Check out the fall colors here!!!

Who would have thought I'd ever enter a 24 hour race? Those of you that know me, would say no way...... well I did at first.... until I was asked by a good friend and a top Japanese Cycling Federation Officer. I got roped into it in a way, but, I will say it was an experience that I won't forget!! Ya-chan had a couple of friends who wanted to do it, and asked me to join. I was very hesitant because I am not the 24 hour kind of person, being the short distanced DHer that I am. Then, Takahashi San, asked me to join as well, since it was going to take place in my back yard so to speak. The location was in Snow Harp, located in San Osaka, Hakuba. It is the olympic cross country ski grounds from the former Nagano Winter Olympics. Since it was going to be run by locals and my house only 3 minutes away, I decided to join the team knowing that I was only minutes away from my hot shower and warm bed......

Little did I know I would catch a cold the week before, so it wasn't easy. After my first round on the Saturday evening, I didn't feel well and head straight to my house to sleep hoping that I would feel better in the morning and promised the girls I would do the first morning shift if all was good. I did just that, out riding at 6am wowee, a bit early but was great to be out there. The night riding was a blast, so freaky not being able to really see where you were going and just letting the front wheel spin and using balance to keep you going......

Our team was made up of five riders, Ya-chan, Maki, Mizuho, Hiroka and myself. We agreed to take one hour shifts and rotate. We ended up doing three lap shifts where one lap took anywhere from 18-28 minutes. The race started at 12 noon on the Saturday and finished at 12 noon on Sunday. We took from midnight to six am off for a sleep break. Our team wasn't hard core and we were riding just to have a good time. We came in 2nd place!!! Ha ha, even with a 6 hour break. WELL DONE TEAM WHEEL SISTERS!!!!!! Thank you to all of my team mates for a great experience, and who knows.... we may even enter next years race... did I really say that???????? MORE PHOTO'S HERE!!!

Over all JCF National DH Series Champions, Ryo and Tomo, Congratulations!!!

Women's final DH race Top 3, Tomo, Mio and Keiko, great ride girls!!!!

Men's Top 3 in the final DH, Junya, Adachi San, Shibata San, great job guys!!!!!

Sports Ladies DH Top 3 Congratulations Ya-Chan on 3rd place!!

Well, the 2008 MTB Season has come to an end. My last race ended with a 4th place finish. Starting off the season with a major injury and then trying to come back late in the season was tougher than I imagined. The summer included my event and a huge move which took a lot of my energy. I was coming back late in the season with no real downhill training and on a new bike. My results weren't bad, but I wasn't satisfied with my riding style. I never did seem to get my rythym back that I had last season.

It gives me inspiration for next season. I hope to train hard this winter and be ripping it up again next year! At 41 years young, Nakagome San won the final XC and the National Series XC title. She talked about how her riding and training keeps her young during her speech on the podium. She reminded me again that anything is possible at our age if we just focus and really work hard for our dreams. Thank you Nakagome San for your great reminder and congratulations on your fabulous victory!!!!!

Adachi San, also gave me inspiration. Coming back from a huge injury mid season to take the final race was incredible. Adachi San you are one of my hero's. Congratulations.........!!!!!!!!

Last but not least, is another great rider, Tsujiura Kei San. He also came back from an injury mid season and kicked ass at this final race. He dashed out front in the first lap and kept his 45 second lead on the two following him for the rest of the race. Well done Kei!!!!!

Watching all of these great riders and all of the others who come out and race year after year, sometimes not even reaching the podium, deserve great credit. We mountain bikers are a special breed. Cheers to all of us out there, riding our guts out, sustaining injuries, mud,crashes, disappointments, etc, but keep coming back for more!!!!! WE ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the rubber side down my fellow riders and enjoy the fall....... best riding of the year.................K.

Well, it was a great weekend and you can see how happy we are!!!! Jumping for joy because of the awesome weather for this past long weekend. Friday was a day of preparation for a tour with Ya-Chan and I as assistants to the former MTB Olympian Kanako Kobayashi. She had a tour of 120 people organized along with the city of Omachi for Sunday. Ya-Chan and I were 2 of the 10 assistants for the ride. It took 4 hours and was a bit long but a great day for an easy ride. We got our workout when we had to ride back to the starting point which took us less than an hour, but we hammered it!!!!!! MORE WEEKEND PICTURES HERE!

Monday was another perfect blue sky day and Kouji, Ya-chan and I went out for a local ride after having a great thanksgiving dinner the night before at Tracks bar with over 30 others.... MMMMM turkey, twas goooooooddddddddd!!!! Thanks for the spread Troy and Sakiko. We later rocked it out to a fantastic band from Nagoya, played Canadian tunes and you could tell the true Canadians by the way they started bouncing on the dance floor when they played The Hip!!!!!

Next week it is off to the final race of the season.......it is a tough one, going to rip it up hopefully!!!! Until then, have a great short week!!!!!

Fujimi was a tough course, different from previous years and some sections that would have made even Canadian riders feel like they were at home. The rock section ended up two for two. Got me both in the qualifier and the final. Will go back to get even!!!! The great thing was I didn't go down, just some major slipping around and ending up off the course. I will take 2nd place with satisfaction. My lack of riding and practice this season caused me the win, it is great to know that I still had the chance though!!!!! More later!!!! Congratulations again to Izuka San and 3rd place!!!!!