Darin Salk, Snelling Cat 5

CAT 5 Race Report

Goals accomplished: finished (my 1st official race), didn’t crash, wasn’t last. A rider who must have mistaken the race for the Amgen Tour or was heavily doped up on roids soloed off the front and was never seen again. Mike Matiasek and Bob Blythe we’re solid and stayed with the lead pack throughout the race and pulled for several long stretches (great photo was sent of them in an earlier message). The wind seemed to increase almost exponentially each lap. Mike was in the final sprint to the finish a posted top ? finish. Bob was just back of the final sprint and posted an excellent result I did my best to stay in the top 10-20 and get into that photo but got popped off the back in lap 2 (or was it 3…things got mentally fuzzy with all that wind). I road with a chase pack, got popped off again on a “climb” and then hooked up with a number of nice guys and a couple not so nice (karma, the big mean dude in yellow crashed and didn’t finish). I had a strong last lap and was very happy (read huge understatement) to see the finish line. That was really a tough race! We saw Joe Kovaks roll up back at the parking lot. He got dropped from the pack a bit earlier than me but gutted it out to finish the race. Goals to pursue: more races, improve climbing (the longer rollers we’re too hard and I lagged behind most on several “climbs”), lose a few lbs, don’t get dropped by peleton, seek to race with riders closer to my own advanced age, more races...

Mike, thanks for driving!

Rod & upcoming 4-man team time trial DBC brother, I know you’re hurtin. Just think if you weren’t part of a great group of dudes like the DBC Masters. You would have come home yesterday crying and moaning to your wife (which of course I did too) but, you would have still been wearing your colorless team solo-boy kit, and did she really understand anyway? We, your DBC Masters bro’s truly feel your pain, have all been there, and we all benefit from the support, wisdom and ass-kicking mentality of this group. And, when we next hammer up Cantelow and you kick my butt yet again, I’ll remind you that you’re in better shape than you think, and yes…there’s always someone whose going to be faster too…unless you’re Levi or Lance! Looking forward to training and more “fun” races with da boys.

Darin Salk