Reflections on road racing

After re-reading yesterday's post about the Keller Rohrback/Eatonville Circuit race I realize that I came off like I knew what I was doing and that everything went exactly as we'd planned it.

yesterday's hard man (Adam E.) finishing in the snow
(photo courtesy of Catherine Cooper)

Let me tell you, when I came across that line ahead of the field, and in fifth place no less, I was as surprised as anyone.  I'd always been the racer that would throw in a few halfhearted attacks, yet always be content with sitting in the field and letting someone else go off the front.  In the lower categories I could get away with this because teams never really worked together (or understood the tactics of team racing) and I was smart, and strong, enough to get myself into a "good enough" spot for the finish.


I've learned a lot this past year since my Cat 2 upgrade, not so much in what I know, but just how much I don't know.  These guys are on entirely different level but everyone plays the team game and has earned their spot in that race.  If you have the time, this article from Enzo's Cycling is definitely worth a read.  It nicely sums up some of the kinds of people you'll find in a bike race.  While working myself through the lower categories I would have  been considered gun ho, but after my 2 upgrade I became gun shy.  Maybe it was from using Mt Hood as my introduction into Cat 2 racing but I think a large part of it was mental, simply not believing that I could ride, and hang, with those guys.

As an engineer I am very linear in my thinking.  Everything happens for a reason and everything has a formula.  I am very quickly learning that there is no formula for bike racing.  As I replay yesterday's race in my head I realize there was no way to predict my result.  The only thing I can be sure of is that if I did not follow any moves I wouldn't have gone anywhere.  Yesterday the Legs of Awesomeness (more on this in a later post) were with me and I was able to follow just about any move I wanted.  I know this won't always be the case but I count it as a mental breakthrough more than anything.

I still feel like I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing out there but somehow it's all coming together.