For many the Barry Roubaix is not only the start of the season but the start of bike riding for the year. For me it’s just a continuation of something I never planned to stop. With the exception of the 1 week break from training after last fall's Iceman Cometh race for an appendectomy, the ride continues. The cold February rides around the Lake at Stony Creek and more than tolerating the stinging winds and surviving the icy back roads fully prepared me for the cooler temperatures. What I was not quite expecting was the fast pace that was set by the higher numbers of competitors racing with Cyclocross bikes. I chose my 2010 Specialized 29 Comp.
The bike has been a faithful friend all year and was ready to take whatever was thrown at her. As we lined up at the Barry Roubaix start I scoped out other bikes taking note of the gears others were about to take off in. I had already decided that my take off gear was best as I felt strong enough to stay ahead of the group at least until the first sharp turn onto the main road was past. We got the "Go!" and I was off. I was at the front of the pack and intentionally as I did not want to get tied up with another bike. Getting a another derailleur stuck in my front spokes would not have been pretty, its happened before.
After we made our way onto the main road, I was in the big ring and the first 10 or 15 cyclocross equipped racers went past me... I was ok with that since I knew the fastest guys would be passing me soon enough. I was even more surprised that at the first 1 mile I was still among the front as far as other mountain bikes were concerned. As we got to the sandy two track some of the Cyclocross bikes got a little squirrely, but it was smooth sailing with the S-Works FastTrak on the front wheel. The climbs in the two-track were a little too easy for me... I realized as others started to pass, that I needed to get up out of the saddle and give an extra push. Those Cyclocross bikes were great on the straight-aways, but on the sharp climbs they just got in the way. We got to the dirt roads and even more cyclocross bikes passed. I tried to draft a few of those 'cross bikes but they either slow down on the climbs, or they were too fast so most of the next 18 to 20 miles I just went it alone. I noticed that on the downhill sections of the dirt roads that I had more confidence than I had last summer, my bike really did have great traction. Even though I was able to make the turns with very little speed loss, I found that accelerating on the exit of the turns were no match for the skinny tire 'cross bikes, I would use this opportunity to take a few swigs of my electrolyte drink.
The climbs, they kept coming, I thought I was getting to the top of a climb only to be disappointed that I wasn't quite halfway up. I experienced no cramps in my legs, but my heart was maxed on one stand-up climb to catch a guy I swore I had passed just minutes earlier. On the fast sections I learned how to appreciate a few moments of drafting, but they were just moments. At the last 14 miles or so finally got my break as I was really really tired, a cyclocross guy let me draft him for a while, he was pretty consistent with his pace which allowed me to not only catch my breath, but for my heart rate to finally settle down... we talked for awhile, he asked how I felt, I said "dead", but I was lying I felt alive and well, but just spent. At some point I got out of my saddle and sprinted up a hill I thought the guy I was following was right behind me which would have been cool, but when I had the chance to look back he wasn’t there, but I found a whole string of bikers following me... probably taking advantage of the same thing I had minutes earlier, a break from the wind.
At the last 6 miles (on pavement) I saw my good buddy's wife ringing a cow bell, so I knew at that point I was close to being done that gave me a little more motivation (albeit no energy), to get up one more time to feel the last burning as we climbed yet another hill. I saw the entrance to the Yankee Springs Park, WOW! I was relieved. As I made the left turn into the park, I decided I just had to finish on a high note. I got up and peddled past a few more bikers, the last stretch to the finish line sure seemed longer coming in than it did going out, the last few yards finished up in the saddle, I was done for the day. I finished the 35 mile race in 2:04:56, with an average 16.8 mph. The results do not show me as the winner or even the top 10 but my ability to recover quickly after the race shows me as "WINNING". This is just the beginning, I have a plan and staying strong is essential and in this I am Specialized.
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