DAY 1 IS DOWN

IT'S EASY TO FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE AFTER A RACE.  I wish I would have done this differently, I can't believe I was so slow on that section, what was I thinking try to do?...

... so, let's focus on the positive.

I finished with a smile.

Bike worked perfectly.

PR'd a few of the climbs.

I'm just off my time from '19.

12th overall, 3rd in my age group.

6th on Powerline DH.

I took no chances and had my bike on the front of Start Line at 830am.  Hit the dirt in top 20.  Settled in and let the Old Diesel do his thing on the climbs.

The thing that was so much harder today, on the stage race, is there are only 300 racers.  Which means, if you're in the top 20-30 places there aren't the big draft trains along the paved and flatter sections. 

I rode alone from the base of Power Line until the dirt at Pipeline.  Lots of wind.  On the big 100 miles in 1 day, that is a place where you can really fly because you're in a group of 10-15.

The coolest part of the day was having racers from all over the country come up and introduce themselves and tell me about how life changing the RaceDay Bag™ has been...

... totally made my day.

Just awesome athletes from all over the country.  Connecting.

Okay, here's the crazy thing I'm going to do. 

I don't recommend this at all, but I feel the need for a smaller chainring.

Cycles of life has a 32, I currently run a 34.  

The 32 is not a big deal...

... but, it's oval.

I've ridden oval rings before.  I didn't see it as a game changer, I have a pretty smooth spin, and didn't go with it on the BMC.

There is only 1 reason to make this change...

... the climbs here are long and steep and I was in my 52 and 44 quite a bit.

The massive Columbine climb is tomorrow's stage.  11 miles up to 12,500', and 11 miles down.

Then Sunday is the hideous Power Line climb, which I've only cleaned once.  That was in training.  All the other times I've done the walk of shame.

Like I say, I would never recommend such a change.  But, I ran a 32 x 10-50 last time and I felt like I was grinding just a bit in the 42 and 36 today... and I def remember struggling with the 50 last time.

It's not a huge risk, and could be a huge pay off.

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This cat from Kentucky and I worked well together... our group of 8 blew up after Pipeline.

Caught a few in the parking lot as we geared up.

Jackson from UT.

The Rooster Racers from AZ

Mike, from Indiana, tracked me down at the finish.  His video on Insta is classic.

The McKinney boys got custom bags, gloves and socks.

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