Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Scott WINS! How about that?
Dallas-Matrix crit Sat Sun (Jun 14-15)
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Courses like this are why I love crits. A nice venue this year along Wilson Historic District near Downtown Dallas. "The Wilson Historic District is the campus for the Meadows Foundation and includes shady, tree-lined streets that are wide, smooth, and flat. All turns are 90 degrees. The 8/10th mile course encircles the Meadows Foundation, the shaded green oasis of Central Square City Park, and the restored 19th century historic homes that line beautiful Swiss Avenue. There is a full city block straightaway both before and after the finish line.
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Genius that I am, I prepaid for 4 races. 2 per day.
Saturday:
11 am - masters 35+.
You know the rule about playing poker? Where if you sit down at the table and you look around saying "who's the sucker here" and you don't see him... it's you? Well that's how I felt on the start line. These guys may be over 35 but they are fast cats. I was in trouble from the first lap and made it maybe 10 laps before I was well and truly shelled and decided to save my legs for the next race.
1 pm - masters 35+ cat 4/5.
This is more my speed. I started at the front, got a $20 prime in just the 2nd lap. No problem sitting in, watching the rival teams from Plano and Richardson counter each other. Last lap it got fast and I didn't move up enough. 7th place, $35 check. Not bad. But I thought... hmmm I can beat these guys. Went to the reg. table and switched my entry for Sunday from the 11am Masters 35+ to the 6 pm cat 4 open.
Sunday... Father's Day and Mary Grace was there to watch, with Phillip and the Moores:
1 pm - masters 35+ cat 4/5.
Hot. Hot. Hot. Sun beating down. Official high for the day was 101. While "warming up" I was taking off my jersey and soaking it in the ice chest. It'd be dry about 5 minutes later. Race started fine but I wasn't feeling real great, so I just sat in. Didn't go for any primes. Had a strategy in mind and was gonna work it. Bell lap. Near the front, top 8 or so. Hammerheads stretching it out. Coming out of turn 6 I jumped hard, gave it full gas all the way down that stretch. Going into turn 7 I clipped a pedal and had to take the whole road, jumped, turn 8, jump and look under my arm, gap looks good, keep the gas on and voila, Scotty wins the bike race. FUN! $100 check is nice too.
