Granogue race report plus.....

As I said yesterday, Wifey and I headed down to the Granogue XC on Saturday.

The race started like most, on a nice flat open gravel road to thin out the field......so with this it was a 300 meter sprint for the hole shot. Halfway up the road two riders came by in a paceline so I jumped on dudes wheel. We made the turn into the woods and more two riders shot by on the inside...."na, I ain't going down like this." I jump on my "rabbits" wheel and somehow within the next ten seconds I'm leading the race.....still not sure where that came from.

The next couple minutes were a blur until I hit the first real single track area.....then came the traffic jam. The SingleSpeeders started right in front of us again, and like French Creek we caught them right at the right/wrong time. Nothing like coming around a corner and having 20 racers walking their bikes up the first hill/climb/technical spot of the course. But that's all part of racing, if you can't pass well....you lose.

After five minutes of passing/working and begging my way thru traffic things settle down to a nice flow for the rest of the first lap. The end of the lap was a half mile gravel/dirt/paved road climb back to the start/finish.....this is where I was past. I knew it, I saw him coming and watched him roll by....I just had nothing to answer, I was tapped.

My second lap was just a blur of happiness....sweet rarely ridden trails on private property with none of the traffic around. A little more passing here and there but nothing major, I was pretty much as happy as a man could be without a female present.....I'm not gonna explain that one. I had a little cramping that I need to look into but everything else was good...besides being in second....and sadly that's how things ended.

Wifey got a shot of me coming across the finish at the speed of slow.......

.....not sure where the sweet cut/blood trail on my knee came from....but don't worry, I'll think of a good story. I'm thinking it was from when I was in Nam.

But second it was...

...even the picture to prove it...joy, joy. The shirtless guy you ask....I have no idea, maybe we can get a fund together to find dude some clothes. If your last name is not Biel or Abba you should not be sporting around topless.....nevermind, on we go.

As always Faticus is a man of the people and treats the bitches well.....sorry Ann....

Marc called Ann out to congratulate her for everything she does as a person/blogger and all around great person. Thanks Ann for everything you do/have done, and not to mention all the enjoyment you've brought me....think PG13 here kids....well....nevermind.

And now onto Marc and friends. I could be here all night saying great things about you and your support group...but to tell you the truth anybody that reads this knows you personally and therefore knows how supportive you are of racing/causes/and the remembrance (of Andrew Mein.)

Thank you.