What doesn’t kill you, just makes you stranger
It’s not easy being me. I try to avoid posts that make my neurosis obvious, although I’m sure it bleeds through them all. This weekend was going to (most likely) be my final cross race of the season. I planned to race at the NE Velodrome. It’s close by and a very tech course. Low expectations bring miscalculations. This will be more of what not to do than a race report.
I registered for the 4 and the 3/4 race. Figuring I could soft pedal through the 3 race if I couldn’t keep the pace.
I took a spot on the inside first row early. This was an attempt to avoid the almost unavoidable pile up leading into the woods. There is a left turn then a sharp S-turn up a hill. It’s always a mess. I sort of got tangled up, a quick dismount and a run up and around the corner saved me and put me into the top 5 right away. A few laps later I was in second and we were building a gap. I had the guy in front of me within reach, but far enough away that if he crashed I would not be on top of him. With 4 laps to go and a solid second place within grasp I punctured. SERIOUS!!!
Still in a good place…
Now here’s where the what not to do comes into play.
The night before the race I mounted tires to an old set of road wheels. These would be my pit wheels. I’ve never punctured on this course before. Keep this in mind. About 1/2 hour before the race I talked myself out of putting my wheels in the pit. I convinced myself being at the level I was I didn’t need or deserve pit wheels. Plus I have been questioning my fitness level, I figured I had a slim chance of seeing a step. Like I say, it’s not easy being me.
What I did was more or less throw away a possible podium finish. What I thought would be worse race of the season turned out to be my best.
Imagine my self loathing walking to the official to tell him I was done. This will not happen again. I will avoid punctures all together. I want to avoid tubulars due to the cost. I will be trying Stan’s no tubes on my cross bike. Ugh. . .. I don’t want to talk about it - anymore.
The 3 race was almost, that is almost the same. First row call up again (first come first serve). I managed to weasel a good place into the woods and gave it all I had. The first 3 or 4 laps I was still in a good place, within the top 10. I held the high pace as long as I could. I hit the wall. My legs felt good but my back felt otherwise. Screaming at me to stop, my back reduced me to riding instead of racing. We knew it would happen.
Still in the top ten.
Once I began falling back I decided it was time for some fun.
What this race did do for me was extend my race season. With the renewed faith in my fitness I will race more. Even though I’m off to Florida this week for work, I will run to keep some cardio going. Up next.. race on my brithday weekend. Yet to be decided.
Tons of photos here on John’s smugmug page. He took over 1500 photos at the race, of every race.
October 19th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Good race report, sounds like you did good, just remember, Shit Happens. I told you that you might be surprised, glad you had fun. That’s some serious air in that one pic, I’d have to jump off something to do that and the result probably wouldn’t be pretty.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:12 am
I wanted to jump that thing so badly,but would have killed my race wheels.
I love that race, and the jumps too!
Great job ,
Brian
October 20th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Those were my race wheels. Sometimes ya just gotta party.
One of your guys was jumping them at a practice race if I remember correctly. John managed to get a good photo of him.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
That’s a sweet jump picture! I wish I could get in to cross racing, I just can’t… I even don’t like getting off my mountain bike when I have to.