Thanks Cleveland!

I'm still processing the 10 photos I took in Cleveland. I shot them in RAW with the intent of tweaking them and making them desktop backgrounds. Problem is, Macs don't really have the same free RAW processing software that I was used to using in Windows. SO, as soon as I find the software or get on a Windows machine, I'll post some pictures. In the meantime, here are some from the race on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27518066@N05/sets/72157609253885574/

I wanted to thank the ladies and organizers that run the Bike Authority cross series in Cleveland. I did the whole series last year and have raced a few this year. It's been really fun getting to know the people that I'm racing against and the people at registration. Sometimes I travel up to the races by myself, which I know worries my parents. I feel really safe racing at the Bike Authority events. I know injuries do happen (last week w/ the racer breaking his collarbone), but I am 100% confident that if something happened, I'd be taken care of. Of course I'll remain vigilant, but still, it's comforting to know that the officials and registration people are there.

It's been cool watching everyone progress; racing against people I've met on forums (4130gibson), people I've met through their blogs (Ernie/Sologoat and Robert/thefactoryrider), people I've met through racing against (Dave Thorton, Joe Belich, etc), and people I've met through beating me (Drew Bercaw and family). I know I'm not in serious contention for any of the races, but it's great to hear people cheering for you after meeting them informally up by a lake two hours from home. It's these people that really make me look forward to racing cyclocross in 30 degree mud and snow. I threw off my gloves halfway through last weeks race. When I went to retrieve them after the race, Lynn Marut had them in hand--no MAC official would be as kind as she was! Thanks thanks thanks!