BTW who were you at the race? I would have liked to chat with you after the race. I talked with TCR for quite some time (he was wearing the dark colored jersey with the yellow TCR Al bike.
Trust me on this one, I have spent lots of time thinking about the race. I am so close to actually being in the pack sprint, much farther than I could ever see myself this year out there at this time. There are so many little things I could have done better... but it is just a learning experience. Last time out at Rancho I ended up on the inside and almost getting pushed off the course a few times. I felt better on the outside.
A couple bits of advice regarding your racing. Most of the time (before you were dropped) you were out on the wings catching way to much wind for a guy your size and fitness level. You need to stay protected (out of the wind) in the bunch more then what you are doing. It will save you a bunch of energy in the race, especially considering your height. Also you still quite a bit of physiological adaptation waiting to happen. Meaning you still have a bit of weight to lose and muscle to gain.
Keep on doin it My58, next year should see some good improvements if you keep it up.
Thanks again, you are so right, this year I am just getting to the point where I am learning the dynamics of the race and pacing ect. Up to this point I was just trying to get the basic fitness to even stay in the pack for a few laps. Now I believe I am close to the point where I can stay in without suffering too much, and I can focus on strategy etc.
Next year I will be much stronger and much faster than this year. It is this late in the season and I am at the point I should have been in January.