Iceman

Start with the latest and greatest news.  Midwest had an awesome showing at Iceman and B. Matter pulled off the Win and Tristan in 5th with a four man sprint for 2nd! Cole and Mikey 7th and 8th, all good showings.

I finished 12th and I was really frustrated immediately after the race, but now that I have had some time to let the result sit and think (and watch, I have video that will be up as soon as I get my super computer back) through the race I realize it was a good performance with an “ok” result.

Recap

It was by far the fastest start to a race I have ever taken part.  Usually I can wind it up from the gun and get out front if I want and settle into the pace.  Instead it was like a wild stampede through downtown Kalkaska with bodies flying all over the place Jockeying for position.  It was no holds barred fight for a hole shot and I guess I was just not mentally prepared for how much of a fight it was going to be in the first mile.  I was not over limit, I just thought I could make up position “soon enough”.  Well, soon enough never happened and before I knew it I was 40th wheel into the “hole-shot” and the lead group was disappearing and bodies were in the way that were not going to be out of the way for a long time….I played chase for the rest of the race.  I almost made contact with the lead group about 3 times.  Twice in single-track I saw Wells’ National Champs Jersey somewhere in the middle of the race when things got really muddy and one time I saw the lead group at the top of a big climb as my chase group was approaching the climb. 

This should have given me new found hope of getting back to the front, but the start had really driven it home in my mind that I was out of the race and not in it for any money/top ten showing. 

Early in my racing I always told myself I would never be a throw in the towel kind of person, who quits because they could not get the expected result.  Here I failed in that respect and it seems I failed almost reaching my expectations because I gave into the “I am better than this” (stupid elitism) thinking instead of just putting the hard work in to go and get it!  So the entire race I thought I was sitting in 20th plus, when really at one point I had bridged to 8th or 9th and did not realize it and and I let that rider go instead of digging to stay with the Kenda Jersey in front of me…duh Nathan the guy in the Kenda Pro Team Jersey (Colin Cares I believe) might be a wheel to stay on….instead I waited for a few behind to form a chase group which included me and this guy.

(Photo: Rachael Jensen)

Once we hit the mud and hills my abilities started to come in handy and I was able to ride away from most of my group besides Cameron Walters who chased me till we caught Brent Bookwalter right after “The Wall”.  I think Cameron put a lot into bridging cause then the pace slowed a bit.  Even though it was not for the Win, my last 2 Mile tactics from the pre-ride on Friday still got to get played out.  I attacked hard going into a hill before the first section of single-track that wrapped around the finish.  Got a gap and just kept it pinned.  I remember hearing what sounded like a football stadium going nutz just as I attacked.  I couldn’t believe how close to the leaders I was….

Last Climb to Finish. (photo: B. Nigh)

Came in for 12th place with the lead group still out of breath and talking at the finish, although some websites say 11th but JHK was dropped from those results. 

Season is officially over, my bike is for sale (if interest contact me, want to keep it local otherwise its going ebay soon), playing lots of Hockey, and working on the plan for next year…

To be a bit too like Wells…

I wonder if I can attach this GoPro camera to my hockey helmet….

Thanks for reading,

Nathan