Saturday Morning Special

Will is doing a no-handed trackstand.
You just can't see it, because the sun hasn't begun to start to hint at rising

I have to echo Will's apt, if succinct, post.

Yesterday, more than 200 people showed up to race in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. It was February. It was 6:30 in the morning.

My Cat-4 field had 84 starters. The 1-2-3 field had 110, the maximum that the promoters would allow (why restrict the number of racers, by which I mean the profit? does the rulebook dictate the limit?). That is a decent size field for any race, but it's especially good for February. At 6:30 in the morning.

Jason works on his bike, 45 minutes before the start

Bike racers are a peculiar breed, and there are a particular set of foibles that characterize us, even down to the hopelessly amateur level. Yesterday morning confirmed that we are all profoundly masochistic. In case you didn't know that already.

I am pleased with my result, and I am looking forward to the season-proper. And that's all the race report you'll be getting.

Addenda:

Motivation: On the drive to Brooklyn, we listened to the Rocky IV soundtrack. Guaranteed to boost your wattage. SYNTH SOLO!!!

Noteworthy performances:

• Jason should be a 3. He is a 4. To avoid the "sandbagger!" accusations, or maybe just because he could, he spent half the race at the very front, pulling us around the course at high speeds. And then his bike ceased to function, and he had to drop out. There is no justice.
• Eric had alluded to pre-race jitters, as is customary before one's first-ever road race. He would be using this race to gauge his fitness and skills, but he had no ambitions. Well, Eric got 7th in his race. How's that for a gauge?