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Classic Desert Rampage |
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Written by Cory Marler
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Monday, 17 March 2008 |
Classic Desert Rampage
St. George, UT
3/1/2008
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The Desert Rampage is the 1st race of the season for the 2008 Intermountain Cup Mountain Bike Racing Series. The weather was perfect, the course was in great condition and the turnout was good with over 300 racers at the starting line. There were 4 Bikeman jerseys out on the course for this race, myself, Dave Leikam, Tim White and my son Michael Marler who in not a current Bikeman team member but still supports the team.
St. George, also known as Utah's Dixie because of its temperate climate, is a great mountain biking get away. The weather allows riders access to the many trails year round. Many of the racers come up from Vegas, who also have year round riding, and kick butt on some of us weary winter snow bounders. However, after this race we are ready and eager to match their intensity even though most Nevadaians choose not come to the northern Utah races due to the long drive.
It was great to get the cobwebs dusted off the fat tires and put one crank down after another. The competition and sportsmanship were worth the miles, plus not seeing mounds of snow everywhere was a touch of spring fever.
Dave and I finished in the points of the men's sport 40-49 category, with a 8th and 10th place. Tim had the omen of sharp rocks touching metallic rims which inner tubes don't like too well and flatted twice which knocked him out of the race. He was in the running for the men's expert category but fate shut him down.
Dave and I had fantastic results with our Panaracer Fire Pro XC tires which gripped everything this desert course could dish out. Mike had a horrible head cold and almost quit after the first lap but found some inner strength and finished the race in 11th place, men's sport 20-29.
You can view the complete results on intermountaincup.com. If you ever get a chance to visit St. George, Utah, make sure you have a mountain bike with you because the experience is breath taking.
Cory
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; "click to enlarge")
