Prairies City Race #10

2^nd place last night, I swear every time I start beating one guy another one comes along and ruins everything J. Two of us rode away and separated ourselves from the pack. Last week this same guy kept with me through the third lap. This week he didn’t crack and on the fourth lap he made a sweet pass going through a sandy section in a group of riders we had caught. This separation was enough for him to get away for the rest of the lap and take the race. He took a risk and it paid off, it was a good race. Luckily I’ve been the most consistent all season and have all but locked up the season points win. Also my team should win the season competition as well. Although there may be some drama with Keith’s placing last night.

Keith won, but for some reason he’s placed last on the result page. There is a possibility this is a punishment for aggressive passing. Problem is this is a race, a race with some very fast and talented people mixed with some cautious and unsure people and with 400 people out there on a 3.5 mile course it can be crowded. It is the responsibility of the race organizers to design a course that is friendly to all racers fast and slow, skilled and un-skilled. It is also their responsibility to hear both sides of the story. I understand we want to make it fun for all but at what point does it make it worthless for the expert/expert plus riders to even be competitive. There are races where I’ll lose by less than 15 seconds. I could lose even more time than that waiting in line to pass a bunch of beginner riders “safely” so some times I have to take risks to pass in situations that endanger myself but won’t endanger them. But that still upsets some people. For those within your own class/skill level you need to recognize this is mountain bike racing not some crit where you can ride side by side. Get out of the way or ride faster. If your behind a rider they can choose their line and its your responsibility to follow safely and not cry if you felt you got cut off.

This is in no way a dig at beginner racers. I applaud and promote all skill levels of riders to come race. This is the basis of the GT Dirt Coalition team. I just hope that everyone can be more understanding, and that includes the faster racers as well as the beginners and the race organizers. Mountain bike racing is fun, don't let the few negative nancy's ruin it.

Finally a win at Prairie City!!

With a third place three weeks ago and second two weeks ago with a crash that ripped my GT team jersey I was ready for a week off from Prairie City. I finally got a road bike in the beginning of May and decided to get some crits in. I did the Folsom Crit on Sat. May 23 and got 6th and the Aubrun Crit the next day where I took 4th. Then on the Golden State crit on Sat 30th were I got 5th. Not bad considering those are three of the 7 rides I've done on a road bike in a couple months. Also I had my jersey repaired for $14 at a tailor down the street. It was like new. So I felt confident coming into Prairie City Race 9. The first lap I felt stiff for some reason, but here was a four way split at the beginning of the course. I was the only one to choose far left which was the fastest (thanks for showing me that on the last practice lap Keith). Some guy I don't remember seeing out at Prairie City before caught and kept with me till about half way through the second lap. This week I was driven to not be caught on the 4th and last lap and the climbs on the course were perfect for me to power up. So I began the last lap with the tenacity I usually do in the first lap to separate myself. I didn't get caught this time!! I won by almost a minute. This win was a relief. Also three weeks into the team competition Team Q st. Coalition has a solid lead in the three man team competition. Jen and Keith both got third last night. Keith crashed and still pulled back that placing! 

Also check out the crash in the crit I did last Saturday. I'm in the bottom picture with the grey, red and black jersey and white helmet and glasses watching it go down! The guy in the red long sleeve that's upside down in that picture came back and took third!