10 reasons to love/hate Tour de Nez

Top 10 reasons to love/hate Tour de Nez (in random order):

10.) One of the most beautiful road race courses I have experienced (beside snow-capped mountains and Lake Tahoe

9.) The promoters love what they do (and humbly annoint themselves with job titles like "Supreme Commander" and "Event Goddess.)

8.) A really bad live metal band and very drunk fans on the crash-prone final corner of the Trukee Crit.

7.) A terrific host housing hook-up... complete with a 20 year old, Satan-possessed cat.

6.) Free BBQ, beer, and mint juleps!!!

5.) Dangerous hair art done w/ clippers in the hands of Sukie and Aaron

4.) Tying up vacationer traffic for hours, fighting to stay “in the envelope”, topping 60 mph on the decent, and having a fleet of CHP motorcycle cops opening both lanes of the highway for us to roll though unhindered in a 108 mile road race at elevations over 6000’!

3.) The crits are fun to watch... even if I end up watching the later part from the sideline.

2.) A level of competition that is humbling for an old man like me.

1.) Being on a strong (and fun loving) team that held its own among the power-houses of US cycling.