What’s better than after a day of painting the front porch, lifting some pre-fab Ikea furniture and enjoying some fine Latin cuisine….Wells Ave!!! I didn’t get my fill of people watching for the week so what better way than to attend the C-race. I haven’t been there once this year so I knew it would be all new faces. While getting ready, I noticed someone driving on the course well over the speed limit, zip into a parking spot and kit – up. Specialized Uber-carbon frame, some fancy carbon wheels and some tan lines to match. You are figuring B-race or A- racer, right? Not by a long shot, who lines for the c-race…that’s right, Mr. Carbon. That’s when I thought I was going to be in trouble. There were some fit looking individuals lined up and seems everybody has been spending their economic stimulus checks on some fancy gear.
The race rolls off, and the pace isn’t bad, the first few laps, everybody is just sitting in, a few people try and roll off but the head/cross wind pretty much hurt those out there alone. I’m just waiting for Mr. Carbon to sprint away, not a chance, there he is sitting third wheel most of the time. A few other riders to watch, Mr. Ibex likes to swerve around manhole covers and not gracefully, only was cut off twice in one lap. A few nervous line changes and the usual surge forward anytime we came near the start/finish line, apparently some loved ones were watching. Heart rate was probably pegged cause apparently my 35 minute commute doesn’t count as “structured training.” Pony boy rides off the front for about 2 laps, only to fall back in line, a few others try the same thing only to blow up and drift back into the group. I don’t even think we were really chasing or doing anything like that….come on, we are Cat 5’s, we are lucky not to have crashed at this point. If some people worked together I’m sure we would have seen them off and fight to reel them in later (maybe try that next time). With a few laps to go, I didn’t keep count, either lap 11 or 12 or 13, who knows, I ended up on front so why not give it go and see if someone comes with. I wouldn’t say I sprinted off, or lept off but rather accelerated “un-evenly” until I was far enough away where I could look back. Nobody followed and well the heart didn’t keep up with the legs and I knew I was doomed. One turn later someone else decides to come up for a chat but we both realized our suckitude and pulled the plug a lap later and eventually fell back into the end of the pack where I remained.. At least we had fun with it, not too mention it broke up the race a little. Final lap, the speed ramps up, the craziness ensues and sure enough bars tangle and 5 or so riders hit the deck. I didn’t really see it happen since I was rolling through that last turn spent and un-recovered from previous efforts. Overall it was a good morning and I wish I could do more so we will see. I have to believe that Mr. Carbon is just out there racking up a few races so he can upgrade. We’ll see what happens next time in a few weeks time. Probably try the same stunt but run it twice and see what happens. It was encouraging to see a large field and the BRC run a solid event. Also it’s funny to see everybody looking out the corner of their eye checking out each others ride and equipment to see who has the bigger wallet.
One more random useless thought...how does an apple from New Zealand cost 1.79 per pound when an apple from washington state costs the same (though they a different types, nothing exotic)?
