8-Ball Says Go Faster

Yesterday was the Solitude state championship race. Not having a road bike has really put a damper on my training. I'm still waiting for a wheel and derailleur to arrive. I missed by pre-race day spin which I thought would be okay since I felt good Tuesday without the spin but I was wrong. At the start I did my best to stay with the group but soon found myself behind as we started up the road climb. I pushed harder and harder and just before the final climb I was able to bridge up to Greg as we hit the single track. I stayed close to him down Kruzer but I was so blown that as we started the short climb just before the little-big lap merge that I lost him. I tried to get around some people on the down hill and ended up coming into the feed zone pretty blown. A couple of guys got around me as I dabbed and had to clip out just before the feedzone including two guys in my category. I didn't want to have any of that and pushed hard to stay with them. We got stuck in some traffic (they let the 50+ riders out before us) . I was able to use the second climb as a recovery effort. On the road section on of the guys in my category went around so 3 of us drafted off him until the hill when he started to blow and I was able to get around him. The other guy managed to get around me going into the single track but he wasn't very good in the dh and I managed to get around him going down one of the straight sections. Heading into the final lap I was determined not to let these two catch me and pushed hard up Serenity. I could see the UMB guy trying to stay on my wheel so I pushed even harder. Fortunately at about this time Alex Grant caught us and the guy pulled off to let Alex pass. I saw a section just ahead to let Alex pass without me having to slow down so I told Alex that I was going to let him pass just ahead on the wide grass.

Now I knew had a 20 foot gap but I could see Contender Lew ahead. Fortunately Lew was very nice and let me pass at the top of a switchback. The UMB guy wasn't able to get around as we hit the final climb toward the road I gave it everything I had to push the gap. Finally as I crested the road there was no on behind or in front of me so I was able to push hard down the dh and finish 30 seconds ahead of the UMB Darrin who had beat me by almost the same time at Pedalfest.

Even though I lost the main group and still can't close that gap on the fast sport riders I was the lucky number 8 which was predetermined to hit the swag table and managed to get a nice Kuhl shirt.

Today, benchcreek..