Dauset Trails 6 hr mtb race

On September 20th, 2008, Jafer completed his first solo 6 hour mountain bike race this season at Dauset Trails in Jackson, GA. After a few down weeks following nationals, he didn't know what to expect fitness wise. The longest ride he had done in the lead-up to the race was a 3 hour ride a couple weeks prior to the race.

However, the course was perfect for a 6 hour race, fast, smooth, and rolling with no major climbs. He faced a very determined competitor, Jeff Clayton, who dueled it out the entire race.

Jafer had faster pit stops every lap which allowed him to regain the lead for the beginning of every lap but he was always caught by Jeff, before the finish line. Some laps it would take only a few minutes, others took twenty minutes, but Jeff always resumed the pace setting responsibility.

After, basically sitting on Jeff's wheel for the majority of the race, Jafer didn't feel right trying to out sprint him at the finish, so he backed off a little bit on the final lap (he also didn't want to make it inside of the time cut, which meant he would have to ride another lap). After 7 grueling laps, Jafer finished in second place in a very tight race. He felt that the most sportsman like gesture he could make was to take second, since he was not able to ride away from Jeff and had to sit on his wheel. It was the most contested race he has ever completed on his mountain bike and even though he didn't take the win he was happy with the fight. If only Jafer had finished his cornbread breakfast he could have won.