The
weather was nice and warm for the race. I got the race with
plenty of time to get ready and warm up. On the trainer I did
not feel very good, although waking up early never allows me
to feel good. I figured after one hard effort things would be
better. I was wrong, I just did not feel good, but at the start
line I figured I would feel better. I got to the start line,
I did not feel better. They staged us at the last turn facing
the start finish line. They gave some quick instructions about
the race and then told us to roll up to the start/finish line.
That was about 400' ahead of us. What was supposed to be a roll
out, was a mad sprint. Everyone wanted a good position on the
start line. Once there the USCF offical came up and spoke to
us about primes (pronounced preems) and such. The airhorn was
to signify a preem, not a bell. Bells were being passed out
to be rung during the climb. Then the race officials called
out some names of some local racers and staged them at the front
of the pack. Not to fair, but it is there race, so, oh well.
Everyone else rolled up a bit behind them and then the race
was off. It was a good pace from the beginning, although with
me not feeling well, I was just happy to be in the pack at this
time. We came down the straight away approaching the 23% grade.
The pace slowed up quite a bit from the middle of the straight
away until we go to the climb. I noticed everyone in their small
ring already. Personally it was way to early to gear down, but
oh well, everyone else was doing it and I am riding in a pack.
I drop down and start getting into the gear I plan to climb
in. I started the climb in the middle of the pack, but since
I climbed it in a 39/27, I ended up driffting towards the back
half of the pack. We got to the top and rode around the corner
were the descent was. The pace picked up to around 30mph down
the back and dropped back down to 26mph on the front straighaway.
The second time around someone attacked right before the hill
and the pace got faster. We did the second climb and I was in
my 39/25 this time, still not enough gear. I was spinning the
back tire getting up the hill. I lost a few more positions there
again and hung on to the back of the pack. The race was pretty
uneventfull for the next couple laps. Around lap 5 there was
a prime and the climb up the hill went pretty quick. I had a
problem with my chain slipping from the rough road (cats hill
has not been paved in at least 10 years), but it was nothing
major. I hung on for dear life on the back of the pack and then
the next time up the hill I could not keep up anymore. It was
eventually going to happen, escpecially with the way I felt.
I went into the descent to try and make up some time, but it
did not help having another prime again. I rode hard and kept
going up the hill, and when I would get to the top I felt like
I was going to be sick. I was coughing and not feeling good,
but I kept pushing along. People were then getting dropped left
and right and I would continue to pick them off. Upon climbing
the hill for the 8th time I heard a loud gun shot. Although
after getting to the top and turning the corner, I found out
someone had rolled there tire and it exploded. Not to cool.
I finished the race and felt horrible and my lungs hurt. Racing
Wildflower the week before and not eating great the prior days
really did me in. Two more weeks until my next race and I will
be finishing with the main pack. I have never felt so bad on
my bike than I did the entire day. Thank you to my step father
for bringing my mother out to watch the race. His uncle was
a invited to the 1936 Olympics for cycling, so he is a cycling
fan :). I do have some pics, but I need to develop them. You
can see just how steep a 23% grade is, then imagine racing up
it.