Cross', that is. The cows are home. The first cross race of the season is in the books, which is accountable for the following misconstruction of grammar. It was every bit the shock I expected and then some this afternoon. Being the first real effort on the bike along with the first real race effort period since Snowmass, I was in the pain cave from the early going. The lead up was less than ideal, and it was one of those warm up's that just had suffer written all over it. A cross race at 85*, as those Texas boys would say, is like trying to race with your lips wrapped around a hair dryer on high. Things started on a long paved rise and then made a hard left into some gravel. I came into the first barriers just about mid pack, doing 99% to just be there. Along the backside was a nasty sand pit with an elevated sand box in the middle. I was riding through it successfully during pre ride and made the decision to go for it in the real thing. Coming in on lap one was just so congested, I couldn't get the speed I needed to properly hop into and out of the pit. I still rode it, but lost a few spots in the process. From there it was a long day in no man's land. Holding off a few with no one to chase. Once things opened up, I was able to get it going through the sand and made it through smooth each time to help cut a few seconds off each lap. If your going to ride at the back, you might as well be pretty doing it. The announcer just loved me for it. With 4 to go I picked it up to max just to see how bad I could really make the pain. After 2 laps, I was able to see the next guy ahead, and just put my head down and saved my tears for later. After giving everything I could find to give, ( yes, the kitchen sink included ) I made contact with half a lap to go. I immediately went to the front and did my best to slow things down for a chance to recover. It worked for a few turns, but you could tell he was getting antsy behind. He tried to come outside on a long right had sweeper so I got out of the saddle and put him up against the tape in an effort to make it to the next corner first. It worked, and I started my sprint 1 k out, trying with all I had to just make it to that sand pit first to open the gap. No such luck, as he was obviously sand bagging thus far, and had the afterburners to give me the K.O. on the long jeep road. All said and done, it was a worth wile day and a much needed kick in the balls to ready up for the coming weekends. It can be hard to take, knowing that you probably pushed harder than anyone and still found yourself at the back for that day. In terms of, "what place did you get?" it could be looked at as an off par day, but on a, "how well did you race?" scale, it was a whopping success. too bad you can't put, " tried really hard!" on a resume. VT coming up. see you there.
Cross', that is. The cows are home. The first cross race of the season is in the books, which is accountable for the following misconstruction of grammar. It was every bit the shock I expected and then some this afternoon. Being the first real effort on the bike along with the first real race effort period since Snowmass, I was in the pain cave from the early going. The lead up was less than ideal, and it was one of those warm up's that just had suffer written all over it. A cross race at 85*, as those Texas boys would say, is like trying to race with your lips wrapped around a hair dryer on high. Things started on a long paved rise and then made a hard left into some gravel. I came into the first barriers just about mid pack, doing 99% to just be there. Along the backside was a nasty sand pit with an elevated sand box in the middle. I was riding through it successfully during pre ride and made the decision to go for it in the real thing. Coming in on lap one was just so congested, I couldn't get the speed I needed to properly hop into and out of the pit. I still rode it, but lost a few spots in the process. From there it was a long day in no man's land. Holding off a few with no one to chase. Once things opened up, I was able to get it going through the sand and made it through smooth each time to help cut a few seconds off each lap. If your going to ride at the back, you might as well be pretty doing it. The announcer just loved me for it. With 4 to go I picked it up to max just to see how bad I could really make the pain. After 2 laps, I was able to see the next guy ahead, and just put my head down and saved my tears for later. After giving everything I could find to give, ( yes, the kitchen sink included ) I made contact with half a lap to go. I immediately went to the front and did my best to slow things down for a chance to recover. It worked for a few turns, but you could tell he was getting antsy behind. He tried to come outside on a long right had sweeper so I got out of the saddle and put him up against the tape in an effort to make it to the next corner first. It worked, and I started my sprint 1 k out, trying with all I had to just make it to that sand pit first to open the gap. No such luck, as he was obviously sand bagging thus far, and had the afterburners to give me the K.O. on the long jeep road. All said and done, it was a worth wile day and a much needed kick in the balls to ready up for the coming weekends. It can be hard to take, knowing that you probably pushed harder than anyone and still found yourself at the back for that day. In terms of, "what place did you get?" it could be looked at as an off par day, but on a, "how well did you race?" scale, it was a whopping success. too bad you can't put, " tried really hard!" on a resume. VT coming up. see you there.
1 Comments:
Yeah! Pink bar tape reprezent!
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