first race of the year
finally got to race. not a moment too soon either. starting to race to stop lights in the car vs. fellow drivers and have been taking to "closing the gap" on unsuspecting commuters while riding in the morning.
went to the Decorah Time Trials over the weekend. pre-ride on saturday with about 50 degrees and wet conditions. was lucky to hook-up with a group ride that knew the course for the next day. Decorah has a lot of friendly people and that definately extends to the bikers in town.
a lot of hike-a-bike on saturday. sunday morning was scary with rain downpours and weather.com saying up to an inch coming. had visions of staying home and warm with the family competing with visions of running up streams with my bike on my shoulder. i went as far as talking like a quiter about an hour and a half before start time but Beth egged me on in the right direction and i drove into town to sign up for a start time.
started #28 at about 10:28. was told it would be about 7 miles and around 3500 feet of climbing. (some of the original beginning course was cut out due to rain). took off on "go" and the legs did not feel good. felt great to be racing again but legs still had visions of staying home i guess. got passed one time just after finishing Rocky Road (started at the trail head off of quarry hill road). took a while to get warmed up and feeling good. i passed a few guys but didn't get feeling great ever. dropped back to feeling bad in the legs a couple of times but pushed through. 2nd half definately felt better than the first.
new ride did ok in the muddy conditions. shifting was sketchy in the front once or twice but shifting well in the back considering the conditions. discovered the new ride collects mud easily at the chain stays but it didn't slow me down much. i am glad that i put on the kenda blue groove on the back. i am sure i climbed much better than i would have otherwise.
a lot of fun. a much needed race. thought i was going to run about half the course but i think i ran 4 or 5 times in short bursts except for one long run/walk on what i think is randy's trail.
went to the Decorah Time Trials over the weekend. pre-ride on saturday with about 50 degrees and wet conditions. was lucky to hook-up with a group ride that knew the course for the next day. Decorah has a lot of friendly people and that definately extends to the bikers in town.
a lot of hike-a-bike on saturday. sunday morning was scary with rain downpours and weather.com saying up to an inch coming. had visions of staying home and warm with the family competing with visions of running up streams with my bike on my shoulder. i went as far as talking like a quiter about an hour and a half before start time but Beth egged me on in the right direction and i drove into town to sign up for a start time.
started #28 at about 10:28. was told it would be about 7 miles and around 3500 feet of climbing. (some of the original beginning course was cut out due to rain). took off on "go" and the legs did not feel good. felt great to be racing again but legs still had visions of staying home i guess. got passed one time just after finishing Rocky Road (started at the trail head off of quarry hill road). took a while to get warmed up and feeling good. i passed a few guys but didn't get feeling great ever. dropped back to feeling bad in the legs a couple of times but pushed through. 2nd half definately felt better than the first.
new ride did ok in the muddy conditions. shifting was sketchy in the front once or twice but shifting well in the back considering the conditions. discovered the new ride collects mud easily at the chain stays but it didn't slow me down much. i am glad that i put on the kenda blue groove on the back. i am sure i climbed much better than i would have otherwise.
a lot of fun. a much needed race. thought i was going to run about half the course but i think i ran 4 or 5 times in short bursts except for one long run/walk on what i think is randy's trail.
Comments
:)
You did a great job!