A day off after a hectic Friday, I was hoping to be still racing today but Friday evening didn't really go as planned. I didn't leave the track on Friday not wanting to drive back and forth between my morning and evening schedules. We relaxed, had a buffet lunch at the velodrome and slept a bit in the car. Yeah, doesn't sound comfy but it was. I got back in to have a more casual warm up time in the afternoon, first time of the week that it didn't feel rushed. The warm up went good, feeling strong and concentrated on the efforts I needed to do so my first ride was against a Frenchman who's 200 time was close to mine. I drew position 1, where I wanted to be anyhow. Staged and ready, 1 lap, 2nd lap he was leading me and above going a bit faster but still above me so he couldn't come over the top of me so I caught him and took him up track in 3 and then dropped and sprinted with all I had as the bell started to ring, unfortunately I didn't get a big enough gap and he was strong enough to get over around and drop me. His time was 13.04 so about what we did for qualifiers. This was a 1 ride only so next I was placed with two others for a one race only ride to determine who would come back Sat. morning.
3 up repechage, the losing 2 would go to the 9-12 four up race later tonight. I drew position 1 again, lined up and we were off, me against a guy from Japan and a Brit. We lined up and were off, the Japanese guy trying to get had of me, we came around turn 1 with 2 to go and I was passing him, my plan to be at the rail in 2 and ride off the front from 400 meters changing, I decided to move him up track as he was a on my hip and I had a wheel ahead, I moved up, heard him yell but he didn't move, we got very close when I felt his pedal hit my right shoe and then grind away at my rear disc wheel, then bump, clunk, crash, the two behind me went down and I rolled down the back with a strange flapping sound from the back of my bike. I looked back and a chunk of carbon wheel was hanging out flapping against the seat and chain stays as the wheel went around on my bike. Double gun, race stopped, medics moving up to the track As I went down to change the rear wheel, a group of American racers that I've met rushed over to help me and I got my Rolf wheel gear swapped and the wheel on and headed back to the entry only to get sent to the commissar who told me I caused the accident and was relegated. I protested a bit but he said he was sorry and I was still relegated.
The other two got to race alone with and Japanese guy beating the Brit.
I'm now in the 4 up last race of the night to determine 9th through 12th. Lots of emotions and comments from the rest of the racers, a Brit bitching me out as I walked passed him and a bunch of USA mates telling me I was screwed but the end result was what the commissar decided.
The four up turned into a 3 up, Norm, a Canadian went off the front to try and kilo me and the other guy, I stuck to the wheel of the other guy and we blew by Norm but I didn't quite have the power to come over the top, I was about half a bike length behind at the line, leaving the night with a 10th overall.
I eventually found both the Japanese and Brit guys and apologized for the crash, even though I think it was just aggressive racing. The Japanese guy shook hands, hugged and bowed to each other and things seemed OK. The Brit, who was getting medical attention for some scrapes and missed the 4 up event, didn't think much of my explanation, not my problem.
Back at the velo now, Saturday morning, to use their wifi because the hotel one sucks and then off to a vineyard tour before some roller work and back for a points race tomorrow.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Friday
Short and sweet today; I am at the track, it's about 1 PM and we just had lunch at the track buffet which was moved from the outdoor tent to inside because it has been raining all morning. The buffet has been great but the staff really hasn't done anything to let the racers know it's happening other than hope the word spreads as people use it. The rain is bad for the track because there are leaks everywhere. Especially bad because 3 leaks are on the track surface, just out of turn 4, middle of the back straight and about 4 feet below the rail in 3. The two that are on the straights have guys with towels running up and drying them between riders that come by on their 200 efforts. I feel bad for the track personnel.
Back to racing. I got here early and went through my warm up session and got it all it, even though the track didn't open until 8:10 and was closed at 9. My effort was the 51st ride of the morning and with the rain delay finally I rode about 11. It felt like a good effort, 1 little bobble going into 1, I got close to a sponge as I came into turn one full on and scooped up too far above the red line between 1 and 2 to avoid hitting the sponge, losing a few 1/10's I am sure. Came home with a 13.03. I was looking to break into the 12's and probably would have except for my erratic move in between 1 and 2. That time qualified me 8th overall and from the looks of it my age group qualifies 8 with the 1/8 rides starting after 7 tonight.
