Steve and I left around seven on Saturday night -- we got there around 1:30. It was a long drive. I think we listened to "Milo Goes to College" about four times. We camped in the parking lot (though Steve would like you to know that he slept on a cot in a crappy sleeping bag while I crashed in my expensive tent on my expensive sleeping pad in my zero-degree bag). It got cold, probably down into the high 30s. I slept well. We were the only ones that did this. Remember, we're next-level. We ride to races when they're within 30 miles; we don't pay to sleep in beds. In the morning some guy pointed awkwardly at my tent and asked me if I'd actually slept there. "Um, yeah, you know, that's why I set my tent up." I figured it was obvious. "Huh," he mumbled, confused, "well good luck to you today." Good luck to you, dude!
The field was 65. The race was 57 miles, two 23-mile laps, with two shorts climbs and a sorta-steep, half-mile climb to the finish. Perfect! I hung in the field until the climb to the start-finish at mile-22. I broke away on the hill to win my personal "King of the Mountain" satisfaction and then rode solo for about ten miles into the wind until I got caught. With about ten miles to go, some Army/West Point cadet and I went. We put a huge gap on the field that somehow kept getting bigger and bigger. He did most of the work -- thanks, general. I soft pedaled the climb until about 200 meters, stood up, he yelled something at me to the affect of, "I thought you were going to let me win!", and took the win by about 20 seconds and around 1:30 over the field. I threw the ugliest victory salute ever, wobbling, probably going about six miles an hour; I'm lucky/glad I didn't go down. Also, at the base of the hill I chucked my water bottles, one was still full. Apparently, I chucked them so hard that they rolled down an embankment and into a creek. I didn't find them. Well, that sucks.
I drank a Sparks on the way home to celebrate, for both the win and my birthday. I got a winners jersey. It doesn't fit so I hung it on the wall in my classroom. My 4-year-olds are very impressed! It was my Monday morning show-and-share.
With the win, I'm able to upgrade from a Cat. 4 to a Cat. 3. I went from a Cat. 5 to a 3 in four weeks!
Other recent races:
- May 10, Aliquipa industrial park criterium, "B Race": 2nd Place. I won one $10 prime and got beat in the sprint by the same kid who out-sprinted me at the last Mingo Creek race. You would think I'd remember that. Also, a 16-year-old kid got me by half a tire for another $10 prime. Why wasn't I doing this when I was 16? I won $35. We rode there and back. Next-level. (21 miles)
- May 13, Allegheny Cycling Association, Washington Boulevard Criterium, "B Race": 3rd Place. About six laps in, me and four other guys made a break. It took us 17 laps, but we eventually lapped the field of 33 riders! We averaged a little over 28 miles per hour doing it. The UPMC team blocked everything including their own rider who'd also lapped the field in the sprint (they have a nine-man team); I got around them, but they slowed me enough to finish sixth in the field sprint but third overall. Great race! $10 race; $10 back in my wallet. (20 miles)
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