Having Ted in front of me probably helped me to finish where I did. I made it through the first loop and started on the "2nd" loop for the Sport Class. I knew that Ted was wearing a Neon Yellow vest and I managed to spot him as he was starting to climb up from the bottom of the gravel road. When I got to the top of that little climb, I looked behind me and spotted Marv Cramer and another rider just starting up the climb. I couldn't see Ted out in front any more so I figured he might not know where I was and maybe, just maybe, he would take it a little bit easier on the last part of the course. I knew that I could really get to flying (for me that is) if I put the hammer down plus I figured I had to in order to keep in front of Marv. So that's what I did. I managed to pick off three other riders before I got to the finish. Ted was the fourth one. No gas left in the tank and no more race course to catch him even if I had something left. Oh, well. I had fun.

Insulation By Stamstad
Following are some strategies used by John Stamstad (winner of 5 straight Iditabike races)
[Copied from an article in the Feb 1998 issue of Sports Afield without permission]

• Boot insert

  This is really useful if you're using cycling shoes with cleat cutouts. A 1/4" thick felt insert under the cleat pocket area will help to insulate your foot from that cold metal cleat (which just loves to pass along the cold to your foot)

  Nothing will work if you don't layer your socks right. Remember to not get them too snug or you'll cut off whatever circulation you do have.

• Liner sock

  Thin, thin, thin

• Vapor-barrier sock

  Needn't be too high tech. A plastic bag will work in a pinch; however, Black Diamond's version is only $18 and lasts forever

• Insulating sock

  Stamstad likes Patagonia's Capilene expedition-weight

• Chemical heat packet

  Stamstad puts one or more inside the shoe on top of the arch.
  ":That's where the foot's major arteries run," Stamstad says. "You're warming up the blood going to the toes. Most people make the mistake of trying to jam it under their toes, which is what the instructions say to do. But most shoes don't have enough room in them, so you just end up worsening circulation problems."

Another tip is to preheat. Make sure you and your feet are warm before starting your ride (shoes included). Stamstad says, "If I really want to make sure I'm warm, I rub some Vaseline on my toes. Vaseline has a higher specific heat than water or perspiration, so theoretically it'll keep my toes warmer for longer."

More tips taken from the January 1995 issue of Mountain Bike magazine

Drinking

• Standard bike water bottle spouts freeze easily. Use screw-top Nalgene bottles instead.
• Invest in a foam drinking tube insulator for your Camelbak.
• Wear your Camelbak under your insulation layer and keep the hose tucked someplace warm when you're not drinking (just don't let it leak all over you ).
• Coleman makes an insulated stuff sack that's just right size for poking holes in so you can mount it with your bottle cage inside.
• Throw a disposable handwarmer packet in your Coleman bag or CamelBak.
• Always start out with warm water.

Lubrication

• If you grease your freewheel, clean it out for sub-freezing riding. The grease gets stiff enough to prevent the pawels from engaging.
• Clean your chain of all lubricant and spray it with pure silicone (look in the hardware store under storm window lube) ... the only stuff that'll keep it from icing.
• The grease in the rest of your bike is good enough for all but the freakiest cold conditions.

Staying Warm

• Urinate whenever you can. Holding it makes you feel cold.
• Walk your bike until your toes feel warm again.
• Drink hot drinks from a thermos.
• Keep hydrated. Thin blood warms extremities better than thick blood.
• Eat. Keep the fire burning.
• Keep moving.
• Strip before you sweat.
• Bundle before you shiver.

"Canyon"
(Sing to the tune of "Home On The Range")

Down, down thru the canyons
Where the coyotes and the bunnies play
(And the mountain bikers too)
I'm not going too fast
Cause I don't want to fall on my ass
And create a big butt angel in snow

This came to me as I was riding down Skateboard after the last snowstorm. There was about 2 inches of nice grippy new snow and there was only one set of tracks that had been through Skateboard ahead of me. I had a real blast!

Q2. Who won the gold medals at the first Olympic mountain bike race? (male & female)
A2. Bart Brentjens and Paola Pezzo

Q3. What does the abbreviation WOMBATS stand for?
A3. WOmens Mountain Biking And Tea Society

Q4. Who has won the most World Cup cross-country championships?
A4. Juli Furtado, with four (1992 - 1995)

Q5. Which of these people was not one of the original mountain bike crew from Mt. Tam: Gary Fisher, Otis Guy, Joe Breeze, Wende Cragg, Joe Murray?
A5. Joe Murray

Bearly Awake in Burbank writes:

"I don't see many road bike riders during the winter. Where do they go and are they in some kind of hibernation?"

Dear BABs:
Yes, "roadies" are in a sort of hibernation right now. When the first sign of frost appears on the sagebrush, road bikers feel an instinctual urge to return to the heated garage. There, in a ritual passed down through the generations of road bikers before them, they will offer sacrifices to the loudly humming God (referred to in hushed voices as Wind Trainer). If you are really careful and don't make too much noise, you can sometimes peer in through the fogged glass and observe their rituals.

With the first blooming of spring, as the scent of heated asphalt wafts through the air, the road bikers will once again venture forth to ride.

Sincerely,
Rooster