Cruiser Nation 08 is in the books, as is another birthday for our country. Which was more important? I’ll let you decide that one.

MJ, Nate and Nicole rolled into town like a f-ing freight train from central colorado. I got a call from MJ at 5 on thursday night saying they were just leaving colorado springs. I was sound asleep when they busted through the doors at 3:30 and commandeered my couches.

Luckily I have 3, for just such occasions.

Just like kids on christmas morning, by the time I was out of bed at 8, they were already awake, already drinking “Fat Tire from a can”:http://blogs.denverpost.com/foamontherange/?p=40, and already getting dressed up as mormon missionaries in preparation for the big race.

True to their word, they also showed up with a tandem with a coaster brake on it. Note the pedals are opposite for the pilot and the stoker, this is because they bunny hop with opposite feet forward, and they were intending on bunny hopping this beast. And bunny hop they did.

We all piled into my new truck and rolled up to the bottom of moto. The regular crew assembled, and everyone headed up to the pipeline. True to form, mother nature decided to give the race a cruel twist this year and unleashed the heavens with rain and hail while we were all standing at the start/finish. Finally Bret and I took charge and decided we had frozen our asses off for long enough.

Everyone lined up and Rhino attempted to light a cherry bomb the size of a small orange to start the race. (un)fortunately the rain put out the wick and instead a beer can was drained and launched into the air to start the race.

I was top 5 out of the hole shot, but cutting through the first several corners of moto following the leaders proved disasterous, and my front tire was soon flat. I was wet, cold, and inebriated enough that I didn’t care and rode the rest of it on the rim.

Keith took the race with what sounded like a heroic effort to catch Juan who went out with the early lead (but made a fatal error by breaking a seat).

It was wet, it was muddy, and it was a helluva good time.

The mormon tandem brigade came in second to last, and crossed the line carrying the front of the bike, the back wheel and a seat.

We ate some more, drank some more, and then headed home to dry off. The entire crew was exhausted, so I drank a couple shots of espresso to rally, and MJ, Nate, and Nicole took a nap (or passed out, since they had been drinking solid since about 9am).

I did a little house cleaning and preparing for a BBQ while they napped. Nicole helped out by kicking MJ. MJ responded by moving from under the lawn chair to a more appropriate location.

We had local bluegrass artists “The Four Beer Buzz” playing in the back yard, got a nice little fire going in a newly built firepit, and did a number on a keg of homebrew to cap off the evening.

Another good 4th in the books.