So time to relax and maybe nap at bit at the track and start over again tonight. Matched sprints, here we go.
I already feel better compared to last years worlds where I only qualified 16th or 17th. Thanks Chris for all the advice and work, and you too Bob for all the motor 200's.
Back to racing. I got here early and went through my warm up session and got it all it, even though the track didn't open until 8:10 and was closed at 9. My effort was the 51st ride of the morning and with the rain delay finally I rode about 11. It felt like a good effort, 1 little bobble going into 1, I got close to a sponge as I came into turn one full on and scooped up too far above the red line between 1 and 2 to avoid hitting the sponge, losing a few 1/10's I am sure. Came home with a 13.03. I was looking to break into the 12's and probably would have except for my erratic move in between 1 and 2. That time qualified me 8th overall and from the looks of it my age group qualifies 8 with the 1/8 rides starting after 7 tonight.
So time to relax and maybe nap at bit at the track and start over again tonight. Matched sprints, here we go.
I already feel better compared to last years worlds where I only qualified 16th or 17th. Thanks Chris for all the advice and work, and you too Bob for all the motor 200's.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday morning
Yesterday was an off day with no visits to the track at all. We slept in awhile and then went to the hotels free breakfast buffet for a casual meal before making the final plans to head south 25 k to a town called Coimbra. The guide books call it a small Lisbon, because it has all the amenities of the bigger city but a little more like a country University town. It also has an old town that was what we really wanted to see. Streets not much wider than a small car and a half wide going up very steep twisty roads up the hills from the river to the top of the town and the local university. There are great shops, bars and bakeries along the way to stop and relax with an pastry and a coffee. The high lights were an 18th century library and a museum that was built on the foundation of original Roman ruins, tunnels and passage ways that were built in the 11th and 12th centuries and not found again until the beginning of the 1900's. It wasn't very big compared to the rest of the city but probably covered a full city block and was 60 to 70 feet under ground. Quite amazing to be standing and walking around inside that structure, some of which was 4 feet high and some 30 feet high. I took lots of pictures so hopefully I can get them up soon.
We got back about 4 and I unpacked the rollers for a casual ride on the hotel terrace in the fresh air to loosen up for today. Shower and off to dinner at the local restaurant, bar, coffee shop and then back to the room to prepare the bike and get to bed.
6 A.M. Came around but I felt refreshed and ready for some morning activation at the track. The hotel is finally figuring out they need to have breakfast ready in time for the early track opening time so at 7 I got some breakfast and then drove to the track which was open earlier than before but not ready to ride. By 8:10 I was on the track with 2 others when a local track official yelled us off some some reason. There isn't any times posted so it is hard to know what's the schedule. Back on the rollers for 15 minutes and finally at 8:30 the same guy whistled us back on again, still no one at the entrance gates but somebody important must have shown up and approved riders to be on. Amazingly enough I got my 1 hour activation rides in and had time to ride the rollers and cool of before they called the track closed. The first race starting at 10 instead of 9 today. Fewer scratch race heats then they planned I guess. As I am sitting in the stands 2 scratch race heats were completed so now there is just open track time until....?
I am about ready to call it a morning, go back to the hotel and relax for the day, tomorrow my races start in earnest, Qualifying 200's and then matched sprints. Saturday is the finals for the matched sprints and then my season ends on Sunday with a 40 lap points race. My warm up speeds to day in my Flying 100's are encouraging so I feel good about making the top 12 for the sprint rounds in my age group.
We got back about 4 and I unpacked the rollers for a casual ride on the hotel terrace in the fresh air to loosen up for today. Shower and off to dinner at the local restaurant, bar, coffee shop and then back to the room to prepare the bike and get to bed.
