Race Report.

No! I'm not racing. I just have a vested interest in this race series as
I helped work on the new trail section. I was on my way out to offer an
extra set of hands to help out with.

So let's see... It was windy ('bout 20-25mph), then it got cold ('bout
38F), then it started to pour rain. Perfect racing weather! Then the
rain turned to sleet. As I was driving out to the trailhead I said to
myself "Self? What kinda idiot would go out racing in weather like
this?"

To which Self replied "Probably the same kind of nig-nog that would go
out and stand in these conditions just to help them at the race!"

Sometimes Self can be a bit of a smartass.

Turns out my services weren't required, so I was a spectator. I think
there are two kinds of spectators: The obligated spectator, and the
voluntary spectator. I was in the later group, whereas most of the crowd
seemed to be in the former.

By the time the race got fully under way the snow pellets had stopped
falling, and the stinging sensation on my face dissipated into simple
numbness.

There were over 40 racers, of various categories. The young 'uns had
their race first. I was at a point where there was a bit of rise
following a turn and I was thinking "Downshift! Downshift!!" but I bit
my tongue, and held my breath as they cranked away in whatever gear they
were in...

I watched the first lap come through and looked to see how they'd
manoeuvre a section that'd give me trouble. There were some dabs, and a
couple of biff's, but most ground their way along.

Walking on a race course facing the traffic is a very good idea. The
plates are easy to see coming at me though the woods, and I was always
standing off to the side by the time the racers got anywhere near me. A
couple of them shouted out greetings to me. To which I'd reply "Hey
there! Keep going so and so...". It is hard to distinguish who is who
when they are all in their race duds. The women's category was really
neat. Almost all of them gave me a "Hi!" or at the least a great big
smile. I think that's 'cause I look so adorable standing there at the
trailside. Either that, or really dopey. Though I personally prefer
adorable.

After the race people didn't take long to pack up their gear and take
off. The few people that I talked with seemed to think that the new
trail addition was very "Twisty" or "Turny" or "Weaving"... along those
lines. They all thought it was a fun addition to the trail though. We'll
be out cutting more trail later this week.

"Room for passing..." is a thought that keeps coming to mind.
--
- Rog

http://www.wpcusrgrp.org/~rogerbuchanan/index.html

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