El Crampo

Was out of town all week on an intense project and was off the bike for 4 whole days. I think the last time that happened was when I was sick in March. So the legs had time to recover from all the knots and bashing I gave them last weekend, but doing nothing does not give the optimal physiological adaption. Got home about 9:15 on Friday and got up at 6:00 AM to roll to Dunnigan. Was really looking forward to this race and felt ok. The legs felt a little flat but woke up just fine. We had four guys in the race and a good all around team representation in different categories. Special thanks to Roy for manning the feed zones. And Clover boys – neutral or not, you don’t take a bottle from someone who has another teams’ jersey - jerko.

The top guys started firing the bullets quickly and I made sure to be in front to watch for a break. Lots of attacks, but nothing was going to stick since the wind was light. Somewhere on lap one maybe half way, Lothar went with a Spiney and one other. The group let em roll up to about a minute. We had the center-line nazi ref giving us the splits – that was very cool. They did warn us about the centerline rule and guys ignored it and got DQd. We pulled in the break and the wind picked up for lap 2. Ok I knew there were going to be some attacks again (well they never really stopped) and knew it was hard to move up in the wind and tight course. I was riding 5th wheel watching Metcalfe and I forget who else trading pulls. Martin was sitting third wheel, so something was gonna happen. Then it came from the left. I looked over and my teamie was there, except Safeway had three in an eight man break. I was a bit out of position and would have had to attack on the unprotected side to cover after a slight pause. This may have caused others to follow so I let it be and needed a bit of break since I’d been near the front the entire 1st lap +. John knows as well as anyone how to deal with a break. I was talking to Kirkpatty and figured the Navigator guy would attack at some point as that was clearly a break that was going to stick with Parks, Metcalfe, Bennet, Pasco?, Reade? and not sure who the other two were besides John. The other teams and solo guys did not get organized at all. There was plenty of horsepower if they traded pulls. One EMC almost chased his own guy for awhile till someone else reminded him that their “strongest” guy was in the break so then he just covered in the front. I stayed close as well then the Navigator guy slipped away after a failed attempt by alto velo. Noone followed which surprised me. I figured EMC or Safeway might cover but I suppose that potentially could have reduced the odds if the group did get organized. I think the break was about 1:45 or 2:00 at that point so there was no way were catching. So there were various attacks all the way and a couple slipped off our group. KP tried to bring it in but got no help. I sat trying to save for a sprint and staying near the front knowing a top ten was still out there. Unfortunately John fell out of the break and we picked him up with maybe 5 or 6 miles to go. I tried drilling the front a little but no separation and a slight bit of cramping so I backed off. I positioned near the front and into the last corner two swung way wide as if just tired and forgetting how to corner. I dropped in behind Martin who was second or third wheel figuring he was leading out Pab or would just go for it. Pab came up and then I got behind him. Ok as good a position as any. At 1K there was an attack and not sure why I grabbed it but I sucked on the wheel with a nice draft so I was working but not all out according the power meter download. We got to about 500m and I got stung by a yellow jacket in my jersey. Little fucker hurt. Then it got me again – two stings. We slowed and I lost concentration a bit, but no one else had come around. OK its 200m and uphill so I soft pedaled a little but not too much to keep momentum till someone came then I was to follow and make my attack. NOT! The group went by and my legs just died. They literally stopped functioning. “Cmon legs!…..Nooooooooooooo.” I had a good breakfast, and 1000+ calories with my salt tabs and drank 3 or 4 bottles. They still just seized and cramped and I was barely able to get across the line in like last place in the group. Oh well. I was happy to be there ready to try for that field sprint for 8th, but it was just not meant to be. Great course, good team work and pretty damn exciting for a pretty flat ride with all the attacks – oh and damned fast.

So for the techie geeks here’s the data – note the difference between avg and normalized

90.4 miles
ride time 3:40
avg. speed 24.67
Avg power 207
Normalized power 256
TSS 228
IF .8