"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - First win of the Season

Ok, it was just a prime. (Any body need some purple marble bartape?)

Did the Festival of Speed in Orlando. Beautiful day, Just about perferct, sunny , 70 degrees, but a fairly decent wind.

Felt pretty good all day. Road right around the top five all day. Took the prime when opportunity presented itself. Second in two other prime sprints that I didn't really commit to.

Last lap come out of the last turn in Fourth, where I thought I wanted to be. Into a quartering headwind, it was clear the 3 in front of me were slowing down. Sensing that the rest of the pack is soon to be flying by, I jump with about 300 meters to go. Not only was it too far into the headwind, my only path was to come around on the side into the wind. Got passed at about 50 meters to go and finished 6th.

You pay your money and you take your chances.

I would be happy to win just a prime at this point just being able to compete for one today felt pretty good so i cam imagine what it felt like to win it.

too bad you finished 6th but at least you went out going for the win you know?

Your post pretty much sums it up for me. I race to have motivation to get in shape, and to have fun. So as long as I'm fit enough to be in the mix and have a chance I'm happy.

Hey Merlin ... off topic, but what does the race schedule down in Orlando look like in May? I'm going to be there for work the week of May 21 and will possibly stay the weekend. Any good road races or crits?

Good job Merlin!

It will be 70º here in NY too. In June. I'll keep you posted. Temps forecast for this week:

Monday: High 37º Low 11º (flurries)
Tuesday: High 19º Low 9º (windy)
Wed: High 27º Low 14º (snow showers)
Thurs: High 29º Low 9º

Temps should rebound into the 35-45º range after next Friday. And now you know why all those NY a••holes move to Florida to drive you insane.

nice job merlin. Better to jump too early than too late. Attack, Attack and then just for the fun of it, attack again.

Nice job, Merlin. A pack sprint is always a crap shoot. Often, if the wheel you are on isn't moving fast enough it is go or get boxed in. You made the most of it.

Fun,aint it. thanks for the report.

Hey Merlin ... off topic, but what does the race schedule down in Orlando look like in May? I'm going to be there for work the week of May 21 and will possibly stay the weekend. Any good road races or crits?

www.floridacycling.com

Long headwind sprints suck. Good job holding 6th out front. Congrats on the bar tape. Primes are fun.

Hey Merlin ... off topic, but what does the race schedule down in Orlando look like in May? I'm going to be there for work the week of May 21 and will possibly stay the weekend. Any good road races or crits?


That weekend (May 20) will be the State Crit Championship in Lakeland. Less than an hour from Orlando. Nice course with one pretty decent hill each lap in a nice little scenic downtown setting.

The following weekend May 26, is a crit in Tallhassee, which I haven't done. it's about 4-5 hours from Orlando though.

I'd suggest you try to come the weekend before your work week and do the Lakeland race.

here's some advice, free of charge: attack, and attack, and attack, and when you're not attacking, yell.