I am bike racing tomorrow at Bear Creek Park. I am bike racing the series. I am bike racing every chance I get.

‘It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is not effort without error or short coming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spins himself for a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end, the triumph of high achievement. And who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who never knew neither victory nor defeat.’ – Theodore Roosevelt, Paris 1910

The words never lose their truth and potency. For me, this is my Prayer. This is what comes back to my mind when doubt creeps in about why I make the effort, go through the pain, and accept the inconveniences of filling my life with bicycle racing.  In the end, none of it is really a sacrifice-- it would be a sacrifice to live without it.

Tomorrow night will wrap up the 2012 addition of the Sand Creek Cycling Series. What a great year it has been. At every stop outstanding venues in our community, great sponsors from our local economy, and tooth and nail racing have highlighted the series. There has been dust and sweat and blood.

Race promoter, Andy Bohlman, starts in at 8 a.m. on the morning of the race. To us it is a weeknight gathering, but for him it is an all-day endeavor of coordination, preparation, and setting up the arena. My gratitude goes out to Andy, all the sponsors, and volunteers who pull these events together.

The race series will end but our community of racers and riders will not. It will carry on and spill over to the trails, the races, the shops, and the bars. It will make more trails, pull in new riders, and inspire the next generation.

I am bike racing, tomorrow night. See you on the start line.