Races

About two months ago, I decided it would be a good idea to put on a bike race to help showcase our coffee shop and the town of Prospect. When I pitched the idea to my business partner and the Rio Grande Cycling Team everyone thought it was a great idea. Since it was my idea, the full responsibility of race promoter has fallen on my lap. No problem I thought, I’ve done it before. As I have started moving through the process I have realized that there is a big difference between this one and the last one.

I recieved another lessen on Sunday during the Boulder Cup. Trebone lapped me with two laps to go and I got pulled along with about 75 other people. He ended up winning the race by over a minute. After the race we went to a nice BBQ down the road and talked about the day of racing. I was the only guy there who had raced and it was interesting to hear the other side of the story. While racing, you are only aware of the people around you and have no idea what is happening in different parts of the field. I'm actually starting to enjoy being a spectator as much, if not more, than racing.

I just finished getting the beat down from riders like Horner, Wicks, Trebon, Powers, Wells, and the Danish National Champion Joachim Parbo. There was a crazy head wind and when I couldn’t hold onto the leaders anymore I was dropped off into no mans land fighting the wind. It didn’t take long to get gobbled up by the second group of fast local riders like myself. With a few exceptions we stayed together for most of the race until the mountain bike legend Travis Brown caught us and blew our group to pieces.

We woke up this morning to a cold and snowy day. The race was up in Evergreen which is 15 minutes up the mountain from Denver. Just surviving the drive down 93 was an accomplishment in itself. With the bad roads we pulled in just as Jakes race was starting. By the time I filled out the paper work and pinned on the number, he had to start a few seconds late. After a little convincing he was headed down the frozen course trying to catch up. When he came by half lap later, he looked frozen and had to carry his bike up these huge barricades.

I just finished racing stop two of the Boulder Cyclocross Series. As usual the field was just over 50 and there was no lack of fast riders. A few of us rode to the race which took about 45 minutes. It was really windy but was a great warm up. I didn’t have time to get a practice lap so the mud pit just after the start was a big surprise. You had to dismount into this muddy ditch with running water and run up the steep, slippery hill on the other side.

After another long day of lounging by the pool at Treasure Island Resort in Las Vegas, we went to watch the final CRIT of the USA CRIT Series. Team Einstein’s snuck in early to score a sweet parking spot right after the start/finish line. A large group of us piled on top of the van nearly collapsing it like a tin can. From the top we could almost see the entire course and watch the action unfold.

After much early season preparation, the day finally came and Cross Vegas was here. I had a nice day lounging in the shade by the pool with my girlfriend while waiting for the team van to arrive. When it did, we cruised over to the race and set up for the big show. The race crew had been out all day preparing the course and it was great. There were TV cameras on booms, lots of lights, tons of CRAZY fans and Elvis holding the lap cards. I was surrounded by all the big names at the start and we could barely hear the gun go off over the screaming fans.

THe close of the 07 season brings with it a note of weariness, some whining, and a hefty sigh of relief.  I have already whined to you about the rigors and stress of my first season, "abroad"  Now, I can move on to providing the refreshing notes of enthusiasm and sarcastic tendencies that permeate the mind of yours truly...

After about a four-week break from racing and primarily training for cyclocross, I stepped up to the start line again. It was great; I felt that nervous feeling again! It’s a feeling I’ve missed and maybe even a little bit necessary. The Niwot CRIT used to be a NRC event but hasn’t been held since 2003. The course runs through beautiful downtown Niwot and features two 100-degree turns on a figure-eight course.

Whew!