down and...

not out.

Not down really. Just sounded good. I'm tired. worn out. Between the bike version of the Aussie road train and chasing the girls around the rocks at Beavertail Light and then the whole racing thing. I'm tired. But, not lacking for motivation, not lacking the desire to get on the bike. It wasn't the fastest ride in. But it worked.

So while everyone was out racing in Maine or Long Island, i stuck close to home and made it a long weekend and did a Road Race. Wicked damn fun course. Just awesome.

I think we had six guys in the Cat 4 race. I've never been on a team with that many riders in one race. The three big guys patrolled the front of the race, keeping the pace high as much as we could. it was a two lap event so well... that made it a bit mellowish the first go round but it was not slow, nor easy. But it was fun. Lots of fun.

Heading into the start with a few minutes to spare i blew the bead off the tire. (don't put tires on wheels the day before and #1 not ride, #2 not inflate to race pressure and don't show up at race w/o spare tubes). Lucky for me a guy had just finished the 5s and was there back by the car. Saved my day. It was too far to ride back to the start with the "neutral support." So a big thanks to the guy who saved my day. Didn't even get his name.

Then there was BRC Drew (IIRC) before the start back by the cars "Hey you are that blogger guy, right?" it made me chuckle, yup dats me. We chatted a bit there in the race. And the lone? IBC barbershop guy Chuck was there, we tooled around the light house leading the pack. That was cool.

All in all until that last final hill i was in control and the legs were there. Just couldn't quite muster the go juice to move up on the hill. So i sort of held on to my position. I had wound up in back (bad move) heading out to beavertail and it was gutter to yellow line solid and sketchy, very tough to move up. Possible, but Nate was back there and i wanted to see if i could encourage him to get his ass up to the front. We managed to work up through the pack a bit heading past the lighthouse, but no one seemed to want to really drive the field until we hit the hill when the attacks went.

I came through not last, more or less with the tail end of the pack. Worked for the team to keep the race together until the end to give our designated hitters a chance. Freaking blast. While no results/money. I was probably my best road race. Flat out fun. That and it was the first time since the Mount A TT that i've actually ridden the Quantum Pro. It felt like a freaking track bike, all twitchy and freaking FAST. Rocket ship. not too harsh on the roads either. Rolf wheels held up. The Klein Prime tires were fast and sticky. All good. All good. The Croll felt a bit heavy, slow, compared to the Klein. Now, if i could get a carbon copy of that QPro in a cross bike? I'd be soooo happy. But then adding clearance would change it a bit, maybe. The bike fits and it was great fun riding it again.

No numbers. No bike computer, no power tap, no heart rate. Nothing. My Powertap is still up for sale, first $500 or best offer. If it doesn't sell, well i guess i'll keep using it. But, it would be great if it did. So that someone could get some benefit out of it.

Christine Vardaros is headed this way for a stop at New Belgian Worlds before heading to Old Belgium, i've been actually thinking of see if i can make wed night work to get to the cross practice. The NBX guys appearantly have theirs starting up tomorrow. But. Well wait. CV shows up late. Dunno. Might not happen. Probably not a good idea anyway. I've had exactly one day off (sunday) and it was not quiet or mellow. Rest. Get fresh, get ready for New Belgian Worlds (that is Zank code for glawster btw).

That and almost cooler is the fact that my wife wanted to race yesterday. So, we're gonna have to figure out a whole race-sitter thing for next year at some of the cooler road racing venues (like Jamestown).

New England freaking rocks.
And it looks like it might get a bit cooler, and whoo perfect timing.

peace
G

If i don't make it, no worries.