Nelson gets to write the race report on Friday's Sea Otter 45+ 4's RoadRace, which for me was a total blast.at least for 50 of the 56 miles.and forthe time I was away on a solo and then 3-man break-away in the 5th lap.Unfortunately, the break-away didn't last, and I didn't get to see Nelsonmix it up in the final sprint up the steep ascent to a solid top 16 finish.And, fortunately Nelson didn't get to see the pace motorcyclist trying topush & pull me back up to the peleton after my legs started locking up withcramps (is that legal? Did I care?). I got close but on a short-ish hillnear the end of the 6th lap before the long climb to the finish, both myquads and hamstrings went into complete lockup and I pulled off to deal witha different type of personal pain cave; I'm glad no one was around to hearmy screams! I've heard stories of riders getting leg cramps but hadn'treally experienced them before and really don't want to again. Anyway,after about 5 minutes I resumed the "race" to the finish at a very leisurelypace. Top 30, pissed off, and really freaked out about the cramps. After lots and lots of electrolytes, a great PT session with the students atPalomar Chiropractic college who had a tent at the event, and during theevening, numerous Margaritas topped off with a tasty BBQ and good wine (withDerek Byrne at my friend's house in Carmel Valley) I was almost ready forthe 45+ 4's Circuit Race on Saturday. First I had to warm up the legs inthe am with a couple sets of mixed doubles tennis.yeah maybe not the mostmedically sound warm up routine, but it was fun! Anyway, after a goodwarm-up on the course to confirm that the legs were operational and somegood pre-race pumping up from Director Rolles (who drove all the way down toMonterey to see us race.and enjoy the awesome scene that is the Sea OtterClassic), I lined up with Nelson for the 5 pm 60 minute circuit race on theLaguna Seca raceway with our 45+ brothers. Just ahead were Derek and MarkHockridge in the 35's and ahead of them were the Elite 4's. We weresupposed to start 2 minutes apart but the race director told us as we we'reabout ready to go that we'd all be racing together. Nelson and I lobbiedfor the 45's to get the front position but we were ignored and the racestarted.and with a much larger contingent than expected.and all those youngnon-crampy legs! At least we didn't have to go 70 miles like Paul Mach andLevi Leipheimer. By the way, Paul rocked not only in the Road Race but alsoin the Circuit Race! At the start, it seemed like the entire group of 90+ riders surged up theever steeper incline that begins each lap and we were up to 5 wide early ongoing down the cork-screw and around the many turns on the course. I triedto stay close to Mark and near, but not at, the front of peleton throughoutmost of the race. This tactic was helpful as a number of riders, usually inthe middle of the pack had chain issues on the steep climb at the beginningof each lap. Nelson appeared always to be close by. Derek has had lesshill training lately and said the race split up a bit from the beginning, sohe got to brave the wind and ride with a number of guys he met during theprevious day's road race. Every time we approached the steep climb I tried to think of all the DBCteam night rides up Cantelow and the WW Gibson-Steiger-Cantelow sessions Ihad done, and on the hairy turns I summoned memories of "trying" to staycalm and smooth during the Tues-Thurs race ride sprints and the many Critswe do. I managed to stay out of trouble and with I believe 3 lapsremaining, I was far enough up at the end of the climb to stay in a groupthat broke off a bit from the pack. There was a regroup before the climbwith 2 laps to go but the pack had diminished and I started looking for bluenumbers first (45+ group) and teammates next. There were still too many 45+blue numbers and not enough DBC mates. At the start of the climb of thefinal lap I decided to act like Fast Freddy and pulled off to the oppositeside and started hammering solo up the hill. I looked back and no one wascoming to help.but at least no one was coming! I did my best to extend mygap and got up to maybe 50 yards by the top of the climb before thecorkscrew. Let's say I wasn't looking too well at that point, but Fredwould have been pleased.it wasn't pretty. I flew dangerously down thecorkscrew, jumped forward on my saddle and tried my best to TT into thestrong headwind. I didn't last long. A line of riders approached beforethe turn onto the backstretch, but I've learned from the race rides that tostay in contention, it's critical to get into the line as quickly aspossible vs. waiting for the end of the line. I was able to do so safelyand then recover a bit for the last section of the course before the finalsprint. At this point there were 4 blue numbers in the group of about 12,and I was the last oldster.and I wanted a DBC podium finish! I took a moreaggressive line on the Andretti (I think) turn and moved past one of theelderly and maintained a good position rounding the last turn to the finalsprint. The riders starting going all over the road and I tried to keepmoving forward without getting taken out. I sprinted out of the saddle(somewhat feebly at this point) but was able to stay in 3rd for the 45's formy 1st podium finish! :-) It was truly special to have DBC teammates thereto share the fun with: Nelson, Mark, Derek and Robin, and my college buddyand family from Carmel Valley. So now that I've achieved my 1st goal this year of getting BAT points(Snelling) and my next goal of getting on the podium (and getting the podiumgirl kiss), I'm ready to retire to a life of tennis and golf. Oh darn, I'msigned up for Wente Saturday, Fred and Chris B are going to make me doModesto, and I guess I'll see you either on the night ride, the race ride,the WW ride, the junior dev team ride or at a race soon. Darin
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