Sattley

As soon as I'm physically able to post a report on that Fabulous Sattley day in Hell,
I will.

OK...Well, it's now Wednsday and I'm starting to find my legs. You'd better! Don't forget tomorrow's
slugfest! Yeah, how could I? Another bout of pain against the mighty Reno Wheelmen. I think the
score so far for this year is about 735 to 12 ...them.

So anyway, Sattley.
Woke up around 5:30 or so and only had to drive 1.5 hrs to the race. Awesome. Normally we scoot for at least 3 hours minimum, 4 average. Typically, a NorCal race is 200 miles one way,
so this was kinda nice.

Got loaded up with some java for the drive..it was weird, though, I went alone and that almost
never happens...usually have a van full of juniors but Micah flew out to beautiful Lubbock, TX.
for the qualifying camp for l'Abitibi (hope the kid makes it, he deserves it) and Heath went to
some theme park for high school graduation. No other juniors this year. Wimps!!

Got there in plenty of time to register, ride up and down the parking lot otherwise known as a
road, said "Hi" to lots of folks and just chilled in taking my time getting ready. Just the way I
like it. I can't stand being pressed for time. The only thing I remember forgetting was getting
the right song in my head off the I-Pod before the start. Instead I had this cool big band thing
going on but it's not the song that keeps me going. I was, however, able to segue to the proper
tune about 5k into the race. Nothing normal about TT'ing.

So we're off!

Went a tad bit too hard and it took about 2K to get normal and comfy again. But then I was a
feelin' good. I was a flyin' by my standards. My 30 second man hadn't dissappeared and although I never looked back, at least not until after the turnaround, I could just tell that no one
was movin' up on me either.

And I'm thinkin' a podium might not be so far fetched afterall. And that jersey WOULD certainly
look good on me!

And all was good.

But then came the turnaround. In setting up the 180 degree uturn I managed to almost run
myself off of the pavement, loosing time. And then..Mariah! I HATE Mariah. I even posted a
blog on Mariah detailing just how much I detest her. And if that wasn't enough, that stupid song
tried to make an appearance in my head. That was the last thing I needed, so hunker down, baby,
and let's just git~r~done!

My calculations suggested I would cover the 40K in well under an hour...until that flippin'
turn-a-round.

I mean I was in a 21 or 23 at one point and could barely turn the pedals, all the time crying like
a school girl or Paris Hilton for my mommie. I have never had to hold onto the bars like that
before...it was everything I could do to stay upright. So bad that on the drive home my forearms
were killing my just holding onto the steering wheel.

Oh but that's not all. Nooooooo. By now my 30 second guy is out of sight and he's not coming back into the frame. Not only that, but now the Webcore guys who will remain nameless, fly by
and I now know there will be no podium. But I still have to get back to the finish! In a wind that
is just relentless. And I can't let up 'cause I'm going to allow myself to be beaten by only so many
riders. So, push on. And on. And on.

I actually catch and pass two guys that started in front of me. What? They're in the 60 + group?
Oh, yippee. Good for me.

So I slog it in for a 6th, which, all things considered, is acceptable, considering I did manage to
beat a buddy of mine who I have never beat before and I know he didn't have any excuses.

So even though my time sucked, it was just as hard for the fastest as was the slowest, and there's something about that that I like. But like they say, "Ya' gotta be weird to time trial."