I had SO MUCH FUN as a volunteer at this year's race weekend. I got free food, free beer, free camping, a bear came right up to my tent and sniffed it -- while I was in it! -- in the middle of the night, I got to see all my friends cross the finish line (as I was tearing finish tags), I met so many nice people, saw The Saddle Tramps (since I didn't have to go to bed early cuz I wasn't racing), watched the River Jump competition (judged by celebrity bike people like Wade Simmons)...
AND... I won this in a raffle:
a $450 RockShox RVLATN -- a sweet fork that has over an inch more travel than my current Fox Float 100.
Downieville rocks! If I don't race it next year, I'm definitely going to volunteer again. Either way, I'm hooked on this race for life.
