Speedwagon Classic
The wind makes such an eerie sound when it passes through power lines at high speeds. It's my favorite sound when I am climbing University Mountain. But to hear it while pedaling my bike was unsettling. Also unsettling was the fact I had just ran out of Carbo Rocket and my speed was dropping below 12 mph. I glanced up the road as another 40 mph gust of wind hit my face to see the lead group much smaller then before. When we turned into the wind they were "just right there".
Struggling against the winds I thought to myself, "wow, I am going like … 40 miles and hour". I was trying to candy coat the fact that I had been dropped and now was struggling off the back of the 2011 Speedwagon Classic break. Now all I could hope for was to stay way and not get caught by the peloton.
Earlier in the day when Chad picked me up it was raining and I had a shit eating grin on my face. Today was going to be epic. Driving rain on dirt roads … can you say slog … with a hellacious climb near the end. Anyone who would make it that far would be totally wrecked. I couldn't wait to get it on. As we pulled into the race host parking lot it was still raining and the ground so saturated that tire tracks from other cars looked more like tiny little grand canyons.
Then racers started pulling in and yanking bikes off of racks. But it was apparent there was a big decision taking place between Matt the organizer and someone in a red pickup truck who obviously just drove the upper part of the new course. We learned that Matt pulled the plug on the new upper part of the course in the mountains because the trucks putting up the signs couldn't even drive the roads. So the Speedwagon for 2011 was shortened to a multi lap which included some great muddy terrain with one little climb that put the hurt in the legs.
The race started with the usual frolics and road racing tactics. I think they were tactics but how would I know. There was the occasional "car up" meaning there was an oncoming vehicle. Hand gestures for road obstacles were furious due to the bad road conditions at times. One place there was running water over the road. Then I heard a "Shetland pony" from team mate Corey.
Half way around the first lap we ran into a long muddy road section. There were places that resembled quick sand where you would be riding about 30 mph and suddenly be slowed to 7. And then suddenly there was just 6 of us all alone way out front. By the time we hit pavement the entire field was no where to be seen. I just tried to hang on until eventually I would be dropped. Previously I just wanted to get in a hard 20 minutes then just sit in and relax and have fun. The group was fast and I had to dig deep just to keep with them.
I searched my mind for excuses to slow down and voluntarily get dropped. Then I saw an opportunity. My front wheel skewer was only half way clamped down. It stuck out and meant that my front wheel could fall off. Ah ha. I had a excuse to stop. I could blame it on my "safety stop". I announced that my skewer was loose and waited for the best time to slow down to try a fix while moving slower. Then I would try to catch up but as everyone knows would be impossible to bridge up to a group of 5 working to break each other.
"Hey everyone", Matt yelled up to the group. "Wanna stop and let Bill fix his front wheel?"
"Yea, no problem"
And they all just stopped. What an honor I thought to have the entire break group stop so I could fix my wheel. So we called the race off for a couple minutes. That was so cool. Then we were off again and onto the second climb to start our 3rd and final loop. The group attacked the hill and I laid back and just powered ever so softly back to them near the top. I was finding some great sustained power as long as I didn't go to hard. Going hard was just a waist of energy. All extra energy would just make you sink in more and slow. I kept it powerful but light. Then Alex dropped off the back.
As we approached a well maintained highway I looked back hoping maybe Alex would show some signs of wanting to catch up. Didn't look good for him and by the time I looked back the group got a 10 foot gap. I thought "no problem" and tried to carry more speed through the corner. But the little gap grew as we headed directly into the wind. I no longer wanted to get dropped but was torn between powering back to the group and risk going too hard and going harder but steadily catch back up. By the time I realized I needed to go hard or die it was too late. They were gone.
Now I was here on the straight section of road with a howling 40 mph wind in my face going 12 … 11 … 10 … 7 mph. I was struggling. I looked back frequently to see if the group would catch me or even Alex who is very strong and could have a second wind. I saw no one every time I looked back. One time I was just starring at the ground and struggling. I would look up and be totally on the left side of the road. I snapped back to the right. I must keep it together. Then I saw it. A arrow … the arrow. To turn right and finish on top of the hill.
I never been so happy to see a hill in my life. A hill is WAY better then the wind. I seemed to find some new power and could see the lead pack start attacking each other. I stood up to power ahead. Maybe I could catch a straggler. Then my chain fell off. I sat back down and fiddled with my shifter. "What the f&$^". My bottom bracket was coming apart. So the rest of the way up the climb it seemed to me that every stroke was a blessing. A blessing because my chain was NOT broken YET and even though I was making sounds like a hundred marbles being crushed in a meat grinder I was still moving. I was imagining having to run the last 200 yards with a group of cyclists catching me just before I could reach the finish line.
Everything held up and I came across in 5th place. A good solid effort. I waited not to much longer and the rest of the decimated field came through. Chad came up the hill in 11th; then Erik, Julie, then Norman. And finally in dead freaking last Cory. In fact I waited at the finish line so long, one hour and ten minutes, I actually got the "good teammate" award. The caloric festival after is the main reason most of us were there … and of course, each others company. It was like a big ol family reunion. And like good family reunions was a fabulous time.
Thank you Chad for taking me and posting my entry. Also my friend Norman who saved my ass by letting me have some of his Carbo Rocket 333. Also by all the Action Wipe packets laying around on Sicz's basement floor you know I was presentable and smelled great for the social affair upstairs.
I just received a email from race organizer Matt, "Despite the morning rain and revised course, the Speedwagon started with gusto under dry skies and lived up to expectations. Hearty racers were treated to a challenging combination of soft mud, deep ruts, humbling wind, and searing leg fatigue. It was true Montana bike racing and Julie Zickovich and Shaun Radley were crowned 2011 Speedwagon champions. Of course the event's real jewel was the post race feast at the Sicz place.
"Thanks to all the racers and the generous volunteers who once again made this event special. I have attached the results and the link below will take you to some photos of the event."
Matt