The mtbchicks had an outstanding response at the first of the NORBA National Championship Series races in Big Bear, California this past weekend! Everyone wanted to see the purple bike, that is our team issue lavender Scalpel with 2003 XTR... yeah, baby!

Special thanks to Bear Valley Bikes in Big bear for their support, Troy and Adrian Montgomery (Sobe mechanic) for helping out the team, as well as Shimano. Thanks to Joseph for housing and for cooking dinner!

The team at Big bear consisted of 3rd year pro and women's mountain bike advocate, Tonya Laffey, and first year racer, Mara Abbott, representing the team in the Junior X category. Mara was 5th in the Junior X category out of a filed of 12- a great showing for her first NCS. Read her journal.

Tonya had a rough go at the races placing 33rd in the cross country and 30th in the short track in a strong Pro Women's field. You can read Tonya's daily diary on the mtbchick Yahoo! groups page.