Robert Winder

Its been a long time coming, but yesterdays fun in Napa was excellent.  After the past couple of weeks of EB crits it was finally nice to get to a new venue.  Our first time in Napa for Cherry Pie, usually this is way too early for my tastes, but we  took the family for an away day.

First up was Ruth in the 15-18’s race - OK race promoters! - First off, a really big thanks for putting together the Junior Points Series, this will make the junior racing more interesting and extends the interest for more than the first couple of weeks of the season.  But, putting the girls and boys together is tough.  Seeing Ruth race against Brian Larson and co was like watching a Friday 13th movie - you know there is going to be carnage - you just don’t know how soon into the movie its going to be.  I’m pleased to say that she held her own for a couple of laps before being shelled by the group, she wasn’t the first and I doubt it’ll be the last time that happens to her.  She pedaled on resolute to finish the race, only to be pulled after 20 minutes of the 30 long race.  Whilst she still got placed, 3rd, it was a frustration for her that she didn’t get to nuke it out with her peers.  Riding the girls with the W4 field would’ve been a better place for them.

Not deterred by the junior race, Ruth wanted to go again, who am I to argue!  What a fantastic way to see her and Mex in the same field.  Mex did a lot of work for the new Mint’s team, putting in some (ahem, dumb) efforts on behalf of the plan.  Sadly for them they came to naught.  But Ruth, Ruthie, Ruth, what a way to show off, sprinting up the hill for the final time, into… 5th place - fantastic.  Against some seasoned Masters and some very strong cat 4’s you were amazing, such strength from a 14 year old.  Just think what she’d do on a team and a bike that wasn’t one notch up from the bakery boy’s delivery bike.  The pie after dinner was delicious - yumm.

Not to be outdone by my ladies, I raced with the big boys getting ready for ToC.  Nice pace, well dodgy riding by some and once the break got away no one seemed too bothered to do anything else.  Tyler G took a prime, sadly the “shower for the team” prime was given to the break, and he ended up with the meal for two, oh well, we didn’t make him split it.  Chris C & Steve H rounded out the other oldies with me.  The finish hill is a great sprint, but I was too far out of contention to worry about it.  Anyway, I’ve got a cold… Excuses, excuses.  But seriously, last night I had gunk coming out of every hole on my face, at the same time.

Two weeks to the season opener - proper.