After totally sucking big time at this race last year and
letting that guy who got 8th in the A's this year beat me (I only mention that to him every time I see him), I was ready to redeem myself. Saturday the TEAM got in a great setup and went through with my idea of going up the amphitheater and Jeff Craft's idea of having a 'ride able' option on the one set of stairs.
So lets get to the point. The legs were feeling good and I again went with the file treads cause they were so darn fast through the start finish area. I knew I would need the most help there too. So I get to the line early, start picking the old gear selection and align right next to Gary B. in the soft mud at the worst spot in the front row. How did the series leaders get this! Whatever, that is why we make the start so long and treacherous at this course before the riding of the stairs. So I rode up the stairs and immediately about half a dozen were dragged in front of the field.
Big 'B' names like Heffner, Shelmire, Henterly, Donatelli, and Karpanski and the newbie to cross Brent Thompson. Aaron Shelmire (I looked at the results to find his name) threw down a first lap attack that only I stuck with. Then once more but it wasn't really an attack as much as his race pace. So I rode mine and he rode his, away from mine. Eventually Bill Henterly caught up to me with about 3 to go. We worked together with me doing the majority in the techy bits, and him the majority on any flat or power section. Then we made an agree to not attack the last lap and continue to work together. He says he wants 3rd and nothing else so I 'attack' up the stairs and I tear through the S turns for 2nd by about 10 minutes or so from first.
I honestly, finally rode a smart, quality race where I wasn't red-lined the whole time. Aaron just had a lot more power and everything else. Total, I bet I could have went twenty seconds faster, which is really nothing compared to previous races which could have been closer to a minute or so. And the fact I finished I bet two or three minutes down from first didn't make me worry about twenty seconds.
The A race was pretty sweet to watch today.
HERE are some shots Julie and I took on the D40. That was a good b-day present, letting Jules use my camera, right? Or was saying happy birthday on my blog better?
John Bryan hosted the cross champs this year at one of the coolest flat parks in Ohio. Last year this was my all time favorite course but this year it honestly was no where near as cool. And they removed a set of log / barriers that I practiced for... for 1.5 hours thanksgiving morning. You know, ones you can ride right up to, on-off, remount quickly and then hit the next one with a foot clipped in all in about 50 yards. 
Back to the race, I pre-rode for about an hour Saturday at the park finding fast lines and opening up the legs. Hit the start really warm (unlike the rest of the juniors) since I KNOW juniors start fast and did the whole attack fifty yards in thing. That is what the first picture is of from Jeff Jakucyk. I had like a five second gap going into the second corner, cool. 
The first lap I went so hard. I wanted to put an end to racer's thoughts of me cracking quick. So I made sure they couldn't see me. 10, 20, 30, 40 seconds and by the third and final lap (30 minute race) everyone was telling to me to slow down. In the end, I really didn't slow down but settled down and went a lot smoother and won by about 40 seconds. But the top 4 places IN MY AG were within 1 MINUTE of each other. Yep, it was real close. 
Once more for the wanna-be-sven-nys-poser-aka-me. 
My cooldown consisted of racing the cat 3 open race. I had another good second row start and made the front group of twelve. Rode the singletrack real fast and then followed some guy too tight into a 180*. He shot up some KENDA supplied tape into my front/wheel/shoe bike. Since our family doesn't do well with strong tape this year, I slowly picked out every piece as I am guessing 15-20 or so folks quickly passed. 
Even this great shot by Julie doesn't do it's justice. I am super bad (this is what I should work on) getting going after something dumb like that happens. I wanted to pull over but Derek W rolled past and I jumped on his train and he towed me through the field. I dropped off his pace after 3.5 laps of torture and wound up 22nd of 45 in the open division. I should have scored top 10, honestly. 
I could write another whole post on how the team did. So I probably will tomorrow on the site. Check it. Thanks again to Jeff Jakucyk (and julie) for not blocking the save as function on your great photos. I really need to pay you especially since your so nice Jeff. And HERE are my photos of the elite masters and elites.
