Photo by Devon Balet

by Nate Bird

Steamboaters love snow. Last April….we were neck deep in it.

In April of 2011, you’ve never seen so many people who love the snow so over it and yearning for some respite from the long, snowy winter.  In stark contrast to last year, this year the valley is green and trails are dry.  We’re talking mountain biking, real legit mountain biking. Our amazing singletrack, reh’ tuh’ go.

Though ski season didn’t officially end until the second weekend of April, it pretty much ended way earlier than that here – it was a dismal snow year in Ski Town USA.  But luckily we have bicycles to save us.  The bike season kicked off early for Team Honey Stinger/Bontrager with team camp in MTB mecca Fruita, Colorado the week before the celebrated closing of the ski hill.  The rag tag assembly of some bada$$ Colorado Mt. bikers did not struggle to enjoy the two days together.  We might have also gone for a pretty dope night ride or two with our Light & Motion bike lights – a veritable choo choo of lights rallying under a full moon at Highline State Park. The evidence is in the pics.

Next stop was the Sea Otter Classic.  Mad amounts of fun starting with some picture taking con lights and some of the best and most fun bikers in the industry.  Picture this: Santa Cruz, Light & Motion lights, single track, super good riders and people, ‘nuff said.   This was proceeded by a visit to the factory where Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews are made – talk about being a kid in a candy factory.  Mr. Wonka was not present, but the Oompa Loompas were very accommodating in his stead.  Oh, and Sea Otter….. the place where there is something to satiate anyone who likes a bike of any sort.  We sampled and sold a lot of Honey Stinger, but we just had the best damn time talking bikes and having fun with our fans.  And Coco (AKA, Buzz the Bee), hit the jump into the airbag with the bee suit on; a valiant attempt at a backflip when you can’t even see the jump you’re hitting – watch the sick footie attached.   The homies at Trek enabled me to race on a super sick Superfly 1oo Elite last minute and off the couch (booth) to complete my trip to the No to the Cal.

April’s last stop was vacation, if you refer to vacation as racing that is – the Whiskey 50 in Prescott, AZ.  What an event – rarely do you see a town rally around an event (let alone a bike race) like the folks in Prescott did.  The promoters and the town truly put on an event that all of the locals embrace – it felt like being at home in Steamboat, CO.   Despite the awesome atmosphere, I had been having  some problems with my drivetrain and didn’t know what was up.  Much to my chagrin, but probably a blessing in disguise, I discovered my shifting issues were due to a very cracked chainstay five minutes before the fat tire crit, I don’t really need or desire a carbon puncture wound.  It also may have been a gift because I didn’t have to race a fat tire  crit against the likes of Kabush and JHK.  It was super disappointing nonetheless, but luckily I was allowed to start the race and then pull out immediately so I could race in the big show on Sunday.

And then, without a doubt, the nicest, most generous example of a stranger’s kindness ever in my life happened.  Basically, a bystander (who turned out to be one of the mostest cool peeps in the AZ bike community) overheard me bitching about my busted rig and approached me.  His name is Kaolin, and I later found out he is bros with many of my bros.  He, completely and selflessly, found and personally installed (at his insistence) the part I needed  after a fairly exhaustive search on his part.  I had mentally already checked out of the race, but he hooked me up, and completely changed my mental complexion at the midnight hour (actually 1 AM – 7 hours before the race start). He made Falcor race ready, fixed the broken wing.  I raced, had a fun time, gave it all I had, and that’s that – it was awesome.

And another bonus, my boy, another Nate (Miller), won the single speed category the day before.  Not only did he win the single speed, he beat all of the other geared racers whilst setting a course record for the category.  He’s won his last five races, including Sea Otter, and being on the winning Light & Motion team at The 24 Hours of Old Pueblo.  We call that “baller” in the parlance of our times.

Up next – the first night ride of the season – tonight.  I’ll have my stash of Light & Motion lights to illuminate Emerald Mountain and get lights on other bikers to show them just how awesome night rides and Light & Motion are.  Boom.

Nate Bird

Nate Bird works when he’s not riding for Honey Stinger.