Attended the NMTA 2-day at San Y. Lots of riders there. Some new. Some returning from way back. The return of Jeff B. to trials after a decade plus, for example. He adores loves his spiff new 17-year-old yellow GasGas 200. All the hours produced a like-new machine and my long travel modified Ohlins hasn't blown out yet
I rode on Saturday, but not Sunday. Saturday's trials was very well designed by Monty B. Given the afternoon heat is creeping up there, not over hard, at least in my current class semi-expert. I was on a good ride for me... 5 points all the way to the last three sections. Stepped on my rear brake killing my motor in section 6, then got knocked slightly off line taking 3 section 7, and to add insult to injury, slipped slightly for a 1 in section 8, a section ever so easy to clean! From 5 to 14, pfft! When the winner, Ron S. comes in with 4 points (superb!), followed Matt W. with a 5 (excellent!), the quick screwing of one's self makes the ego smart. But that's what's great about trials. It's anti-ego.
Got back to camp and felt off, dingy and dumb, and beer didn't help. What it the heat? Next morning the dizziness was stronger than usual and made a nice chorus to go with my always in background tinnitus. Went to my doc about it and got a full battery of blood tests. Normal. Doc asked me what I'd been up to because I had lost 3 pounds. His eyes get big and he lectures me. "Stop pushing yourself so hard, drink plenty of fluids, and for gosh sakes eat more! Well that added crap hitting a peak Sunday I questioned the safety and wisdom of riding. Carl donated some super electrolytes to try. No change, so I sat that one out. Not a bad idea really, as starting Tuesday I'll be "pushing myself too hard" finishing up the road work at Oachado, the I think better of my two best trials riding areas.
Today I feel a little less off and half rested. Packing up to go north....
I'll leave you all with some photos of the weekend. Other than a bit of swirly wind, and toasty in the afternoon sun, another typically gorgeous New Mexico weekend spent with awesome people!
New fellow, Mike (Mr. Thumbs up), showed up from Las Cruces area and an off road moto background, being proud of his new-old Gasser. I tweaked on it a bit and advised on gearing and other issues. Carl, who always amazes me in what he stocks, fixed him up on parts. Mike's a VERY friendly fellow, kid magnet and dog whisper. Hope to see him again.
Another Mike fellow (off road moto guy) from ABQ stopped Sunday morning on his way north to say hello. We ate lunch with him and his wife the week before. He's expressed strong interest in my invite, him and wife, to stay with us at Oachado and have a personalized instructor-rider experience via my `17 Sherco 250. I hope to manage that well for attraction, rather than rejection. Maybe we'll pick up another rider?
JB brought along another off road moto guy for his first experience in trials. I hope that was a big positive and that he'll be back.
Jeff B. visited my Les Falaises trial and is back, Neil too it seems. Dale H. came on his mountain bike because of conversations with Jeff B, watching very carefully all Saturday. Jeff B. was proudly literally in Al's donated boots! Now Dale's talking about dragging his old Sherco out. And who was parked right next to me when I returned from socializing Sunday morning but Mike Sala... with his young pup. He told me early NMTA stories about San Ysidro and other areas nearby one used by NMTA. Mike said he rode 'for 50 years', then quit when 'I started crashing in the oddest places.' Yup, age related. But why did Mike S. come? He reported a long dream about trials that compelled him to come to the event. So I waved Jeff B. over to hear Mike's dream story.
Something's happening. Al, is that you?