Enumerating the Mundane

Something about the year-end inspires lists. They're everywhere; Matt's blog, Google, The Buffalo Beast (One of my favorite year-end lists, btw.). Everywhere you care to look, you'll find a list of something to love or loathe.

Mostly, I think it's a good gimmick to come up with something to write about during a time when inspiration might be lacking. Say for example a blog where one writes mostly about bicycling, and bicycle-racing, during a season consisting mostly of time spent in the gym, on the trainer, and on 5-hour base-mile rides. Not exactly scintillating reading material...

So, in the spirit of the season a list for 2007.

Top 5 Memorable Moments of 2007

1. Finishing Kokopelli Trail Race. KTR was one of the hardest rides, much less races, I've ever done. Second only to the Great Divide in scale and grandeur, and I wasn't racing the Great Divide (maybe someday).

2. CO in August

3. Cascade Cream Puff. 100 mi., 18,000 ft. of climbing, %50+ singletrack. 'nuff said.

4. NOVA Nationals. Road-tripping with Matt, Joy, Christie, Mandy, and various other SoCal mtn. bikers. Battling it out for a podium spot in the singlespeed class. Getting my ass handed to me in my first ever nationals, semi-pro, short-track (First nationals short-track, first semi-pro race, overgeared on a singlespeed. Great idea!). Great start to the race season.

5. Red Asphalt Ride. Started on a whim, inspired by all the cool, fun, stuff that Midnight Ridazz are doing in LA. We have a small but loyal, and growing, crew who gather to ride, hang-out, and just plain have fun with our bikes. Looking forward to seeing where it leads in '08.

Runners up ('cause there's more than 5 and less than 10, and nobody does a "top 7" anything.):

San Gorgonio Epic. Jonathan, Keith, and I on a hike/bike trip to the summit of Mt. San Gorgonio. Excellent day (and night) in the mountains.

Everest Challenge. My second year doing this race. It doesn't get any easier. If it was easy it wouldn't be worth doing, would it?

That's the long & short of '07. Here's hoping '08 is even better.