I went into this race with zero expectations since I was just coming off a good five-day stretch of no training thanks to a lovely upper respiratory infection. But I finished my antibiotics a couple days ago and was feeling pretty good, especially in my race prep ride, so I decided to give it a go.

This was a hard course. I’m glad I got there early enough to drive it and scope it out. Each 13.3 mile lap had 4.2 total miles of dirt, gravel, and rocky (like loose rocks) roads. Some of the gravel sections were ultra sketchy—think: the ball room at Chuck-E-Cheese—especially this one particular descent. Needless to say, this frightened me more than a bit since I’ve never ridden on terrain quite like that but thought it was a necessary evil, and some darn good training, for Battenkill in two weeks. Actually, I first became concerned about the day’s possible outcome when I signed in and got my number: 444.

Anyway, the race started and since I knew that the first “pave” section was pretty soon after the end of the neutralized rollout, I drilled it up the climb before the downhill to the turn onto dirt/rock section #1. Probably the only thing that went in my favor all day. As I correctly assumed before we started, the race was going to splinter on this first section between the guys who could handle the dirt and those who couldn’t. It did and I was in the front group. After a short trip on some real roads, we headed into “pave” section #2, which was pretty long. About 1K into it, I flatted. I watched the entire field roll by as I waited 3 minutes for a wheel change. I seriously just wanted to turn around right then and there. But then I thought about BJ lecturing me if I did, so I decided to chase. (As it turned out, it might have been good for me to be one of the first to flat since there was a limited number of wheels in the neutral service car.)

As I began my long chase, my spirits started to lift a bit as the sides of the road were littered with guys who had flatted. I chased hard for 10 miles to the start-finish line and was definitely making headway, passing many riders. But I still hadn’t caught up to the main group. I continue to chase. At the end of the second lap, I had formed a little group with 3 other guys and we worked well together and made up some good time. Passing the start-finish for the second time, I stopped and filled up my water bottles, letting the three go. I started lap three and caught and passed all of the three guys I was work with before. That felt good. Okay, that felt really good. I caught a few more but never saw the front group again. At the end, after my little 37-mile time trial, I managed to save a 13th place. I wish I hadn’t flatted. Oh well, that’s racing, I suppose. I will exact my revenge next Saturday at Mount Joy.

Things that sucked:
- I flatted three miles into the race.
- My PowerTap rim is in bad shape.

Things that didn’t suck:
- I didn’t say, “Fuck it,” and pack it in after it took 3 minutes for a wheel change and the field was long gone.
- I caught and handily dropped many, many riders during my chase.
- I didn’t crash.
- I am really confident in my ability to ride and handle the bike on dirt/gravel/rock roads now.
- I rode a 37-mile time trial and got some great training in.
- By not throwing in the towel, I saved a 13th place, which looks way better than DNF.