| Location: | May 7, 2022 – Meadow Vista, CA |
| Distance: | 4 x 4.5 Mile Loops |
| Place: | 3rd, Cat |
| Teammates: | Robin Soares, Robin McKinney |
I’ve never done this bike race, although I watched Anna do it 2 years ago. Winchester is a beautiful community built on the side of a hill. I expect fast descents and high-heartrate climbs.
After a 100-point week (about 20 hrs of training) I'm tired and wonder how I'm going to push up these hills. Robin is racing with me, and has to ride Anna's bike because the derailleur cable on her bike broke and I couldn’t fix it. My concerns are small compared to hers riding a completely different bike. At least it used to be her bike 4 years ago before she gave it to Anna.
Robin and I pray before I start. We know how dangerous bike racing is and would be very scared if we didn’t have the Lord looking out for us. We are so thankful for His guidance and protection.
I meet 2 guys in my category, David from Santa Cruz and Wilson from Irvine!
The Start
We start and climb in neutral to the top and it feels very hard. The race is immediately on and I hurry to catch up. The group calms down and stays together for now. The downhill is very fast (44.6 mph). My race is made up of both my 50+ category (8 riders) and the 60+ category (8 riders). Most of the riders near me are 60+. I only notice a few 50+ to keep my eye on. It's going well but I notice I definitely do better on the downhills than the up hills. On the first big descent it’s surprising how fast the speed picks up. A guy swerves in front of me and reminds me to keep an eye out for situations where a wheel can cross. The pack is tight. On a climb, Wilson in my group looses his chain and drops way back. Now, at the end of Lap 1, the steep climb back to the top is very hard. I don’t want to think about doing this 3 more times. I'm breathing very hard and have to stand.
Lap 2: David, from Santa Cruz, in my group goes ahead. Others joke that he doesn't have to worry because “we're” all older. I realize I'm surrounded by 60+ and should go with Dave because this pack may not chase. I go after him. I’m not a fast sprinter but there’s a good downhill and I’m able to catch up. I tell him “I'm here” and he says “good”. We work together the 2nd lap but he accelerates over the top of a hill and I get gapped.
Lap 3: I’m all alone doing the best I can to catch back up. Staying as aero as possible and maintain good speed into the climbs. I look back and see a chase group catching me! This humbling realization makes me smile and talk to God. I realize I was feeling like Dave and I had 1st and 2nd. But there's always work to be done and this teaches me never to think it's going to be easy. I needed to be more humble. This is good and I pray that God does show me humility. Proverbs 11:2 “when pride comes then comes disgrace but with humility comes wisdom.”
The chase pack catches me. A 50+ guy, Brian Hamilton, pulls ahead. A couple 60+ also pull ahead of me. I tell them good job, as I push hard myself. On the final climb of lap 3 I'm able to pull ahead.
Lap 4: I give a huge effort near the top knowing that it's now or never. I get on Brian Hamilton’s wheel. Thank you, Lord! I stay behind him most of the way down to the bottom of the course, catching some needed breathe. I can still see the leader, Dave, ahead but we're making progress on him. Before the long downhill, Brian pushes over the top ahead of me and I can't stay with him. He's got better power for surges. But my bike is working well on the downhills and I'm able to catch him and go by but at the next Hill he catches me again. Okay this is it. A small climb and then the final big climb. I pray the Lord will give me strength. I remind myself there's lots of possibilities and that I feel good overall even though my body says I don't. It's a painful climb. I use the best form I can. David is way ahead, but Brian is only 50 yards ahead. In the final 200 m now.. I'm slowly gaining, but my Sprint is not strong because my legs are dying. I still give it all I have and I finish only eight seconds behind him for 3rd.
Oh, it’s so good to be done! Thank you, Lord, you gave me an advantage on the descents and helped me do better than I expected on the climbs. And no crashes! God is good!