I run to the store Saturday to pick up some things and I peruse the magazine section briefly as I
normally do. I see the new issue of Mountain Bike Action and pick it up since my subscription has
ended. Since this magazine is so well known for its unbiased product reviews and generally excellent
prose, I purchase it for later reading.
I leaf through it Saturday night when I got home, but I really only gave it a guick look.
I was getting up early the next day to pre-ride the Hurkey Creek 24 hour race course for the race in
two weeks so I took another look at it while I ate my breakfast. Nothing much of earth shattering
interest with this pass either but I did read an article on proper nutrition before, during, and
after a ride. Since the article didn't make any mention of Pop [censored] or post ride Carne Asada
burritos, I figured it was written by a quack and couldn't really be trusted for it's information.
My buddy arrives and I'm still getting my collective [censored]. together so he starts looking through the
magazine. After a few minutes, he says "Hey, that"s you!". Not having any idea what he's talking
about since I had just looked through the mazazine I go over and sure enough, there's a picture of
me in there.
The photo, ironically enough since we were heading to Idyllwild to go ride, was taken two years ago
at the 24 hours of Adrenaline race held in Idyllwild.
Now, let me explain the situation before you see the picture. This photo was taken at the top of a
hike-a-bike so steep that God himself couldn't even ride it. it was 103 degrees during that lap and
I probably passed anywhere from 3-6 riders on the descent immediately following this hike. And, I
turned in what was a pretty respectable lap time of 63 minutes.
So, here's the full page from the magazine and a larger copy of just the photo and caption to read
gallery.consumerreview.comfullpage.jpgOpen ↗
gallery.consumerreview.compicture(15).jpgOpen ↗
I know that they just pulled a picture of a rider pushing his bike for the photo but now my
reputation has been tarnished. I will forever be known as "the guy who bonked", as opposed to "that
fat bastid who always gets up the hill last". I mean, three years ago my teammate saw a guy at the
top of that very hill alternatively puking and crying for mommy at 3 AM. Now that's a bonk!
On the plus side of things, they say the camera adds 40 pounds so I really must come in at a
svelte 160!
Michael