Being slow

Arh, sometimes I wonder why I’m out there, getting dirty, tired & in everyone else’s way. Dirt crits last night wasn’t the moment in history I was hoping. Cold with a few muddy puddles & a pretty small field I hung on the coat-tails for the first lap around to spend the rest of the 4 lap, 3km course riding around on my lonesome like some rambler. I could see the lights of C grade behind me early on, as they start 20 secs after B grade, but I was never really set apon by them so I should take something from that. Legs were real tired, no power, no spirit - seems like one half of me wanted to be somewhere else. Must admit I kinda liked the course, muddy in places but a lot of corners offered grip & was nice to rail around the singletrack there. Riding the Anthem’s dual suspension does make it easy work compared to the hardtail though, even with the Anthem set on Pro-pedal out back.
Result: Last in a field of 10-ish in B grade.
My changing opinion of Cadel’s result at this years Tour: After watching the Individual time trial again (recorded it) it was clear that he wasn’t in the best shape. Also, the fact hat he finished 2nd last year automatically made him the marked man throughout the event which showed on him, how the other teams/riders rode in relation to him & how the media responded to him. It was almost like there was the expectation that Cadel would dominate as Lance did in previous years. I think the Tour has been, in recent years, an event decided in the mountains. The kind of time a rider on top of their form can gain in the Alps and the Pyrenees can make it a decider. Cadels fall earlier in the event left him nursing his position when he could otherwise be looking at attack opportunities. Still, there’s always next year, and the year after that.
So yeah, I was rash, they were rash & I think we all should take a good hard look at ourselves & what our expectations are of others who get out there & have a go in the brutal arena that is the Tour.



New addition to the family – Jamis Exile –single speed MTB. Bought 2nd hand & looking at using it for the commute. Originally came with a 33/16 ratio for offroad, I upped it to 42/16 & pumped up the Hutchinson Piranas to their max (approx 70psi). I'm still considering running some semi-slicks I have from my old Apollo MTB commuting days (Specialized Hiemsphere 2.0), but I'll try out the Piranas this weekend on the pavement for the hell of it. The Jamis came with Manitou Axel Air forks which, on arrival home & after a short ride about, developed a lot of oil loss through the forks seals. So, for the interm I’ll raid the Stumpjumper’s Rock Shox SIDs for a spell.