Marshall YMCA Time Trial

Saturday, April 30, 2005

Let's just say that I am finally feeling some of that Minnesota cold folks have been telling me about. At least Mike was first to go on this balmy (not at all), yet crisp (freezing cold with or without the wind chill) Saturday morning. I'd mention that at least it isn't raining...and it wasn't while Mike was out on the 17 mile, mostly flat with a few rollers circular course. Nope. Not raining. Can you believe it though when I say, that on April 30, 2005, it was SNOWING? Well it was and it did. But like I just said...Mike went off first and the snow didn't start until the last guys were riding.

We waited until Mike rode away and then Dave, Hunter, Taylor, Sydney and I piled into Dave's truck and drove the course in reverse to our lookout point (I was a directing traffic on the course so guys would know where to turn...and performing my usual cheerleading routines) We caught up to Mike right as he was powering along a a stretch where there were strong cross winds and the only place on the course where there were some rollers. He was in flying form!

We haven't touched his TT bike since last year's Gila Time Trial. So his big ring was a 56 and his gears were a little big for the course. Still, once he turned into the tail-wind, back to the start, he was simply flying! It's been a long time since he tested himself and he came out a HUGE winner on the day! 17 miles and 37 minutes. You can do the math, but for a 40 hour per week working stiff, we were happy with the result and the win and are looking forward to the next road race in a week or so.

Even in the cold (freezing cold), and even though Dave and Taylor (Joseph) headed back to the warmth at the YMCA, Hunter had Dave drop him off so that he could help me out and keep me company and play with Sydney and let me know when bikers were coming up the road so that I could jump up and down and cheer folks on the lonely freezing route back into to town. He's my champion of the day!

And the other champion was my new boss, Dave (popular name out here, huh?), who stopped by to watch Mike's start with a fresh and strong home brewed espresso with hot steamed milk in tow for me. Just cause that's how people are in this part of the world.

After the race, Hunter came with me to work to check out which new bike has his name on it. And then later we went to Ghent with all the Taylor's & Rooney's for a burger feast. I am beat. But in a good way.

They say this is the last cold spell.