6 A.M. Came around but I felt refreshed and ready for some morning activation at the track. The hotel is finally figuring out they need to have breakfast ready in time for the early track opening time so at 7 I got some breakfast and then drove to the track which was open earlier than before but not ready to ride. By 8:10 I was on the track with 2 others when a local track official yelled us off some some reason. There isn't any times posted so it is hard to know what's the schedule. Back on the rollers for 15 minutes and finally at 8:30 the same guy whistled us back on again, still no one at the entrance gates but somebody important must have shown up and approved riders to be on. Amazingly enough I got my 1 hour activation rides in and had time to ride the rollers and cool of before they called the track closed. The first race starting at 10 instead of 9 today. Fewer scratch race heats then they planned I guess. As I am sitting in the stands 2 scratch race heats were completed so now there is just open track time until....?
I am about ready to call it a morning, go back to the hotel and relax for the day, tomorrow my races start in earnest, Qualifying 200's and then matched sprints. Saturday is the finals for the matched sprints and then my season ends on Sunday with a 40 lap points race. My warm up speeds to day in my Flying 100's are encouraging so I feel good about making the top 12 for the sprint rounds in my age group.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Pictures, what pictures
New Ipad and I can't quite figure out how to add pictures to this site. So i will keep trying but may need to wait until I find an IE computer to do it, that kind of sucks but....
Tomorrow is day off so casual rollers and sight seeing is on the schedule with activation work on Thursday and 200 qualifiers and matched sprints on Friday and Saturday and then a points race on Sunday.
Tomorrow is day off so casual rollers and sight seeing is on the schedule with activation work on Thursday and 200 qualifiers and matched sprints on Friday and Saturday and then a points race on Sunday.
Tuesday at the Velodromo, Sangalhos
Monday is done and we are into Tuesday the official start of the Champs. Last night after the track was closed there was an opening ceremony which we stayed for. I missed it last year at worlds in Sydney so I thought we should see what it was all about. There was a podium full of junior Portugal riders and then kids carrying flags for all the countries represented. Then there was a lot of speeches in Portugese and then a big local group of singers and guitar and according players to entertain us. That done we were served wine and appetizers. Long but kind of small town fun. Back to the hotel and dinner with Kevin and Kim and off to bed early. I wanted to be at the track right away, it was a supposed to open at 8, so I planned to get up at 6. I made it up and grabbed so snacks and impromptu breakfast to keep me fueled for the morning. Off to the track, stopping by another hotel to pick up a new friend name Chris, of course, from Canada who we met during Monday. We were first at the track but the doors were in fact not open so we sat in the car and talked. At little before 8 they were open so race day begins. Normal warm up but they closed the track 10 minutes before 9 so I barely got a warm up lap in race gear at full speed. I need to remember that for the next warm up session. I was a in the second race, 6th heat starting on the home straight. Bike and helmet check passed, no computer even in the revised back of the top tube position, roller warm ups and then up the ramp to wait for my start. There wasn't any prior gate practice so here we go. In the gate, count down form 50 seconds, 5,4,3,2,1 go bang, bang the other side gate didn't open. I stopped after 10-15 meters, rolled around and got back to the gate and made sure it wasn't my false start. Here we go again, this time we are off but I didn't realized I didn't have a competitor on the track with me. The effort felt good but there is a lot of echo in the space so you can't hear times. Eventually they published them, 40.97 my fastest time ever but only good for 12th out of 19. Fastest time was 36.9?, like I said before fast track. Roller time and pack up for the afternoon off and some real food/lunch.
That's it for now, more pictures later.
That's it for now, more pictures later.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Here in Portugal
It's Monday already and I just finished breakfast at the Curia Hotel, official rider hotel for Worlds Masters. I finally got a full nights sleep after a long Saturday through Sunday plane flight. We left Sat. At 2:30 and got to Lisbon about 8:00 A.M. Got through customs, what is in the box sir? Bicycle, ok, got the rental car and thankfully fit all the gear into it. Of course we got lost some getting out of Lisbon, wrong turn at the round a bout but made it to highway A1 and drove north about 2 hours to get to the Anadia area. It's a very small town area, smaller than I expected and looks old and quaint. We needed to get the phrase book out and ask someone in town how to get to the Curia Hotel. Found it and unloaded some gear and talked to a few racers about where the track was. Basically they couldn't tel me how to get but could lead me there. Off I go without telling Vera what was happening. 20 minutes later and I am at the Velodrome, very cool and very new. I will post some pictures soon but it looks like it really isn't even finished yet and is located kind of out in the middle of small town nowhere. It is very impressive. I tried to register but they were closed for lunch. There was only a few hours until my practice time so I figured I could assemble the bike and just stay and ride, only light training laps anyhow. I got everything together and got registered only to remember that Vera had my shoes in here luggage at the hotel, dam. 45 minutes until track opens for me, rush back to the hotel and then back to the track, getting lost on both trips but made it back by 3:15 so suit up and on the track. Being new, the surface is fresh and untreated and VERY smooth, should be fast. I have connected with a bunch of racers from USA masters already, Kim E., Mark R., Larry and a bunch more. I got at least an hour of ride time in before it was time to be done for the day.
