revchuck 

Nah, they were just hitting on you.

sarals 

Hermes

Mercy hits.

revchuck 

valygrl

I pre-rode next week's race course - 12.8 mile loop, with 3/4 of a mile of gravel. Half of the gravel is hardpack washboard, the other half is squirmy squishy and downhill. Eek!

sarals 

Oh, crud! How many laps? CX bike, maybe?

revchuck 

Nah, just non-fragile tires. I think valygrl is running Conti GP4000S? They'd be fine.

valygrl

Nah I stayed with Michelin p4s. It's not about flats it's about staying upright. Two laps, the bad part is it's at the very start so no chance to create a separation before. Oh well if I get dropped I'll just chase back on.

LAJ

It is a piece of crap for a course. I'll race it, but I sure don't like it. Toss in the yellow line rule, and 75 racers, and it makes it even better.

Racer Ex 

Are they painting the gravel?

Racer Ex 

Splitting headache gone this morning. Cough mostly gone. 48 hours since the procedure at noon tomorrow.

All clear for take off.

revchuck 

At least everyone else has the same gravel to deal with, so there's a good chance the pack will stay together until after the gravel. The afterburners will probably get lit when the pavement starts again. Best of luck with staying upright!

LAJ

Worse! There is a motor scooter that rides along side, and you can't be on the left side of it. Though... If I remember right, they didn't go that far with this race. But, the pack didn't separate much, and it isn't long enough, or hilly enough, to cause anything less than a pack finish. Many yellow line disqualifications were handed out at the run up to the finish.

LAJ

Positive thoughts, Racer Ex.

shovelhd

Good luck, Ex.

happybday29475

So how are you going to get away?

(Monster ride yesterday...)

sarals 

I like hearing that! Thinking good thoughts for you!

sarals 

LAJ, Valygrl - good luck!

Valygrl, I had to smile when you said "I'll just chase back on"! You got gumption, girl - I love it! And I know you can do it, and then some.

LAJ

Thanks rwt. It was a day to get 2 days worth of work into one, with this delicious weather we are having. This weekend isn't even on my radar, as I was more working towards the Federal Center. Deer Trail is Deer Trail. Luck is a major player there.

Weld County... I was able to get to the front on the little finishing hill last year, but then flat out died. Never hit a wall like that before. Literally almost stopped, and went from first to 50th, or wherever I ended up. See if I can make that work again, only with some gusto. Dirt sucks, and I don't like that road. I may go see it on Friday, just to see what we have in store for us after these two rounds of storms.

Some Weld, for your enjoyment. Be careful out there.

happybday29475

Yeah, I'll be there...I'm 80% stoked to be racing, and 80% hating the the narrow but otherwise featureless course.

I'm waiting for the guy who keeps logging 100+ mile rides to just ride off the front...

Or a different perspective: we've got such a range of abilities that certainly the top 10 guys could, with just a wee bit o tactics, get up the road by themselves...but no that'll never happen in our group.

I'll likely go pre-ride tomorrow.

IBOHUNT

Interesting. So that's what it looks like up front. Never been there

IBOHUNT

Best wishes.

Cleave

Racer Ex, glad that you're over the hump. Hope the back diagnosis is more concrete and doesn't require surgery to fix.

valygrl, LAJ, rapwithtom, I don't understand these road race courses that have gravel sections. Don't we have a segment of this sport called cyclocross?

Last week I was on my racing-is-the-best-training program.

Racer Ex 

Headache came back yesterday. Back again today. Called the hospital and was told to keep pushing fluids and if it gets worse in the next few days to come in. Just took an pain pill. This sucks.

Cleave

Oy.