Prom, Racing, and NOT Sleeping...

Well this past Friday was the all anticipated Senior Prom 2008. It all got underway around 12:00 when I got to leave school early. (Had to get my hair did...or sleep) So I went got gas and picked up my dates flowers and then headed home for a nap that would be crucial to my survival of the night and the next day. I woke up around 4:30 and got a shower/cleaned the car/got dressed and went to pick up my date at 5:30. We took some pictures and some more pictures and some more pictures and then went to the school for pre-prom and more pictures. Finally it was time to actually go to the prom.
The prom was at the Renaissance Room in Washington Twp. which was really nice. The whole prom thing was a blast as it should be. After prom we headed back to school to board some buses and head over to Project prom at Dave and Busters. This was definitely an awesome time. We played games and bowled and did not sleep at all. The bus ride home we all slept a little but not very much. Once back at school I took my date home as well as my friend and her date. I got home around 7-7:30 am and immediately fell asleep...for an hour. Once I got up I ate and had my mom drive me down to the Wilmington Grand Prix race. This was going to be fun. The Crit was a big one, 92 starters with $1500 total prize list on line. I got a good warm up pre-riding the course. It featured to long straights with two short ends. The finishing straight was long and slightly uphill with brick street crossings, the backstretch was a slight downhill with a strong headwind into a tight third corner. I rolled around with Woody from Philly Ciclismo, we talked about how I thought the race would end in a field sprint, and that if we got in a break together we would really try an stick it out. We line up, the whistle blows and we were off. I worked hard to maintain a position in the top 15 riders. The pace was very fast, and was not letting up at all. Attacks were going but nothing really promising went. I gave it go with around 27 laps left. It didn't work, I just spent a lap in the wind. The race was fairly uneventful for awhile, just solidly fast. Around 12 laps to go I was sitting around 10-15th place when two riders in front of me collided and went down. One fell into my front wheel breaking 3 spokes, and nearly taking me down. I stuck my foot down and managed to kick off the ground rather than slide my body across it. However my front wheel was trashed. I made my way into the SRAM neutral service pit where my old heavy 32 spoke front wheel was traded for a nice light-weight Zipp 404. I took my free lap and jumped right back into the race. I was sitting on Woody's wheel when we got our 8 to go lap card. On the back stretch he attacked and I followed. We got a gap, not just any gap either a good gap. We started to work together and the pain began to set in. After four laps our lead had been extended to around 25 seconds. Then Woody attacked me into a corner, I just couldn't follow. However I did not give up. I kept giving it what little bit I had. I spent another three laps off the front by myself before having another rider bridge up to me with one lap remaining. He started to play games when he bridge on, I told him "Let's not screw around, let's just get to the finish, I won't even sprint." So he took the lead, I pulled once more on the backstretch and then we entered the final stretch, shook hands and started to sprint, I had nothing left. He took it with ease but I rolled in just behind him and 7 seconds ahead of the field. 3rd place is something that I can be quite happy with. After the race the announcer interviewed having heard about my prom night and me not sleeping at all. "Where's your dedication kid!" he said. I laughed and replied its my senior prom, I had to go. Besides I think I just proved my dedication on the last 8 laps. It was a great event. It was a great course, it was run smoothly, and was hard enough that 52 riders were pulled from the race. However that was to be my last race as a Cat 3, I upgraded later that day. Now its time to start on the next quest, doing well in Cat 2 events.

Peace and Love,
Patrick

Diggin Deep

Today was the Memorial Hall Crit in Philly. I signed up to race the Cat 3/4 race. The weather was perfect, a little breezy but nice and warm. The course was short only around .6-.7 miles long and it was flat as a pancake. My field was very large with 72 riders finishing the race. Due to the large field and the nature of the course I anticipated a very fast race. I would not be wronged, the race started off fast and never really let off. It wasn't a terribly long race with only 42 laps, but they would all be pretty fast. The finishing straight was a tailwind section that was very fast every lap. The backstretch was a pretty sturdy headwind. Around 10 laps into the race I countered a move on the back stretch and found myself alone off the front. I would spend two laps off the front. No one would bridge by themselves and I was shut down. I took another flyer with around 11-12 laps to go, only to have a similar result. This was a little discouraging because I knew I wouldn't be worth anything in a field sprint with a tailwind. A few laps pass and more attacks get no where. We get 5 to go and on the back stretch Woody from Philly Ciclismo takes a flyer and gets clear. He was off the front solo and was looking strong. At one point his lead was all the way out to 23 seconds. I really thought that he could get the win. However we hit 2 laps to go and we're catching up fast. The catch was made on the back stretch. I knew this was my one shot. I attacked hard from the right side of the road over to the left and started to drive it. I managed to get a decent gap. I rail the third corner and the fourth and make my way onto the finishing straight with the tailwind. I stay as aero as possible and just try and stay comfortable and save a little for the backstretch in the wind. As I'm flying down the stretch the words of a wise MAMBO kings rider float into my ears, "Don't Look Back! You have gap! Give it EVERYTHING!" These words stayed with me through the finish line where I got the bell signifying one more lap. I dove into the first corner trying to keep as much speed as possible and the same for the second corner. I knew the field was close, I stood up and jumped hard out of turn two. This is where pain and suffering took over my body. My brain was off with the simple words "GIVE IT EVERYTHING" floating around inside my head. I finally make it to turn three and dive into it and power over to turn four. I hit the last tailwind stretch. I sprint out of the corner and really dig deep. I'm sitting down trying to get every last bit of power out of my legs. People are yelling and screaming for me, and for those that are just behind me. I can't see the line yet, I know it is coming but it seems like it was still miles away. I can now hear the carbon wheels echoing on the pavement just behind me, I see the wheels enter my peripherals...and then I see the most glorious sight. A line of black tape across the ground. I throw for the line and see that I am the first person across, but barely. I won be about 6 inches or so. I throw my arms up. It was an incredible victory. Junior gears and everything. It is funny, and while this surely does not justify the rule, it has forced me to learn a new style of racing. I would like to thank everyone out there who was cheering for me, especially my parents whose support allows me to do what I do. What a day. That race brings me up to a 50% win ratio for road races this year. I feel great and I am really enjoying it all.

Peace and Love,
Patrick