The "art" of getting dropped.

I did the worlds again last night. Pretty fun time, except when it wasn't.

We did "17 fast laps" as Chris announced, then told Andy Clarke from RGF to lead us out... so he did with a neutral section "attack". At the start line Andy and Matt Weeks (LakeEffect) had about 300m, and so the race began....

So Spin had Dave, Tom K, Matt B, Brian and myself... being an unrepresented team, I guess it was our duty to pull the break back in. So we joined some other unattached guys, with some help from RGF and Lake Effect to bring it back. After about 3 or 4 laps.

I did pretty well staying near the front unlike last week, even going with a couple of attempts at the next break. Nothing was getting away now though... One nice attempt by Dave got a few of us with a small gap, when Dave flatted while sitting second-ish wheel going into the cop corner. Front flat to, so he just went straight across the road, and hopped the curb. I was fourth wheel, so all I saw was him heading toward the curb... and I heard the rest. Good thing he was on the front, or lots of damage could have been done. Dave survived, and walked/jogged back to get a spare wheel so he could rejoin the field.

As soon as Dave was gone, I thought it's now up to me alone to cover any moves for the team. We were HUMMING along too. I did some work, then drift back to recover and repeat. We got a couple of primes after the neutral break was back. Boy was the pack weird. Nearly stopping on a couple of occasions... so I took a flyer through the tight turn on the back side... digging REALLY hard even though I knew it wouldn't last. I got a descent gap, but nothing huge... when Paul Martin led the field past me.

That was pretty much suicide there. Dave jumped back in the field after the prime and asked why I was sitting at the back.... cause I was dying of course. The pace was still hot, and the field was still all together. I knew I was in real trouble when I couldn't remember a guys name that I've been racing against for about 6 years... hmmm, I've got no name. Not first name, not a last name... nothing. Not good. It came eventually, interesting thoughts when the going gets rough.

With 6 to go, we passed the B field at the start line as they waved off a prime for the next go around. On the backside, some guy in a Mercede's sports car, pulled half way into the lane... and I started to come off. I seriously thought "I wish a move would go, so the pace would lighten just a little bit for me." Not to be... 10 feet grew to 10 yard... to 100m by the start finish. 5 laps to go! Oh boy.

New plan! I'm going to do a time trial. I still had a hope of getting back, but it was a dim hope. I looked back, and decided I would try to hold off the B field for the next 2 laps. Even if I didn't catch back onto the field.

I had about 500m for most of the 2 laps.... and at the line, I about 10 feet. The winner rolled by and I kept it going. I still had 3 or so to go. I did ease up a little, because it hurt. With one to go, I was still looking to see if I'd get lapped. I saw nothing so I thought I might make it... With 200m, I saw them coming... and pulled over to the left curb to watch the finish. That's one way to get to the front of the race... though not the preferred method.

So Bobby wondered what it was like, and I'm here to say... I could have sucked wheels and made it to the end. Instead I did a few too many efforts and paid the price. It's a training race, and I still feel good about the training. I figure that 28 per was about right for the fields pace last night... and I guess I can only do that kind of work at or above my LT for about an hour. Then it was lights out for me.... with a 30 minute tempo time trial effort to finish it out.

So how long are the cyclocross races again? Oh yeah! About an hour... perfect! I will say, last night didn't hurt anywhere near as much as cyclocross races do. One more month until the season begins!