Friday, October 22, 2010
One day until take off
The basement is a pile of bike parts and luggage right now. I just picked up 2 luggage pieces that needed repairs after the last airplane flight they took. It's amazing how new cases can fall apart after only one trip. Cheap, yeah right, stuff or baggage handlers who like to destroy stuff, you decide. I spent last night fitting 3 wheels into a new wheel case, hoping the TSA won't take it apart to look and then forget how to put it back together leaving Zipps and Rolfs floating through the airport and baggage compartment loose. I packed the bike in the case and made sure most stuff fits but probably will need to weight it and adjust how it's packed later tonight. Oh yeah then bike clothes, shoes, helmets, track bike tools, nutritional stuff and all the other gear needed for 2 weeks away. Regular normal street clothes, where do I put them I wonder.
I just happy to know that I am not the only one struggling through this packing quandary. It's just hard to decide what to bring because additional baggage fees really add up in a hurry. Most of this stuff is just barely above the minimum size limits so the airlines can basically add lots of extra dollars anytime they want. You are at the mercy of the counter check in personnel so smile and try not to cause a problem, that means you Pat.
The last busy day at work is moving along quite nicely, open the shop early and then head to a breakfast meeting with the Chamber, back to work to deal with customers and cars, off to the bank to close on some new roof financing plans so we can get a new roof on the building while I am gone and before winter strikes. Back to the shop to try and finish the day out without any snags and then back home for more packing, weighing and re packing.
I am starting to get in vacation mode but it never seems real until we start to load the car for the airport trip.
24 hours and the adventure begins.
I just happy to know that I am not the only one struggling through this packing quandary. It's just hard to decide what to bring because additional baggage fees really add up in a hurry. Most of this stuff is just barely above the minimum size limits so the airlines can basically add lots of extra dollars anytime they want. You are at the mercy of the counter check in personnel so smile and try not to cause a problem, that means you Pat.
The last busy day at work is moving along quite nicely, open the shop early and then head to a breakfast meeting with the Chamber, back to work to deal with customers and cars, off to the bank to close on some new roof financing plans so we can get a new roof on the building while I am gone and before winter strikes. Back to the shop to try and finish the day out without any snags and then back home for more packing, weighing and re packing.
I am starting to get in vacation mode but it never seems real until we start to load the car for the airport trip.
24 hours and the adventure begins.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Last days of training before...Worlds
So last Thursday was the last Madison practice of the 2010 season, another great night. Another warmer fall night, not like the cold of last year so it was another good chance to try and improve Madison skills plus stay fresh for Portugal.
We had about 12 or so show up. Some of my favorite track friends Linsey, Andy, Tom O. among others. It was a fun night where we could do what I am starting to consider "real" track racing. That includes Madisons, Keirins and Sprints. I guess I am getting biased, this year, they seem to be my most favorite races.
Saturday, back in the weight room and then to the track. I still can't believe I can have the whole facility to train on all alone, what a great opportunity.
Monday, roller work at home along with some preliminary planning and organizing for Saturday's departure.
Tuesday, easy day, maybe more rollers, Wednesday back to the track for some motor 200's thanks to Bob's generous offer to drive the motor, can't find a smoother driver around.
Thursday, start to pack and finish on Friday. A few small pieces of the bike and travel puzzle coming together as the week comes to an end.
I just talked to my buddy from Australia who raced the worlds with me last year in Sydney. I will miss his fun and excitement this year but will know he will be with me in spirit.
