Life is good here in Durango. There is of course the news that I started a little bike trailer business last month. I’ve had a few orders including a rather cool and large commission in Aspen, and lots of people are talking about it and getting the word out. That’s April news though. This month’s really big news is that I’ve been offered and have accepted an awesome opportunity to be the left hand man with Sunpeak Builders, a local green building construction and remodel company. I’ll be doing everything from marketing to supervising to managing to designing to actually hopping in projects and getting my hands dirty. The owner, Adam Fries, sees this position as someone who could take over the company and either become a partner or maybe full owner. That is a ways down the road, but for now, I don’t think I could have landed a better job that fits my skills, energy, and desires. I’ve always loved carpentry and designing, and after starting my own business 2 years ago have started to really like marketing, managing, and embracing the entrepreneurial spirit.

Landing this opportunity has been bigger and more emotional than I can even put in words. Ever since moving to Durango I have struggled to find good work. I have sold bikes to pay for groceries. I”ve taken all kinds of odd jobs and back breaking labor just to stay afloat. There’s been a few times I’ve gone hungry, never that hungry, but more than I’m used to. I have turned in application after application, some for jobs that I wasn’t ever excited about but at least I could do them and get a little money. I can’t count on two hands the number of times my hope for staying here has dangled on a tiny thread. I have prayed and practiced all the patience I have, and now finally, I feel the good Lord has blessed me.

What is even more ironic was that last week alone, I had about 4 calls out of the blue for other jobs, some of which sounded pretty cool too, others not so glamorous, but hey, at least I got calls. Even though I already agreed to a great position, having those calls come in reaffirmed my belonging and happiness here. I tell ya, when it rains, it pours.

Then there is racing… The first legit race of 2012 for me went down this past Wednesday at the DEVO short track series. Getting back into race shape has been painful to say the least. I can remember a time when fellow Texan Payson McElveen and I were duking it out neck and neck at the Tuesday night Dirt Derby in Austin. Now he’s racing for Ft. Lewis College here in Durango winning collegiate national championships and although I don’t see him at the short track races,  he would totally annihilate me. I didn’t finish last, but dang 15th of 18? I’ve got a ways to go!

Following this short little race, I decided that since I had a kick ass job these days and a little cash coming in to head down to Aztec Sunday for the Alien Run Mountain Bike race. What a week! First short track race in who knows long followed by the  first cross country race since early October. I went with no expectation of a high finish, but simply to ride hard, ride fast. and have fun. I almost thought of registering in the sport category but ultimately decided racing Expert would be more beneficial. The start really sucked since it involved lots of paved and dirt roads and I quickly fell to the back, but once we hit singletrack I found my groove and started picking people off one by one. This lasted all but 4 miles until I got off course. Suddenly, I was chasing imaginary people along an unmarked trail before the trail sort of died and I realized what had happened. Unfortunately, I had gone about 3 miles on said trail and was forced to backtrack to where I got off course.

I was a little bummed that I only got to really “race” 4 of the 25 mile course, but decided I didn’t drive 40 minutes to do an easy 10 miles, so I got back on course and finished the race as best I could. I’m glad I did. There were actually a lot of good things to come of the race. I didn’t crash, my bike felt great, I was happy with how I was doing those first 4 miles, I got in a little extra ride time, I didn’t bonk even though I finished in 2:45 without any food, and the heat didn’t bother me one bit. Now, If I can just take that effort and multiply by 10, I should be ready for the San Juan Hut race at the end of June.

Between now and then I have actually added 2 more rather large races to the calendar. I’m not going to announce them. I’m just going to show up and kick some ass, and maybe write a race report for you entertainment.

Thanks for checking in on my adventures. Life is good and only getting better. I hope the same is true for you.

-Caveman