Kids Race

I wanted to post this picture of Alex; He did a great job in the kids Race. I know by the look on Tony’s face he was very proud of his son. Also big cheer out to the XXX team for putting on the kids’ race and being vary vocal when they were racing. When I got home I told my daughter Amber about it, and she was jealous that she didn’t go. It’s always good to keep the family in mind, they do put up with a lot of time away for training and racing.

Bob

Sherman Park

I wanted that I pod! More on that later. The first race for me was the strait cat 4. Of course it started to rain while we were getting our instructions. The tempo was fast, but nothing unsustainable. I wanted to stay in the pack and not go off the front. Every attack was quickly reeled back in. I did notice a good amount of flats going on around me. Then I got one on the back of the course. Luckily Jorge brought his wheels and I was underway again. With three laps left, Mike Seguin's tire goes down. Second to last lap is when I and about 9 other guys hit pavement. The riders not directly in front of me but in front of them got together and it looked like they bumped. I was toward the outer guy. He veered to his right in front of me going down. Now here is the funny thing. He skidded across the pavement further than his bike did. Needless to say I avoided the bike, but hit him. It looked like there was some pretty banged up guys and bikes out there. Quote of the day "Skin heals, bikes cost money." Thanks Bob.
I got some bandages on me and froze waiting for the masters 4-5. We had a good turnout with myself, Bob, Elvis, Jorge and Sergio. The pace was tamer in this race and it felt like we worked good together. I think everybody on the team attempted a flier. There are definately some bugs we need to work out but any team tactics are better than none at all. Elvis was happy with his preem and I was nipped at the line for the i-pod preem with one to go. Needless to say the preem took a little steam out of the legs for the finish (I rhymed).
Funniest thing I saw-the guy with the foaming ass in the masters race. It was frothing so bad he was actually driping foam for the whole race. Note to wives when washing cycling cloths-a second rinse helps.
I would like to thank my son Alex who is 8 for sticking it out with me today. Thank goodness I packed an umbrella and a rainproof coat for him. The pictures you see are the ones he took. He rode in the childrens race coming in second to a 9 year old. It was nice to hear from an X'er that the kids race was his highlite of the day. Thanks guys.

Winfield Part 2

This was my second year of doing this race. I like the triple stack hill but it seemed as if the pavement was worse than last year. Nothing too serious, we ride in the city! This to me personally is one of the better venues. Seeing as I have a family, there is something for everybody here to keep them occupied. Now for the race. It started out fast as all the races seem to do. With 2 laps in there was a preem. Mike Seguin from XXX sprints out. So there's me with that stupid Pavlovian response, so out I go. This is when my brain actually worked and I slowed to bet back in with the pack. If you can get into a rhytm with this course it is makes for an easier race , but when you have other riders around you, you definately have to work harder to make up for their inconsistencies. It was close to an all out effort for the first 26 minutes of the race. With three to go everybody was jockying for position, trying to conserve energy. I felt like I was in a good position going up the hill for the last time knowing that I didn't have much left for the finish. Coming around turn 4 I did something I don't do at all. I got in the drops and stood up for the sprint. This felt awkward but proved effective enough as I clipped a guy at the finish line coming in 12th. Congratualtions to the people in front of me, you deserved the placings you got.

Winfield ABR Cat/5 40+

I road in the Winfield Cat/5 old guy race today. It went well for the most part. I stayed toward the front for the beginning of the race. The pace was a lot slower than the usual Cat/5, do to the small climb on the course. On 4 laps to go I decided to go off the front to see how the 4th corner was at a higher speed. The ground was still wet and all the riders were taking the corners slowly. The pelaton responded to my attack up the hill, and stayed on my wheel as I made the 4th turn. I came down the hill to turn 1 where I let off the gas. When I sat up I looked back, and I saw that the field was a bit thinner. (In hind site I should have lunched up the hill again ) I decided to sit in again, and wait my time to the last lap. All was going well I positioned myself well sitting 5th wheel ready to respond up the hill when the attacks would come. That’s when the cycling gods decided that this was not going to be my day. I had the inside with another rider to my right. That’s when he decided that he didn’t want to ride his line threw the corner, he wanted mine. His rear wheel clipped my front wheel and almost put me down. It took me totally out of any contention for a win.
I spoke to Tony, Elvis and Rich where I told them that I wish that one day I could say, Ya, I came in 12 because I suck. Instead of I got pinched off, or I got a flat. Well all in all I made one of goals for the season a top 10 in a crit. I took 6th place.

Bob

Signs of a Good Ride

Overheard during our last team ride: "I was about 2 seconds away from puking". Hill repeats, short, hard, fast and all in the big ring. Ouch.