rider from their class, Jeff Porior, who didn't crash at least once in some point of the race.  Aryn lost his Gu bottle during a crash forcing him to run on fumes the last half hour of the race.  After catching Aryn and handing him some much needed GU Energy Gel, Jon put on a late push o n lap #4 to try and catch up to the podium spots but realized it was in vein and decided to let off the throttle and wait for Aryn much like how Maverick went back for Cougar in Top Gun.

"Any of you boys see an aircraft carrier around here?"

"You're to low Cougar, pull up!"

Ken had about the same luck Aryn and Jon did.  Three one way flights to the turf in three laps and some where in there a head on collision with a tree....he said he didn't hit the ground but now knows what those poor Plinko Chips on The Price is Right feel like.  Unfortunately no pix were taken of Ken on race day but he prefers it that way saying their wasn't anything good left to take a picture of.

So ends the streak of 10 races in a row of at least one podium finish.  As much as they'd like to forget this race every happened, everyone who showed up had to deal with the same conditions so nice job and well done to those who put it all together for the day.  

Next up, July 26th, the Tree Farm Relay.  While Mitch, Aryn, Jon and Brian will be teamed together for the Men's Advanced 80 mile race, Ken, Mrs Diesel, Skylar and co star Uncle Fred will be representing the team in the 40 mile Mixed Sport category.  This race is always a great time and is like a mid season break and also a reason to just ride our bikes and have fun for a day.  

What we can't wait for is to show how great our sponsors have been to us this year.  We have a big box of goodies from Twin Six, ESI Grips and Loaded Precision Components to give to Team Tree Farm for their raffles and door prizes.  Can't say it enough how much support this small grass roots team has gotten from all of them.  

So get moving and get signed up for the Tree Farm Relay....if you're lucky you'll get ya some!

To register: http://www.active.com/novi-mi/cycling/mountain-biking-races/tree-farm-relay-race-2014