OK, so before I posted this I asked Mex for her opinion - so what comes is a more balanced POV.
Thanks Martinez for taking cycling to heart, you show the way for cities in the east bay, and you put Walnut Creek and Danville to shame with their anti-bike approaches.
Thanks also for refunding Mex and Ruth’s entry fees, we know that you don’t have to, so thanks - it softens the impact of crashing for sure.
I also know that the circuit is tight and maybe on the dangerous side, but its technical and would be fun in the right race.
Thanks to EVERYONE that helped me - Kevin Torbett & Matt Yeadon from Wells Fargo, Steve Meilich from SJBC, the guy from Mona Vie, the marshals and paramedics and of course Chris Carscadden for bringing my stuff home.
I hate moaning n bitching, but com’on…
This was a race I’d looked forwards to all season. Its less than 10miles from my home - how many times can you ride to a race?
The extra-long registration line - why pay for SBO and then have to fill out the release forms again - when everyone else prints the forms off for you.
The green goddess of money being put first, by putting the 4’s with the usually very safe M35+ 123’s.
The lack of consideration by the local police that gave me the “move on… punk” when standing looking down the start/finish straight during an ‘incident’.
And then to crash out as a result of some corner-cutting-lousy-handling-happy-to-finish-with-the-big-boys-freak just pi**es me OFF.
Two sides of the coin… thanks Mex for the perspective.
Reports from Martinez claim that Masters racer, Winder, caught bad luck in the race on Saturday and he would like to know which rider brought him down. We’re on a search to find out who has some extra skin on him…
In the end, his viewpoint is ~ “are you going to save the world by doing that?”
and mine is, “well, i’m not going to **** it up more, am i?”
and isn’t that the starting place?
Don’t we have to STOP ****ING IT UP MORE before we can even begin to start “saving it”?
i’m just asking.
Great question… and it was a similar one that I asked this morning when reflecting on Ruth’s performance this Saturday.
First off, she flatted on the 2nd lap of the Junior Girls race. There were only 3 of them out which is such a disappointment, but sadly, it wasn’t the biggest disappointment. Not even flatting for the 2nd time in 2 road races was the biggest disappointment. That honour was saved for the girl that won by jumping into the mens groups coming by the girls, even though they’d been told not to by the race referee at the start line.
Without having “sour grapes” both other riders questioned the race officials after the race result should still be the stand if the winner ignored the rules. Apparently, unless the winner owned up herself then the race officials weren’t prepared to do anything about it.
Hmm…
So in general, cheats are supposed to “own up” after the race, eh?
Hmm…
Not sure I follow the logic that someone that ignores the rules would be honest enough to come clean after the event.
My question to Mex this morning was that if you could only win by cheating then maybe we shouldn’t be so harsh to criticise, maybe we should give advice to do the same. This offended Mex, of course, and it was one of those times when I realised how stupid I just sounded. I took it back, there is no way I condone cheating. Not only that, but as Mex pointed out, the great thing about Ruths attitude is that she isn’t phased by this… her attitude is that she is happy with the race she rode, and hopes that her other competitors are too.
I agree that maybe we’re not going to save the world… but at least by not cheating the start point won’t be any further away.
After a month of worry I finally got some good news.
In February I discovered a lump in my testicle, during a routine self-inspection. After an ultrasound and a meeting with a urologist a few days later I was told that I didn’t have testicular cancer. That was the good news. The bad news was that a solid mass in my epididymis couldn’t be diagnosed until it was removed and biopsied. Primary cancer of the epididymis is very rare, the cases are “reportable” and the other explanations for the solid mass are non-existent.
Surgery was scheduled for March 18th, the result would be known a week later. I was a basket-case, so was Mex, but we continued on, not wanting to think too much. We told the children and close family and friends. I came close to posting here a couple of times too. The stress became a natural part of our day.
On Monday I did another self-inspection, checking before my op. But I couldn’t feel the lump and at the last minute I cancelled the surgery in favour of another ultrasound. A few more days of jangled nerves, but it was better to wait than go under the knife.
Today I got the confirmation from the urologist… The lump had gone. The news came on our usual Friday ride to Peets, by the time I got there I was overcome with the emotion, the sense of relief, the stress reducing, even my legs started to feel better.
I am the luckiest fella alive. I have Mex, my long suffering and long supporting best friend and partner. I have the best six kids in the world who I adore. Then there is you, a very supportive group of family and friends.
There have been so many stressful times the past month, you’ve all helped tremendously. Thank you being there when I needed you the most.
I’ve never raced at Land Park before, so Saturdays fun was “interesting”. After hearing all about the “old” circuit and the crash park moniker I was pleasantly surprised by the circuit with its two pointy bits stuck on top of the rounded park loop - just like the Vanderkitten cat.
Head wind back straight tailwind finish. Not much going on during the race, a couple of attempted breaks, but with nothing sticking away.
Some frenetic last lap behaviour caused a back straight brake and someone next to me pulled their foot out. Quick move back to the top-20, but too far back to make up in the finishing straight and I rolled in for another top-20.
Good news? This was the highest average watts for the year. The races are heating up nicely.
Live and learn, nothing is going to be won from 20th on the last lap, how many last lap swarms must there be before I make sure I’m further forwards? Too many questions.
I just talked with Regan Clark over at BMW San Francisco. He told me that Christopher is returning home tomorrow (Tuesday) to recover back in Germany. This is completely understandable to be amongst loved ones at this time. I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.
Anyway, I collected some items over the weekend, thanks to those donating, and I’ll make sure they get to Regan by Thursday. Regan will be packaging all donations made and shipping them to Christophers home on Friday. So, there is still time to get a donation to Christopher this week.
Thanks for supporting Christopher and giving him your well wishes.
Get a good warm up on Saturday and Sunday. The forecast is rain showers on Saturday in Sac and cold, but dry on Sunday at Zamora. Maybe bring some baby oil to polish up the legs and maybe even some warming oil to aid the joints, pre race.
That reminds me of the days of wintergreen and other smelly ointments. Changing rooms that smell, bathrooms without any paper, wet and cold races - ah the youth of it all. Thank god its better than that now.
I’ve never raced at Land Park, always fearful of the “Crash Park” label, so we’ll see what its really like. BUT. I love Zamora, a road race that reminds me so much of racing in England. Some open stretches of country roads with a short/steep hill to help seperate out the wheat from the chaff. Not sure which one I’ll be by close of play on Sunday. But, I’m looking to get into the action after last Saturday’s fun at Menlo Park.
This has been a long week and the next ones are going to be bikeless for me, but more on that later. For now its time to get the last bits of stuff ready for the weekend. I’m racing on my Look 585 for the first time in a year, I’m glad to be off the Cannondale! Mex will be there, and Ruth is resting this weekend.
PS: Remember, if you’ve got anything you want to give to young Mr Knapp pass it on to me over the weekend and I’ll be sure it gets there.
