Montrose long + Dash 4 Cash

Well, I couldn't work out the logistics for Baker so Caitlin and I compromised... The deal was that I head down to LA for a weekend with her family and then we would go to the dash for cash crit on Sunday.

I figured since I was going to be in LA why not check out some of the legendary LA group rides. Well the ride that I happened to join was the Montrose long ride. It was the ride that met just 10 miles or so form Caitlin's folks house so it seemed to be the easiest. The first hour and half I was getting pulled along at a speed of 28+ MPH in the middle of a 200 plus rider peloton, screaming through the urban burbs of the Pasadena area. It was truly incredible and frightening at times as riders of all skill levels and ages continued to join the ride and leave at random occasions with big speed differentials. It was challenging just trying to stay in the top thirty. I was very nervous as well and I was told the ride splits at some point and I wasn't quite sure where that was. Oh yeah also there were a plethora of stop lights along the way- some times the group stopped... sometimes they didn't! Finally I asked an older fellow where the split off was and he directed me to just stay on his wheel and stay towards the right side... I did just that and pretty soon the group of 200+ was down to 50 or so. I was near the front and saw a pretty steep hill looming on the horizon so I figured perfect time for an attack. I jumped hard and didn't look back... Right before the base of the hill I hear a voice saying "do you know where we are going?" I looked back and noticed a guy on my wheel and the peloton of riders quite a ways back. I shook my head and replied "No, but lets worry about that after the hill." I gave it all I had on the hill and the CalPoly wheel man on my tail jumped around me right at the top. We took it easy, one guy caught us who knew where we were going and then there were three. We managed to stay away until the next little hill where we dropped the third but then we were caught on the long the descent by a chase group of about 12. The ride was a blast from here on out- full race pace with the same pattern- me and Mr. Cal Poly would attack on the hills with him reaching the top first and me right behind then we would get caught on the decent and I would rest until the next hill. Finally it seemed like the ride was over... We had been riding for about 3.5 hours about 2 of those at or what felt like above threshold. Everyone was slowing down and an Amgen fellow looked at me and said "one last hill brother go get 'em". He was referring to two riders who had slid off the front about 5 minutes back who were in sight again. I Looked at Cal Poly and he taped his arse and I jumped on his wheel. The little hill turned out to be slightly more than that. Cal poly sat up and reached his hand back and said "I got nothing." I grabbed his hand and he sling shot me up. I stood up and pulled with I like to call A MarcoGaryCookHammer all star move and dug deep reeling in the lead guy only to realize that there was still a good 600 meters to go (note: the all star move would be the reeling in the lead guy part- the not realizing that there was still 600 meters to go- that would be the bozo the clown move). I tried to hold his wheel but had completely emptied my tanks... But no one else came around me. Then I realized the ride started in a completely different place then where it finished... But I found some guys riding back to Glendale and enjoyed a nice leisurely pace back home for what turned out to be about a four and a half hour training ride that felt a lot more like a race then a Sat ride. And from what I hear... most of the big guns were racing and the pace was pretty mellow compared to how it is normally. Its a ride I look forward to participating in again next time I'm in LA.

The plan going into the race was to sit in and win... But I think I'm the most impatient guy there is because because the first money lap and I bridge to a 4 man move bringing a few with me. We duke it out and I kept yelling "work together- work together" but these cats don't have any intention of winning they are just here to try to screw everyone else up... we cross the line and I see max from UCSB and we try to get something going. He takes a monstrous pull, I pull through, but other guy just wants a free ride and isn't going to pull so we gun it. I come around max and and sprint to the line... I look back... no one... I sit up... BAM... I look left and number 601 had come from the back and beat me to the line my less then half a wheel... DAMN IT! well its my own fault for not protecting my line and leaving that gap to the curb. I get mad and recover for half a lap and then attack- I don't have a gap and there is a train coming up the inside so I decide to pull off and try to jump in it... Then I look back and see Weixy on my wheel. Perfect I think- I'll lead out the sexy weixy and he can take the prime. I dig deep and give it every thing I got. I dive the corner and pinch out the riders trying to come inside and then let it rip. I look back and Steve has lost my wheel so I stand up and empty the tanks. I'm able to hold off the others and take the prime... now my legs are starting to feel the surges and sprints so I sit it out in the back for a bit and rest... 5 to go: I start moving up. 4 to go: I keep moving up. 3 to go: I'm looking good and found the sprinters wheel who I want. He is Lagrange and has a 4 man lead out train and a guy sweeping for him. I pretend I'm Gary and sweep the sweeper right off LaGrange's wheel. I'm looking good- the train gets swarmed, I hear a crash, I jump so I don't get boxed in and find myself sprinting for a prime "Bad Chester I think- this is all wrong... 1 lap to go I should be saving energy." It's too late, Im at full gas. I lose the sprint by less than a wheel. I force my way back into cover.Hhalf the Lagrange train is down but a few remain... We start to get swarmed... I jump a little too early I find myself on the front coming into turn 3. 'Dang-it, not the place to be... what should I do. Sit up? they might come around too fast and too many." So I jump, a guy comes around me I grab his wheel... he dies... I start my sprint.... It is WAY TO EARLY. I die and hold on for tenth place. All in all I think I raced one hell of a race. I learned so much and realized I have a very good sprint and with a little more practice I'll be a 3 in no time!