As the season is coming to an end, there are only a few races left - Saturday is the last of the Lake Velo Series, Sunday will be the last race at Seward Park and then I head over to Bremerton the first week of September for their end of the season race. It has been a good year and I look forward to training in the off season and coming back even stronger. We are also planning to create an even stronger Cycle U team for next year. It might be a Orange train instead of blue but who knows, either way Cycle U will be laying the hurt down for next year.
Last week I raced at Pacific Raceways and they did a points per lap on the flat course. What this means is the person with the most points at the end wins. Every lap was a bunch sprint so it was pretty hard but it was actually alot of fun after you recovered from each sprint. I won 2 sprints and took a 2nd and 3rd place which was enough to get me 2nd overall. There were a few Cycle U guys there, John W did alot of work and Shawn H led out for the final sprint so that was pretty awesome.
Sadly, last night was the end of the season race at Pacific Raceways. As the course is flat it was again going to be a bunch sprint and with it being shortened to 40 minutes - it was going to be fast. Right from the beginning, a guy from the NRC/Pedal Mashers took off the front. (I feel bad I should know these guys names by now!)
The pace picked up and we moved along pretty good the first few laps. It eventually settled down a bit and we then got slowed even further as the Masters group and Cat 1-2 guys passed by. (I suppose we weren’t going that slow as our average speed was still 23-24 mph.) Soon after the group went by, I noticed NRC dude hanging out in the wind on the straight away throwing up while still on the bike. Then after he got done he moved to the front of the group and went off the front again! This guy was crazy. He soon ran out of steam though and stopped. He is a funny guy and apparently this isn't the first time he has “puked and rallied”. With 2 laps to go, the blue Cycle U train began its move to the front. We had a pretty big team last night: me, Travis, Shawn, Jon, John W, Tim, and Chris (I am pretty sure that was everyone). As we made our own line to move closer to the front, I sat on Chris' wheel while Jon and Travis moved us up to the front of the line. We slotted in behind the 2 Starbucks guys and made our way around the last corner. Just as we got on the front straight - everyone kind of parted ways and a guy in a red jersey flew by and moved to the front of the group. I immediately moved over and got behind his wheel. I sat there for a bit waiting for someone behind me to start the sprint but nobody came by so I decided I would go. I moved out of his draft and started my kick to the line. As I was sprinting I put my head down and caught a few glimpses with my peripheral vision as to what was going on behind me. As I didn't see anyone - I put in a few more hard efforts to seal the deal and then crossed the line in 1st….what a great way to finish the season! Jon and John W put in some big digs and John W got 2nd on a Preem lap while Shawn was also working on a Preem lap and unfortunately broke a spoke. Travis, Tim and Chris did some great work to close some early gaps and it was a great team effort once again. With that win it moved me into 4th for the overall points for the season. I really had no idea I was even close to the top so it was a pleasant surprise. If you ever get a chance to come down next year or attend any BuDu Racing events they put on a good show. They even had cupcakes there last night to feed us! Overall, they have given out over $3500 in cash prizes this season. They hold down a pretty tight ship and I look forward to next year.
