Weekend of Peaks and Valleys

Cycling is like that, isn't it? All peaks and valleys. Topographically and metaphorically, I mean. You're either thrilled with the way you raced and on top of the world. Or you're disappointed, disillusioned, dejected, deep in the dumps. The only racers you hear say, "I did as well as I thought I would" are the few who went out to win and actually did it, and the handful with low expectations just trying to gauge their fitness and hang on. For the vast majority of us, it's a crapshoot. Only we always think our odds are better than they are. I'm not sure why. Maybe because we spent the 6 days since the last race torturning ourselves physically, mentally, psychologically - and to expect anything other than a clean wheels win would be an injustice to our weekly rituals of self-immolation.

This week's peaks:

• Il Nessie tore it up in Fitchburg. After a strong TT placed him 5th in the GC on Thursday, followed by a few days of self-deprecation and doubt, he only slipped one spot to finish 6th overall in the Cat 3s, only a minute and a half off the lead. NCVC teammate Christopher Berbert hit the podium's 2nd step, a mere 4 seconds behind the winner. A road trip well worth taking.
• Local Junior phenoms Ben King and Nick Bax finished 1-2 in Fitchburg. See Juniors GC here, and full results here.
• Freshly upgraded Cyclochris did his first race as a Cat 4 down on the Speedway at Go Fast Turn Left in Richmond. Only he couldn't get into the Cat 4 race so had to do the Cat 3/4. That's ok - faster racing means less time suffering. He landed in the top 10 with a spot to spare. "And I feel like I could have done even better."
• Kyle at Pedal'n Around also hit the speedway. After Pedal'n Around 'n Around 'n Around 'n Around that tiny little track he got some clean wheels of his own and his first ever win. As you might expect, the better his result, the more thorough the multimedia. Now he's got fancy slide shows (pics courtesy of Kevin Dillard who sent them Kyle's way) and a video of his victorious sprint. Take a look at the slide show of the finish and you'll see what I meant above - as he rolls across the line in front, does he not look like the most surprised guy out there?

But the weekend wasn't all sweetness and light. After all, this is bike racing, not some mamby-pamby sport where "we're all winners." For a sport capable of creating such massive gains in cardiovascular fitness, it still won't miss a pedal stroke to break your heart.

• "Agent" Mulder went to Fitchburg to win but saw his chances crumble early when a poor warmup before the opening TT set him back a minute and a half. After doing his best to create chances in the Circuit Race, the Road Race and the crit, he chalked the whole thing up to training for Europe. Better luck across the pond, Agent.
• At least El Dolor had a jolly time in the gruppetto at Fitchburg.
• Sticking with the "Life Gives You Lemons" theme, Battoowoo Greekgreek offers up his perspective at Smithsburg, entitled appropriately "Life Gives You Lemons." His lemonade? "Riding the course in reverse made me appreciate the climbs and the descents better."
• When Life gives Bryan beef, he has a burrito.
• And remember VeloFish, whose blog was launched as a Journey into the Dark Recesses of the human psyche in sports? Well it doesn't get any darker than his post after Smithsburg, entitled hopelessly, "I suck." Believe it or not "Shut up" is rich with redemption. Read that one too.

And to see what these peaks and valleys looked like through the lens - at least the ones in Fitchburg - be sure to spend some time in Jim Wilson's Fitchburg Gallery.

Comments

[chris d]

Thanks, Mike. You just had to emphasize that part of my post. I'm just saying that I had to slam on the brakes to avoid an errant rider on the bell lap. Maybe, just maybe, I could have done better.
Check out my site again for an even more important posting of biking achievement. At least to me.

[Blair B.]

Well, I was actually a full minute + 4 seconds behind the GC leader at Fitchburg, but who's counting? Thanks for the mention.

[Mike May]

Chris-
Congrats to Millie on her milestone! (and shame on your wife for robbing you of the chance to see your daughter on 2 wheels for the first time...)

Blair-
I included the GamJams.net 1-minute time bonus you earned for being the 18th person past that rock next to the orange cone near the mailbox shaped like a barn on the 4th lap of the circuit race. Because you earned it, buddy.

[Blair B.]

Ah, I had totally forgotten about the Calvinball rules!