Mellow Johnny’s: The 2012 season has begun!
Well there is really no better way for
the season to start than with reuniting with the team for a fun weekend in
Texas, not to mention having good legs and feeling sharp technically.
It was my first time to Texas and
there were quickly some cool things to note
When you say “Have a good ride” to
some one they may respond “Yes mam”
People write yall in emails
I saw a live camel being transported
along the highway. Yup that was a double
take
Happening downtown in Austin
Fun fans with lots of young girls
taking up our sport
Cool trails to ride
In the past, the race has been held on
the infamous (lance) Armstrong ranch.
That property being sold we now ironically raced at the Ullrich family
ranch.
The race was going to be fast, sub 1hr
20 with only 4 laps and the field was stack with the top US Olympic hopefuls
all in attendance. After 10 days in the
desert and having just received my new and stunningly beautiful bike care of
our awesome mechanics Chris and Zak. I
was feeling good on the bike and excited/nervous to see how the legs really
were.
The Race
Georgia took the holeshot from the
gun, followed closely by Emily Batty, Katie Compton, Amanda Sin and
Myself. Position into the singletrack
would be key today. The race could
easily get away from you just by being
stuck in traffic as the lead motored away.
Before the first full lap I was able
to jump to 4th and follow the train for a lap, getting a feel for
how everyone was riding and feeling.
Everyone was riding well! From
behind I could hear Judy Freeman trying to get in contact with our group.
Sitting 4th wheel was a bit
too dangerous. Anyone who made a mistake
on one of the step ups or got gapped in a corner would put me further from the
lead so going into lap 2 I went to the front and pushed hard down the first
descent and up the climb that seemed to hurt the most the previous lap. Sure enough, by the crest it was down to 2
riders. I had initially thought it was
Georgia who had my wheel, but it was Emily Batty encouraging me with news we
had a gap.
The descents were loose with tight
corners so it was a balance of trying to be fast enough to maintain our gap,
but not overshoot the corners and go down.
On the next rough section I heard the sound of a puncturing tire and
Emily’s dismay at a good race going sour in a hurry. Emily had the legs and skill to push me all
race, but instead today would for me, be about staying focused solo off the
front.
People always ask how the race breaks
up, but really when you go of the front it’s hard to tell what is really going
on in the race behind you. I know all
the girls are strong and riding well and it will be fun to see how that shapes
up at the first World cup and Olympic selection event March 17th in
Pietermaritzburg.
Congrats to Judy freeman on a stellar
ride, moving up from 5th to take 2nd and to Pua Mata who
took 3rd ahead of Katie and Georgia.
Thanks Ted and Tobin for putting on a
great event and for recognizing equal prize money for men and women.
Thanks Terra for hand delivering my
skin suit 10 minutes before the race start when UPS didn’t make their deadline!
Zak for tirelessly getting me dialed in on my new equipment and Waldek for that
long awaited massage that makes the off season so long with out you!
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