7/16/2003

Well I am back. It has been over a week since my last update, and I hope you aren’t mad or thinking that I am just to lazy to write! We raced on Sunday in France and last night was my first kermesse right down the road in Oostkamp. I am going to get right down to it and while I would like to write about something other than a bike race…that’s pretty much all I got…bike races, bike riding, bike mechanicals, bike humor, bike gossip, bike parts, bike handling, bike cleaning…I guess I have a one track mind…no maybe a two track mind…bikes and food!

Sunday. Dourges UCI 1.6 in France. 185 kms consisting of 14 laps. The field was pretty small, say 100 riders. There were some pretty decent teams there and it was looking to be a tough race with a million corners and nowhere to hide. ABC-aitos was active early on but we managed to miss a break of 11 riders including some of the big guns. Our only saving grace was that Credit Agricole had also missed the break. They went to the front and eventually brought the break back. At that point everyone knew that the race would self destruct and some type of break would roll away. I was able to get into that move…well more like that split. The group was 25 guys and we quickly gained time on a no longer super motivated “peleton”. It was around 30 degrees so it was super hot, and many guys didn’t finish…I think 30 in total finished.

The break being so large was hard for me to handle…I didn’t want to do too much work, but I also wanted to be near the front half so that I could be ready for attacks. I didn’t take much but after a little amateur stupidity…doing WAY too much work…I was just trying to last as long as I could. I knew at that point it was about survival. When the attacks came fast and hard, I got dropped from the group. Fortunately for me, the officials screwed up and the caravan of team cars, got held up…letting myself and two other chase back onto the break. As soon as I got back in, I was gone…no more legs…dropped again…twice from the same break!

At that point there were about three laps to go and I was by myself. I rode what was kind of like a time trial…but not even close to the speed. I guess I was lucky that what was left of the field was WAY back…I made it to the finish after complete and total suffering for what felt like two hours. I thought I was going to fall off the bike. I finished in 20th. That’s a heck of a lot of effort for a 20th! But of course it is worth it, and the race was another good hard day on the bike. I don’t think this ever gets easier…maybe you just get used to suffering more and more. That takes time…years…I will get there…in time.

Yesterday. My first kermesse. I had only heard of these kermesse races…they had almost built themselves up in my head to be something other than a bike race. I found out quickly that kermesses are hard, technical, but they are still bike races! The course was a 5k loop done 25 times. It had a bunch of ten foot wide farm roads and a cobbled section. There were about 100 guys on the start line and our team had 12 of them. The pressure was on for us to get a result. I found myself in a break of three about five laps into the race. We were looking really good for a long time. Our gap grew to about 1:20 with 10 laps to go. I thought that we had a really good chance to stay away, but I also knew that because of the nature of kermesses…we could be brought back by a few accelerations in less than two laps. We stayed out until three to go. That sucks. But that is bike racing. The break was really interesting…there was some “talk” between the three of us…but none of it mattered since we got caught with a few laps left. It was awesome to be in there. The start finish was lined with people three deep enjoying a leffe or duvel…and I bike race. Once we were caught I was basically done, although I was able to get into a few more late attacks and made sure we had guys in moves. In the end Pete was out best finisher in 9th. That is not so good for us, but the team was really active and I think in general the race was OK.

Personally, I felt really good. I was I bit to tentative as I didn’t know what to expect in the race, but that is all a part of learning! I think that big things are to come, now we just need to keep working hard and making good things happen.

On a personal note…well maybe a food note…I had an awesome week this week. It all started with a mistake at the grocery store. I wanted to get some ketchup for my eggs. I accidentally grabbed something called “mexican ketchup”. It is made by heinze 57…and it is basically spicy ketchup. Let me tell you, that it is freaking awesome! Not many days have gone by without me eating eggs smothered in mexican ketchup. I also got a huge box from my wonderful mom…the box was full of grapenuts. Let me tell you again that I am one happy bike rider! I think that it is really pathetic that I am so happy because of these small things. But I think that is how it goes when your working hard on the bike and racing hard…sometimes little things just make you feel really good. Thanks mom.

Well you know I have a lot more to say but I am going to go for now. Thanks for reading, and I will keep you all posted after we race this weekend.

bryan