Team Lost Coast Brewery

I was excited coming into this race after my performance down in Southern Oregon both because I could feel some "snap" coming back into my legs from the last month of racing...and because I was back on my home turf. The Psycho Cross series has grown in the last couple of seasons and the race courses have improved dramatically. I was happy to have another chance a Evan Plews and his equally strong teammate Brett Luelling. A couple of strong local guys showed up as well to make for a strong field. I was amped and got a great start sitting third wheel. As we made our way through the first lap I moved into second behind Brett. The course had a long techy singletrack section that proved difficult for some of the riders and Brett and I built a comfortable lead by the end of the third lap. The chase group included Evan so I hammered every time I got the chance. Brett was lagging a bit because every time I pulled through he would fall off a bit...but I wanted his legs to help me stay away from the chasers. Things were going great and our lead continued to grow. I could sense the chance of my first A win coming closer and closer.....until....yep, mechanical. Here is how it went down. Brett and I were coming through the barriers near the start/finish area and as I tried to clip in my right foot....nothing. At first I thought it was just mud clogged in the pedal, but no matter how I tried I could not clip in. This was because my cleat was disconnected from my shoe...and locked into my pedal....bummer. This however, did not deter me from wanting to finish the race. I chased Brett with one pedal for the entire lap, and as I came through the pit I yelled at my friend Boone "I need a f%&*$#! platform pedal!!!" Boone did not let me down. As I finished the lap and rolled into the pit Boone held a platform pedal high in the air like a proud native holding a scalp (is that p.c.?) Anyway...Boone changed my pedal in about 30 seconds...but that was just enough time for Evan to come by me in the pits. I tore off after Evan with my Powerstrap pedal and vowed not to give up. Another strong guy, Joel Wilson, was breathing down my neck...but there was no way I was going to miss that podium. I finished the last three laps with my "borrowed" pedal and held onto the last spot on the podium. Evan caught Brett in the second to last lap...but the first thing he said to me after the race was "you had it man....without the mechanical" I was bummed that I didn't get the win...but was happy that I did not give up and still placed third. DAM YOU EVAN...I will get you yet!!! But like they say..."that's racing" You have to just put it aside and look forward to the next one. Next up....San Francisco!

Geoff