Mr. Stompy

The race organizers tell you how many laps you have left to ride. Depending on how you’re feeling, this is probably going to be the worst news you get all day.

When it’s over, you are unbelievably happy that it’s over. You vow right then and there that you won’t do anything again for days in order to recover. Then the next day you can’t wait to do it again.

I suck at clipping back in. Getting on and off the bike is no problem, but hooking back up with my SPDs is going to take some work to consistently get right in a race situation. I give away heaps of time as I soft-pedal my way back into a productive cadence.

Having one gear takes a lot of mechanical bullsh*t out of the equation. No missed shifts, no chain falling off, no being in the wrong gear. You have only two things to think about: pedaling and racing. Pedaling takes care of itself.

You then need to be crafty. You need to pick good lines, have good mounts and dismounts, sit on other riders’ wheels, play mind games, take chances, and always look for little ways to make up time. That is racing, and it’s FUN.

But there’s something to be said for mechanical bullsh*t. Maybe it doesn’t drag you from 9th place to the podium, but it’s hard to know unless you give it a chance. I can’t help but wonder. Great! Time for another bike.

I race for real on Sunday in Amesbury, and then possibly twice more this month in Londonderry and Auburn. This is all about having a good time. I know I’m not going to win. I’m out there just to do it, get a reaction, and of course…to try to beat up on people. All I need to do is beat one person on gears and it’s worth it.