Apr 01, 2023

I LEARNED SOME CRAZY SHIZ TODAY

AFTER ALL RACES there is always the huddle. Could be a group, a single rider, or just ourselves, but we always...

... replay the race.

Today was not different,
except some crazy shiz was shared.

First up, Tim and I had to rehash his blistering start. It was nuts. From the word go he was sprinting and...

... Tinker and I were hanging on.

He backed off a little before the single track and we got by him.

What the heck was I doing on the World Champion's wheel?

Weaving, bobbing and dodging some very fast, flowy single track. I was there for a bit.

This was blowing my mind.

I've never been there. Either Tinker has raced pro, or had a call up to the front row.

Two weeks in a row he has put the wood to me.

15 minutes in 3 hours last weekend, 3 minutes in 1 hour this weekend.

Could I have held his pace?

Maybe, if I'd tapered and really focused for this race...

... maybe, just maybe.

Could he have gone faster?

Probably.

But, it's something to think about.

Am I just gonna resign myself that we are all racing for second place when Tinker shows up or am I gonna go for it? That is what I did today, resign to race for second, and consequently Tim and I had a very fun and tactical battle.

Here's another weird mental thing.

Because I didn't know Tim before our battle at Cactus Cup a few weeks ago, I figured I could probably beat him. Why? Who knows?...

... I learned it was totally unjustified.

He has beaten really fast guys who regularly smoke me or have smoked me soundly in the past. That was one of the things that came up in our post race huddle today.

Now that I know that will I race Tim different?
Maybe.

Now that I know I can at least start with Tinker will I race him different?
Maybe.

It's crazy how expectations impact us.

But, I wasn't expecting this crazy story.

Apparently, and I didn't know this, at Cactus Cup some of the guys Tim and I were racing were cutting the course.

No shiz!

I couldn't believe it, but sure enough, these cats were dramatically short on miles according to their Strava files.

And, when confronted, simply stated well the officials said I placed X and I'm taking the prize.

How crazy is that?!

Grown men, cutting course to win a bike race?!

So dumb.

How do you do that to your soul? For get your competitors, that kinda shiz can snuff the light right out inner greatness.

Then, Jon showed me his new Trek SuperCaliber. It was so light. At least 3 pounds lighter than my bike and a super sano cockpit. That weight savings is enough to actually matter, and I never would have guessed it would be so much fun to ride.

3lbs...

... how crazy is that?!

When I finally got back to camp, Steve and Bryson were there.

What place did you get?

2nd.

You?

2nd.

And, you?

2nd.

If you're a regular reader you already know I have the largest collection of 2nd place awards in the world...

... but, 3 friends all ending up 2nd in their age class?

That's some crazy shiz.