Howdy,
I am down in Silver City, NM for the Tour of the Gila. Today
was the first of four stages for my category (40+, Cat 3, 4, and 5). A doozy, for sure.
Things started out well enough with me forcing myself to sit
in the pack for the initial seven mile climb up to Meadow Creek. I have a
compulsive desire to take off on any hill set before me regardless of the
tactical sense, but managed to keep control of myself this time. Toward the top
I got to the front so as not to get yo-yoed off the back on the subsequent fast
section. This plan worked out well and I continued to conserve a few heartbeats
here and there compared to last year on the same course.
Next up was the descent down to Sapillo Creek, a hair-raising
affair with switchback after switchback. Last year this was done in the company of
quite a few 20 year-olds and I just hung at the back. Being with older and
wiser gents this year gave me a bit more courage and smarter wheels to follow
through the curves, so not quite as horrifying. However, one of our group over-cooked
one of the corners and endo-ed into the shrubbery. He was alright and got back
on pretty quickly.
At the bottom of the descent things heated up mightily and I
had a heck of a time catching back up with the peloton. Really did’nt want to
expend that effort, but I think they must have been reeling in an escapee.
Fairly tranquilo through the valley rollers for about ten
miles. Unfortunately I missed bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint by about
half a wheel length. Oh well, thought I would give it a shot.
Just before hitting the Continental Divide things went a bit
pear-shaped as I got side-swiped and took a tumble. I jumped back on my bike
and rode like hell to catch back on, before even checking to see if I or my
bike were damaged. Muy stupido, but it turned out alright. Not too much damage.
Noticed that my cadence sensor was dangling close to my spokes on the left
chain stay, thought about stopping to fix it but didn’t want to get dropped. It
came off by itself soon after. Couple of cuts on my right knee and a couple of
gnarly bruises on my tricep and forearm. Anyhow, I got pretty lucky, in spite
of my bad luck. The best part was that the guy who took me out actually came
over to me at the end of the race and apologized profusely. I don’t think that
I would have had the guts to do that.
Back to the race: After the Divide, we hit a head wind and
the group stayed together allowing one escapee to go it alone off the front.
That was a mistake. His lead grew to three minutes no one went after him. I
went to the front repeatedly between Mimbres and Acklin Hill to try to
coordinate a chase, but no one wanted to leave the shelter of the pack before
the big climb. Pretty surprising to me that none of the teams were interested
in winning. Oh well.
Next up was Acklin Hill, a big climb followed by a series of
four more hills that goes on for 10 miles or so. Again, I quelled my
compulsions and stayed in the pack conserving as much energy as possible. Finally
at about mile 55 (of 64 total), I tried attacking before the last hill. This
didn’t work out so good. About a quarter mile from the top I popped, got caught
by the peloton and went out the back door in a matter of a minute. Spent the
last seven miles of the race trying to catch back on, lactate swelling every
cell in my body. No luck, they dangled in front of me within 300 to 500 meters
for the entire time. Part of this chase was with Tony, they guy who endo-ed going
down into Sapillo Creek. The worst part
of this little hell was that I was close enough to see that, while I was
completely redlined, the guys at the back of the peloton were spending a lot of
time coasting. Ugg.
Anyhow, no regrets. My main goal this year is to try to do
more than just hang with the peloton. I think this group of riders is probably
stronger than last year’s, quite a few Category 3 riders in the bunch whereas
last year’s group was all Category 4 and 5’s. They are definitely wiser. BUT,
they seem a little vulnerable to attacks if one were to try something
audacious. Hmmmm. . . .
Tomorrow is the time trial stage. Hopefully no mechanical
bugs like last year and I can improve my time. As of right now, I have no idea
where I am at in the standings. The soloist succeded I think, by maybe four
minutes. Insert headshaking now at the well-represented teams in our category
as they lost the Tour of the Gila today by not chasing that dude down. I am somewhere
in the middle of the standings maybe, as I think a largish group came in a few
minutes behind me. I could be last though, for all I know. Anyhow, I felt
strong and gave it a go a few times throughout the day, which feels good. My
arm and knee, not so good but nothing I can’t ignore for the next three days. Until
next time. . . .
