Wednesday At Wakefield #4 is now behind me
the race passed without any technical difficulty
I chose to race with a camelback containing tools, tube, and pump
Murphy's Law... if I have it I will not need it... while... if I leave without it... I will certainly need it
the Clydesdale Class was giving me a run for my money
WAW#3 I flatted and suffered a fourth place finish
sure, I doubled up and raced the Single Speed Class earlier on the afternoon of WAW3
but, that was not the issue
it was an issue of time lost due to a flat tire
this week there was no doubling up
and there was no getting caught in the woods without a spare tube
three flats in three weeks would be beyond embaressment
at the line I knew I had some Clydesdales banging at my door
there was a pleasant exchange at the line
but when Scott Scudamore released us at the start the nicities were left in the dust
it was all about racing
I was all about winning that race and winning the Clydesdale Class Wakefield Series
the course was run backwards on this night just as it was the week prior
in hindsight I am figuring that the shorter backwards loop was run due to the shorter days
even with the shorter laps it was starting to get dark in the woods later in the race
just after the start
up the hill and into the singletrack I could feel a racer right on my rear wheel
after looking at the results I now know that it was Keith on his single speed
he had chased me into the woods in the same fashion the week prior
I took every pass I could
I tried to gap him on the straight aways
I tried to race fast and smart
tried not to burn out by racing too fast
tried not to crash by racing too fast
just tried to stay ahead of him
my effort was to get ahead of him fast
let him get stuck behind everyone I passed
for me to get far enough ahead so he just forgets about me and settles in to a slower pace
but
just as Keith had to pass people
I had to slow to pass people
gaps were gained
gaps were lost
such is racing on singletrack
at the tail end of lap two I was feeling pretty alright
was about to end up my lap when I caught out of the corner of my eye a Pedal Shop jersey
took a closer look at the racer a switch back behind me
sure enough... it was big old keith
so I put the hammer down
there was no way that I was going to just give him the race
if keith wanted it
he had to take it
so I accerated into lap three
when I really wanted to cruise
got squirrelly a few times on some loose trail
but tried to stay smart
tried to expend energy where it would benefit me
while conserving energy when I could
even being hot and tired I managed to make my last lap my fastest
that was the sixth time I had raced at Wakefield Park in just over a month
WOW!
I bet I will not ride at Wakefield another six times before the year is up
but
I do know that I will certainly try to be racing at Wakefield next summer
as well as looking for Keith at future events
Keith was solid competition and a really nice guy
it was good racing with him
I look forward to lining up with him at future events
more on wakefield later
the race passed without any technical difficulty
I chose to race with a camelback containing tools, tube, and pump
Murphy's Law... if I have it I will not need it... while... if I leave without it... I will certainly need it
the Clydesdale Class was giving me a run for my money
WAW#3 I flatted and suffered a fourth place finish
sure, I doubled up and raced the Single Speed Class earlier on the afternoon of WAW3
but, that was not the issue
it was an issue of time lost due to a flat tire
this week there was no doubling up
and there was no getting caught in the woods without a spare tube
three flats in three weeks would be beyond embaressment
at the line I knew I had some Clydesdales banging at my door
there was a pleasant exchange at the line
but when Scott Scudamore released us at the start the nicities were left in the dust
it was all about racing
I was all about winning that race and winning the Clydesdale Class Wakefield Series
the course was run backwards on this night just as it was the week prior
in hindsight I am figuring that the shorter backwards loop was run due to the shorter days
even with the shorter laps it was starting to get dark in the woods later in the race
just after the start
up the hill and into the singletrack I could feel a racer right on my rear wheel
after looking at the results I now know that it was Keith on his single speed
he had chased me into the woods in the same fashion the week prior
I took every pass I could
I tried to gap him on the straight aways
I tried to race fast and smart
tried not to burn out by racing too fast
tried not to crash by racing too fast
just tried to stay ahead of him
my effort was to get ahead of him fast
let him get stuck behind everyone I passed
for me to get far enough ahead so he just forgets about me and settles in to a slower pace
but
just as Keith had to pass people
I had to slow to pass people
gaps were gained
gaps were lost
such is racing on singletrack
at the tail end of lap two I was feeling pretty alright
was about to end up my lap when I caught out of the corner of my eye a Pedal Shop jersey
took a closer look at the racer a switch back behind me
sure enough... it was big old keith
so I put the hammer down
there was no way that I was going to just give him the race
if keith wanted it
he had to take it
so I accerated into lap three
when I really wanted to cruise
got squirrelly a few times on some loose trail
but tried to stay smart
tried to expend energy where it would benefit me
while conserving energy when I could
even being hot and tired I managed to make my last lap my fastest
that was the sixth time I had raced at Wakefield Park in just over a month
WOW!
I bet I will not ride at Wakefield another six times before the year is up
but
I do know that I will certainly try to be racing at Wakefield next summer
as well as looking for Keith at future events
Keith was solid competition and a really nice guy
it was good racing with him
I look forward to lining up with him at future events
more on wakefield later