If the Over the Hump Mountain Bike Race Series is over, then you know summer's over.

And if you're like me, you blew it. Another summer gone by, another missed raced series.

But the good news is that hundreds of people – young and not so young – managed to find some free time on Tuesday nights and so did thousands of fans.

The essence of this race is that it breaks up the week in a very good way. And it doesn't require getting up at the crack of dawn on the weekend for a little competition.

I joined a few races a few years ago. The first race, I broke an old seat post. Yikes! The second race, I managed to finish. But I learned something Lance Armstrong – yes, I might not wear his wristband but the dude still made his mark – taught me long ago:

It's not about the bike – and that's especially true with Over the Hump. It's about friends and family and friends who become family.

With the sun heading toward the horizon behind Irvine Lake, the race has a bucolic vibe. It's about going fast, but it's also about fun.

John Russell, race co-founder, says with genuine enthusiasm, "I love what Over The Hump has become."

Russell's spirit is understandable given the turnout for the final race last Tuesday, Aug. 28. There was also a little magic in the air. Cyclists rode under a rainbow, yes, a real rainbow.

"Man, I don't think I've ever seen a more vibrant rainbow and clear sky backdrop in my life," co-founder Matt Wenger says. "Glorious, doesn't begin to describe the setting at the close of the last race."

"There were more than 1,500 spectators cheering their lungs out for the racers," Russell reports. "It came down to the wire on this one.

"At the finish the racers were sweaty, dirty, and even bloody, but grinning ear to ear"

RACE REPORT

Russell offers, "Tuesday night saw some true heroes. David Browning of Think ASG was acknowledged as the 2012 Over the Hump Ambassador.

"David has been waving the flag of fitness, fun, family and fellowship at the helm of Think ASG for several years. David brought at least four and sometimes seven bikes out to the race for other racers."

With the help of Two Wheels One Planet, Russell says Browning raised more than $4,500 to help Pediatric cancer research.

Browning's motto? "Pay it Forward."

Russell also gives a special shout out to 14-year-old racer Sean Bell who had a mid-race crash.

"Sean has proven grit, determination and power don't always come in giant packages. Besides being named the Series Champion of the Junior Class for the summer, Sean was also honored as an outstanding young athlete."

Russell went on to offer congratulations to "everyone who raced this season, but especially to the winners in each race class.

"It's a hard-fought battle to the podium, and the top three racers in each division went home with more than $35,000 in sponsor merchandise."

LOCAL SUPPORT

I rarely mention sponsors. It's a journo thing. But the local bike shops that sponsor Over the Hump deserve a shout out.

Running a small bicycle shop isn't the most direct route to riches. It's more a labor of love. These are places where we go for advice, to buy gizmos to replace broken parts, to upgrade our bikes or just to hang out in a place that's pure, that reminds us of rolling on.

Look around your community. If it's like mine, there are fewer bicycle shops than there were before the recession. Two in my area closed.

The local shops that help make Over the Hump happen include Jax, The Path, Laguna Cyclery, Surf City Cyclery, Two Wheels One Planet, Bike Religion and Fullerton Bicycles.

The shops might not be the biggest sponsors.

But they're family.

David Whiting's column also runs News One Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays; dwhiting@ocregister.com.