I couldn’t do the whole weekend due to some family obligations.  But I was itching to race again, so I got up at 5:00 am and made the trip up to Knoxville.  Although I think it is clear that what little fitness I had is now gone, I still wanted to race.  It was cold and it was even snowing a little.  When I pulled into the park, I was excited about the looks of the course.  However, when I did my preride, I quickly learned that it looked fast, but was really soft and muddy in most spots.

In the CX4, I got a good start.  After a lap the leaders began to split into two main groups.  I tried to stay with the first group, but I just didn’t have the legs.  So, I ended up in the second group.  Rode with them awhile, but all of a sudden, my bike stopped shifting.  Turns out the der. cable came loose and was totally frayed.  By that point I had passed the pits and was being passed by every one.  So, as much as I hated it, I pulled out and went to fix my bike before the next race.

The 2nd race was the Masters race.  It had a small field of 4.  We started off together and I was in second.  However, halfway through the 1st lap, one of the guys hit the afterburners and took off.  No one could stay with him.   That guy was flying and he ended up lapping everyone.  2nd place pulled away from me and the other guy.  We rode together shortly, but then my legs just gave out.  He gradually pulled ahead.  I finished, but I was just dead.  Those 3 weeks off the bike while I was sick really hurt.

Not sure about being able to make any more of the Knoxville races this month.  The next 2 weekends are full with family stuff and I’m slammed at work right now as well.  But I’m not giving up on making the last weekend of the month.  Maybe by then, I will have my legs back under me.  I just can’t give up with the possibility of a few more cross races. Plus, Cycle Therapy has let me borrow a old set of tubulars.  They are a little heavy, but at least I can get a feel for riding on tubulars to see if I really want to switch.  I must admit they feel pretty good.

Talk to ya’ll later.

DS