Sunapee And the SmackDown

Both have something more than punchy hills in common.

I will not be attending either one this week.

Sure with G-ride hitching up the horses to the wagon to get to the race it is tempting to make the run up there on Saturday. I probably wouldn't finish last, might even have a chance to survive reasonably well in the race. But it isn't going to happen. It is filled. But hey, that's okay, even if it wasn't full I'd be sticking down here in the south for the day.

Tonight is indeed the smackdown race and I'm still pretty knackered from the Sunday slog in the sun. Combined with not sleeping well for the last handful of nights and the rain and the need to bring the ancient (and now maybe dead) laptop/vag-com tool to work, and some team mates tires to mail in, I am bagging the ride in favor of a trailer day.

Some old gas bag is babbling on and on about the category system again. I have to say I agree with him. There are plenty of people in the 4s that should move up. They train as hard/harder than a lot of the 3s have decent predictably high finishes in the 4s and they should move. But USAC seems to be playing the role of self upgrading. If you want to be a three, send them a note with some excuse thinner than a flea's pubic hair and you will get an upgrade sticker. Then you take other people who just camp in the 4s for a long time (years) without ever moving up.

I don't have a solution. Well I do but it probably has more holes than a cheese grater so I'm going to keep it to myself.

I'm racing more but I have done absolutely nothing in the way of regular regimented intervals or training aside from commuting and smack downs and racing. And I like it that way. Next possible race is Stafford. You see I'm trying to avoid any thing like the TP fiasco. Gotta keep G-ride ego somewhat bouyed by not getting beat by me too much. I figure if I stick with races down at Ninigret, New London CT, or heck anywhere in CT, there are overwhelming odds that it will be too far for him to drive, or a race closer to him to attend. See that way he can remain positive about what ever results he has, that and all the races down here are mostly flat.

Stafford though, it is right turns. I've been turning left too much I think. Myles standish (left), Ninigret (left), TP was right but so few turns as not to count. RIGHT TURNS? Heck for a minute there I got all NASCAR about turning left. Left? Me? Turn left? At speed? No wonder I'm not ready for the sort of old dudes race, I'm not sure if i can turn right in a crit or not. All the crits (all two locations) were left hand turns. Oh boy. At least I just have to decide if i'm going to do the 35+ and the 3/4 race or just the 4 or the 4/5 and the 4 or the 4 and the 35 or just make a day of it and unload a big wheelbarrow full of money and do them all (no, not a chance - of either me finding a wheelbarrow full of money or doing all of them). I guess it will come down to how I get there, and at 65-75 miles i'm not riding there or back. Esp over the little pimples of eastern CT.

After that then maybe Whaling City Cyclone... we'll see. But I will say, I may be pack fill in the back of the pack at the finish line but I'm having fun with this racing stuff. It isn't as much fun as CX, but it's still better than not racing.

peidiwch da
G