my two cents on racing, not about him vs me but just the philosophy of it is i race to push myself, and theres somethign satisfying about pushing myself for a decent position in a race.

if i'm sandbagging, then so are the other 8-12 guys who are showing up every weekend and challenging eachother, getting better, discovering our strengths and limitations and trying to exploit them. in my opinion, its more inspiring to push yourself when theres a little bit of glory, like a decent finish, or a points race at stake. this is why i trained in the winter. this is why i rode on snow studs on the ice in february to not miss base miles, cuz i want to get better. not just to have a card with a lower number, but to start off the season terrified and daunted, and finish it looking at a BAR win and an upgrade.

when the season is over i'll reflect on it, plan next year, and clean up my cross bike and slap on the snow studs and start trying to win next year. i race cuz i like the feeling, win or lose, of knowing i pushed myself really really hard, that i got better and thats easier to do (for me) if theres a little more than a pack finish at stake.

i'm not judging anyone who disagrees but its a message board and its might right, and id argue, the very purpose of this place, for me to respectfully ask questions of people who i disagree with. especially when theyre talking about the same field i race in.