"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Go with a bang, not with a whimper

So I raced the Cascade Classic this past weekend.

After Saturday's race I was stupid. I didn't get my recovery drink down until about an hour and half after the race. Then, I was an idiot and didn't eat enough that night- and stayed up past midnight.

Needless to say, my legs felt like crap the next day for the circuit race. They hurt. Bad. So bad I knew I knew I would be popped. So I said screw it. I'm not going to go out with a whimper dammit.

I attacked the 2 field- and luck has it.... Dave Brannen (http://www.dbphotopro.com/) was sitting there with his camera...

http://www.veloreview.com/obra3/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/attackoff2s.jpg

And that folks... is how to go out with a bang.

(I know, I know. Head up.)

Damn, that's the way it's done! I'm too much of a sissy to put myself through that. I'd rather just stay in bed with the wife!

How bad did things end up? Any photos of the aftermath?

I commend your warrior mentality. If you're going to die in battle, go out swinging!

That is a gorgeous photo. a real treasure!

sorry about your stupidity. :)

-bullseye

great photo! 100% agree with you, sometimes when you do that the legs respond favorably and give you way more than you expected. since you have no resolution in your post, I'm going to assume you rode away to the finish line a few minutes ahead of the lemmings for a solo win that sealed your GC podium spot!

Wow.

I would buy that 8x10 and hang it on the wall. Awesome motivation memory.

great photo! 100% agree with you, sometimes when you do that the legs respond favorably and give you way more than you expected. since you have no resolution in your post, I'm going to assume you rode away to the finish line a few minutes ahead of the lemmings for a solo win that sealed your GC podium spot!

Yes, yes. Do tell. We need closure.

The key in going out with a bang is to get it caught on film. If you did that same move on the backstretch of some forsaken desolate road race with no one around, no biggie. But if you get a pic like you did out of it, well, it was worth it.

cdr

This picture reminds me that I need to start saving for my mid-winter vacation.

Because I've got mountains on my mind.

I was thinking the same thing not ten minutes ago, Duke. Have to watch for the winter ice when you're descending, though.

I was thinking the same thing not ten minutes ago, Duke. Have to watch for the winter ice when you're descending, though.

...Which is why my mid-winter vacation will probably be spent in SoCal. :D

My team puts on a training camp in January in them thar hills (err...mountains) and I'm hoping to make the trip out there.

Damn, that's the way it's done! I'm too much of a sissy to put myself through that. I'd rather just stay in bed with the wife!

How bad did things end up? Any photos of the aftermath?

I commend your warrior mentality. If you're going to die in battle, go out swinging!

Heh... as for closure, I went for a bit. Got caught, said see ya to my buddies and pulled the plug. (Which actually ended up being the smart thing to do since doing that gave me enough time to swing by the Pro/1 race and hop in the Com 2 official's car)

Great shot. Wow.

Way to shoot your w@d K-man, great pic, tough race.

That pavement looks oh so smooth.

Awesome picture. I was in that race too, really fun circut.


That pavement looks oh so smooth.
It was perfect! best pavement I've ever raced on. I was told they just re-surfaced it.

Awesome picture. I was in that race too, really fun circut.

It was perfect! best pavement I've ever raced on. I was told they just re-surfaced it.

Sweet! Same field?

Sweet! Same field?

Yep. was a fun weekend for sure.

That it was- was quite unhappy with how fast the road stage started on saturday (and how short the crit ended up) though. Oh well. That be racing.

Kick ass photo. That's "frame and display" worthy. Thanks for sharing.

looks awesome, although probably a very painful effort.

so why head up. head down seems to be the natural thing that one wants to do when doing an effort like that. is it for seeing... breathing... both.

so why head up. head down seems to be the natural thing that one wants to do when doing an effort like that. is it for seeing... breathing... both.

For seeing, for aerodynamics (I think - but I've never seen wind tunnel data or anything), and for photo opportunities.

For seeing, for aerodynamics (I think - but I've never seen wind tunnel data or anything), and for photo opportunities.

Yeah that could be the top of anyone's head. :p

I'd love to live near and ride in that scenary, very cool shot.

It's beautiful out in Bend- and in most of Oregon too.

He caught me in the photo just as I was about to look up- I was head bobbing.

I'm going to get this sucker blown up to wall size. :D