Clearing out the Cobwebs

Did my first two races of the year this weekend here in Colorado where the air is thin and it literally might snow any minute.

University of Northern Colorado hosted a criterium up in Greelely, CO on Saturday afternoon so we decided to ride out to the race. We rolled it as best we could into the block headwind, trying not to notice the stench of the cattle and chicken farms that make up Greeley. They say when it smells like Greeley in Boulder, it is going to snow.

And it did. 3-4 inches Saturday night of heavy white snow. It was all gone by 10am though and by the time our race started in Boulder I was down to arm warmers.

The race went well enough. Considering this is Boulder, a local race is only a few thousand dollars short of NRC status. Who starts these races? 8 Toyota United (Day, Blackgrove, Stevic, Vogels, England, Clarke, Baldwin), 2 Healtnet (Pipp and Cooke), 2 Bissell (Zirbel & Peltonen), 1 Slipstream Chipotle (Tom Danielson), 3 Team Type 1 (don't know their names, but they're pros), 10 Vitamen Cottage (local powerhouse), 5 5280-Tiaa- Cref (development kids), some retired pros, and about 20 amateurs who have pro like strength. Aannnd 1 Jelly Belly Racer, me.

Long story short, some people pulled, some people sat it, one guy nearly high-sided after hitting a curb, and I rolled up the road with Vogels, Stevic, England and Pipp. We rolled it until the break was established, then started to race a bit, Henk attacked, I got caught out and lead it out. Stevic came around me at the line. Fun times. So I was 3rd.

Its Monday and warm, therefore windy, so I'll be getting out soon here to ride.

Feels really good to be racing again. Going to San Dimas this weekend in northeastern L.A.