The 1 (ok, 2) lap rule and the kindness of strangers...

Race avenue crit in Lancaster, PA. I had taken it easy this week as it was rest week; only rode twice, but did a few "jumps" on friday to prep for the race. I should've seen this as an omen but when I got my bike ready to go this morning I found that the front tire was flat. WHY I ever bought Conti Latex tubes is a mystery to me. Went to put the spare on and it doesn't hold air. Finally found a cheap, trusty, Kenda tube and was ready to go. I figured that maybe I should bring my spare front wheel "just in case". I get there in plenty of time and find a great spot at Franklin and Marshall college to park and warm up. 1/2 way into the warmup campus security informs me I can't park there, but is cool enough to let me finish my warm up.
I get done taking a shorter warmup so I can move the car. Get to the start and races are running late. Aaack. We wait about 20 extra minutes and FINALLY line up, me securing a primo front row start position.
And we're off!
2nd friggin lap I hear "pisssssssssssss" and guess what? It's me. Flat. Rear. I'm f*cked.
Fortunately a cat 4 rider sees my plight and lets me use his wheel. Also, fortunately, they "bend" the 1 lap rule and allow me 2 since it's just slightly over 0.6 miles per lap.
I hop on and ride like a madman to catch back on. Why the f%ck I didn't bring a spare REAR tire is beyond me. That'll never happen again.
A nice sized group stays away the entire race and we finish several laps in front of many. I hung on until the last stretch and the legs called it a day. I'm pretty sure I made top 15 so I'm pretty content with where my fitness is, esp since I'll be doing a 3 week killer session before cross starts.
Oh. And who said that roadies were all pricks? Much props to WHOVER it was that loaned me the wheel.

Not sucking as much......

Alaric Gayfer crit in Trexlertown, PA. Cat 5 "move up race". Small field, about 15 starters. This course is a 1 mile track that winds thru the park. A steep little left-hander right past the start/finish down thru a series of S turns then a long left sweeper, twisting back and then up a slight grade to the start finish line. 15 laps, started REALLY slow, then some guys picked up the pace. I stayed around mid pack most of the race but EVERY TIME down thru the turns they'd slow. I KNEW that I was faster than anyone thru that series of turns. The usual attacks occured; I stayed put and in the pack. With about 5 to go I positioned myself towards the front. Right past the start/finish on the last lap I heard "on the left" and 2 guys were making an attack up the hill. I decided it was now or never. Caught them and went flying past them down thru the turns pulling ahead by about 10 legnths by the mid point in the left hand sweeper. Then the cavalry came charging and I gave all that I had left, winding up 10th, my best road finish so far.

1st weekend of racing this yr...

Grandview GP and Allntown Sportsfest. Grandview was a nice, shady course, and my legs felt like lead. I stayed with the pack for about 5 of the 10 laps, then fell off the back. No "go" in the legs. Maybe it was the fact that 1) my training ride on thurs was cut short by a snapped chain or 2) I had no training ride on fri. Or both. Whatever. 19th out of 22 starters. Yay me.
The sportsfest found me having better legs but this yr it seemed to be much faster than last yrs snail-like pace. I stayed with the pack the whole time but wound up 17th (missd 16th by a gnat's pube). Stoopid tactics. I kept gaining ground on the hill by the start/finish line, then fell back a bit on the flat. WTF was up with that? Loss of 10ish lbs, maybe? Who knows. All in all I'm OK with it; starting intervals again and I'll race again Aug 16th, hopefully a bit fitter and faster.

Meet Ralphie

He's a 34 lb 1 1/2 yr old chow mix with a severe case of skittishness. He is really warming up to Chelsea and Sarah and is gradually coming around to me. After a near miss with adopting another shiba, we found him at Molly's Place, a really cool shelter. It is great to rescue a dog; I wish we could have taken more home. He's really sweet and wants to play with the cats but they're scared to death of him. Zoe is her usual grumpy self; it's going to take a while for her to get used to him; he just wants to play.

Various and assundry things. Or whatever...

Today was a beautiful day in central PA.
I am actually feeling REALLY strong on teh bike. (This is setting myself up for major dissappointment, I'm sure).
I love doggies. All kinds. Well. Check that. Not too fond of chihuahuas.
I look stylin' euro-pro in my new HUP kit and Diadora shoes.

Good bye silly little dog..

On Sunday, Sam and I were going to go to Lowes to get some more pavers and stone to finish under the deck. We hoped in the car, pulled out, and I felt a bump under the wheel. I glance out the side mirror and see Sasha, our youngest Shiba, flailing around and then falling to the ground. She had apparently been under the car and I ran over her. Frantic call to the vet and we get ready to take her there. She was laying on the back seat as I waited for the girls, and it was there that she left us. I still feel like shit. Sam and Sarah are taking it pretty hard; especially Sarah; she's so sensitive. It's a huge hole in our life cut out. I even think the cats miss her; Zoe isn't the same either. She was the eternal puppy; 5 yrs old and still goofy.
I suppose we'll look to get a rescue dog, preferably a Shiba, in a while. But for now it hurts too much.

Wow. It's been a while.

The girls are home from school. Nice to have company around the house before I go to work. (Besides the pets!) Just finished my series of intervals for now. I'll start again in early August. For now it's a rest week and then just riding and keeping up the intensity. July 27th will be my 1st race (Allentown sports fest crit) this yr. Can't wait. In the meantime I'm going to do some longer rides (hopefully) and just enjoy the girls being home. Man, I'll be teaching Chelsea to drive next month!
Mike G finally has my HUP kit. Guess I'll get it next time he's up this way. I just saw 184.5 on the scale this am. 1st time in I don't know how many yrs I've been below 185. I'd like to get down to about 180 by cross season. Should be real lean at that weight. Maybe I'll even do better this yr? Who knows......
Since redd Rose races has gone belly up, there aren't raelly many races (crits) around this yr, but I should be able to get 3-4 in before cross season. I'd like to place top 10 in the sports fest. Then I'll ask for an upgrade so I can race master's races and really get my ass kicked.