Sacramento Grand Prix Kind of Race Report-by Andrew A.

Sacramento Grand Prix Kind of Race Report
CoreTechians: John Pauley, Rick Adams, Steve Stewart, John Wilde

I had no intention of writing up this race report since there was not a whole lot to say, but with the pic on the Sac Bee Web site, figured I would send it out with a few words…enjoy, or as John Pauley (now referred to as JP since we have 43 John's on the team) says…or don’t.

If you could see into my mind, and thank goodness that is not possible, you would see a bike racer that dominates races and comes screaming across the finish line with arms raised. Funny how reality seldom enters into this process. Come to think of it, how on earth could I have thoughts like these? There may be medication out there I should be taking, I should look into that.

So it was as I headed to Sacramento in the company of JP and Rick Adams for the afternoon commute.

When we finally arrived, I realized several things. Sacramento is hot (and not necessarily hot in a good way), it is a long way away from the Bay Area, I think I forgot something but not sure exactly what. Anyway, we kitted up, and lined up to race the 35/45+ 3/4 race. Again, in my fantasyland, this was one I was sure to dominate and most likely win. I told you, thank goodness no one else can see inside my melon.

Race starts and it is a four corner crit around the State Capital. It is flat, the road is fair. I stay near the front and then realize what I forgot. My legs. Did not bring them for this race. I must have picked up my wife's legs out the door. Oh well, all I can say is we went in circles for 50 minutes, I watched John Wilde attack and Rick ride hard and Steve represent. Finish came and I watched from a few rows back how the race ended. I almost forgot I was in the race while spectating the finish. Whatever, back to my fantasies.

Five minutes later, I am standing on the start line for the 35+/45+ 1/2/3 race. I have to give the wife credit, for the amount of training she does, her legs worked ok. For the amount of training I do, well, I probably should find a new hobby.

Race starts, I sit in the pack. We go in circles for 50 minutes (heard this before?). I talk to Steve a bit in the pack. Mostly we talk about the liquid refreshments he has back at the van. I run over a pot hole somewhere in the circle I am doing. I flat. It is a slow flat, I am doing nothing in the race so no need to do anything different. I ride the flat for the last quarter of the race (I have about 60 psi so not fully flat) and there you have it, next thing I realize the race has come to end and I am being asked to leave the course. Something along the lines of, "thanks for coming, now get off the course, we have real riders about to race and you are making a mockery of this sport."

At the end of this race I realize what an important part of this race I was. Had I not been there, the pack would have been that much smaller and thus made the lead riders feel that much less excited about how well they did. I now feel I am giving back to our great sport by being at the race and allowing already inflated egos get that much more inflated. I need to go; I have Internet research to do about medication.

Stay well!

Andrew