Daylight Savings Winner

In the responses to our Daylight Savings giveaway, it was clear that our readers cherish this time of year just as much as we do here at NSMB. From short stories to poetry and a couple of photo entries, judging this contest feels a bit like marking a high school creative writing class. Here are some excerpts from the entries…

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rnayel’s comment probably aligns best with my own thoughts, though not having frozen feet in my XC shoes is good too:

Above all, daylight savings means more riding and more good times with friends both old and new.

Ah yes, the winter layer. Next year, get some lights, ZHendo!

The “winter layer” I put on from watching too much TV, crushing sixers of Newcastle Brown, eating soul food to help keep my spirits up during grim Northwest winters, and not quite finishing that agonizingly boring spinning workout can finally be melted away doing the things I love most.

Making memories one story at a time. May your summer be full of warm afternoons and brown pow, GraniteAndrew…

Daylight savings is the beginning of our season. Long shuttle days, cold beers, summer afternoons that never end and a ribbon of single track stretching into the distance. Winters icy hand recedes leaving nothing but brown pow as our trails come back to life!

ecurtis1986 submitted a photo and a story about his first ride after Daylight Savings. A close contender…

I roll back to the car in the dark with an ear to ear smile and the knowledge and realization that can only be gained by a lone rider on a mission to close down their favorite trail.

One Guest commenter was way off base…

I need rubber… oh wait… i thought this was the planned parenthood free condom giveaway… ok… some nice new tires would be pretty nice… who is this Sam Hill guy anyways?

Luke03, an Australian import to Canada, shared a heartwarming story of blissful unawareness:

After rolling into work an hour late on the 11th march, i had no idea that the time had come, i was unaware and that’s what made it so wonderful. An extra hour of daylight!

sk8r gave us a terrible limerick, using keywords and search engine optimization to push his case:

There was a fast fellow named Hill,
Who said, “I have a specialized skill,
it involves some rubber,
and a will to give’r,
an hour of light and a little downhill.

KenN can always be trusted to nitpick…

Also, not to the general population – the correct term is Daylight Saving Time, not Savings.

koochdog’s poem reeks of effort:

The Sad Sun… seems so happy to me,
And she never cries, with all the gray snow happeningsee,
And the future night, is so far away from me now, you see.
Cause’ Daylight, is so much better for me.
And you.

Now I’m rippin earth, and thoughts of hosing are gone,
And my trail thrill… is no longer “not long”!
Cause she’s shining, in a way and watchin over me now.
And you.

Time is on our side, but for a moment you see,
cause she’s smilin high, red, yellow or orangeee,
And the future night is creapin back in to me,
And you.

She makes me feel warm under her radiosity storm,
And my frame and forks, seem to shine in the forest,
But the future you see, is bringing the sad sun,
So smile while you can with me,
And you.

Happy Trails!

Da Peach submitted a photo of his bike in a tree… we can only hope you were able to convince it back down…

But there can only be one winner, and we decided it was the first person to enter. jfern’s story of chasing the disappearing wisps of daylight is a great reminder of why we look forward to Daylight Savings. With temperatures increasing and days getting longer, the stress of trying to squeeze in a ride after work diminish. jfern, hopefully these new tires can help you avoid the broken ribs next time…

When i saw this contest it made me smile. As I lay in bed looking out my window toward the mountains I caught myself snickering. My own quest for an evening ride led me to painful position I now find myself in. Unable to bend, lean, twist or lay down flat for that matter.

Three weeks ago, eager to get in a midweek evening ride, I had been keeping a close eye on the sunset’s effect on my local mountain. Could I squeeze in a ride after work? The sun sets at 5:45 but I still think I could have good visibility until at least 6:15. So I decide that if I speed on my afternoon commute, race home to get my bike and gear, race to the mountain parking lot and make a record acsent then I should be able to have good visibility on the descent. Off I went!

At about 2/3 of the way up a hickup burped out of the heavens. Snow! What the hell, it was just sunny. Oh well, almost there. Once at the top, there now lay a good inch of snow. Despite the fact that my tires were picking up snow like a rolling snow ball, I opt for the technical descent… in now dwindling daylight.

So I drop in over the ridge and make what seemed to be a silky smooth descent until whoops! My shitty pedals seem to have transformed into black ice shitcicles. Off both my feet went. I managed to skate out of trouble until wham! My back tire hit a large boulder and pile drived my seat into my ribs… Out goes air, in goes….. in goes…..eahugggggahh…air.

By the time I managed to gather a breath it seemed the day had gone. Squeezing in a rapid evening ride now seemed a horrible idea. Following one of the most painful rides of my life, I now find myself cooped up in bed with two broken ribs. Here I lay, gazing to the hills muttering, cum on daylight!

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Thanks for your entries, we’ll see you out on the trails!