As the crank turns… tales of life on the rims

Woodstock Cross

Woodstock.  This had to be my most or second most favoritest course/race this season.  I obviously was attempting to go out and race the 30+ and the 4B's just for the heck of it.  Problem was Friedman showed up on his way to Timmyquest's....and we HAD to drink a beer or two....or a 6-pack...each....the night before.  Not  alot of beer, but I'm not a young as I used to be.  Needless to say I woke up a few different times in the morning to go to the race.  Non of those attempts were successful until about 10:30am - at the start of the 30+ race.

From what I hear Beverly Bob was PO'd.  - Love ya Bob!  t was so weird to head out to do just the 4B's.  With my recently recovered cross mojo but NONE of the form needed I eagerly anticipated my first foray back into the mayhem that is 4B racing.  I liken it to the feeling I think I would get if I was all of a sudden allowed to jump back into a Cat 5 race.  Sure there'd still be some fast guys that would kick the crap out of me but I could make quick work out of the majority - even in bad form.

I kept telling myself - "this is just for fun.  don't try to race it hard...." but I still ended up lining up in the front.  I don't know what it is about people starting a bke race but I always seem to be out in the front group regardless of if it's road or cross.  It was actually fairly easy to start.  I wasn't pegged and I was throught the first turn while hanging on the leader's group or about 10 or so. 

The course was almost exactly as I remembered it the previous year so I kind of instinctively knew when to shift and what was coming up.  It actually handled better.  It's my kind of cross course - All out, use all your gears, not a 400 corner technical mud fest.  I started to see  a separation from the front group after the first hill.  I kept in contact through the downhill and sweeper but lost contact on the second big climb.  Meh....I suck.  We all know it.  Time to let the guys who are serious by and give them a shot at a good position.

The funny thing is I really didn't totally sit up but these guys just weren't closing gaps on my like I have gotten used to this season.  Dear god - did I find a field where I actually belonged in the top 20?  I got off the rig for the first set of barrier and as soon as my feet hit the ground pain shot through my back.  I've got a really messed up back.  A genetic defect in my lower spine.  Yay me right?  I've had it my whole life and it's what got me into cycling in the late 80's to get out of the impact sports that were aggravating it.  I instantly thought, "oh crap...now I have to lift my bike."  Getting old sucks.

The handup hill was AWESOME!  I loved riding in it.  I have come to the conclusion that racing it and doing handups are both exactly the same amount of fun....but doing handups doesn't seem to require quite as much pain and suffering (although I am sure there are stories where it does).  First time up there were so many options and I was still racing in the top 15 or so....I quickly went through grabbing everything I could try to grab - result? Nothing except a $5 handup....from Mrs. P (thanks dear).  She just gave it to me though.  I wish she would have tucked it.

The next laps were painful.  At some point I watched a lot of guys I knew pass me.  I got a beer the second time up and drank most of it before dumping the rest on my head and tossing it (see animated gif).  That beer was good.  Tasted like crap but honestly you'd lick up dog urine for some moisture during a cross race.  On the last lap I let some people by and then once again found myself riding on their wheel.  It dawned on me that I still had a lot of gas in the tanks and my performance was becoming mental.  So I passed them back.  It was great to actually have a race on going into the end.  I was able to ride the wheel, check the line and blow by in the final sprint/straight.  Ok...not blow by.  There was a bike toss involved. but I got it over Ken - whom I've ridden with more than once out at Penny Rd Pub.  He said, "I knew you were back there and I knew you had a sprint."  - made for a fun ending.

So....I got some points.  Yay.  First points of the season for me.  Finished 27th.  not total crap.  Much worse than my season last year and where I wanted to be this year, but I have been going through a lot of turmoil/politics/bs.  Unfortunately the season is drawing to a close.  Not sure about Montrose.  Seems like the vibe has been that a lot of people I know are going to skip it.  History shows us that it tends to be the coldest f'n race and who feels like freezing like that.....however...it's the last chance to really race until late March early April.  Trainers suck.

Congrats go out to Debbie Dust who AGAIN won her race.  That's 2 wins in a row on PSIMET wheels. 

Along those lines it doesn't look like I will be sponsoring the team I had intended on sponsoring next season.  If you're a roadie and looking for a decent wheel sponsor - not free wheels - then let me know.  Send me your race resume, goals, plans, etc.