but that was wisconsin
so i went to a bike race that pitted WI riders vs. MN riders. does it get any better than that?
forces were against everything happening pretty and perfect as usual. it had been rainy days approaching race day. once again my body threw a monkey wrench in and work is by no means a bowl of cherries or even a can of peaches. i have done a few of these races now and one thing that stands out is that there will almost always be something to overcome. circumstances will not be perfect and the wind will not always be at my back but if i keep going, keep trying, the wind will shift, the trail will turn, or the hill will crest and the view will make it worth the climb.
i went to the race in River Falls, WI prepared for a mud fest but also hopeful for the sun to come out. the sun did come out and it was a beautiful day. B and the boys were at the race for the first time in a few races. W had been telling me to "go fast daddy" all week while twirling his little arm around and standing in his warrior pose.
the starting chute was a few hundred feet back from last year and that was good. we got to the climb much more spead out and people were gunning for the top. top of the climb was the open field and i started making passes. got to the single track with a group and continued passes as the course allowed.
hooked up with a Freewheel rider and rode with him for a while. we got stuck behind a group. he said ,"let's pass when it opens up". i told him that i was in. the open area happened to be the spectator area. we were flying as the slow group had picked up the pace here. i tried to grab some water at the water station but couldn't get a cup because we were moving pretty fast. B had a bottle out for me just after the water cups. i had a nano second to recognize her and tried to get the bottle but the battle was just too fierce and speeds of this group made it impossible to grab the bottle. or i just missed the grab. right after that was a sharp right to do the big climb again. the Freewheel rider crashed with another rider and went down. that was a bummer because i think we could have worked together and improved both of our times.
in the climb everyone was going pretty well but this one guy was flying up. it looked like he had been born on this hill. got to the top, went through the open field again, got to the single track and saw the amazing climber and passed him. stuck my nose down and just tried to make time into lap 3.
got to the end of lap 2 and had an empty water bottle. looked desperately for H with my bottle exchange. no sign of the family. was starting to plan a third and final lap with no water bottle when i saw B holding it up high as i made the sharp right to the final big climb. that may be the happiest i have ever been to see her. got the bottle and started to climb with an opened gel. note to self: don't climb holding an opened gel. it just makes it harder.
once again the amazing climber passed me and the others like we were on a picnic. i remember seeing a wall of tatoos at the top of the climb that was the Lalonde brothers. i thought, "what would they do now that they were done with that climb?" and i told myself, "they would hammer" so i did my best attempt at that while trying to take the gel i just carried like a precious baby up that climb.
got to the single track and was pretty surprised to once again see the climber. passed him and was feeling pretty good that that was for the top spot in the division. that did turn out to be the last guy in my division that i passed (in WORS you can see a rider's division written on the number plate on their back). rode a little bit with a Wannabee rider (JB, who i met after the race and his wife was kind enough to email a podium picture to B) and then came over the finish line ready to lay down and feeling good that it was all out there on the course.
i had lost my tag and was nervous about not getting my time posted. i was posted when results were up and i had won the division. celebrated with some more watermelon and cookies.
takeaway: don't take a gel while climbing and/or need to concentrate on the trail.
forces were against everything happening pretty and perfect as usual. it had been rainy days approaching race day. once again my body threw a monkey wrench in and work is by no means a bowl of cherries or even a can of peaches. i have done a few of these races now and one thing that stands out is that there will almost always be something to overcome. circumstances will not be perfect and the wind will not always be at my back but if i keep going, keep trying, the wind will shift, the trail will turn, or the hill will crest and the view will make it worth the climb.
i went to the race in River Falls, WI prepared for a mud fest but also hopeful for the sun to come out. the sun did come out and it was a beautiful day. B and the boys were at the race for the first time in a few races. W had been telling me to "go fast daddy" all week while twirling his little arm around and standing in his warrior pose.
the starting chute was a few hundred feet back from last year and that was good. we got to the climb much more spead out and people were gunning for the top. top of the climb was the open field and i started making passes. got to the single track with a group and continued passes as the course allowed.
hooked up with a Freewheel rider and rode with him for a while. we got stuck behind a group. he said ,"let's pass when it opens up". i told him that i was in. the open area happened to be the spectator area. we were flying as the slow group had picked up the pace here. i tried to grab some water at the water station but couldn't get a cup because we were moving pretty fast. B had a bottle out for me just after the water cups. i had a nano second to recognize her and tried to get the bottle but the battle was just too fierce and speeds of this group made it impossible to grab the bottle. or i just missed the grab. right after that was a sharp right to do the big climb again. the Freewheel rider crashed with another rider and went down. that was a bummer because i think we could have worked together and improved both of our times.
in the climb everyone was going pretty well but this one guy was flying up. it looked like he had been born on this hill. got to the top, went through the open field again, got to the single track and saw the amazing climber and passed him. stuck my nose down and just tried to make time into lap 3.
got to the end of lap 2 and had an empty water bottle. looked desperately for H with my bottle exchange. no sign of the family. was starting to plan a third and final lap with no water bottle when i saw B holding it up high as i made the sharp right to the final big climb. that may be the happiest i have ever been to see her. got the bottle and started to climb with an opened gel. note to self: don't climb holding an opened gel. it just makes it harder.
once again the amazing climber passed me and the others like we were on a picnic. i remember seeing a wall of tatoos at the top of the climb that was the Lalonde brothers. i thought, "what would they do now that they were done with that climb?" and i told myself, "they would hammer" so i did my best attempt at that while trying to take the gel i just carried like a precious baby up that climb.
got to the single track and was pretty surprised to once again see the climber. passed him and was feeling pretty good that that was for the top spot in the division. that did turn out to be the last guy in my division that i passed (in WORS you can see a rider's division written on the number plate on their back). rode a little bit with a Wannabee rider (JB, who i met after the race and his wife was kind enough to email a podium picture to B) and then came over the finish line ready to lay down and feeling good that it was all out there on the course.
i had lost my tag and was nervous about not getting my time posted. i was posted when results were up and i had won the division. celebrated with some more watermelon and cookies.
takeaway: don't take a gel while climbing and/or need to concentrate on the trail.
Comments
I've got it so easy.