The officials didn’t mention how big the field was, but I reckon it was maybe 25 or so. Iron City Bikes and CMU had a few riders each, and with Ted and Rob there, I figured things would be interesting at the front. The pace was brisk from the start, and I settled in near the front of bunch. As usual, I found myself stuck on the inside when interesting things happened at the front, and I never spent any time working at the front (though this wasn’t from a lack of trying). There were numerous attacks off the front, but, as usual, nothing stuck for more than a lap or so.

With about 15 laps to go, there was a prime (cookies!!). I found myself in decent position in the last corner, on the outside, and only one person made a jump from the field. I wound it up a bit and took off from the corner. I passed the other ride, and figuring someone had to jump on my wheel, kept my head down and sprinted over the line. I looked back briefly and saw I already had a small gap on the field, so I put my head down again and kept turning the pedals. The officials rang the bell for another prime (no doubt an effort to try to keep me off the front), and I heard Doug and Steevo yelling for me keep up the pace. Carpe diem and all that, so I kept pushing. I looked back entering the final corner, and it didn’t seem that the group made up much ground. As I crossed the line, those jokesters rang the bell again, but after careful deliberation, decided that it would be better to actually finish the race, so I sat up in the back straight and let the group catch me.

I settled in near the back of the first bunch and tried to recover. After a lap or so, the pace really climbed, and with about six laps to go, I thought I was done. I had flashbacks to the beginning of the season, getting dropped, unable to turn my pedals fast enough. How embarrassing–take a flyer, win two primes, then tap out. I gave up any hope of a decent finish, and tried to spin my legs back to normal. About half a lap later I didn’t feel like dying anymore, and moved up a bit in the group, slowly nudging to the outside in hopes of getting a good position for the sprint. At the start of the bell lap I did indeed have a good position, about 15 riders back and on the outside. Entering the final corner, I felt okay about my chances for finishing in the points. Then, somebody swerved up a bit, and the few us up high on the bank had to slow a bit, and that was that. I managed to pass a few folks and finish 15th.

No points, but still a successful race in my book. It nice to attack for a change, and I managed to recover from the effort in time for the finish. The attack was by far the hardest effort I’ve put out in awhile, and that felt good. I’d like to spend more time at the front of the bunch, but I always, always, always seem to be boxed in. Sometimes I’m a bit disappointed that I only have 7 series points (with only three races to go), but then I remind myself that only two months ago I was getting lapped. Repeatedly. I should be chucked that I have 7 points (3 top eight finishes) and several primes to my credit at this point.

And I am.

I should note that this video of the finish of the 1985 edition of Paris-Roubaix provided motivation for tonight’s race.

Posted on 12 August 2008