The Grinder

After a good night’s sleep, we woke up to another gorgeous day.  Our creekside camp was sunny and cool, perfect race weather for the Galena Grinder.  Tim ate a big breakfast early and we then rode the ½ mile to the Galena Lodge to check in for the race.   On the way, we met up with Geoff Baker and Sarah Pederson, our friends from Boise.  Geoff went to college with Tim and after 15 years, they rediscovered each other on Facebook.  Since graduating they had each become mountain bike aficianodos.   Geoff is a terrific rider and he and Tim have a very good natured rivalry when they race.

Sarah and I settled in for a good view for the start and we cheered as the racers cruised by.  We then caught up on the year’s happenings while the guys rode up and down the Sawtooth Mountains.  2 hours later, we waited at the finish.  First we spotted Geoff rounding the corner.  He was closely followed by 3 other riders and then Tim cranked into view.  The 5 guys pedaled hard to the finish with Geoff coming in 3^rd for their race class.  We came up to them for congratulations and Geoff immediately announced that Tim had beaten him.  I thought he was kidding but it turns out that Tim had been leading by about 10 minutes.  A mile from the finish, he got a flat tire and by the time he got it changed the pack had caught him.   Even though he didn’t get the podium glory, we all celebrated Tim’s ride as a victory.

We hung  around for post race festivities and then packed up and drove over the Sawtooth Mountains to Stanley Lake about 60 miles north of Ketchum.   Geoff and Sarah had a beautiful campsite 100 feet from the lake shore, with Mount McGown towering above.   We settled in for the night, turned on the music and drank a margarita toast to a very good day.