The weather has been amazing at the end of the season this year compared to last year when I had to train on the track the day after a snowfall with snow still on the track.
One more day of good weather is all I ask.
We had about 12 or so show up. Some of my favorite track friends Linsey, Andy, Tom O. among others. It was a fun night where we could do what I am starting to consider "real" track racing. That includes Madisons, Keirins and Sprints. I guess I am getting biased, this year, they seem to be my most favorite races.
Saturday, back in the weight room and then to the track. I still can't believe I can have the whole facility to train on all alone, what a great opportunity.
Monday, roller work at home along with some preliminary planning and organizing for Saturday's departure.
Tuesday, easy day, maybe more rollers, Wednesday back to the track for some motor 200's thanks to Bob's generous offer to drive the motor, can't find a smoother driver around.
Thursday, start to pack and finish on Friday. A few small pieces of the bike and travel puzzle coming together as the week comes to an end.
I just talked to my buddy from Australia who raced the worlds with me last year in Sydney. I will miss his fun and excitement this year but will know he will be with me in spirit.
The weather has been amazing at the end of the season this year compared to last year when I had to train on the track the day after a snowfall with snow still on the track.
One more day of good weather is all I ask.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Sunday the 5th and last day of racing
I swear this will be the last entry about the TX trip, hopefully I will be more on top of things when I go to Portugal in October later this year.
Saturday was a day that went on forever. I had an OK points race, not what I expected for a race pace or my result but that's in the past. The pace was a lot faster than I expected based on what happened last year. The race stayed fast for the whole race and I did way too much work at the front chasing gaps and then getting over taken by the rippers I pulled. The last lap I thought I finally got a point but someone was up the track and I ended 5th on the last sprint. I think I ended up 8th overall with no points.
Sunday was going to be a hectic day, we needed to check out of the hotel by 11 or so. All of us, Chris, Dan and me were racing at different times of the day and of course everyone needed sleep, food, training warm up times, etc to be ready for the last big day.
I was the lucky one to get to race about 9:30 A.M., Chris mid day and Dan last race of the day.
After I spent Saturday evening watching all the points races, it ended up as another late night to bed, hopefully no smoke alarms tonight. I set my alarm for 5 A.M. but woke at 4:30 anyhow and decided to get up. I just knew if I went back to sleep I would wake up suddenly and find that it was 10 A.M. or something like that. I tip toed around the room trying to get some food and get the gear out to the car.
I got to the track, almost first one. Got unloaded and made it in to start the normal hour or so warm up routine. Not very rested and not very energetic. I had only to race a standing start 500 and I was done for the day except for shuttling Chris and Dan from the hotel to the track. The plan was for me to do my effort, rush back to the hotel, get Chris and come back and help him get ready for a Kilo then go back and help Dan check out and bring him back before Chris did his team sprint.
I was feeling OK about the 500, the weather was beautiful, not too warm yet. I lined up for the start, 15, 10, 5,4,3,2 out of the saddle and back on the bike, 1, go, go go, go. I don't think I was out of the saddle as long as usual but close, dropping down going into turn 3, just a lap and a half to go. Stay low on the bike and on the track, make the track as short as possible, push, harder, more, my legs started to burn, more, more out of 4 and just the main straight now, push and bike throw to finish....and try to suck in some air. As I rolled around slowing I was trying to hear my times and thought I heard the announcer say something about 43. I really didn't hear much of it. 43, if that was my time, that sucked big time, worst time ever and I actually trained some for the 500 this time. The rest of the field was fast, as low as 37 or 38 seconds for the fastest. Crap, how did they do that! I was disappointed but still somewhat excited from my Bronze in the Sprints and I had to focus on the next task, got get Chris so he could warm up.
I grabbed some food from the track vendor and devoured that as I roared back to the hotel. I got there in record time, collected Chris and his gear and back to the track we sped. Unloading his gear, we realized I left the rollers back in the trailer at the hotel, dam. I didn't need them for my warm up and I just wasn't thinking about how Chris had to warm up. In the pits I found some other rollers that were not being used and Kim Edwards said Chris could use hers while I went back to the hotel again for my rollers. Flash, back to the hotel and then back to the track. Lucky no cops were out that early. Chris was trying to warm up without a lot of success so he was glad to see me again I think. The track temp was up significantly from the morning, getting hot again.
