Mary's BIRTHDAY December 1st

Wendy's BIRTHDAY December 3rd

I love my Grandma Mary because she...

let's me swim in her spa, let's me play with her horses, plays with me, helps me brush my teeth, loves me! I love my Grandma Mary so much I wish she could live forever.

Love, Megan

Wendy, Mary, Tara, Savannah, Megan,

Miles, Catalina, Capri, Cristie

David, Michael, Savannah, Mary, Miles,

Mark, Becky, Megan, Capri, Cristie

Josh, Capri, Catalina, Megan, Den,

Mark, Becky, Savannah, Tara, Miles

Josh emailed me/facebook post...1991 Trimble, Earthquake Jake Watson's Race Bike: A few weeks ago, a post arrived on Jake's facebook page mentioning that a bike, thought to be one of Jake's 1991 Trimble race bikes, was given to Durango Cyclery. The bike had been brought in by Noah Richstone and donated to the shop. I wrote to Russell about this bike and there seemed to be some thoughts about it being Jake Watson's, or, another guy named "Jake the Snake".

On December 5th, Jake's birthday, while driving to my parents for Jake's birthday dinner, I got a message from Russell Zimmermann asking if I was Jake's brother. I told him I was and Russell gave me his number to call him. Russell explained that Jake was always one of his favorite guys at the races and that he would like to give the bike to the family in hopes that like Jake's other bikes I am restoring, perhaps something can be done here too. 

Russell and I talked for some time about what we both look back on as the good ole days of racing. We shared some Jake stories and some laughs. I offered to buy the bike from Russell - he politely declined. He mentioned that his shop is known for taking in well used bikes, recycling what they can and essentially, donating bikes many back into the community.  He asked for my address and said that he would send the bike out to me as a gift. Russell did say that there were some cracks and other cosmetic issues. He said that the elastomers in the Suspenders fork had gone bad and someone had filled each fork leg with blue rocks.

Two days ago, I came home to a bike box on my front porch! With the help of my two girls, we opened the box to reveal a very "loved" bike. I had been wondering how I could ever really confirm if in fact this was Jake's bike. The colors have all faded and stickers almost all removed. What caught my eye immediately, were the outlines of where stickers use to be: "Ringle Components" and "Onza" with the porcupine logo. I knew right then it was Jake's! I ran to the computer, brought up my 1991 photos of Jake's and this bike and there are the same stickers. Amazing, here is a bike that was built in 1991, raced by Jake across the US, sold off . . . now in my hands.

Josh's email continued...There is a photo of the day that this exact frame arrived to Jake from Trimble. There I am, at Jake's side, doing anything I can do to help. As everyone on here knows, I have my hands full right now trying to complete the 1996 Alpinestars and then the 1993 Marin. . . but this bike is in renovation and I have already bought the first part for it, a set of Shimano XT m-732, 7 speed thumb shifters!

Christmas 2014

Jared, Mark, Paul, Michael, David, Mary, Den, Wendy,

Josh, Catalina,Cristie, Capri, Becky, Preston, Tara, Megan, Miles, Savannah