This weekend included a stopover in Echo for a TT on the way over to Banana Hammock. The Echo course was Foothillesque with the wind. Take a look at Lap 2 here, which was some serious wind powered speed: average of 36 mph for 5 miles coming back with 45.6 max on a minor downhill. What? I had a pretty good 12 minute dig on the final lap of today’s Banana race. The gravel, the crumbling pavement, and the suicidal riding by the 3s made that race scary! The only thing scarier was my ride down Union Highway last week. I don’t think I’ll ever ride that road on a bike again. Rad Doc’s approach to Union is best: Foothill > Hotlake (gravel) > Curtis (gravel) > Miller. Rocks kicking up on your road frame is well worth avoiding reckless traffic on a highway with no shoulder and poor pavement.
I think I’ll just avoid the Union ride altogether, because I’ve got a new frame. Last week I discovered a crack on my frame so I had to get an emergency frame for the race this weekend. I decided not to tell anyone to see how long it would take for the boys to notice. Cyclists are like women and new hairstyles, they’re keen to notice changes. Friday I met Rad on the road and immediately his face contorted, “Did you get a new bike?” Saturday, I picked up Timbertson and the first word out of his mouth were, “Nice bike.” Later I met El Train at the Echafe and before hello, “Is that a new bike?” A few minutes later Mt. and Firestorm echoed a very similar greeting.
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