2/25/06 by Noah Gurney
Great weather for the most part. It was low 40's and super windy. The 5's rode with the women and Jr's and all together our field was probably 20 deep. The wind was in our faces for the first portion of every lap and the sprint for the finish. Down the "back stretch" we had tail winds and small rollers and got into the lower/mid 30's on the speedos.
First lap wasn't anything special, got a feel for the winds and tried to hold on during the mad dash on the down wind legs. I need to find a way to generate more power on the flats, maybe a sail.. On the second lap I almost fell off the back while I was eating and had to fight to get back on, then almost fell off again after being the last guy through a turn that led into the closest thing to a hill on the course. Third lap I was 3'rd guy through the turn leading on to the longest stretch into the wind and accelerated with the two guys in front of me. Somehow a gap opened up and after my second pull it was me and another racer and he comes through telling me "they're not chasing". I promptly remembered what tends to happen when I go off the front and told him that I'm not going up the road into this wind and wish him good luck, then sit up. Fourth lap we saw the slowest sandbaging ever, we got it down to 12mph at one point. I almost made it with the final acceleration but just didn't have it in me. I managed to pull away from the rider I missed the move with and then caught the rider ahead of me just before the line. Nicole said my face looked really scary while I was sprinting, proof I was givin'er hell. Overall I was happy with my ride, I just wish I could have made it with the last move; maybe next time.
My computer data got cleared, but it was something like: ~36 miles ~2 hours flat and windy