I’m so short on time to write this, so I’m going to cop out and take the bullet approach
Whirlybird
Arrive early for the C race and cheer away. Notice a leaky hose is now causing a mud pit to form on an off camber section. Score! Pre-ride with Norm and Germy. Do some laps around the school and head to the start.
-Start at what feels like the back of the race, maybe 2-3 rows from the back.
-Horn is off, standard rolling start. I seem to be passing people in many spots, but mostly in the transitions and barriers. Seems like my go hot for one lap turned into 2 laps and I just kept making moves.
-I pass at least one rider in the off camber mud pit, EVERY lap. Everyone mad I wasn’t riding it, but I got the last laugh :getsome:
get this guy away from me
-On lap 3 or so, I end up behind a group of 3-4 riders. Someone all of the sudden crashes in the middle of the line and makes the rest of us come a complete halt. I avoid this collision with people, but end up finding myself in the tape for 3 seconds. I lose at least 5 spots right in front of the pits. Mandi is screaming and pissed at the situation.
-One guy I cannot shake it a Sweat Hog I raced with the first year of cross, Baba. We go back and forth and trade spots. I eventually lose contact.
-Last lap and I’m still passing people, but start to fade with half a lap.
Second to last turn before the sprint
-Find myself being chased down by a Kissena guy, Joaquin. I can hear the cheers for him as he closes from 10 lengths to 3 up the last little uphill. Some guy with a dog is going NUTS and wants him to beat my ass. I actually try and recover for 5 seconds knowing I can’t hold him off until the finish. I stand out of the last corner and hear Mandi and everyone else screaming for both of us. I edge him out by what feels like a knob of the tire for 28th place.
Thoughts
-Wow; I was able to push pretty much the whole race.
-I had a sprint on some soggy ass grass.
-The course was pretty bad ass.
Froyo and Panera with Lou and the Dunns after. Man that hit the spot. Mandi and I still have the best Froyo spot in Hillsborough.
Cooper
The best part of these double weekends is not cleaning out your car. All I had to do was take the dirty laundry and cooler out, fill up some water bottles and head back out. Thankfully this venue was a tad closer, or at least it felt like it.
-I draw 230, which thought I would be in the front. Then I realize only 60 people are in this group, so I’m just in the middle. That’s fine. I’m next to Dillon and know he is my meal ticket to some good passes and lines. Horn goes and he doesn’t have the good start I thought he would. I’m following some guy that clips a tree so hard his number becomes unpinned. Thankfully he doesn’t crash. I don’t see him for half a lap or so. Weird. Keep making moves similar to yesterday, people keep slowing up, I go around the,At one point I feel pressure from someone trying to dive in on me in a corner late. I see Dillons stupid Superman socks and in strange tone I yell to him in a upset and disappointed way. I know Dillon is faster and would, out of respect, let him in front of me. We come out of the turn in one piece and without losing any speed. I ask if he’s still behind me and tell him I will let him go and he apologizes. I don’t want to ruin anyones race, specifically a friend of mine. I’d rather pass and make a move when I find it safe.
I’m able to ride with him for a half a lap or so and I lose him on some passes I can’t make with him. Balls. At some point on lap 2 or 3 a fight breaks out on the other side of the tape with some fans. I was in a group of five at this point and we all kind of got sidetracked. Interesting.
Man I need to get these sleeves fixed
I end up coming up behind some people I haven’t in a while that I respect. Ryan Brennan gives me some kind words and we ride together for a little bit. The other being Big Sean. I know I’m having a special ride when I am around them. I’m still feeling chipper and mash around him after the wooden steps. He gives me a hoot and I try and get him to come with me. I’m unsure whats going on behind me, But I just try and make it work.
My favorite spot to be; staring at some mans ass.
I try to be as smart as I can. It was windy as all hell. I'm not powerful. I would do my best to hide from the wind and attack before the turn and get a spot or two. It’s been working all day.
Lap 3 is here and Mandi is telling me Utah is closing in. The group I am still with is kind of frustrating me. One rider in a Cosmo jersey is setting a good pace, but I can pass him at multiple spots. I attempt to, and do, but then he jumps right back. I’m wasting way too much energy doing this. I give up and just ride his wheel.
Utah is here. Oh yeah, I forgot he was here. Usually he blows right by me, but this time I was able to grab his wheel. He mutters “I’m going to buy you a beer after this.” I’m puzzled by this comment as I don’t drink, but take the free ride for almost a whole lap with Utah in front of me. The Cosmo rider dies as well as another. So a new group of 5. Utah eventually, as he always does, powers away from me on the flats. He did help me blow up the group I was with though.
The bell lap is rung and all I can think of was man, this race was one lap too long. I’m hurting. Mostly from the group attacks earlier in the ride. Mandi tells me one of my nemesis’ is behind me, Little Stephen. He hawked me down last NJ Cup race. I feel like hes far enough away. It sounds like it anyway. I’m fading and the tenths keep ticking by and I can feel him on my wheel. “I hate you so, so much.” I hear a little chuckle. This time he doesn’t stick around and jumps me before the super awkward barriers. Son of a. I look back and see that he is the closest person to me. I sadly coast into the finish.
Sad as I was, I had the greatest ride I ever had in cross. I managed to finish 13th. When I can see some fast Mfers still huffing and puffing when I finish, I’m in a good spot.
Weekends like this are unbeatable. It is so cliché and easy to say how fun they are, how awesome it is, etc. But the hour fourty-five of racing and the other 46 hours just cant be beat. I also have to thank my beautiful wife for standing in the pits and getting sunburnt, holding a bike that I hope I never have to use. One day it will be worth it, until then, we need to buy some suntan lotion.
I put for Eric and hang out with Paulsen and Utah in between lap passes. Man that was an intense race. Hit the BBQ spot around the corner with Utah, talked some football.
I then got him and shoveld out the car and took Eric’s advice to move my hoods up. I think this will take care of the hand pain I’ve been having. I try and stay away to support Mandi’s Cowboys, but we both end up passing out before the half. Mandi cracked open some cold Mexican Cokes. I had one and realized it was a bad idea around 10:45PM, when my brain was sugar loaded and I couldn’t fall asleep.
And now here we are, Monday, back to the scum of the earth. From superheroes wearing spandex, to pushing a pen and thinking about next weekend.
HOUSE THINGS
We are still in attorney review. Shouldn't be much longer until this house takes over my lyff. Or at least a month and a half from it.
