m i k e b r e v o o r t

One rolled over tractor trailer, thousands of gallons of cake frosting, and 13 hours later, we returned home from Winter Park on Saturday after the second race in the summer series. My race was 15.2 miles with 1770 feet of climbing composed of primarily all single track. Typical of Colorado the loop went up…. and then down (repeat). My race took off fast, and I was redlined in less then 30 seconds. I proceeded to climb errrr… crawl up the climb. I felt much like I did the week before; I just didn’t have any power and couldn’t turn the pedals. The downhill was a blast and the only place I past anyone that wasn’t completely stopped on the trail. The first lap I passed eight people (who all gradually passed me on the subsequent climb) and four people on the second lap. I placed 27th out of 36…

Ordinarily I would had been pretty frustrated with that result, but now, not so much. Having kids, I’ve developed a much better appreciation for the opportunity to ride and race. I’ve got a long way to go to get back to form…

Jeanie had a rough race following a tough week of training in the pool and running. Cycling was her strength last year in the triathlons she competed in so this year she’s focused primarily on her running and swimming. She couldn’t help smiling after finishing on that downhill though:

After the race we decided to head home and stop in Idaho Springs at Beau Jo’s Pizza. I’ve never been a big fan of Beau Jo’s. The pizza is a huge mound of bread measured by the pound and the sauce and cheese is squeezed into the middle of the pie with the crust taking up the majority of the real estate. It’s no Lombardi’s that’s for sure. On this particular day, it tasted pretty damn good. We left Winter park around 3:30PM and arrived at Idaho Springs 3 hours later, a drive that should have taken less than a half hour. Apparently a tractor trailer flipped onto a car and then slid into another car around the bend near Central City. The tractor trailer was carrying barrels of cake icing, go figure. They had 70 closed for hours while they mopped up the icing rink. After we finally ate, we sat on 70 for another hour before it let up. The highlight of the dinner was Bill’s 16 block walk across town when he parked his car on the opposite side of Idaho Springs. Forever more a long walk across town will be called “A Bill’s Walk.”

The rest of the weekend was pretty low key, we headed over the in-laws house in Castle Rock where I proceeded to stuff myself on Brats (plural) and beans and brownies and ice cream…. so much for my diet. I’ve dropped about 10lbs since March, and I’ve got at least another 10 to go. Jeanie and the kids made me a t-shirt for Father’s Day that says “Best Dad. Hands Down!” and the kids hand prints were painted on the shirt, it was awesome. For all you suckers out there who don’t have kids yet, don’t bother, unless you’re OK with second best.

I spotted this photo of sunrise at Rehobeth Beach, DE on my brother Joe’s website. What an awesome picture. Until next time…