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What Jason saw:
Category: 4
Result: Did not finish
Being unemployed had some advantages. I got to ride 3 hours a day, dropped 6lbs and climbed just about everyday. Where I live now, I have no choice but to climb. One one climb I've dropped my personal best from 8:00 mins to 6:16 mins.
Arriving at the University of Santa Cruz and checking out the course. I determined quickly it was an easy course to manage. Pretty much uphill, take a right, go down, take another right and back up again. The descent is nice, wide and into the wind which favors a pack descent. Easy enough for me to handle. The climb has some pitch points and finishes steep (ala Mt. Diablo). One can set a nice pace and power up the final spot. It wasn't too long either. Pretty much a hill climb repeat circuit race. Weather was nice and hot my favorite.
The day before, racing San Ardo, I noticed I had enough power to hang with the strong climbers and at some points help set the pace. So this actually gave me some confidence. Knowing I could hang on for at least 10 of the 15 laps.
I get set up, warm up next to Donn. I get a nice solid warm up in and felt pretty good.
Get to the line to watch Chris finish 11ish in the 3's. Chris mention to just stay at the front. Easy to do. Donn, Matt and Rory and I are already there. The start is about 3/4's of the way up to the top. So you start climbing from the get go.
The officials give a longer than usual speech on the center line rule. They were cracking down hard on enforcement of the rule. Apparently last year the pulled super stud, Levi Lephimer (sp?) for violating the center line rule...damn. Then some mention that the Women's Pro 1/2 is after us and don't let your ego get you when they pass you.
After the talk we get the whistle when it happens......I attempt to get going and I miss clip. No worries, try again, damn missed again..I'm an idiot....try again...ah...what the hell...oh no! My chain dropped! (Expletive deleted - Ed.) Because I am at the front I have to avoid some bodies before I can fully dismount to smack the chain back on. I smack it on rather quickly. (I am trying to panic intelligently) Hop back on the bike, clip in the first time, even get a push from a guy watching, and dig too deep too early and try to catch up. As I am about 20 feet from the pack, they crest the climb and start the descent. It's over...I ain't catching up now. Physics is not in my favor. None the less I keep plugging away.
I decide to set a nice tempo pace on the climb. I just figure I'll go until catch as many people as possible. Work my way the nice and steady style. 3 laps in, I catch some weaklings. I ride with them a bit to rest then easily drop them. For the next 6 laps it's just me and 4 Los Gatos Cat 1/2 girls. Man these pint size girls descend like little demons. Finally I get lapped then decide rather than spend the next 30-40 minutes in a race with no hope of even getting mentioned in the results, I"ll go home. Haven't hung with the wife in two long weeks.
The worst part is that I truly felt I could have hung with pack and the pace setters. I was feeling light on the pedals and had I had the benefit of people to suck wheels from I could have saved a ton of energy...
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What Donn saw:
Category: 4
Result: Off the back
University RR Haiku:
dropped on the third lap
fifteen laps under hot sun
ride twelve laps alone
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What Mike N. saw:
Category:
In response to Donn's haiku...
there is next year yes?
you rode twelve laps in peace yes?
see you at Giro?
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