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Hey free spirited riders of Forest Knolls,

I learned in September of '97 that going slowly can be life threatening and that for me life

meansmovement; that was a definign principle for me in '98. Much of 98 was focused around trying to return to

my various athletic interests after the knee injury. In January, during a trip to Banff, I had one of those rare and

perfect days of cross country skiing across the frozen surface of Lake Louise with the winter sun gleaming on a

frozen waterfall and my skis moving with the RIGHT WAX. Later , on the same trip I skied at the Canadian

Olympic Training Center at Canmore where I and my steel braced left knee raced in a 35K race.

I had been home for 4 days when "MOVEMENT" really took over my life big time. The creek bank

along which I live had a landslide that threatened the house but only took out the entrance, driveway, fence, gate,

and walkwayand led to my having many bad experiences in 98 with the ridiculous people who issue permits for 5

different governing bodies. The effort I expended getting permits, money, loans and repair would have equaled

several ultra distance races.

In March in Anza Borrego I had the best surface on which to mountain bike while riding in a dry

stream bed in the badlands. Several days later while attempting to ride through Titus Canyon with Jim I

encountered the worst weather for biking of the year... rain , hail , sleet, snow and back at the vehicle a flash

flood that gave a different spin to " Death Valley".

 

Back in real time retail sales my best month ever thus far was March 98, which was really needed

because by that time I had estimates as to what the landslide was going to cost to repair and we are talking

several tons of running shoes! In March I was able to return to running five months after my ACL and Meniscus

injury. My best sports medicine doc of the year award goes to Al Looslie of St. Francis hospital for aiding and

abetting my love of movement with his direction of my recovery treatment.

The best dressed athlete of the year award goes to Danny who is usually carrying a pack with 3

changes of clothes in it and with whom I back country skied in April in the Tioga Pass area of Yosemite. He was

ready for summer heat with his hawiian shirt collection while we ascended Mt Dana and Northpeak , places where

usually one is going for Northface or Mt. Hardware labels! Again my knee took on the new stress of telemark

turns. The most unusual sighting in the back country was on the same trip as we skied above and past Saddlebag

lake where the frozen ice on top had buckled and broken in amazing forms as the water level below dropped and left

vast horizontal air pockets under the lakes frozen surface.

The best camping site award goes to a site several feet above and overlooking the Colorado river, the

Valley of the Gods and the snow covered La Salle mountains while a late afternoon rain storm blew over the area.

The companion of the best trip and best companion of the year award goes to "Mud Bud" of Grand Junction. But he

also gets the worst outdoor food award of the year as well. My best hike of the year was up Johns Canyon in

southern Utah, and the worst campsite goes to Sardine lakes camping in Downieville, Ca. area.

The best piece if camping equipment award goes to Solar shower but I still prefer to find a lake or

stream for ablutions. The best swimming hole award goes to the North Yuba river at Indian Valley where I also was

given a red swine, I mean wine, that was the best of the worst wine awards and best for watering willows.

The best downhill ride goes to Empire Creek trail on the Chimney Rock trail at Downieville and on

that days ride the Saddleback road ties for worst uphill ride of the year with Broken Antenna in Marin. On that day

I rediscovered Valeries best trail food of the year.... chicken and chutney sandwich for long 7 hour riding .... not Gu

or PR bars...surprise, surprise. Most technically challenging ride for me was the creek trail at Boggs Mountain and

my worst technical ride was the Downieville downhill.

There is a connection between worst downhill rides and worst pieceof equipment award and with full

fanfare of trumpets playing I now present the top of the worst to Rock Shox Judy XL, they are there without a

threat of competition. Best equipment award goes to Shimano Deore LX index shifter...yeah Randy for putting me

onto it and putting it on for me.

For all 0f the riding that I do clothes are, of course,very important and DeFeet aerotar socks make for cool

feet. Technically great and best graphics of the year award goes to the Forest Knolls Freewheeler jersey designed by Barbara

So popular was the shirt that her entire wedding partyescort service [ Bonnie Forer is forgiven] wore the jersey and never

before in wedding rituals have the bride, groom and best man been dressed identically!

The worst ride of the year award is collectively awarded to all of we consenting adults who did the Third annual Giro d' Geronimo

Man, don't we know better? From within that group of steadfast freaks come come of the best nominations. Abby is the best

riding role model for me. She goes back and retries technical parts time and time again, even on group rideswhen I am just trying to keep

up. Also, she consistently gives good riding advice to me. Thanks Abby. Brooke receives my most improved downhill riding skills award

for the year and Babs most resilient. She took a world class fall at Bullards bar and got back on her bike and continued! Go Gals! The

comeback of the year award goes to Brent who returned from barely breathing to loll in the horse trough at Roys Redwoods. Worst facial

expression this year goes to Vernator upon finishing the death drop and he gets ugliest personality award for his halloween character with

the buck teeth. Albert and Cindy's west coast wedding party get my top award.

The best after ride food goes to Fairfix where I refill my empty energy tank with middle - eastern meals and multi-cultural

service. Best ride recovery drink goes to tropical punch Cytomax that really allows me to be a mid week warrior.

Most improved organization award goes to Bicycle Trail Council of the East Bayunder the presidency of Eric. Eric also

recieves to most fun guy to ride with award. To Michael I give my award for rider of the yearwith the most opportunity for improvement

Franco I'll keep my eye on you as you return to group riding and know that you can get so much better at arriving on time and getting ready

to ride more quickly so we can all have more fun riding time together!

The best mountain bike ride of the year was the extended Flume Trail ride above Lake Tahoe that ended hours later, in a icy

downpour. Lets hear it for micro fibre , packable jackets! The best run of the year was on the Pacific Crest trail from Wild Plum

campground to Milton lakewhere the footing was sure and soft and most exciting was the Sunday before Christmas on Diaz ridge in Marin,

1/4 mile from Muir beach when it snowed!

To all of you with whom I have shared part of my outdoor time in 1998, I extend my thanks for your companionship, jokes,

stories, energy encouragement . It is hard to describe time alone and easy to describe time with others and if our humanity is ever

measured by fun time spent outdoors with others , then indeed 1998 has been a very rich year for me.

Mtn Val