Los Alamos Bike Race

I have never done an actual bike race before but a few weeks before this one my good friend Pietre calls me up and asks if I want to do a bike race at altitude? We could even stay at his parents place. Heck yeah I replied. I have never been to Los Alamos, New Mexico. It was set.

I raced in the Cat. 4 and 5 group because I had no previous experience. The race was a 27 mile loop that we did twice totaling 56 miles or there about. Once at the starting line I became incredibly nervous and scared. I was nervous, not because of the distance or the pace I imagined, but the experience of the other riders (me included). Fortunately the first lap went fairly smoothly. Each time we climbed a hill it was easy to tell which riders would be strong later in the race. Being an observant rider you begin to pick up subtle clues about the individuals in the race. Are they breathing hard? Are their hips rocking? How do they look when they get out of the saddle? I actually found it rather interesting, much of the time sitting in, watching how our group was slowly loosing riders each time the grade and pace intensified. Half way through the last lap our group was probably down to 30% of the riders that started.

Knowing that the last half of the last lap was almost entirely up hill I was stoked! I knew I could climb hills like a mountain goat and watching the other riders for quite some time I was ready for a fight! Hmmm... Okay I am a big liar. At the bottom of the final hill I was quite spent from the efforts and the altitude and prayed the other riders were as tired as me. Then, suddenly, as I turned the final hair-pin corner at the absolute bottom of the hill I felt my rear tire slide out from under me. Narrowly avoiding the major disaster I looked at my rear wheel and saw... Yup... You guessed it. A FRIGGING FLAT TIRE! I didn't have a spare because I used them all up the previous week. (Another long sad story.)

I got picked up by the broom wagon shortly after my flat and got a ride back to the finish line where I met back up with Brianne, Taylor, Deanna, and Pietre. Yet another fun filled weekend was enjoyed by all. Now back into the car (that had not air conditioning I may add) for the 6 hour drive back to 100 degree plus Las Cruces. Oh, and don't worry Deanna, I promise I will get you that gas money.