Richard What's Happening?

Richard What's Happening?
Originally uploaded by furryblackcat.

Weekend in Indiana.

Since I had to work on Saturday it eliminated any hopes of stage racing. I pretty much slayed myself last week doing the type of workouts I really hate to do, mainly sprint and hill repeats. So the weekends rolling around, my legs are cooked and I couldn't think of any better idea than to find a road race.

The race was actually more of a circuit, 4.5 miles x 10 laps. It reminded me an awfully lot of the Joe Martin Crit course. My boy Richard B, Jen and I woke up at 4 am, jumped in the rowdy Audi and got on the road. Jen would not allow 4 hrs of Phish so I sang to Elton John at the top of my lungs for 4 hrs in protest on the way there.

The race started fast with the Sound Hearing team that had a huge roster of riders attacking one after the other for the first half of the race. Richard demonstrated his dominance by chasing every single one down single handedly. Half-way through the race a lone Proctor masters rider began attacking. Attack after attack he was reeled back in. About 30 miles into the 45 mile race he attacked at the base of the hill and Richard and I closed it and kept going. We reduced a 40 person field to about 12 dudes and the 4 cat 1/2 women who were recing in our field as well. Things started to get pretty tiring when either Richard or I would pull through and people would just line up behind us. I was like "Richard whats happening?" With about 2 laps to go one of the girlies attacked our field and we just let her go, but the Protor guy bridged up to her and brought another cat 2 girlie with him. On the last lap they were just sort of dangling out in front of us but no one really seemed to care. I litterally turned around and asked the other riders if it really was the last lap because the pace was so slow. At the top of the last climb Richard and I got on it, I didn't want to race for second place. I set off and chased with Richard on my wheel. About 500 m out he put in the monster pull and put us about 30 meters off the lead group going into the final corner which was about 250 to the finish. I closed it and kept going. Unfortunately I dragged a CU rider up to the line and he came around me for "My first win ever!" I was the first loser again, Richard finished in the money at 6 th.

The coolest thing about the race was the end. Richard, Jen and I were changing when we noticed a big group of riders around the finish line. I was thinking they were having problems with the camera and it was going to turn into some BS like Froze Toes or Hillsboro. So I headed over and asked the official about the results, she asked my my name and handed me the duckets!! I asked her for my teamates and she gave me his too! Sweet Jesus! We were on the road singing to Elton within 45 mins!