Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Spin to (Not) Win

I would like to be able to say racing made a comeback this past weekend, but I can’t really back that one up. At least I got a nice training ride out of it…

Check out that number plate...

Since racing only one race a day is clearly for amateurs, I went for the double XC of the singlespeed and expert races at the local Haw Ridge XC race. However, my legs quickly let me know that they were not at all interested in racing at XC speed. So my singlespeed race instead turned into an endurance training ride. After finishing 2 laps of the 8 mile course, I had about 15 minutes or so to switch bikes and bottles for the expert race.

Well, I would have used that time to switch bikes if I had gotten around to bleeding my front brake on the superfly. So instead I rolled out for the expert race as the only singlespeeder. The ½ mile flat road start against the gearies quickly saw me spinning madly as everyone dropped me. I did manage to make it to the singletrack before 1 of the women who started about 15 or 30 seconds behind, but that was it. The course was pretty tough for Haw, as it went straight up one of the rockiest, rootiest, and loosest climbs in the entire park. That one definitely ended up being a walker all five laps.

After the bad legs at the start, I began to feel better with every lap. My laps were pretty consistent, with laps 2-5 all being within about a minute of each other. On the third expert lap, I finally started catching some other racers and managed to pass 3 people. I knocked out the 40 miles in right at 4 hours, so it wasn’t terrible for an endurance pace on the ss. I was pretty happy with that considering how tough the course was. As for results, I ended up with a pair of 3rd places, which sounds good until I point out I only had 5 other competitors between the two races.

Not really sure what happened to my legs. They had finally been feeling good for the past week, but apparently not good enough... Thats how it goes though somedays, everythings shiny, and then Bam!


And just like that, you're left with only the disco ball of broken dreams... Nothing else to do but pick up the pieces and roll with it.

5 Comments:

  1. Rachel said...
    Killer picture! I need full credit for your 29 number!!!!! I am stealinng this shot and putting it on my blog! Ha ha..
    Rach
    Rachel said...
    I did a special blog on my page just for you!
    Cheers
    elizabeth said...
    What's with the disco ball, Dave?

    And, where's the bling?
    Dave Holmes said...
    The disco ball is from the haw ridge 12 hour. It was hanging at the top of the hill of truth for several months, but as I was riding in january I came across the broken remains of styrofoam and tiny mirrors scattered all over the trail. Not really sure who smashed it or what happened to it. Why it's the "disco ball of broken dreams," who knows, it sounded good as I was typing it.

    My bling has seen better days, as it's turning black and several links have broken. I'm gonna see if it makes it through the cowbell with super glue and a little love, but it may be time to invest the 99 cents in a new one...
    Unknown said...
    Your bling is black? Is it any bigger?

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