It's February, and though we've had some snow at Warren Wilson, the temperatures are back in the 60's this week-perfect mountain biking weather. Team riders are getting their bikes tuned up for the spring, riding our skills course and the local dirt jumps to hone their technical skills, and hitting up local hot spots like Pisgah National Forest, Bent Creek, and Rainbow ridge on longer rides.

And while the team itself is less active in during the Spring Semester, we did rally for a true January highlight, the Icycle. Featuring an XC race and a Midnight Downhill competition, the Icycle is the perfect excuse to get of the couch, get a race in, and remember how much training you still need to do before the spring (non-collegiate) racing season starts-and you generally get to kick it with some old friends too. A crew of intrepid Wilson riders talked themselves into putting their out of shape bodies through the ringer for the XC race Saturday morning. The circuit featured some serious climbing followed by a rock strewn-you just gotta float over it-descent, followed by more climbing, the Wilson riders did three laps.

In the Women's race Tallulah Winquist killed it for the first two laps, riding in the top five. On the third lap her lack of training caught up with her-bonk time. Fortunately, some spectators gave her some food; she got back on her bike, and finished an awesome 7th. Nina Otter rode consistently from start to finish and came through in 9th. Vanessa Emery also lined up for the Owls. Two laps took their toll on her though, and she passed on the final circuit.

In the Men's race Matt Williams and David Bishop held it down for Wilson. Matt did what he knows he shouldn't do, namely go to the front at the start of the race. But hey, it was January, who cares, who not try to string it out for a bit. Matt lasted half a lap on the front before cracking. After sliding back through the field for a lap and a half the Gatorade finally started to kick in, and Matt rode a swell last lap to come through in 7th. David, in his first race since Nationals way back in October, had a good day too. He was far more intelligent than Matt, riding consistent laps on his way to 12th place. Afterwards, he even had enough energy to hang out! There is something to learn from that.

Wilson also had some coaches and ex-racers show up. Former team captain and national champion Kylie Krauss doesn't have her sweet Independent Fabrications race bike yet, so she rode her single speed to 2nd in the Women's race. Okay, you win Kylie. And in the actual single speed race former team member Phil Shaw beat out coach Art Shuster by seconds. The two took 14th and 15th respectively.

While there was no ice in Fontana this year, the Owls weren't going to argue with sunshine instead, and there were plenty of smiles all day. Look for more updates over the course of the spring, and if you're in Asheville, come ride with us. We'll be out there.