What Durangoans Do Best

So, of course, we couldn't spend a few days in Durango without participating in the National Sport of Durango...bicycling.

Liz called me that DEVO (the group that gives mountian bike lessons to kids) was having a kids bicycle race at one of the parks, and to come and sign up.

I knew Kyle and Reed would want to participate, but I almost fainted when JR said he wanted to race too.

The DEVO group set up the course, which included little jumps and ramps at a park on Main Street.  This sign is the first thing you see, but don't worry, rules don't really apply to the almighty bike rider.

Kyle and Reed were in the 1st grade and under group, they put the littles in the back of the pack cause those almost 2nd graders would have mowed them down!

Even though Clayton was racing in this group (and beat everybody by a mile) Mr. Steven made sure to hold on to Kyle and Reed in the line-up so they could get a good start. 

Just look at Mr. Competitive go.

And look how big those other kids are!

Reed finished somewhere in the middle of the pack, but was insistent that we tell him what place.  Not having a clue what place he finished in, I finally just said, "10th! You finished in 10th place."  So now, according to Reed, 10th place is pretty much the best place you could ever finish..ever.

Kyle took a different approach to his race.

Just look how relaxed his face looks.

Kyle made a lap, came by and chatted with me, went back out, took a break, made a lap.

And could have cared less what place he got.

I was super nervous about JR's race since these kids have been biking and taking biking lessons since they were Kyle and Reed's age, but JR was just happy to be there with Steven.

Jason and I kept telling JR we couldn't have been more proud of him if he'd won. 

He was the only one out there with no "real" biking experience, or on a bike that cost less than $1,000!

(That's JR in the middle.)

And here's one of the things that makes Durango so Durango.

I took this picture of the kids practicing, but just noticed I've got a woman (I think it's a woman by the bare midriff) wearing a blue wig.  Again with the "colorful characters", I didn't even notice her the day of...I guess that seemed perfectly normal at the time.