Cyclebration - Marysville Grand Prix

It was raining hard and I had fun what more could I ask for. The savage Men looked great! It was a good day.

For a Tyler race, not a bad number of women: 8. With Jane Everly and Sally Price of Summa (NE Ohio) in attendance, I knew to expect an attack early. When Jane unleashed it, I tried a few pedal strokes, but knew she was gone. No one in front of me had responded; I had come off a pull. My bad. I kept taking pulls, preferring to be out front, especially with the rough roads that were getting slicker in the gentle rain.

When Sally attacked next, I was ready. Brooke got her wheel first, and me after. Sally stayed there about 3/4 a lap, I looked back, saw the field was split. I came alongside Sally, told her, and said we should work together. Sally and I worked, Brooke sat in. When Sally attacked later, I tried to respond. I just didn't have the legs tonight. I shouted to Brooke she had to chase. I tried to catch Brooke's wheel, but I couldn't do even that.

Since we were down to 1/4 of the race to go, I figured I'd time trial it. But when I looked back, I was surprised to see how close the field was. I sat up, let them catch me, and then each time I could, got in front and slowed the pace a little. I saw when Brooke got dropped, but I thought she could go the last few laps alone, and I continued to block.

Last lap, I got out front, and cranked it up. I went through the corners hard, each time thinking if I went down, it wouldn't hurt too long. I stayed upright, and out of the last corner I started my sprint. Didn't hear anyone around me, eased up a touch, and cruised in for my 4th place finish. Gotta work on the sprint drills, now that the asthma seems to be under control with the meds, and sprints are no longer sending me into distress.

To our Savage guys, wow, you guys worked hard, and it showed in the number of crashes. Hope you all heal fast. Jim, good to hear the thumb is not broken. Brooke did great tonight, keeping off the front, and responding when it was important to do so.

After going down on "that turn" I was a SKIRT for the rest of the race.

Big shout out to Swain and Gamm for helping me get lost, making me laugh before/during the race (Gamm went skins), get me in order after i cooked a turn, and showing me how the "elites" do it when its only a 3/4 race....beer tent.

It was fast, it was slow.
It was dry, and then it poured.
I crashed, I got dropped, and then I got 9th.
Everything happend in this race that could have.
There was even an SUV driving on the course oppisite our direction.
After I crossed the finish, I looked back and nobody was behind me, talk about attrition.

Oh yeah, it was also fun.

HUGE THANKS to Gamm and Swain for helping me get back in after the crash.

To Wendy, Brooke, and Shari, thanks for cheering, it always helps - see ya all tomorrow.

A couple of heavy showers rolled through. We started with very wet roads but it appeared to start to clear off. I had forgotten to let some air out of my tires for the wet pavement and had a couple of bobbles.

Craig and Mark both went down very early in seperate incidents. So with the pack being very lethargic I decided to take off. A couple of laps later Andys and Brendan joined me. Within a couple more laps we had a group of 12-15 up the road. The officials were being very diligent in pulling out of contention people to help keep the course safer. Then down comes the rain harder then ever. So I punch the accelerator again and managed to get us down to 10.

Mark and Craig had made one of the bridge groups even through their incidents. I had Mark attack, he made some people work. Of course I have to apologize a bit, some spectators thought I was yelling at another rider...I was...but it was just getting Mark to go. If we were allowed radios this wouldn't have been an issue.

The final lap I'm sitting 5th wheel going into turn 3 and one of Brendans teammates goes down in front of me. I had no place to go and put the bike down hard on my hip, shoulder, oh yeah and head. I got up, with shattered helmet, and managed to still finish 10th.

Thanks to Mark and Craig for the help during the race. Thanks to Wendy, Shari, Brooke, and Laura for the cheers. Special thanks to Andys for helping clean me up.