A Place Called Vertigo: Snowbird Mountain Bout

Yesterday was the Annual Mountain Bout at Snowbird Mountain Resort. It is a tough race on a very technical course which means the trail isn't very smooth. It was full of loose rocks, tree roots, and washed out corners. They even had to shovel a path through the snow in one section.

Yesterday also marks the first time I had a mechanical problem with my bike in years. I was racing a good race and feeling pretty good. I was holding the wheel of first place near the end of the first lap when I smacked my pedal against a rock which somehow caused my chain to explode. The guy behind me when it happened said he saw a spark from it! I spent a minute or two looking for my chain on the trail before deciding I would just have to walk my bike back. I picked up my bike and realized it was hanging off my cassette (still broken, of course). I quickly got out my tools to fix it and was back on my way. The whole incident cost me about 4 minutes and the first place guy beat me by about 5, so who knows what would have happened had I not broken the chain....

After all was said and done I ended up in 5th place. Thanks to Cheryl for the fantabulous job of pictures and water bottle hand off.