Vote Mumford for 2012

I have been affiliated with many racing organizations in the past. It all started in 1999 with TEAM PAST/ Titus Cycles. T.P. was a gang of cyclists headed by an archaeologist based out of my home Tucson, AZ. From there I made the switch to NO BRAKES racing. They were a downhill outfit whom competed primarily in Big Bear, CA (side note, me and Scott Mac were at the same NORBA National in 2002 at that venue). Fall of 2002 I moved to a junior development called Team NOVA. I was the most obnoxious member which lead to being threatened with removal. In college I raced for the world renowned cycling program Fort Lewis College. I made it to the A squad for regional collegiate competition in 2004 and removed myself from academic probation level two. From 2004-2008 I was on somewhat of a racing hiatus doing some regional competition in both downhill and xc. 2008 was a really big year and my wicked awesome come back to the cycling community. Team Krunk Shox was born consisting of me and Alex McGuinnis (Yeah the same McGuinnis whose brother is a Navy Badass, and Mom is the Operations Officer of Exelon, yeah that Alex McGuinnis). TKS established ourselves as delightful characters and enthusiasm consultants. People still come up to me and ask "Are you the guy who was shouting at me from the lift that one time two years ago?" 09 I relocated back to Chicago and traveled way far for DH racing. In 2010 John Felke and myself raced the WORS Sunburst Showdown. It was my first xc race on a bike that had a seat to sit on in 5 years. Given my vast racing past, I raced on a one day license in beginner bringing new meaning to sandbagging. I won that display of fitness by sprinting past first place after he crashed. I still mainly raced Hare Scramble and Enduro off road motorcycle events locally here in Illinois. 2011 I dated Nikki Munvez (pronounced MOON VAY). After she broke her hand on a date to Ray's Bike Park Milwaukee she invited me to Mike Morell's birthday Fiesta Grande. I didn't know too many cyclists in Chicago. Most people I knew were either Chicago Freeride or dirt jumpers. I was blown away at Mike's party by the attendees' (Chicago Cuttin Crew) personality and grit. Most of my life I thought of roadies as self absorbed knowitall egomanics. These cycling enthusiasts changed my whole perspective on Chicago racing. I wanted in on Chicago Road competition. Lucky for me Cousin Mike Young had an Orbea Onix tdf for sale. I trained on it at the Milwaukee Messenger Invitational alley cat, then raced Gapers Block Crit on my third ride. At Gapers Block I got lapped by the entire field in my Mountain Dew jersey. I was still enthralled with racing, making the switch from motorcycles back to XC mountain bikes. Yamaha was done, opening the door for Trek Top Fuel. I sent Jeff an email requesting an entrance to his team. After two weeks I figured Cuttin Crew admission had to be earned. Racing every XC race I could that summer left me undefeated in the sport category. Initially my goal was to breach top five in sport, my only expectations. Unfortunately I made it to expert my first season back. And well I'm sure you know the rest of my racing history as far as the cyclo goes. Now to my point. You see, I admire all my teammates for their personality characteristics and passion for cycling. It's hard to describe what it's like to be on a team contained of truly fascinating people. If it wasn't for Cuttin Crew I would not be doing good at racing. Thank you Cuttin Crew.