6.01.2009

Baby Steps

After a race filled weekend, I woke with visions of mistakes and possibilities in my head.  There is something to be said about replaying the would've, could've and should've.  All in all, it was a great weekend, and another learning experience to add to the books.

Brookfield 4/5
The course was a short but had a good elevation change, with the line 2/3rds the way up a mini widow maker.  From the start, the 5s were squirrelly as usual and kicked it into high gear for the first 2 laps.  As we all settled in and started sizing eachother up, a couple flyers cranked prematurely and were pulled back.  The 3rd flyer on the other hand was a good effort with great timing.  "Gorgeous George" (his name for now) stayed off the front for 3 laps.  And it was at 5 to go that I said enough is enough, and bridged to join Gorgeous George.  After a lap and a half of riding out of my skin, I finally grabbed on...but Gorgeous George had nothing left.  We kicked it through another lap and hit the climb where he motioned for me to go around.  At the summit, I turned the corner and he was gone.  Knowing the wolves were near, I sat up 1/2 a lap later.  

Catching the pack and squeezing into a modest position, I had a lap to recover before the bell.  With one to go, I was in 8th/9th place and made up some ground on the inside at the summit.  Descending into the 3rd turn was a dodgy endeavor, of which I heard the crashing of a rider who later I found out was 2 behind me and had a great kick.  Luckily, he cartwheeled his way through plush clovers and found himself a happy place.  I on the other hand had 1 turn and enough juice to make it stick.  To my surprise, the top 2-3 riders sat up before the last turn and climb to figure out who was doing what, and thus left a gap the size of texas on the inside for a line of us to squeeze through and get an early start on the climb.  

A grit and bear it finish led to 6th and a well deserved spinning of the little buddy below to recover.  Now, if only the 4/5 was right before the Masters 4/5...I wouldn't have to wait so long.   School has never been so much fun. 

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