I've been racking my brains for an upgrade this week. The new bike arrived in the nick of time for the race in Berkel, and apart from the front derailleur not fitting (which was 'easily' solved 5 mins before closing time on friday night with a new clamp), everything transferred seamlessly from the old trusty Schwinn to the new Kinesis hotness. So thats how Saturday started; new frame, easton ultralite race tubing, carbon seatstays, sealed gear cables, the best saddle in the world and a sunny 10degrees predicted...
So the weather was never gonna happen. Luckily the howling wind blew me to the race, and the rain only started minutes before the start. The course was entirely mud, except for about 2 meters of sand, which I'm sure was hiding some more mud. Moaning about the weather aside, the start was good. Of the roughly 30 guys who turned up I found myself in about 8th position by the time things settled down. Hiding behind people on the windiest sections, I worked myself up into 4th place on around lap 4. And then it happened, the guys in one-piece lycra caught me...
Really I shouldn't be suprised, I mean everyone knows how much faster wearing a one-piece makes you. So thats my mission, I need one by the season finale in Rotterdam this weekend! But even with the skinsuits passing me, it was a successful race. 7th place on the day means I move out of the 3 way tie for 7th up into 5th place in the overall classifications. I guess theoretically its possible for me to move up into 4th, say if Remco gets eaten by a bear on his way to the race. The guys in 6th and 7th overall are within reach, but I guess thats why its called a race :-P
Don't forget dude your mates come from S.A. some of them even from the flats. You say the word and the guys ahead of you won't make the next race.
ReplyDeleteI heard they wanted to re-introduce bears in the Veluwe, ... you can send the dude for training overthere, ... :-)
ReplyDeleteRedbeard !
Why does one need family when one has friends like spoedie and redbeard.
ReplyDelete