First track night of 2007

I just wanted to get a few things down and revisit them later in the season. Last night was the first night at the track for me for 2007, and my fifth time overall since starting late in the season last year. For the uninitiated, every Thursday night I race my bike (read: bicycle) at NHIS in Loudon.

• I thought this was going to be no big deal, but I think I’m still a little tiny bit nervous. This is strange just because the last time I was here, I did really well and wasn’t nervous at all. That was also like 7 months ago.
• These bathrooms are so damn small. I literally feel like I am trying to change in a phonebooth. There is no way in hell Tony Stewart takes a crap in this place.
• Nothing changes – money is everywhere. The dude next to me has an Orbea Orca that probably costs $6,000. He says it has 12 miles on it. Everyone is running Ksyrium SLs. On my drive up here, I thought my 6 year old S-Works would draw some attention, but basically it’s a beacon of poverty.
• Here we go. Ringer right here in front of me – C group (my group), Powertap, Litespeed titanium frame, Sram Force, cable housing that probably costs $100 a foot. If you’re going to write checks like the big boys, why aren’t you riding with them.
• Accelerade is tonight’s prize for the winners of each group. This is terrific because I hate Accelerade anyway. Coupled with the fact that there are no points counted tonight, I feel like some of the pressure is off.
• Why am I on the starting line. This front stretch is windy as hell. How are you going to draft from the front you idiot.
• Nice, I’m leading the group out for the first half lap.
• Why is everyone already passing me on the first hill.
• Hey! I’m back in the pack again. I can save energy.
• I don’t even care if I crash. If I do, it will happen really fast and I’m already tired enough not to care.
• I am hanging on for dear life at the back of the pack at the start of lap 3.
• And I’m dropped. This is going to be a long night. I figure about 45 more minutes of solid effort.
• 16 minutes have gone by.
• Why the hell did I go mountain biking last night. NEVER again.
• I have nothing.
• I am throwing up in my mouth a little bit.
• I am sooooooo dehydrated.
• Please please please don’t get lapped by my own group.
• Just keep wailing wailing wailing along. It’s good training.
• 6 laps left? You have to be kidding. I feel like I’m riding in the worlds saddest time trial.
• 2 laps to go and my group finally comes up to lap me. I latch on and HEY what do you know – when you have someone to draft you can actually not work as hard. I finish the race with my group at pace.
• I am TOAST.