As I was helping Chris I heard the announcer call for Dan Schueller to the gate for his Kilo....What? Dan is back at the hotel, no way. Then I realised Dan had switched his Kilo effort for a spot in the last race of the day, a Madison and the officials must not have pulled his name. Whew.
OK, Chris is on his own and I am driving back to the hotel again!!! 3 times was just way too many trips.
I found Dan sitting in the entry with all the gear, I guess check out was at 11 not 12 and it was after 12 so he had to go somewhere. Loaded again and back to the track, I need a nap but that's not gonna happen.
I finally had some time to check my 500TT results, I just needed to know for sure what my time was. After scouring the time sheets I found the early morning sheet for my age group. And the time is ....41.448 that's great for me anyhow. Best time ever, almost .75 seconds faster than last year at Worlds indoors in Sydney. The 43+ that I heard was KPH, speed not time. Still not nearly fast enough but it got me 10th overall in the event. So I ended up with a 3rd, 8th and 10th. Some reward for all my hard work over the summer but also some incentive to keep working hard until Worlds in Oct.
Time to relax on the deck above the track in turn three with Linsey, Andy and the rest of the pack. I was feeling worn out and temps were up so I grabbed one of the ice vests we had ready and put it on, sat down in the shade and finally relaxed.
Our group still had a lot of races to do, team sprints and madisons mostly. The day wore on, got hotter and races continued. Chris got to do his Team Sprint with Ted and Ted's FL friend wearing the skin suit of all skin suits. The three of them dressed in body colored suits with muscle fibers through out. That effort got them a 3rd overall in the team sprints.
Andy and Dan got a chance to show the masters how to ride a madison by gaining a lap on the field and winning their madison overall.
Dan rode his madison with a partner he found at the last minute, Franco and they ended up 5th. They were the last race of the week and by the end of the day Andy, Linsey, Dan and I were finally loading the bike coffin for the long ride home. Chris had some family stuff come up and had to get to the airport and take a flight home. It was dark by the time we were loaded, even all the track lights were off and we were loading the car by headlights.
We said good bye to the Frisco track looking for a beer and some dinner before driving a few miles north. After about 4 hours on the road we couldn't take it anymore, stopped and slept for the night before driving all day and into the night Monday to get home.
The adventure was over and we were back to work the next day, Tuesday. Should have thought ahead and taken that day off to recover.
2381 miles and almost 49 hours in the Caliber later the week was history and it was time to start looking forward to Elite Nationals for Chris the last week of Sept and Worlds Masters for me the last week of October. There is going to be some cold days of training ahead.
Saturday was a day that went on forever. I had an OK points race, not what I expected for a race pace or my result but that's in the past. The pace was a lot faster than I expected based on what happened last year. The race stayed fast for the whole race and I did way too much work at the front chasing gaps and then getting over taken by the rippers I pulled. The last lap I thought I finally got a point but someone was up the track and I ended 5th on the last sprint. I think I ended up 8th overall with no points.
Sunday was going to be a hectic day, we needed to check out of the hotel by 11 or so. All of us, Chris, Dan and me were racing at different times of the day and of course everyone needed sleep, food, training warm up times, etc to be ready for the last big day.
I was the lucky one to get to race about 9:30 A.M., Chris mid day and Dan last race of the day.
After I spent Saturday evening watching all the points races, it ended up as another late night to bed, hopefully no smoke alarms tonight. I set my alarm for 5 A.M. but woke at 4:30 anyhow and decided to get up. I just knew if I went back to sleep I would wake up suddenly and find that it was 10 A.M. or something like that. I tip toed around the room trying to get some food and get the gear out to the car.
I got to the track, almost first one. Got unloaded and made it in to start the normal hour or so warm up routine. Not very rested and not very energetic. I had only to race a standing start 500 and I was done for the day except for shuttling Chris and Dan from the hotel to the track. The plan was for me to do my effort, rush back to the hotel, get Chris and come back and help him get ready for a Kilo then go back and help Dan check out and bring him back before Chris did his team sprint.
