Stomach Waffles

Any one who has ridden with me for any period of time I'm sure has noticed that I do not exactly posses butter-like smooth skills when it comes to bike handling. I have been getting better with my cornering, descending, and riding with in close proximity to other riders but I still have a long way to go. I don't think I have ever once felt comfortable turning the last corner in a crit....
I am constantly amazed watching riders like Marco and Gary. It seems Marco moves effortlessly through the pack, and could probably ride his bike along a tight wire, his skills are so silk. This Sunday was a VERY large ride for worlds and I bumped a few handle bars from time to time. I also had a slight feeling of apprehension on more then one occasion during the ride and it made me think about the upcoming season.
It was a claustrophobic type feeling of "I gotta get outta here"...
It doesn't feel good when you are sitting in the pack during a crit, totally boxed in, coming into the last lap... It is a feeling of near helplessness.
A big factor that I think helps most seasoned riders is that they have all been there. They know that if they touch front wheels they will be fine, if some one bumps them, they bump back.
In my case, I really couldn't tell you what I would happen in those situations. They have gone both ways for me, but I would attribute the outcome more to luck then my handling skills.
When my luck is good, I survive unscathed... when it isn't I don't.
I guess this comes with learning how to race.
That is another reason why I love bicycle racing so much. There are SO many different variables that determine success in a race and there are also many different types of success to be achieve with in any given event.

I guess the real message behind this Wednesday ramblings is that my handling skills will improve as my experience grows, plain and simple. I don't think there is much I could go out and do tomorrow that would really help that other then racing.
What I really want to bring to the forefront of my mind is the why of bicycle racing. Why is that rider attacking now? Why should I follow this wheel now? How tired is the peloton at this moment? Is this rider really strong or just impatient? Why didn't my last attack work? Why did his attack work?
I don't think it is a coincidence that the same handful of guys are in the winning break 90% of the time... Sure they are strong, but I think there is more to it then just bronze.

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Training update: This week I have been taking it easy for the most part. The amount of riding has dropped way down as I focused on doing some tests yesterday and today to determine my current threshold and reset my training zones. I think the plan will be to keep the rides on the weekend a little shorter and then move into some high intensity work next week in preparation for racing.

When I know more... so will you.

Thanks to everyone who takes the time out of their day to read this silly thing and frequent the fine shopping selection on the right of the page =) (wink wink, nudge nudge).