Although I like getting into a break, I’m not sure you can claim to be ‘in the break’ when you’re hanging on the back of the break for dear life.  It came as somewhat of a shock to me to be on the tail end of a fast moving train.  I probably looked over my shoulder four or five times to see who was left and each time one less person was left until, there were none.  That was about the time that I thought “if you don’t hang on, you won’t last long on your own!”  That and, Komives was hanging on, so I damn well had to hold on.   

Actually, that was a story in and of itself.  We call him crafty, but he ended up going onto the farmers’ lawn when we went around the first turn.  He claims he was pushed out, but I was behind him and I just saw a bad line from stem to stern.  At any rate, I thought “Great!  I’m in the break and no OCB!”; they were riding hard, and I thought that the turf inspection that Komives found himself on would allow me to be away clean.  Not to be.  Not only did Dave not go down when riding along the farmer’s lawn, he got back on the road and bridged up!  Now, you can be as crafty as you want, but that won’t get you back into a break.  That was pure horse power and determination!  

The next thing you work through is the whole ‘C’mon!  Take a pull!” which I did, once.  I pulled through going into Colton at about the same pace as the person in front of me, Willy.  He came through at about 26mph and I followed through at about 25mph.  Then, the person that was herding cattle in the break (I won’t mention names Arrrr!) came through at 28mph!  Needless to say, my heart was in my throat until we were well past the end of town.  That was my last pull.  

he next set of difficulties came when we got to the tail wind section of the course.  Those driving the pace have less resistance in the tail wind section, so speeds tend to pick up.  When you are at the back, the speed is what hurts the most.  You’ve gotten all the advantages you’re going to get being behind riders, so there isn’t more help when the speed picks up, just more speed.  I knew when my power meter read 550 that the headwind section had its advantages.  

We passed the start finish line, three laps to go.  Wow, its going to be a long three laps!  I was a little concerned as I hadn’t warmed up, except for the first half of the first lap.  My right hamstring was beginning to twinge and the thought of three more laps had me concerned.  So, I settled in behind the craftiest knowing that if he stayed on, I sure was going to.  So we went.  Dan, Jason, Steve and Willy motoring along smoothly.  So much so in fact, the next time I looked back, there was nothing but corn.  They worked very well together, taking even pulls and hard pulls.  I didn’t much enjoy being behind Dave, especially into the wind.  He doesn’t provide much cover.  I didn’t find that out until we went through town and I found myself in front of him.  When Dan Clark gets in front of you, it’s like Heaven opening up and a hand reaching down and you get carried along!  Oh, that’s nice!  So I wasn’t too thrilled with one lap to go when Dave took his spot back at the back of the train.  

There were some conversations going on up front at this point.  Now we get to the brass tacks.  Who finishes where or agrees to what.  But there didn’t seem to be any consensus.  Dave said to me “Do you want to pop off in town?”.  I immediately said “Yes”, thinking that since we didn’t do any work, it made sense that we let those four fight it out for the finish.  When he said, “Well I don’t!”, I just sat on his wheel to let him make, or not make, the move.  We stayed on until Steve Clark to his patented “Now I’m going to ride 39mph and whoever can catch me can win” move.  Dave jumped with him, and we quickly left Willy behind.  But then Dave sat up, touched the brakes and got on my wheel.  I immediately started to go but knew I was too far from the line.  So I let up, rode to 100yds and sprinted.  It was much too easy for crafty to come around me.  With yards to go, I saw him pass me and that’s how it ended; Steve, Dan, Jason, Dave, me and a not very happy Sir William.  Thanks guys for a great experience, as always, it’s a pleasure to ride with you.  

I can’t wait for the next time trial!!!!

   See more about this race here.