Hillsboro Roubaix Road Race

What a well organized race! There was four of us that rode down to Hillsboro Illinois Friday night. The drive was about 5 1/2 hours and the first part of it was rainy and crappy, but did clear up the closer we got. We went to bed at midnight and I was up at 6:30am, I couldn't sleep anymore, being a morning person that I am, wish I could have though. Brian, Travis and went to Denny's for breakfast and then after breakfast went back to the room and Erik was ready, so we packed up and headed out.

The weather was a bit cool in the morning, but pleasant and warmed up quickly once racing. We arrived at the race and then picked up our numbers and timing chip. Then we started getting ready.

I put on embrocation and wore just bib shorts and a jersey. We warmed up a bit and checked out the brick pavers and I decided that I should put my computer in my jersey pocket because it was flapping pretty bad and I was afraid that it would break off the mount, so I put it away. Now, I am racing blind, but people do it all the time.

Start of the race, we (Travis, Brian and I) timed it terribly and started basically last place. Once we were going it was many accelerations and then slam on the brakes. I wish we would have started towards the front, I think it would have helped a lot with being smoother. I tried to stay on the edges to help avoid any mid pack crashes. I had a hard time staying out of the wind, was very difficult to figure out exactly where it was coming from. The course was rolling, but we had strong winds that kept you moving around trying to find the sweet spot to help stack zeros'. I was feeling ok for almost the whole first lap which was about 28 miles. We came back into town on the first lap and started, what I think the hardest climb, before the bricks. I made it about 1/2 to 3/4's the way up with the pack and then fell off. I couldn't get back on, but I could see them. When I was crossing the start/finish line my right calf started to cramp up.

Second lap started with this calf cramping, I thought to myself that I should just pull out. But, then I thought, drove all the way down here to race that I should at least get a good workout in. So, I kept going and put my computer back on to help pace me. Then Brian passed me and said get on and I said I am cramping and he rode away with another racer. Wish I could have, but my calf was pretty bad. I watched him and the other guy he was working with ride away. There was another guy ahead of me too, that I was slowly reeling in. A guy came from behind and passed me and I got on his wheel and was working with him. We eventually caught up to someone else and he got on our wheels, but didn't take a single pull. I eventually rode both of them off my wheel without trying, I felt like I was riding really slow, staying in my power zone that would allow me to finish the race. I was passed by quite a few people, but I think they were in other classes. I ended up riding at least a half a lap by myself, but it was nice with the sun shining. I was starting to run out of fluids towards the end, but managed to make it ok. I saw the big hill in town and thought YES I am almost done. Went up the hill and then flew down the first street of bricks and then made the left turn and only had one more Left turn onto the finishing straight. I looked down at my computer and it was GONE, broke off, so instead of finish the race, I turned around to look for it. I didn't see it, so I asked the officers if they saw it go bouncing down the road. Nope, no one saw it. I kept looking for about 5 to 10 minutes and then decided to finish the race. I then saw it as I was heading back sitting on the grass. Whew, thank god, my wife would have been pissed if I would had to buy a new one. In this amount of time screwing around, I know I have lost some spots, but that is ok. Well that is racing, luck needs to be on your side too, but if I would have remembered to put my computer back in my jersey I would have wasted that time looking for it.

All in all, a great race and would like to do it again. Great learning experience and I have to remember that it is still very early in the season.

I have a couple days before I leave for Arizona for a week. Then we close on our house April 15th and we will see if I have time to race on April 17th. If I don't make it, it won't break my heart. I am sure I will be plenty busy. I just hope to keep my training going according to plan.