Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Rhode Island USGP

I know this is waayyy overdue, but heregoes!
So sometime back in December (the 8th/9th) we packed up the accord and headed down to Providence Rhode Island for a USGP/Verge series weekend. It was a good two days of racing just outside of the city in a park on the Atlantic.
Saturday would be fun, mostly sunny and fairly warmish (6ish, celcius) racing was good, fast, with a strong field in the 2/3 group, I was at the end of my season, and not feeling 'on' but had a decent day, finishing around top 20, more interestingly, I was only a minute thirty off the leader! very tight race!
Saturday night, we shopped a bit, then hit the carwash to wash the bikes, and contemplated whether or not I'd race the Sunday.. Sunday we showed up at the venue, weather was good, overcast, about 4-5 degrees, and I decided to give it a go, decision well made. It would prove to be a slightly better course for my liking. The startline again was full at around 60 guys, and a feeling in the air of something bad going to happen. Myself and about 5 other Ontarians would occupy the back line, so we had a good view all the mayhem.. I would start behind a guy who couldn't clip in to his pedal, got around him only to have a couple of guys hook bars and go down, I would end up over the top! It was a three (Canadian) man pileup. We got up dusted off, and chased our way back up. We were about 300m off the back, but there was a beach section that would allow us to catch back on quickly enough. It would however be the backend of mayhem on the beach!
So I managed to work my way through that, slowly working up through the race, at one point deep inside the top 15. Four of us would work together on the final two laps to battle it out for 12th spot. All was looking well until I slipped up on the second beach section just before the finish losing contact but still coming in 16th! Very strong finish to the race, and a great way to cap off the season with a high note!
Big thanks to Dave D. for the encouragement that weekend, I felt bad for coming from behind both races, rolling past and forging on away from him (but Sunday he stayed with for a lap and kept me in line, not to mention hollering up tips!) I've always admired him, and now even moreso!
Kelly had a decent weekend, She would race the pro women's class, and would hang on for dear life on Saturday! Sunday a mechanical forced her to ride single speed most of the race, but with a smile the whole time!
Kona had fun too.. He was the star attraction at the race, as he usually is when out in public, AND there were rats at our Motel 6, near the dumpster (not inside the hotel, thank you) so he was curiously onlooking their movements..
The trip home was a bit messy, with mixed precip most of the way. Burger King was good though!
Already looking forward to next year!
We'll see what kit I'm wearing... New team possibly???
keep your eyes here!