Date:
8 January 2006
Category: C
Distance: 35 minutes
Field: 15
Conditions: 50's and clear
Teammates: none
This was the fianl race for the season and I had
2nd place pretty much in the bags so I wasn't
to worried just had to do a decent finish since
the last race and points are doubled. I was too
far away from 1st in points so I knew 2nd is where
I would be overall. Driving to Fort Ord has become
2nd nature I have come to the conclusion since
I did 4 races there in the last couple months.
I did a preride with Andrew and dad to scope out
the course abut not much of a real warmup but
I was tired going into the race so I didn't want
to over due it before I even raced.
My goal was to start fast and then ease up a bit
and then go hard at the end. From the start I
went hard and led the 1st 2.5 laps until I was
passed by the juniors champ (he's a stud) then
the 2nd place juniors guy passed me and I followed
there wheels around the course and then I took
a bad line and the men's C (overall and race)
winner rode by me but I wasn't worried I looked
back and only saw 1 more junior behind us and
then noone for a long time. I eased up a bit and
let the other junior pass me but I kept them all
in sight for my last surge at the end to hopefully
pass the Bay Cities rider. With 1 to go I got
behind a couple lapped riders and well you know
how that goes I lost a little ground and then
with half a lap to go I knew I didn't have too
much left in the tank. Andrew was yelling for
me to chase them down but I said back to him "2nd
isn't bad" so I gave it a good effort but 2nd
place had my name written all over it. And with
that I kept my 2nd place overall for the series
and ended up with a set of tires and a bottle
of Sea Bright India Pale Ale Beer so at least
I had something to show my wife when I got home
for my hard work. I was referring to the beer
not the tires she wasn't impressed with those.
I am officially retiring as a "C" racer and this
next series I will be racing as a B.
Next CX race Jan 15, 2006 Watsonville Fairgrounds
Travis Tonn
San Jose Bicycle Club
Racing since 1939
