Putting it on the line

Now as we exit April it's time to put all the hours of suffering to some good use - racing. There's lots coming up in the next five weeks. This weekend is my third outlaw race, and unnamed epic in the north county that will cover about 80 miles with three significant climbs - all on dirt. It's the day before my birthday so it's going to be my celebratory ride. I'm hosting a cocktail party the night before so this will enforce a bit more sobriety on that activity than is my wont. Two weeks after that is my Cote de Tolosa which should be huge fun, and I mean by that incredibly painful. Then the next two weekends bring the Norcal RR Championships being held on the Mt. Hamilton course followed by the Socal RR Championships being held on a hilly course outside of Bakersfield. I'm going to try and do all of the above although the Mt. Hamilton race will be very difficult because of the amount of driving and the fact that a shuttle needs to be arranged. Then a pretty busy travel schedule in June followed by some bike time in Oregon in July. Maybe a bit more racing to end the summer in style depending on how I'm feeling.

SLO Roubaix

Yesterday was one of the best bike days ever for me. I felt a bit of pleasant anticipation as I woke up a bit later than normal, ate heartily, togged up and went to Foothill Cyclery for the start of the 2013 SLO Roubaix. Pancho was kind enough to tune the squeak out of my front cantis and at about 8:30 twenty plus riders headed out. The first special stage was a dirt out and back of about 3 miles total length with a standing start. I hit the pedals hard and found myself in the lead group of ten or so. I made the mistake of entering the turnaround last and got gapped, but still managed 10th much to my surprise garnering one point. I was pretty gassed after, but pleasantly so. The next section was 3+ miles of single track that was supposed to be a neutral section, that is no points on offer, but I found myself on the rivet the entire time. I was thinking " I've got to pace myself a bit here or I'm not even going to finish to day much less garner any more points."
The next points on offer were at Turri Rd and I knew this sort of short poer climb didn't suit me so I didn't even attempt it. After this was a fast flat sprint to the city limits sign and I sat on the wheels and kept the pressure on to pick up 5th and the single point on offer. The food break was after this and what had been 23 or 24 riders dwindled to 9. I was surprised by the attrition, but happy that the point scoring possibilities were much improved. The next section was the hardest, the Sycamore KOM/Pave. My legs were suffering before this, but I somehow managed to get to the top ahead of three of my companions picking up more points. We all drank a little beer at the top and I led out the very sketchy descent.Then started a series of four sprints over the next 5 miles that I couldn't manage to even attempt. I just let the other riders flow around me. By this time we were back in town and headed out into a howling headwind towards the final Foothill KOM/Sprint. I did my share of the work on the front on the lead up. To the degree that Pancho said to me, "Larry, you are a true hard man." I was surprised and tickled as I was feeling fairly worked over at this point. Coming into the finale of the day I really wanted to do something so at about 700m out I initiated the surge to the top I managed to hold everyone off till about 100m to go and then got swamped and finished fifth. I might have done better if I'd started it a bit later, but who knows.
We all met at Central Coast Brewery for pizza beer and prizes followed by watching the real Paris Roubaix. I was strangely moved and honored to be given the "Courage" award. This given to the rider who shows the most guts through the day - purely subjective, but my guess is my last desperate attack made the impression. I have always in work and play striven for the respect of my peers and that is what this painted brick was all about. It's proudly displayed in my office right now.
The real Roubaix was great ending with Cancellara winning it in a sprint on the velodrome and then collapsing on the grass. Watching a great race with 20 beer swilling bike buddies is almost as much fun as play racing with them all day.

Anticipation

I'm starting to get stoked for the first local outlaw race, the so called SLO Roubaix as it is held the same day as the real Roubaix. This morning I wasted a happy few minutes looking at photos from Paris Roubaix and it got me really excited about the race and our own little local homage to it. What was particularly inspiring about the photos was the number of racers with looks of absolute misery and exhaustion on their faces. It reminded me that these guys despite their strength are not super human and that the essence of bicycle sport is the ability to withstand suffering.