Sunday, June 1st, 2008.

Second weekend at the races for me. Marsha wanted to do all three events that day, the uphill TT, the circuit race, and the TVC Circuit race immediately after.  I told her I'd give it a shot too.   I didn't expect to qualify, but Marsha had said there'd be good competition and it would be good training. Training. Yes. I like that word.

I was not looking forward to the TT, short as it was. Most rocks roll uphill faster than I do. It would hurt but it would be a good warm-up. Marsha whipped out a brand-new weapon-a shiny new Fuji CarbonTT bike. Very pretty, and yet lethal-looking like most TT bikes. I think it's a combination of the aerobars and those weird side handlebars(what do they call them? bullhorns?)

We rode around a bit with Tami and Charlsie, both of whom I had just met along with Sarah and Amy.   As I was riding aimlessly in circles about 4 minutes before I was supposed to start the TT, I heard a hissing noise. My front tire was flat in half the time it took me to find the hole. I missed my start time but borrowed a wheel from a nice guy who'd just come back down the hill (thank you Wayne!) and went up the hill anyway. The official at the start  (Norm) was nice enough to time me even after I'd missed my start. I did my best. Ow. Marsha and I headed back down the hill, I gave Wayne his wheel back and started walking my bike back up to Ano's car to change my wheels. The official's car came up and slowed, he rolled down his window. "Five minutes." Now I was really about to be in trouble. Ruth Sherman had arrived early for the TVC race and helped me frantically change my wheels and top off my tires. I made it to the start of the circuit race barely in time.

Our field was 6 women if I remember correctly. We started off at a decent pace, all together for the first couple of laps.  After the first prime Sarah Krysiak rode on away from the group and I tried to go with her. I had never ridden with her so of course had

no idea how strong she was. Well, now I know. Afterwards we were apologizing to each other, she said sorry, I said sorry for not being strong enough to even hang on...

I tried to keep her in sight as long as I could, but then I was alone, and dangling in the wind for I don't know, half a lap, a lap? I thought of easing up and going back to the group (I couldn't see them at that point but they weren't far back). It seemed like a cop-out to slack off though. Besides they were certain to catch up any minute. It didn't matter, I was having a grand old time whatever happened. Sure enough they came rolling right along and I happily found a place to hide from the wind-which was atrocious

on the back side of the course. We all rode together for a while...I didn't have the confidence in my legs to go for sprint points.

Nobody knew when Charlsie disappeared, all of a sudden she just wasn't there. I was rather wound up by being in a race again (it's been a while) and did some cheeseball newbie-type things like going out to pull too quick and jumping off in front instead of keeping it steady.  Marsha, Tami and Amy were too polite to just say "cool your jets!" Instead they offered some mild pointers...then I did something really boneheaded. The men went cruising on by, and out of sheer habit I sped up and was about to follow...oh, they created such a nice breeze going by..."VANESSA!" I heard. "DON'T RIDE WITH THE MEN!" I'm so used to going on Sunday rides with the guys that when somebody goes rolling by it's automatic to jump on and go along.

Well...some part of my mind knew better but somebody *cough* was a little overenthusiastic. I did get my chance to play with the boys next Sunday but that's another story.  Eventually we finished. Sarah had stayed way out in front, we never saw her again. Marsha and I were too tired to jump right back on course for the TVC race...woops. Overall results were that Sarah, Amy and Tami had qualified for the Games. Marsha was 1st alternate, I was 2nd alternate.  I was left with a few impressions after this race:

1. Sarah is fast. Yikes.

2. All the women in that race were very cool. I would ride with them any day...or ride behind them in the distance, as is more likely.

3. Don't ride with the men. Unless you've been officially OK'ed to do so-i.e. your name is Ruth Sherman and you got put in the men's field in the TVC race.

4. Uphill individual TTs are my least favorite event ever. Even when I DON'T flat 4 minutes before my start time.

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