TEAM FUN

Today was a great ride up the watershed to the Pisgah Omnium road course. Besides the outstanding turnout of 13 riders it was FUN! People were in the mood and hammering themselves into oblivion. Everyone stepped up their game and much of the ride was close to or at race pace. The theme of the day seemed to be FUN in a sadistic way.

Hard as the pace was, nearly everyone enjoyed the route and the effort. A store stop and lunch at Williams Hardware gave plenty of time for camaraderie. Thanks TEAM!

I Dreamed of Breaking Away

I started pinning a number on my back in 2007.   Soon, I dreamed of really racing.   Even though I spent a couple of years off the back and I was 58 years old,  I often dreamed that I could someday attack, counter, go off the front........ solo.

Had I waited too long in life??  Had my time passed?  I was usually racing much younger guys.....I was not getting younger.  The questions haunted me.

I put effort behind the dream:

*  70+ races
*  20-30 Centuries
*  4 Granfondos in Europe
*  About 80 SCTAC A/B Club races
*  15 Shootouts
*  2 great coaches
*  super team mates
*  2 great training partners
*  thousands of hours of training

Montgomery was my day to realize the dream.   It was 44 miles of hot road racing.  Attacks started immediately.   Bird and I worked together to contain things.......we are like watching a concert.....no talk.........but we make music.

We brought in a solo attempt about 20 miles into the race.  It was earlier than planned but I felt the time was right.  I rode up the left side near the yellow line and just rode away.   Soon the moto told me I had 30 seconds and then later, a minute.   The hills were coming and the next to last was the KOM.   I thought, "If I can make it through these hills......".    As I approached the KOM, the field was coming hard behind.  It was mine but I knew after they would catch me.

I was away for 7 miles and about 18:30 minutes....riding solo at 23 mph.

Absorbed, only 5 riders caught me.  I recovered.  Emboldened, I mounted about 5 more attacks before the sprint.....5th place, 1 KOM, 1-2nd KOM, $35.00 and a smile that still has not gone away.

It is never too late to dream and realize a dream......and man, is it fun!

Worthy of Jeff Foxworthy?

You Might be a Bike Racer

• If your jerseys are tattered from pinning on numbers.
• If you shave your legs and you are a man.
• If you have a large supply of Tegaderm and use it often.
• If you would never ride without proudly wearing your full team kit.
• If you not only have all the season races on your calendar but they are also on your spouses/significant other’s calendar.
• If you introduce yourself and tell people you are a ‘bike racer’ right after you tell them your work role.
• If you race in some races you don’t even like to help your team mates.
• If you have ever sprinted for a $10.00 preme.
• If you train when you are hurt.
• If you race when you are hurt. 
• If you have more anxiety when you do not train and race than when you do.
• If bike racing is your favorite past time.
• If you can ride for a hour in drops and feel comfortable.
• If you practice sprinting often.  
• If you look at Results and Rankings in USA Cycling once a month to see how you are ranked.
• If you look in USA Cycling to see who is signed up for the next race. 
• If you can spot most of the contenders when go to the line.
• If you think about when you will attack in the upcoming race and then you do attack.
• If you have a good time in a race when you finish 24th.
• If racing means more than winning.
• If your team winning means more than you winning.
• If you have a training plan.
• If you have race goals.
• If you think you are a bike racer.

Can you think of more??? 

After the SC State Women's 1/2/3 Road Race