And here is E's take.
The day started out with the status of my legs in question. After two fast races the day before and coming from 4ft. of snow, I had no idea what to expect. We rode out to the race staging area, about 6 miles from our hotel, into a light head wind that made the idea of anything over 20mph completely tedious. "If this was a sign of things to come, I'm fucked." I thought to myself. I led the way out with help from the turn by turn directions via my Garmin 800. Always apprehensive of gps directions, this thing did a great job. It took us over the 'hilly' part of the course and it gave us a good idea where action might happen during the race.
We arrived to the start/finish area which was just outside a huge horse farm. Great venue for a 7mile circuit.
Shortly after getting settled with registration we were told that the races were running about an hour behind due to morning fog(??) and that led to sleeping in the back of the rent-a-burban. I woke up to a Louis Garneau rider banging on the truck to let us know the races were back on schedule. Damn, nap cut short.
At the start line we were given the normal pre race jibber jabber... Wait, what? We get the whole road? No yellow line rule? Sweet. Real open road racing. As the promoter starts the race, we aren't 100 meters up the road and attacks start to fly. Oh yeah, 20 minutes ago I was sound asleep. I quickly snap to attention and go with the train now single file. After a couple more solo flyers it looks as if a group is forming up the road. With a small chase group looking to bridge I make my way out of the pack to latch onto the chase group and now we have made it across to the initial few guys and as I look back, we have a 300 meter gap. I notice around me that all the major teams are represented. Garneau, Plan B, Z Motion, Fitlab, and now Zanes. 10 guys total.
My new thought: "Hmmm, 6miles in, all represented, settle in, it's going to be a long 50 miles."
The day long break has been established and we haven't even crossed the line to complete lap one. For the next lap It seemed like every time I looked at my computer we were doing 28mph. Remember I said there was a hill? I lied. It was really about 300 meters of a 5% gradient. As we climbed this I was really surprised at how these guys around me, who looked more like track sprinters, huffed and puffed up this thing. Don't confuse this as weakness because these monsters will tear your legs off on a flat road. Things remained civil until we started getting updates through the feed zone that a few Zmotion riders were trying to come across. Our Z guy now becomes the anchor and some of the other guys start to panic. I then inform them all in the nicest way possible that if the break gets caught that I promise I'll stab them all in their faces when the race is over.
With two laps to go, and guys getting tired I find myself doing more work than I know I should be doing to keep this break in the clear. New update, no more chasers. Z guy starts to work again.
Last lap, I really wasnt looking forward to any upcoming attacks from my fellow compatriots now turned my most despised enemies. Luckily, nothing. With a strong pull around the last corner from the Plan B rider, we once again go single file to the finish where my tired, flat, legs half sprinted me to fourth. Not a bad day considering it's my 3rd race in 2 days and up until 2 days ago my bike hadn't been off the rollers in 2 weeks. Not looking forward to training inside again.
E.
24 comments:
E, congratulations. Best write up yet. I knew you could write. My only editing comments are as follows: This paragraph,"With two laps to go, and guys getting tired I find myself doing more work than I know I should be doing to keep this break in the clear. New update, no more chasers. Z guy starts to work again." should read: "With two laps to go, and guys getting tired, I find myself doing more work than I know I should be doing to keep this break in the clear. New update: No more chasers. Z guy starts to work again."
Otherwise, great job.
PB
PB,
Maybe less criticism of my writing skills and more work on your job hunting skills.
<3,
E
Why did you leave an icon of your ass?
PB
PB,
That's your boobs.
E.
--@
The draft.
duely noted. I should be working but no one wants me becuase I have been collecting for the last 3 years and sponging off my gf.
PB
That's fucked up. You fucks have fun here in the snow.
PB.
while you are in California collecting your unemployment and cheating when you press 1 to say you have been looking for work?
The Fucks
Right now in the Arab world it is their 1848. That date probably doesn't mean much to you but it should. In light of that, let's move up nearly 100 years. Let's try to challenge what we think we know and be open about it. Everything that we hold dear in life was and is the result of people who dared to speak out openly, in defiance of brutal repression. That was the case here in the US as is now the case in our client state, Egypt. In most instances words alone were not enough but needed to be buttressed with actions like those of Egyptians in Tahrir (Liberation) Square. Sadly, this is the case with the letter below. Had their words not fallen on the deaf ears of imperium, history would be markedly different. However, at least they spoke up. More importantly, they signed their names. Hope you fucks enjoy the read.
http://www.physics.harvard.edu/~wilson/NYTimes1948.html
PB
Can't we just ride bikes?
bengay File & Folder, File & Folder
Rondo
Ron,
I prefer, "Stop smoking crack!" thank you very much.
PB.
Right now in the Arab world it is their 1848. That date probably doesn't mean much to you but it should. In light of that, let's move up nearly 100 years.
bengay you have the whole day to come up with this dribble. I dont think you have your date is right. Maybe you should stick to COPY & PASTE.
I write my own words, Ron. Copy it and put it in google. 1848 saw revolutionary upheavals sweep across Europe. I knew this years ago when I was working in social services and I know it now that I'm serving coffee.
PB.
Can we somehow ban PB from the blog? Enough with this lefty bull shit. I want to stick with reading Ron's illegible write-up's.
Great recap Eric. Welome back to the winter of hell!
Chris C.
Einstein was a little smarter than you crowell.
Good job eric.
Some people believe any crap they find on the internet.
There might not be an uption to where we pray this Sunday but this is a great quote that I live by.
"I'd rather be riding my bike thinking about God than sitting in church thinking about my bike"
FU
"option"
FU
sunday ride status ??
roads should be ice free by 10:00. I would think weather should be faverable for the sunday ride.
Chris C.
I just got a new rain jacket - so no excuse for me - New Haven crew leaves Romeoz @ 915... and remember, "fenders are for your friends"
CxC
Agreed about god and bikes.
PB
You could always go to church and think about God at the same time....
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