FLCC> Bristol - Going the Distance

[Steve Edgar]

I am able to ride about 3 times a week.  If I am lucky 4.  This  
includes racing.  A typical ride for me is 1 to 2 hours.  Many of the  
events are considerably longer than I can race.  Bloomfield was 44  
miles.  Bistol was 54.  In two weeks, Syracuse will be 60.  In these  
situations I have to ride to finish.

But that is okay.  For me, racing is an end unto itself.  And if the  
challenge is pushing my body to go a distance it is not prepared to  
go, that is a suitable substitute for animating the race.

Bristol was one of those races.

The first time up Egypt Rd, I could have made the front group, but I  
would have had to hurt myself.  I chose the second group, thinking we  
would probably roll up to the first group, and I could stay in "my  
happy place" (out of the red zone) for the first half of the race.   
We did roll up to the first group.

The second time up Egypt Rd, with strength fading, I did not have  
anything close to what was needed to make the front group.  I had to  
work a bit to make the second group, which numbered 9.

The third time up Egypt Rd, I was the first one off the back of our  
group of 9.  I was putting down all the power I had left, but that  
was not much.  I picked up 2 other riders, who would later drop me on  
the rollers after the climb.  I finished about 200 meters behind  
Rhino (who was seeing stars from a lot of hard riding) and Guy  
Damiano (aka Tope).

I was very happy with my ride.  I had metered out my fitness as well  
as possible, and dug in on a difficult last lap to go the distance,  
finishing at 17th.  This was my longest ride of the season, with my  
previous longest being Bloomfield.

I did see full results posted at the van at the start/finish.  I  
think the results folks did some preliminary print outs of the top  
places, and later replaced those with full results.  The chip timing  
is pretty slick; a great way to do group finishes on a flat.

--  Steve.