Nice day for a return to Ohio racing. Ohio sure does have some nice parks. This is a good, spring, circuit race course. A big ring race loop of 1.2 miles with several tight turns, and one gradual, 1/4 mile, climb per lap. The field race very spirited, we average close of 25 MPH for the event, contained many riders from the local team, Summit Freewheelers. The chatter in the prerace group, and from the promoter, was to "watch the squirrel riding as there was a lot of complaints from riders last week." Even Henry Wang told me last week's race was real scary. I kept to my MINGO strategy of race towards the front, and mark the good riders. A breakaway of six started on the first lap, containing three from the Freewheelers, which I jumped in to as I was hoping this would be the lead pack for the race. In any case, I hoped it stretched the field. After taking several long pulls at the head of the field, the breakaway broke up, as the Summit boys did no work. At least this loosened up the legs and I know the what the course was like at speed. I raced the remaining laps in the lead five or so riders, ready to hammer the last lap on the climb. At the bell lap, I was third wheel, and went to the front up the climb, looking for a wheel to hang on through the high speed and tight turns. Almost on cue, one of the Summit boys, with very tan legs (hint....lots of riding miles in already-no day job....) went to the lead. He was the a strong rider that I marked earlier in the race. I jumped his wheel through the high speed, quick turns. The last turn is a sharp 90 degree turn, before entering the parking lot with the finish line. Ken remembers this turn well. Through the last turn and now a 200 yards dragstrip to the finish. My sprint was better, as I could feel my front wheel off the ground on the downstrokes (my sign as to whether my effort is good). I was passed at the line by another rider, and ended up third.

It was a much better race that last year's RATL for me. My sprint on Saturday was a better effort that what I showed on Wednesday :)

I had one rider come up to be afterward and say, "you have done this before..." Ummm, was that a statement of my hairy, white legs, or not?


Grey