Special Saturday Session

I'm not posting anything tomorrow, because I'll be in Washinton D.C. for Passover. But here's something to tide you over. Earlier today was the Tour of the Battenkill Valley. I wrote a report for velonews.com. You can read the story here.

How did my race go? Not well.

My team mate Pete and I raced the cat 3 event. Temperatures were in the 80s. The first 9 miles went great. I stayed at or near the front, led over the first major climb, and was the first to the base of the steep climb on Juniper Swamp road (which meant I didn't have to worry about killing myself to get up it quickly). The dry condition made traction really tough, and I wound up getting off and running, but still going over the top in good position. While flying down the decent I slammed a large rock. A few moments later I realized my rear wheel was flat. Race over.

It took about 5 minutes (felt like 30) for the wheel truck to come along. I got my spare rear wheel out and finished race with an assortment of other dropped riders. Pete, who had been able to sit in with the lead group, got a flat around mile 25. Not the greatest day for BVF. Needless to say, I'm pretty disappointed. I felt like I had great form, and the race was going exactly how I wanted it to for the first few miles. Then it was all over. So it goes. I've already placed my pre-, pre-registration for next year.

Here are some photos:

Dante at the start line,
on his way to 11th place!
In his first road race.

Travis before the race,
YOU will ride as hard as you can!
YOU

Pete and I discuss our strategy:
follow the fast people,
don't get any flats.

Five time Canadian national champion Mark Walters
Finished second,
showing off his bike, but a little disappointed.

A masters field roles through Salem.
I like Salem a lot, but it is the definition of
"One horse town."