I was feeling OK about the 500, the weather was beautiful, not too warm yet. I lined up for the start, 15, 10, 5,4,3,2 out of the saddle and back on the bike, 1, go, go go, go. I don't think I was out of the saddle as long as usual but close, dropping down going into turn 3, just a lap and a half to go. Stay low on the bike and on the track, make the track as short as possible, push, harder, more, my legs started to burn, more, more out of 4 and just the main straight now, push and bike throw to finish....and try to suck in some air. As I rolled around slowing I was trying to hear my times and thought I heard the announcer say something about 43. I really didn't hear much of it. 43, if that was my time, that sucked big time, worst time ever and I actually trained some for the 500 this time. The rest of the field was fast, as low as 37 or 38 seconds for the fastest. Crap, how did they do that! I was disappointed but still somewhat excited from my Bronze in the Sprints and I had to focus on the next task, got get Chris so he could warm up.
I grabbed some food from the track vendor and devoured that as I roared back to the hotel. I got there in record time, collected Chris and his gear and back to the track we sped. Unloading his gear, we realized I left the rollers back in the trailer at the hotel, dam. I didn't need them for my warm up and I just wasn't thinking about how Chris had to warm up. In the pits I found some other rollers that were not being used and Kim Edwards said Chris could use hers while I went back to the hotel again for my rollers. Flash, back to the hotel and then back to the track. Lucky no cops were out that early. Chris was trying to warm up without a lot of success so he was glad to see me again I think. The track temp was up significantly from the morning, getting hot again.
As I was helping Chris I heard the announcer call for Dan Schueller to the gate for his Kilo....What? Dan is back at the hotel, no way. Then I realised Dan had switched his Kilo effort for a spot in the last race of the day, a Madison and the officials must not have pulled his name. Whew.
OK, Chris is on his own and I am driving back to the hotel again!!! 3 times was just way too many trips.
I found Dan sitting in the entry with all the gear, I guess check out was at 11 not 12 and it was after 12 so he had to go somewhere. Loaded again and back to the track, I need a nap but that's not gonna happen.
I finally had some time to check my 500TT results, I just needed to know for sure what my time was. After scouring the time sheets I found the early morning sheet for my age group. And the time is ....41.448 that's great for me anyhow. Best time ever, almost .75 seconds faster than last year at Worlds indoors in Sydney. The 43+ that I heard was KPH, speed not time. Still not nearly fast enough but it got me 10th overall in the event. So I ended up with a 3rd, 8th and 10th. Some reward for all my hard work over the summer but also some incentive to keep working hard until Worlds in Oct.
Time to relax on the deck above the track in turn three with Linsey, Andy and the rest of the pack. I was feeling worn out and temps were up so I grabbed one of the ice vests we had ready and put it on, sat down in the shade and finally relaxed.
Our group still had a lot of races to do, team sprints and madisons mostly. The day wore on, got hotter and races continued. Chris got to do his Team Sprint with Ted and Ted's FL friend wearing the skin suit of all skin suits. The three of them dressed in body colored suits with muscle fibers through out. That effort got them a 3rd overall in the team sprints.
Andy and Dan got a chance to show the masters how to ride a madison by gaining a lap on the field and winning their madison overall.
Dan rode his madison with a partner he found at the last minute, Franco and they ended up 5th. They were the last race of the week and by the end of the day Andy, Linsey, Dan and I were finally loading the bike coffin for the long ride home. Chris had some family stuff come up and had to get to the airport and take a flight home. It was dark by the time we were loaded, even all the track lights were off and we were loading the car by headlights.
We said good bye to the Frisco track looking for a beer and some dinner before driving a few miles north. After about 4 hours on the road we couldn't take it anymore, stopped and slept for the night before driving all day and into the night Monday to get home.
The adventure was over and we were back to work the next day, Tuesday. Should have thought ahead and taken that day off to recover.
2381 miles and almost 49 hours in the Caliber later the week was history and it was time to start looking forward to Elite Nationals for Chris the last week of Sept and Worlds Masters for me the last week of October. There is going to be some cold days of training ahead.
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