Race Report, Something Funny, and Something Sincere

Race Report

Sunday April 20, 2009 was the official kick-off of the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Super Series (MASS) with the Bike Line Fair Hill Classic Mountain Biking Race [Some will say that MASS was kicked of with the visitPA.com International Intergalactic Global Open Mountain Bike Team Relay Championship of the Universe Including the Anti-Matter One. (There, That Should About Cover It.), IIGOMBTRCUIAMO(TTSACI) for "short".  I scoff at these people.  Scoff, scoff...].  Anyway, The 7.5 mile loop (1 lap for Beginners, 2 laps for Sport, 3 laps for Expert/Elite) took racers through ripping and rolling, smooth single track.  The weather held out and conditions were perfect.  The soil was tacky and firm.  Former six-time world champions were present.  Lap times were crazy-fast. 

Team LoweRiders (TLR) started their bid for the 2009 MASS Large Team Cup win right proffering 27 racers.  TLR’s presence was felt on the podium as well, with no less than 8 podium finishes ranging from Junior Beginner to the Expert level.  TLR entered their first racer in the Elite category as well (yeah BShow!), and although he toed the line straddling a single speed on a more or less flat course, he finished in the money in 18^th place.  Brews and burgers afterwards.

Podium finishes were as follows:

Beginner Junior III - Daniel Stein, First Place
Beginner Senior II - Seven Havrilla, First Place
Sport Senior II Men - Michael Campbell, Third Place (a.k.a. CBell)
Sport Veteran II Men - John Plewa, Third Place
Sport Women I - Kathleen Harding, (a.k.a. KTown) First Place
Sport Women I - Linda Mattioni, Third Place
Sport Single Speed Open - Douglas Morrell, Third Place
Expert Single Speed Open - Ron Harding (a.k.a. Ronaldo), Second Place

All other participant finishes were as follows:

Beginner Veteran II Men - Joel Flambaum, Seventh Place
Sport Senior II Men - Ted Harlan, Seventh Place
Sport Veteran I Men - Thomas W O’Neil (a.k.a. Tommy O), 10^th Place
Sport Veteran I Men - Danny Deao, 23^rd Place
Sport Veteran I Men - Todd Strauss (a.k.a. El Presidente), 34^th Place
Sport Veteran II Men - Steven Collina, 13^th Place
Sport Master I Men - Kevin Mertz, Sixth Place
Sport Master I Men - John McLeod, 23^rd Place
Sport Master II Men - Nick Nudy, 16^th Place
Sport Women I - Jessica Ekberg, Fourth Place
Sport Single Speed Open - Bud Mauger, 14^th Place
Sport Clydesdale - Jason Vliet, Ninth Place
Elite Open - Bill Showers (a.k.a. BShow), 18^th Place
Expert Senior Men - Jason Matthews (a.k.a. JMatt), 14^th Place
Expert Senior Men - John Engle, 20^th Place
Expert Master I Men - Martin Eckberg, Eighth Place
Expert Master I Men - Larry Distefano, 12^th Place
Expert Single Speed Open - Adam Joelsson, 7^th Place
Expert Single Speed Open - Nick Capriotti, 9^th Place

I'm really looking forward to the rest of the racing season.  We've got a good team this year made up of some great people (that's not the something sincere, wait for it...).

Something Funny
Ktown's birthday was yesterday, woohoo!  Happy Birthday Ktown!!  In light of that fine occasion here are some not so funny jokes and interested facts about redheads (for Ktown is a redhead...).

Q. How do you get a redhead to argue with you?
A. Say something

Q.  How do you get a redhead to change her mind?
A. Wait ten minutes

I know, I know the jokes are horrible.

Interesting facts about redheads:

http://www.purgatory.net/kornelia/1603/red_hair_facts.htm

Something Sincere
[Warning the following language contains subject matter that may be hard for some to read.  It contains sincere, heart-felt, "mushy" acknowledgements from a husband to his wife.  It will be short, I promise.  Yes - I am prepared to take any subsequent ball-busting that results.]

I (Ronaldo) am happily married to Ktown.  We've been married for the last 5 years.  And I gotta say:

Babe, the last five years have been an awesome adventure.  I feel lucky to have shared it with you.  I feel blessed to have you as a part of my life and for the opportunity to be a part of yours.  I can't wait for the rest of the adventure to unfold.  Happy 29.

Much love,

Ron...(aldo)