Beer, Bikes, and Snow

This post is sort of long...well, longer than I'd normally post - but it's two races packed into one post! And I apologize for the lack of photos. I was too busy riding my bikes. So I see on Eastern States Cup website that there are two races at Blue Mountain on the same day.  Both Enduro and Downhill.  Which do I do?? The Enduro was 5 stages, of which 4 had lift-service transfers.  And, if I registered for the Downhill, I'd get a lift ticket for Saturday (not included with the Enduro registration).  How can you argue that deal? I planned on pre-riding Saturday, bringing both my Juliana for the Enduro and the Fury for the Downhill.  I got my registration set away and headed out for the first stage of the Enduro.  My plan was to ride each Stage, go back and re-ride ones I wanted practice.  Then get on the DH bike. I waited patiently in the lift line.  I guess you can say I'm spoiled with the speed and capacity of the gondola at Mountain ...

Last year I was bored with racing XC and needed a change.  I got my feet wet in a few races last year and decided 2017 would be the year I tried more enduros and DH racing.  I got a rad new "big" bike for enduro racing and signed up for the first local race, Eastern States Cup Glen Park Enduro. I'd raced Glen Park last spring and had success.  The park has a history of great free-riding with lots of steep chutes and drops.  The race was the last weekend of my spring break but due to my schedule, I would have to go up as they were marking the course.  The trails are a network of criss-cross tangled lines, and it was up to me to figure out what trails would be included in the five stages. I arrived to find a few guys pre-riding and offered to let me follow.  I actually ended up riding with a father and son from VT, who were incredibly fast and fun to ride behind.  Until I ate it on Stage 3 - why didn't I wear knee pads? I ignored the blood an...