My wife is from the Norfolk area, her grandmother is laid up from going Rokke on her heal (shattered & surgically pieced back together) by falling into the steeplechase pit at the University of Northern CO graduation, so we were coming up here anyway...
What's the worst that could happen? Get dropped & ride part of the race solo? Hell I've done that before, hell I've even done it at this race, twice! That's when I was supposedly going good too. Well...stay tuned.
Forecast was for SE wind, it was NE. When I arrived at the Stanton County Fairgrounds it was wet from last night's rain but not raining today, yet. I hopped on the trainer & just spun out the legs for 30 minutes as the drizzle began & slowly intensified. Temps in the low 50's. The call to the line was answered by about 25 cold, wet, shivering rider's for the 1/2/3 event.
As we rolled out we went from wet to soaked from a combo of road spray & the drizzle that continued for a while longer. I have no idea when it actually let up because we were drenched to the bone.
A few hard efforts on the first eastern leg, feeling ok. A few more as we turn south & just like that...I'm done. No surprises here, I haven't trained for it so that's what I get. Its all good though, I went into it expecting this outcome & it came as no surprise. I immediately switched into riding my own race mode & off I went. Picked up a couple Iowa State dudes about 5-6 miles later & three of us rotated to the end of the first lap. The Hawkeye's bailed at the turn & I could see a rider coming across back down the road a bit. I've never dropped out of race, crashed out yes, but never quit so I kept going & was joined by Jon V. a couple miles later. Jon was the rider bridging up to me, he had flatted early in the race & rode his ass off to get to this point.
We joined forces & enjoyed each others company for the remaining 30 or so miles. Tempo riding mostly. We finished together with smiles on our faces. Good riding with you man.
You know what...64 miles, 20.4 average, pretty good training ride. I've got to start somewhere. My legs are tired for the effort. Glad I showed up.
Lets talk about tomorrow. I'm not racing the crit, what I'm doing right now is not racing. Sure I could line up but be off the pace a few hard efforts later. I'd just be in the way & I don't need that mental beatdown. I've got some work to do.
As usual the Norfolk crew put on a good race & tomorrow's venue will be more of the same. Get on up here if you're on the fence about coming.
Driving back to Norfolk from Stanton I heard "Ride Captain Ride", that song is dope! Good end to the day.
Found the below Phish version of The Blues Image classic...
Later,
TK
BTW - a guy I met down in KS last weekend is putting on an event, check this out:
minor maintenance, had to be there...
hey Ryan Feagan...you rememember this straightaway?
backyard farming...
spinach, zucchini, strawberries, beats...
lettuce, peas, tomatoes, peppers...
people are not that different than cows...
serious flat fix firepower...
See some you in KC tomorrow...
It took me an hour to get to SW 2nd & Stagecoach, that's less than 15 miles. Below: doesn't look to bad...until you ride on it. Ok, "plan C". Throw out the play book & just ride around.
Stopped to chat with a few of the locals. Ignorant bliss...
Don't even think about it...
This is where a T-Rex escaped the secret research compound, my head was on a pivot knowing there was a dinosaur loose...
hi...
says it all...
This was my money shot but I screwed it up, found a golf ball on H Road, 2 miles south of Crete...
So anyway...I basically rode down to SW2nd & Stagecoach (launched "plan C") then headed west & north to Denton then made my way to Milford then headed south to Crete then down to Cortland & back on the Homestead.
Crappy picture of the '94 Jetta sound system, yep...that's a cassette deck. Popping in some Bowie. There's about 4-5 cassettes in the old Jetta. Two of them are Rage Against the Machine, a Bob Marley, & Changes Bowie (pictured, sort of). I think there's one more but I can't remember what it is. This car hardly ever gets driven so the music situation is pretty static.
I might be riding the road a lot these days but my head was going side to side looking at gravel as I made my journey up Hwy 77 today. Bummed I have to miss the Ponca ride, have to work next Saturday. Someday. 
