* Let’s face it. This the only way anyone’s ever going to cheer for you, much less a huge, drunken mob just inches from your face. It’s like being a rooster in a cock fight. This is the closest you’ll ever get to feeling like Michael Jordan with the clock ticking down.
* It’s not as hard as you think. Both Schmalz and I were apprehensive about getting on Dave’s 6 1/2″ rollers, but they really didn’t feel any different than 4 1/2″ Kreitlers. I could easily ride no handed and standing, and if we two schlubs can avoid crashing, so can you. If you’re comfortable on rollers you’ll be fine.
* You’re faster than you think. You’ll go faster at the race with an adrenaline assist. My max cadence was 162 in practice, but I hit 177 at the race. I’ll channel my inner tri geek and call that a PR and say I won.
* Practicing for the race was pretty fun. I could spike my HR from 150 to 185 in less than 10 seconds. At first I had my legs completely tensed, all the way down to my toes. I could get up to 160, but was thrashing pretty hard. The day before the race I finally found a nice, relaxed position that was much smoother. What helped me most was imagining spinning smaller and smaller circles.
* Alan didn’t time us, but going by the video, I was somewhere around 20 seconds for 500 meters. That puts me right in the middle of the pack (but ahead of Mihael and Schmalz). If you can do 160 rpm’s at home, you can get a decent seeding and avoid a first round matchup against LaCorte or Nelessen.
* Schmalz is lighter and generates more power, but I happen to be able to spin just a little faster. Which is to say that you can sneak out a meaningless victory against a superior rider. I fully plan on never racing Schmalz again so I can hold this victory over his head forever.
* Did I mention I beat Schmalz and Mihael?
Mighty mighty head tube badge.
Cowbell artwork. We’re the masters of dumbass.
…you beat schmalz. it’s a start.
Andy, your marginal victory over me is meaningless
1. I was undergeared
2. I never ride rollers
3. I was using my moters commuting bike
4. I just finished my pack of reds before the race
Just wait until I get back from Disney World and start my cross training for the season!
Wow, Dave talks a lot of smack for a seemingly quiet and friendly guy. Eugene, thanks for getting our dumb jokes.
. . . I always suspected you were actually mighty underneath that self-effacing surface. G.G.
Congratulations for being first loser?
That’s a Toto Bell around his neck. The bells had "Toto Bell" written on them resembling the Taco Bell logo, and Toto’s face replaced the image of the bell.
SCHMALTZ:
you’re not in the lead, you funny bunny, i made your schtick a can of whoopassm, you have to regain your fitness, do less squatting.
ANDY:
you know we all scared of you. we knew your weakness,
cowbell around your neck, and paparazzi in your head.
LACORTE: did dan’s music, some marvin gaye mix make you jitterbug off the rollers in the finals?
MH: let’s call it the CRCA vs KISSENA grudge match.
Hmmm, I think I’m in the lead, just because I had a better beer to weight ratio at the RRs.
Does this make you the new ladies’ sprint champion?
Did I mention that Arone beat Schmalz as well?
I really enjoyed watching you guys race. I liked Dan’s intro music too…
What’s around your neck?
Cowbell, of course.
Can you guys put up a running scoreboard of your contests? There was some state line sprint a while back that I remember being the subject of much trash talking, and maybe a River Road climb? Now roller racing. You are like the O’Grady and McEwen of our local scene, or is it O’Donnell and Trump.