Well, my professional racing career has come to an end in Mountain biking in Vietnam.  Out of 4 races, I got on the podium 3 out of 4 times and won a total of 1.2M VND ($70 AUD), medals, statues, certificates, bike helmet, seat and gloves.  Not bad I say.  It is more than I have earned in almost 2 years:(.

I can’t pick a favourite race, they were all different and challenging in different ways.

1. Da Lat: This was a three stage (days) race and was the hardest.  Man the hills were killers.  It was dry and there were several river crossings and the views were amazing.   And of course, the Choco Pie Incident. Choco Pie Incident.  Joost and James feature below.
   

   
2. Stage 1 of the Mountain Bike Series, Ham Da, HCMC.  This was a very technical course and a bit of water, little mud and a great spectator course. This was my first podium, 4th.
   

   
3. Cat Lai Fat Bike race.  This was an awesome course, great flow, bit of water and mud and not technical.  I got 2nd at this one.
   

   

   
4. Stage 2 of the Mountain Bike Series, Den Hung. This was the course of mud and more mud but loved every minute of it.  There were technical parts and steep downhill sections.  I got on the podium again, 7th.
   

   

   

   

   The Bike Shop put on some sausages and beers and the Fat Bikes were out in force. James cooking and Will and James podium winners.

   

   

   We did training on each of the courses except for Da Lat and for the last one, James took some awesome pictures, these had to be included.

I have had a great time here mountain biking.  Who would have thought that in a city of 8.2M you could mountain bike in and around the city?  Well if you have the local knowledge, a little bit of courage and perseverance, it can be done.  A special thanks to The Bike Shop who put on free Sunday rides where I have met some awesome people: James, Lui, Phu, Joost, Will, Pierre, Tim, John, Angel and many others.  I will miss it:(.