Date: 2009-07-19
To: TN SENIOR OLYMPICS-Road Race
Miles today: 0.0

Sun.July 19thToday is the TN SENIOR OLYMPICS Cycling event: 20K Road Race in College Grove, TN (near Franklin,TN)I hope to finish well today.I arrive as I did yesterday....abt 6:15am...& just a few cyclists here....they start to arrive abt 6:30am...including my friend from East TN (Morristown)Ricky Braxton.Thomas Gee arrives a few minutes later...gets his bicycle prepped...etc.Bruce Pearson from Kingsport,TN is back today...Dave Lavelle didnt show even though he was registered to participate in the race.The Road Race instructions were handed out @ 7:30am & we started en mass shortly after (North on Horton Hwy/Hwy 31)...The peloton (large main group)pulls off slowly....no one wants to be the leader....& set the pace...pedal...pedal...pedal...everyone is pumping the pedals & 20+ miles per hour...as we go up a slight hill(junction of Hwy/31/41)....I'm on the back end of the main group as we approach Cox Rd...& take a left hand turn...pedal...pedal...pedal...I fall back in the pack....looks like Thomas Gee is out front of the pack...I pedal...pedal...pedal...try to find a group of 2 or 3 slower riders that I can hang with...& share the work for the second half of the race...but everyone is either waaaaaaay slower than me....or waaaaaay faster than me (quite a few riders in the last category)....i pedal on....i'm in the BIG RING now....trying to stay up in the 20mph range...pedal...pedal...pedal...WOW!...i need to push it into high gear...but save a little bit O' juice to finish strong...pedal...pedal...pedal...i'm slowing...as my first wind (power)is leaving me...as i pedal uphill slightly...pedal under Hwy 840....just as i pull away from the over-pass...the lead pack zips by me heading back the opposite way...(this is depressing)In the pack (in front, of course) is Thomas Gee...followed closely by Greg Clark ...I gain speed as i top the slight incline....& hit the turn-around...which was tighter quarters than normal..this year...usually its a SWING OUT & THEN AROUND...but, this year...its a tight fit...if its more than a couple bicycles going thru...Luckily it was just me in the turn-around...pedal...pedal...pedal...I head downhill...& hit the BIG ring...power up...a bit....hitting 35+mph...@ one point...to make up for that slow ride uphill...pedal...pedal...pedal...i was passed by a couple riders in the last couple miles...now its my turn to catch them & pass them IF i can....pedal...pedal...pedal...i spot the 2 riders straight ahead...& then i approach them...as they draft off each other...i decline to join them...(cant keep up...) they were riding a steady 17-20mph as i reach them...we ride for a couple miles together....I'm not close enuff to catch their back wheel for drafting....just keeping them in sight...pedal...pedal...pedal....turn off Cox rd....onto Hwy 31(Nolensville Rd)....& its UPHILL...I stand on the pedals.....& floor it....to keep up....get to the top & conserve a little JUICE...pedal...pedal...pedal....down a slight ways & then the final climb.....I grab the 2 riders back wheel the last 1/2 mile on the climb...then we hit the top of the hill together & i gun it....crank it into the BIG RING...& stomp 'em hard!pedal...pedal...pedal!I top 29mph as I ride across the FINISH line....my cyclo-computer says 39:31...if thats true...thats my BEST time for the 20k Road race course...I find out later...it IS my best time...but NOT good ENUFF for a MEDAL...the MEDAL WINNERS in the 55-59 age group:Thomas Gee took GOLDRicky Braxton   SilverBruce Pearson   BronzeA the Chicago Cubs fans always say...."there's ALWAYS next year!"Been a good TN SENIOR OLYMPICS...GOOD LUCK to ALL the TN SENIOR OLYMPIANS going to the NATIONAL FINALS in San Franciso!now back to hiking!