Velochallenge

Nice little debate going on over in the bikeportland.org forums regarding “Why don’t you wear a helmet?”

I don’t know about you but as my father always said “If you have a $10 head wear a $10 helmet.”

Well I finally achieved one of my goals I set upon myself this cycling year.  That was to move up to the 3 category in track. Candi officially moved me up after I pretty much dominated the first two races in the omnium thursday (7/11/07.)

The first race I was in was an unknown distance, where I pretty much tried to pace myself among the other racers trying to maintain my position within the front 4-5 riders. One rider from Forzza Jet jumped of the front, there was a slight chase from three of us, but the other two guys in started fading and let off the gas. I couldn’t let that happen so I go to pass them and then the bell ring indicating the last lap. I was already in sprint mode so all that was need was to bridge up to the lead rider, draft a little from him (catch my breath) then bye bye.

Second race of the evening was a 12 lap point-a-lap, so basically the first person across the line gets a point no one else. Again we had a guy jump off the front after the initial first lap (neutral lap), I immediately jumped on his wheel took a quick look back and no one is following. Ok, I’ll just work with this guy, seems strong enough. Well, nope passed him to get the first point, around corner two I peek back and he’s already drifting back, ok timetrial mode. I drop down low on the bike, start relaxing my body, focusing my breathing, getting ready for the burn that’s about to occur. Take the second point, ok lets see where the groups at, ok their opposite side of me, I’m feeling pretty good lets keep this going. So as I settled into a nice rhythm and I immediately had a song pop into my head “Linkn Park: Bleed It Out“, it allowed me to keep my pace humming along. Five laps latter I’m still going with no one catching me, my legs are burning and I’ve won this race with 7 points, time to let up and just relax ;-D

Third and final race was a win-an-out, so first person across the line wins. Challenging race in that if your second across after the first bell ring you’ve got two more laps to go maintaining that speed to struggle for second, otherwise if your edged out that round, around again you go to try for third… or fourth….. My strategy from the start was to go around the first three laps and try to draft behind the first two riders. I did not want to put everything on the line and end up getting beat, then have to expend all my energy for another two laps in hopes that I can get second. Well, once again we had a guy jump I followed came into the third corner and I could tell he was already hitting his max. So what the heck, did not see any riders behind me so decided all or nothing here. Sprinted to the line and won! So what’d know I not only won the ominum but all the races Plus got bumped up to cat 3 in track!

Ok so I decided to be one of the not so smart ones and head out to PIR today. It hit over 100 today and was probably around 105 on the pavement. I did my usual ride out and boy that was a workout within itself. I figured it was not that hot since I had a nice cool A/C ride on the Max. So after a nice cool ride through the west hills I jumped off at Goose Hollow and off down to the Broadway Bridge. As soon as I hit the pavement I could feel the heat bellowing up my legs, the sweat dripping down my back, and the hot air feeling my lungs. Boy that A/C on that Max train was nice. Oh well, I just worked through the heat and sweated it out to PIR.

As soon as I arrived, I started have second thoughts on should I ride or not. Man it was hot and there were very few guys here. (Wonder why? Could it be the heat?) So I convinced myself to go ahead an bite the bullet, it’ll be a great workout. (Right!) Anyways most of the ride I was just trying to focus on spin spin spin. About 4 laps into the 12 lap race I decided to call it quits too hot and with 2 weeks off the bike I was just not feeling it. My legs pretty much felt like gumby, and with my endurance down from my days off in Paris I was done. So in the famous words of Cartman: “Screw you guys, I’m going home.”

Well decided I would show up for to short track on monday, but due to a last minute meeting at work I was late an missed my start time for my category. Thankfully, Kris Schamp was nice enough to let me ride in the Expert class, heck its all about training right? Well that did not bold so well, as soon as we started my chain decided to have a mind of its own. The chain would just jump off the front chain ring with any pressure being applied, I did not even make it through the first turn. I just said screw it and pulled off track. Well next week I’m brining my cross bike. Heck get some good practice since the USGP of Cyclocross is going to be held out there.