So Much Stuff

Too much stuff has been going on since my last post. We'll go through this chronologically for everyone.

July 12- Aliso Viejo GP of Cycling;
Got there to set up and as luck would have it our police escort for road closures was late. BY 30 MINUTES!!! The day was starting off badly. We got the roads closed, but they would not give the OK to start the 5's. We were 10 minutes late getting started. Not the end of the world, but once we were underway it was game on. We got the bugs worked out by the second race, and by the time the men's pro started it had already been a great day, and the Sheriff and Mayor were already talking about how to make the 2nd Annual even better. They will have to do that without me. No way I am going through all that again. Can't do it. The race was good though, and everyone seemed to really enjoy the course. We may have to sell the event to someone for them to run.

July 13- Long Beach crit:
I got guilted into racing this stupid crit. After being on my feet for 14 hours on Saturday putting on a race, there was no way I was going to be good at this race. Too many hammerheads showed up as well. Still they said go and I did. Three damn laps into and I am in a break with about 13 other guys. Too many, and I knew it. The wind was blowing really hard, so the pros put us in the gutter with no where to hide and hit it at about 30mph. Thanks guys. The big group slowly shrunk until I was the last to get popped. Once back in the peleton the break was not pulling away. My solution? Ride fast tempo and bring them back. Other teams decided they could bridge a guy over. Jackasses. Finally the break was gone and I got in the second break of the day. About 6 of us, and we were working well together. The break lapped what was left of the field and soon caught us. No problem, right? I'll just sit in the last few laps and wait for the sprint. Nope. Back in the gutter, back to 30+mph now. Guys were gapping like mad, and one too many times I had to close it up. I pulled out about two laps AFTER my legs decided it was time to pull out. I was cooked. Only 19 or so guys finished a perfectly flat crit. Amazing.

Eldo- Same old story, only slower this time. We cruised. I think everyone was tired from the weekend. Either way it was boring as hell. I launched a few attacks, but they were brought back. I did some lead out on the last lap, then sat up and took it easy thru the line. The lead out was good though, and we put Charon in first and Tommy in second. Good night.

July 20th- SLO:
This is a great course. All on the streets of downtown San Luis Obispo. From the s/f we take two quick turns as we start a slight rise up to the Mission. We pass on a brick walk way in front of/thru the mission and back onto the city streets. It's a bit tight and sketchy but fun. A few more quick turns and a long slightly downhill finishing stretch. Some big boys were there for this race. Tony Cruz, Neil Shirley, a gaggle of Strawberry's, Successfulliving.com, Dan Halloway....you get the idea, it was fast. I felt good, and let the early attacks run their course. Once I felt the field was getting tired I attacked. One strawberry went with. No doing. It was apparent a bunch sprint was in my immediate future. Considering the pedigree of the field I was not a favorite in anyone's book. Still I had OK position until an ass hat from Swami's over cooked turns 1 and 2 and crashed. I slammed brakes got through and had to chase back on. Out of position and contention my day was over. I did win $50 in a prime, so at least I got dinner paid for. Either way it was a lot of fun. The racing was a side bar any way. I was up there to relax with the family and have some fun. Mission accomplished.

The season is winding down fast. Only a handfull of races left. Have to get one more win this season and all my goals will be complete.