Racer Ex 

5'9". 155 +/- 5.

globecanvas

Spot on. Clonesies!



I assume you are also as handsome and robustly bearded as I am?

Racer Ex 

The former, x 2. The latter, not so much.

globecanvas

Your loss. (strokes beard sagely and ponders this walking shadow, this empty sound and fury that is life)

Hermes

Hopefully, your legs are not as hairy as face.

AzTallRider

There has been some great racing going on in Italy and California. Young blood doing well, and some epic rides.

Heathpack 

I volunteered to be an anti-doping chaperone for the women's TT at the TOC. I thought I was going to see some of the TT but I didn't really see anything, I was too busy. The gig was, as a chaperone, you were assigned a finish place from first through sixth and you had to stay with that person from finish until she got her drug test. Your person could do whatever she needed to, she just had to keep you with her and you had to keep eyes on her the whole time.

I was randomly assigned to the first place finisher, who in the end turned out to be Evie Stevens. That was the last day of racing for the women and of course she won not just the TT but the entire Tour. So I had to hang with her for her three podium trips, post-race interviews, talking to her coach, signing autographs, getting congrats from Jens, trying to fit both bikes in her SUV, talking to her crew (ie her MIL-to-be), etc.

She was a total sweetheart, kept apologizing to me for how long everything was taking, then later for being on her phone and answering texts. Haha, I kept telling her to not worry about it, enjoy it all. She was SO excited to win, I was genuinely 100% happy for her.

This was a total last-minute thing, they were scrambling for volunteers because the TT was moved at the last minute from Big Bear to Santa Clarita. A friend forwarded the email to me, I had a ride in the mountains cancelled that day anyway because of the bad weather, so I volunteered without having much idea what I would be doing. Good call on deciding to volunteer, it was a cool experience, pretty unique.

shovelhd

That sounds awesome.

Heathpack 

It was pretty awesome, I will admit.

Unbeknownst to me, a (male) cycling friend volunteered for the same job the day prior. It works differently for the men, I think they test the first three finishers and then several "randoms". My friend was assigned to a random and when the men finished, they were freezing cold because they'd been racing in the rain. His random ran off to his team van and went to go inside, didn't know he needed to be drug-tested. Haha, my friend had to chase him down and tell him, 'Youve been selected for drug testing, sorry I need to go in there with you'. So into the team van they go, his random strips naked and gets toweled off by his coach, shivering uncontrollably. Finally gets into dry clothes and off they go to the anti-doping tent.

My experience was better, though, because I had the overall winner, so the whole thing went on forever. Plus she is such a complete class act, just so nice to see her on top of the world. And the cherry on the top was that we got passes to the VIP tent, free lunch & alcohol and viewing for the men's finishes (the women raced first).

globecanvas

Heathpack, that is a really cool and unique story!




... so I signed up for 3 different fields in Tulsa.


Cat 3 Friday night. It will be nervy and aggro, I expect a gigantic field sprint. I'd like to do OK but survival is more important.


Masters B Saturday morning. I should do OK in that field. Race predictor has me winning, of course that means anything short of winning will be underperforming, no wait, can't think that way, mental jiu jitsu required. I expect a fragmented field, not a break per se, not a big field sprint either.


Masters A Sunday afternoon. I expect to get murdered in this race. I think a break will go and stick. Trying to go with a break on day 3 of racing, in the strongest field of the three by far, means a high probability of DNF. On the other hand, what's the point of racing if you just sit in and sprint for 10th.



It's a month away and I'm already overthinking it

LAJ

Previous Tulsa Tough years have been on a live stream, and hopefully this one will also be on camera. If so, wave at us so we know who to scream for!

happybday29475

GC, 80% chance I'll be there in Masters' B's Sat and Sun. The only reason(s) I haven't signed up yet is that I'm feeling a tad burnt, and also next week track racing starts on Thursday evenings, and I think I'll give that a go, and it will mean a choice...

I'm a little past my peak now, and not feeling quite as rambunctious on the bike, so I'm not sure how close to the pointy end I'll be, but it would still be fun to to get a whoopin' outside of Colorado, so I may be there.

happybday29475

That sounds neat!

I almost volunteered for that last January when CX nats were here, but the spot filled before I signed up. I thought it would be fascinating. Bummed that I didn't get to do it.

Evie gave our team a clinic a few years ago. We went out on a ride and she coached on pacelining for an hour or so. She was super-well liked and respected.

globecanvas

Cool, I hope you make it! Always fun to meet BF folk in real life.

Racer Ex 

Sunday is brutal. It's more a war of attrition.

sarals 

I have told you how totally jealous I am! Evie is one of my all-time favorites, next to Marianne Vos (actually, I rank Evie above Marianne, although I know they're both completely wonderful people). It may have been inappropriate to get a Shameless Selfie with Evie, but - did you?

sarals 

Heck of a finish! 1/8th of an inch!!

Racer Ex 

Meant Tulsa on Sunday. The TOC was epic. I'm sure the first text Sagan sent was to Tinkoff.

"Bite me"

sarals 

Heathpack 

Nope. No selfies. We weren't supposed to, so I didn't. I am a rule-follower. (For the most part.) (As long as the rules make sense.)

AzTallRider

I hope so.

IBOHUNT

Exactly!

revchuck 

Bah. Off the bike for a week plus in preparation for my visit to my urologist for my periodic prostate checkup. Now I have another prostate biopsy scheduled for next Thursday, with unknown time off the bike afterwards. It appears that this is a once-every-three-years deal. Not a happy camper!

Racer Ex 

Good luck Chuck!

Dalai

Already been back a couple of weeks and still haven't gone through all my photos but had an amazing holiday riding the 900+ km Mawson MTB trail solo. I had never done a self supported bikepacking trip before but really enjoyed it and can see myself doing more of these types of rides.