Fat Tired

Nate took 37th overall in the short and fat and 1st in age.
Nate getting his 1st place award from the Fat Man. Along with the win he is automatically in the race next year. Nice not to have to worry about that, just me getting in now.
Rick, Kyle and Zeke at the finish.
Nate and Evan at the finish.
Myself, Nate and Dave after the race.

The race was fun and fast. This year however I never caught Nate during the race. I could see him at the start and during the long roll out down the road but not for a long time after that. Just as the road ended and turned to gravel there was a big crash just ahead of me. I hit the brakes and went to the right and just missed it but I lost all my speed going up the first hill. I looked up and seen that Nate was fine and he was on the leaders wheel. I tried to keep a good tempo hoping to catch up to him but I didn't. I was wondering during the entire race if Evan and his Dad Dave would be able to chase Nate down, they did and then they worked together. At one point Evan laid it down and Nate attacked but Dave got Evan back to Nate and then they rode together again. I hit it as hard as I could but I had to go easy up some of the hills as I cracked my new 29er Friday and I was hoping it would make it through the race. It did by the way. With 3 miles to go I could see the 3 of them together and I tired to close the gap. I never got closer then about 5 seconds. I got to see Nate attack Evan on the lst hill and get a good gap and hold it to the finish. It was to cool to see the finish. I looked back and seen that there was no one behind me and rolled in a few seconds and spots behind Nate for 3rd in single speed class. I now know that I will never see him in the race again and that he is only going to get faster and that he will be moving up closer to the top spot. I think that the 2 bee stings I got before the start hurt me a little as I'm allergic to them, but I didn't get affected by it till after the race so that was a good thing. I was a fun weekend with the guys again and as always goes by to fast. Can't wait till next year. I took the computer up there but I had no service and the WI FI was to far away to bother. Sorry. Later..