One of the high points of early summer is the Cote de Tolosa. This outlaw race that I began in 2010 is growing in popularity with the local fast guys. We had 55 people race it yesterday with a lunch following and most folks hanging out and drinking wine on the winery patio after for several hours. This mixing of social and athletic is unusual, even rare in the cycling world, and it is the aspect of this event I'm most proud of. One of the younger semi pro racers said afterwards, "This is the best bike race of the year." Quite a statement for an event with virtually no prizes and zero points. A small trophy and bragging rights for the winner. I have to conclude that it is the unusually challanging course and the camraderie of the lunch after that makes it so well liked.
Once again I finished in mid pack, 26th out of 55. My time was 4:16. I really wanted to break 4 hours, but high winds during the first couple hours slowed me down. I didn't have any mechanicals or mishaps. Unusual in this event which is rife with both crashes and flat tires. I ran lower pressures in my tires than in the past which made the very rough dirt mid portion of the race easier, but made the last pavement portion a little bit slower. My friend Thomas Houseman came in from Oregon and raced it even though lack of long riding this spring caused some cramping in the last 1/4 of the event.
I think I'll try and add a few more of these outlaw events before the summer ends, but this one is hard to top.
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