For the first post I will give a little history.
Mountain Bikes are my passion. I started racing in the early 1990s. I really got into racing when a LBS gave me a sponsorship.  West End Bikes, a high end MTB only shop with deep roots in the Houston cycling scene. This is where the fast guys would hang out, I was hooked! I moved up through the ranks and became a "expert". I raced for West End for about 7 or so years, then moved on.
For the next few years I raced for Team Bikesport - another well known, high end, local bike shop in Houston. Bikesport is a more rounded race team. Road racing, Mountain Bike racing and Cyclocross.
When my wife and I decided it was time for children my cycling habit was shut down. I tried to do a race here and their, but without real training it was hopeless. I simply stopped for a couple years. 
Now its time to awaken the spirits.