aaaaah (relieved sigh) the last race of the year

This past weekend was my last race of the year.  But i also had a race on Thursday.  I finally got to go to the famous 5th street cross race in Emmaus.  Now when i say that this race was worse then Mercer, it was.  The mud absolutely consumed your bike.  My bike is normally light, I'm not kidding it felt like a full suspension huffy.  I could barley shoulder it, and when i eventually did it caused severe pain.  I started with the non drinkers of course, and went out pretty hard for not having a good warm up.  I was right up there feeling good  then i had a couple of small bobbles and got passed and then i passed some  people back on the run ups.  I should have paced myself, but feeling good i just kept sprinting through the mud instead of riding.  I was really feeling good, then after about the second lap it hit me.  My bike stooped moving.  All of a sudden my wheels stopped turning and i couldn't spin them with my  hands.  I looked at the top of the fork and at the top of the rear triangle.  It was filled with about 5 pounds of mud, sticks, leafs, and everything else you wouldn't want there.  The first time it happened i used my bare hands to dig it out because i just wanted to get going again.  But then it happened again, and my hands started freezing in the mud covered gloves.  I came across the finish line, happier then any other time i have come across the line this year.  I went up to a propane heater a practically put my hands in the flame.  It was nasty, muddy, and freezing, but i had an incredibly fun time.  Oh yea it did I mention it was a night race. Yes a cross race with lights. My Dad and i stopped at a car wash on the way home, and power washed my bike.  In attempt to clean it and try and get it ready for Sunday's race in virginia. 

The last race of the year started off with a nice 4 hour drive down to Virginia.  It was very dark out when i left so i slept for most of ride down.  I showed up at the race and  was getting ready when I got a call from ed who was  making the hour ride from baltimore to watch the race.This race was a little different then most of the races i had been to all year.  Instead of everyone outside there car, saying hi to people, everyone was hiding in there car trying to stay as warm as possible.  The wind was the strongest wind that i have ever seen in a bike race. As i rode across the levy in my race the wind nearly knocked me off my bike,  my dad said that he though that i crashed and bent my bike it looked so funny. I made two mistakes this weekend.  1)Do not get in fights with course tape as  you will loose.

2)Do not lead your group on a windy day, it sucks the life right out of you.

The race started with, a group of three NYCVelo kids breaking out hard.  I haven't been starting as quick as normal lately, but i feel better once i get going.  I was right with the leader through the first set of barriers but then he pulled away along with the kid in second.  I climbed back into the race and caught the kid in second.  I then was pushing forward to attempt to bring back in the leader and was gaining on him, when all of a sudden  i rounded a corner and there he was remounting his bike.  This was with two laps to go.  We were flying up the start road, when we hit that wind.  It was unbelievable at how strong it was.  Me and first place had a slight gap on the kid in 3rd when he bobbled on the climb up to the dam.  I decided to make my move on the hill after the run up.  I was right behind him when running up hill the hill, and was first to get back on the bike.  I took a couple extra steps to get a slight lead then sprinted up the remainder of the hill.  On the technical descent on the backside i had a gap going into it then took a bad line on the off camber corner and my bike went right out from under me on the ice.  My seat post got stuck on 

the tape and it would not rip.  I pulled and pulled but coudn't get it to budge an inch.  I thought course tape was more fragile in the cold but i guess i was wrong.  I dropped two third and just road the rest of the race.  I though it was pretty cool that only the top three C's caught the top four or five juniors.  After the race My Dad, Ed and i went out to lunch and had a great time.  He was telling us about all his downhill schemes.  It was an awesome finish to this incredible season and i will have a full season report to follow!!

    

Here is my fight with the tape!