This little guy can be spotted everywhere...in every town, no matter how big or small will feature this beauty off the side of most interstate exits and busy intersections...and now bike paths (whaaaa???). So I was heading out to Grandview for some sweet hill action (or the best we have here in Columbus) and I eye balled one of these little dudes. Kinda funny since I had a discussion with the gf that they are everywhere on our trip to the Lousvillle race (I'll get to that in a bit). So I continued on thinking not much about it only to stumble upon another about a mile later...seriously, that's a little much.
On another note: bike racing. Well anyone who was at this race can tell you it sucked. Barely 40 and a steady rain was note cool. Mother nature decided that my carbon soles were not adequate so she installed some water ones...that cm of water in my shoes on lap two never helps the stiffness...ha. My teammates looking for upgrade pts hit up the 4/5 where Blake took 2nd and Ryan did some solid work (seemed I always saw him near the front keeping an eye on things) and finished in the pack. Props to both guys for just enduring the conditions and not checking out.
My race was next and EJ and I nearly missed the start by taking a little warm up lap. Race went with one team showing up with 12 guys. I thought it was going to be one of those days you always hear that Roadhouse does to the 1/2s when they show up with numbers...but no, this was no Roadhouse style team...more like pack fodder. They didn't even send a soul up the road! I hovered around the back the first couple of laps trying to even see...yeah I was kinda blind during this race (now I know I need some clear lenses...or maybe I'll just race in a bubble...a euro one of course). I guess like 3 laps in there was a surge on the backside hill and I looked back a couple minutes later to see half of the field gone...yikes. EJ missed the split and in a "hard man" style bridged up burning match after match, but hell, he was determined. Unfortunately he too suffered from some abdominal cramps, basically shutting down effective breathing, completely understandable why he stopped. All I have to say is that he is riding great and you should all expect to see him flying in upcoming crits.
I tried to attack a couple of times since we were all just riding around but no one wanted to go and I didn't have the power to stay away by any means. Oh well. I tried to go with about a lap and a quarter to go...nothing. So I tried my best to recover for the sprint...drifted to far back, bad position, you know the result. Notched a top 10, but I was so happy to get the the car. I have never been that cold and wet in my life, seriously! I feel like the form is coming along. Confidence is up and we finally get to race with numbers on our side this upcoming weekend at Hueston Woods. Hope we can pull out the W.
