Georgia on My Mind

It has been a while. I never feel like making quick posts. After I spend time writing one, I usually make sure it makes sense in an almost obsessive compulsive manner. This one, however, is quick.

The last time I posted, I was looking forward to racing in Columbus and training in Georgia. On our way down to Ohio, or should I say, our slippery crawl to Ohio, it was evident that we wouldn't be able to race. Ice and snow quickly disappointed all of us. Lucky for us, we still were warmly taken in by one of our new rider's mother for a pre-race, now pre-drive, feast. We gorged ourselves before getting back on the road.

Our disappointment was soon forgotten when we reached Georgia. The first day had to be around 45 degrees and sunny. What a change from Michigan weather. We were on the road within hours of arriving to go for a nice and easy ride.

Someone neglected to tell me that Brendan Benson, aka Brendinno and Brendagio, defines an easy ride as averaging around 15 mph up a 30 minute mountain pass climb. With his new race horse, a Scott Addict R1, underneath him, he tore up our group of four climbers. I tried to keep up until my sleepy legs gave up the higher pace. I somehow made it to the top shortly after the three faster climbers.

On top of being my 21st birthday, we decided to ride three mountain passes (60 miles) the next day. We call it three gaps. The sun shone brighter and warmer than Sunday, graciously allowing us to wear our warm weather clothing without knee warmers and jackets. We all sported the new, glaring blue jerseys.

On the first climb, it was apparent that we would be racing again. The group of climbers broke off from the bigger guys. We started with six. As we rotated at the front, we averaged up this steeper climb at around 15mph. A few guys dropped off and only it was only Mike "mountain biker" Bartlett, Brendagio and I. I was feeling awesome. I was thinking, "yea, it is my birthday and I'm with these cool cats on the big climb." Then they jumped, sprinting away.

I did not give up. My legs had some hidden watts. I saw the two slow around the next hairpin turn. I picked up my cadence and slowly reeled them in. We were back together. Just as I felt good, they danced on their peddles a second time. I too jumped, but it was a quick up and down for me. I let the two duke it out for the last 50 feet. Needless to say, I was feeling pretty good. I felt like a climber. To end the day, a couple of bros on the team handed me my first legal beer as we waited in the parking lot for the other groups to roll in. The sun has never shown so brightly.



As the days went on, we rode in worse weather. Our century probably averaged around 3o degrees in the first few hours. We climbed six different mountain passes, riding over 13,000 vertical feet, on the route titled the six gap century. I gave up racing to the top and focused on making it through the day. We all did.

With no snow, the drive back to Ann Arbor wasn't as eventful as the first trek. I rode Sunday to finish the week off at 22 hours of training. If only I could train that much every week...

I will get a post out about last weekend's race when time is on my side. Just know that I got my season's mechanical and crash out of the way all in two days. A new bike may be on the horizon. Thank God new bones aren't needed.