Hood River Double Cross

one of my new favorite pictures
(photo courtesy of David Mackintosh)

Ok, I let this one get away from me so please forgive the brevity.

I went into this race with legs already loaded up with the intention of getting one final effort in them before heading off to China where my training would inevitably be interrupted.  Not that I head much of a plan anyway...

Day 1 was a technical course with way too many twisty-turny sections for me.  As a GPET series race I got a front row call up and started with the intention of racing for the win.  All the big guns were up racing Starcrossed so I knew I definitely had a shot at a podium and advancing my position in the series.  Unfortunately, I had my typical first-lap f***-up.  Pulled out of a pedal on the start line and lost some spots but got back on it.  For some reason I just couldn't find my rhythm, maybe it was a crappy warmup, maybe it was the heat or maybe my mind just wasn't in it (most likely the case).  Regardless, I just rode rather than raced; washed out in a gravel section and then took another half lap to get back into it.  By then the race was pretty much over.  Wound up 12th on the day.  Not the result I was hoping for but at least I stayed in one piece.

Day 2:  this is one of my all-time favorite courses, nothing in particular stands out but it's just a fast, flowy and a fun course to shred.   A few of the big guns from Starcrossed stopped by on the way home; Decker and a couple of pro riders showed up, looks like this is going to be a fast race.  Front row start but pulled out of my pedal on the start-clearly I need to work on this.  Somehow doing a couple dozen starts a week and the only time I pull out of a pedal is at a race.  Balls, clearly I'm doing something wrong.  Only lost a couple spots and still right on Decker's wheel.  Setting up to be a good race. And of course here comes my first-lap f***-up, smack a pedal, drop a chain and there goes my awesome spot, looks like it's time to play catch up.  13th on the day.  Crap result but got a workout.  Whatever.  Got through the weekend with bike and body in one piece.  China, here I come.