Mitchell Memorial Forest (Ohio Spring Race Series)

My first road race ended in a win all because of the advice from Blair and Joe in the car on the way to the race. So I guess I owe them. Split my winnings, so fight over the tire or the chain lube, I'm keeping the tube.

Viton out.

You know you're in for a fun time when the race official tells you its a dangerous course as you're staging to roll out for 50 miles with a 30 mph wind and dark clouds looming. In the first mile a gust blew so hard I thought the whole peleton was going to be blown back to the start. Aside from the squirrelly riders on the downhill section and random cars sitting halfway in the road, the biggest obstacle on the course was a series of stair-step climbs before the long 6-10% section that broke up all the fields today. I climbed at my own pace and lost a couple hundred yards on the lead group the first four times up the climb but was able to catch back on pretty quickly on the rollers that followed. Fifth time up the climb, however, I started to cramp and had to let the group go for good. Rolled in first after the lead pack - 15th. I'm guessing about half the field DNF'ed. Blair rolled in shortly after me, then Steve. Tough day in the saddle but glad I was able to finish not too far off the lead group. Not a bad result considering I've been training about 6 hrs a week. Feeling good about Hueston Woods. Climbs aren't as long. If I can just solve the cramping problem - maybe some Mydol would help?

Hard first race of the season. Storm blew thru at the start with 20-30 Mph winds. With the rain and and wind the first couple of laps were dangerous to say the least. I rode at the front first the first couple of laps and then got gapped on the longest climb. I rode hard alone for three laps and finished less than a minute back for the leaders. Good first test after taking last season off. Congrats to Tony on his Cat. 5 win in his first road race!!!
Blair

Windy and rainy day and when I say windy I mean almost blown off my bike on the first decent and had to stop and pull a tree branch out of my front fork. Spent the rest of the race trying to bridge the lead group. I was able to make up significant ground at each climb and while I didn't catch the lead group I was not lapped by 1-2's either. I felt very strong today event though I don't have a result to show. Results have not officially been posted.