Back from the Dead

So it's been 59 days since I last posted. Needless to say a lot has happened in those 59 days. From a cycling standpoint, I have raced 9 different times with very average results. I was preparing for Joe Martin as of my last post, and well lets just say that turned out to be a disaster.

I got down to Fayetteville alright, and was excited to get the racing underway. I warmed up great, and was feeling very confident as they staged us for the start of stage 1. They stage us, and turn us lose, and not even 1/4 mile into the race, I have 2 flat tires. That wouldn't have been too bad a problem, if the wheel truck had actually left the staging area when we did...not 3 minutes after us. By the time I got the tires changed, the peleton was no where in sight...I chased for the entire day, never even getting a sniff of them. Then 3 miles from the finish, another flat. I dropped out. That was the most disappointed I've ever been at a bike race.

A week later I was at it again at the Clarksville, MO time trial. That was a fun little race. I didn't ride as well as I could have, but I was still rather pleased. I struggled up a large hill in the middle of the course. All in all that was a decent result. 2nd in the 3s.

There were a couple of the tuesday night crits scattered in there, which are great tests of fitness...they really let you know where you're at.

I finished 17th at Winghaven, but feel I should have been in the top 10...I rode strong, but just didn't put myself in good position as we made the final decent. I guess you learn from your mistakes right?? Then this past weekend I went to Baldwin city. I was really pumped for the stage race, but it started out bad too!!! This time in a time trial. There were 2 hills at the beginning, so I went out conservatively, but for some reason never broke out of that rhythm. I was behind from the get go. The crit went alright...some dumb as fell right in front of me with 2 laps to go, and that put a small gap between me and the front end...a 16th place finish. The road race went great, was in the front the whole day...the whole race, except for the last 500m. Ended up 16th in that too. Since I've moved to STL, I just have not been able to get the results. Maybe I'm just having a bad year...I guess I just need to be patient and keep working hard, and the results will come. I've taken this whole week off so far, and will get back on the bike this weekend. The next race for me will be soulard...looking for some good results!!!