I’m only as god made me
Sunday, October 19th, 2008I’m so slow out there it would be embarrassing if I gave a crap. I seem to be getting over the barriers OK but I don’t think I have the power and fitness for the straight line speed and acceleration. Maybe next year.
I raced the 2nd Hudson today and had equipment problems again this week. Lined up at the back and was going fine for the first few laps. Maybe a little too fine. I got caught behind numerous traffic jams during the first lap that ground my forward progress to a total halt while the leaders kept blasting away.
You really needed to keep your concentration on the course because, although it was pretty much flat, there were lots of windy and twisty sections that could cause problems if you weren’t watching where you were going at all times.
I was riding in a small group (like 3) when I almost took a wrong turn, had to stop and get back on the course. Jimmer went by me and I spent the next four laps or so trying to bring him back.
The most difficult section of the course for me was the double double back section at the top of the course after the start finishing line. I just could not keep any speed through that section. Maybe it was the same for everyone but it seemed like Jimmer was able to pull away a bit each time through that section and then I would start to bring him back over the rest of the course.
Things were looking up for me, I was getting closer with each lap. Then, around a sharp right hand corner my rear tire slid out a bit and rolled the bead off the rim. I didn’t notice any problem until the sidewall of the tire started to hit the brake cantilever with each rotation. I knew the clock was ticking on the tube so I pushed as hard as I could to get to the wheel pit. Lucky for me just as soon as I made the turn to the wheel put the tire went flat. I downshifted to the small cog and hit the quick release on the Campy lever as I rolled into the pit and made the fastest rear wheel change in history and got back on the course.
At that point Jimmer was gone. I kept riding as hard as I could knowing that the leaders would be coming around to pick me off in the next few laps. Sure enough Doug Swanson came by after I went through with 3 to go, the beauty of which meant that I would get the bell with the leaders on the next lap. Doug gave me a little cheer as he went by which was teh awesome. Over the next two laps Dave Hackworthy went by and then Dewey. No cheers from those guys, they seemed to be working harder than Doug. Finally, on the backside of the course Ezra’s beard caught me followed closely by the rest of Ezra. I was 5th place across the line, plus one lap, which I guess counted for 25th place.
I enjoy when spectators yell for me during the race. They say things like "go smithers!" and such, but they say it in a way that they are amazed that I am out there or that I am playing at some kind of joke that I have let them in on. Maybe I am.
I am trying to figure out if I should repeat my strategy of trying to ride with the fast guys, knowing that I’ll blow up like I did at the first Hudson CX or if I should continue to start conservatively like I have for the last two races. My concern is that if I continue to start slow I will continue to be slow.
It’s a question that will keep me awake at night…but not tonight. I’m trashed.
I’ve heard something about a bootleg $5 cross race someplace in Minneapolis next weekend. I’ll post more details as the little birdies feed them to me.
