You might have seen that Reagan had posted a Triathlon schedule for the summer, but she’s not the only one racing this year. I thought I’d give bike racing a spin, so I signed up for the Lincoln Plating Spring Cycling Classic that happened last weekend. A few people I met there were surprised that I entered a stage race for my first experience. I thought it would be a good early season sampler, so then I could find which events I liked and disliked.

Saturday Individual Time Trial 13 miles.
The event was at Branched Oak Lake, NW of Lincoln, NE. I was in place at the starting line when I suddenly realized that I’ve never been clipped in, standing still, and having someone hold my bike up by the seat before. I did have that thought of hearing “GO” and just falling over. I took off, saw someone ahead of me and made them the rabbit to catch, Heading North up the big climb, the nice 15-25mph tailwind made for a fast climb. About a mile later, that’s when it got painful. The road comes back at a 45 degree angle to the Southeast. Remember that tailwind? Well, it was in front now. Then South on the dam, straight into the headwind. Ouch. Took everything to stay above 14mph. Around here I ended up passing 3 people. Then there was a long rolling stretch going West. Fast climbs, and even faster descents. The final corner was a blast. You got a good line into a 90 degree corner, and with that wind shifting to your backside, it snapped you into place and accelerated you to 30 to the finish.
RESULTS - 10th place, 0:39:34, 19.87mph avg

The Road Race 38 miles.
The road race was the same course, just 3 laps around the lake. So after some chips, turkey sandwiches, gel and energy drinks; the wind gained more speed. About 25-35mph now. The start was a rolling, neutral start out to the main road. Once there, the race was on. We stayed in a pack, climbing near 17mph and still having friendly small talk. Crossing the dam was a nightmare. The gusts hitting the front of the pack caused some major yo-yo-ing. I was on the windy blown edge of the pack and during the pulsing, starting working backwards in rank. Kept on the back for the rest of the lap and up the hill again. However hitting that open area behind the lake just behind the pack’s protection was bad news. That’s when I lost them. I kept them in sight for a while, then they disappeared. Apparently the pack fell apart near the start of the last lap. The final lap was more of the same. At least I was able to start picking off riders. Made it back up to the end of the peninsula, saw Reagan and Mason sitting on the side of the road and gave what I had left to make the finish look good. Crossed the line, and coasted all the way back to the truck. I laid in the grass and waited for the family to walk over.
RESULTS: 13th. 2:18:30, 16.42mph avg GC:13th place
-I don’t remember passing that many people. I was surprised.

Sunday - Pioneer’s Park, Lincoln Nebraska. 30min circuit race
The course was a 2 mile loop on the Eastern sideof the park. There was a fast 1/2 mile out to a roundabout with a buffalo statue, then back on the same road. The road split here and you dropped down one side of the concert bowl, circled it on dead flat roads with sweeping dogleg turns, then up the “leg-burner” hill back to the line.
I started on the line, and tried to keep even with the other guy who got in front down the narrow stretch. I tried to match speed here, didn’t need to unleash the pack’s wrath yet. I think I was in the lead from taking a good set of corners in and out of the roundabout and back to the split. From here, I didn’t preview the rest of the course. I ended up on the outside of the next few corners, and fell back into the middle of the pack. Then it was disaster for me. There was just no leg left to make it up that hill. I chased down the pack, and was entering the roundabout as they exited. Each lap from there more of the same. I could hold my own until I hit that hill. I saw the pack’s lead grow slightly each lap. It was good, that I could see I was pulling away from the rest of the stragglers too. I just entered the split on the final lap when I heard the winner cross the line. I was about a 1/2 lap back. After the race, one of the guys from an Omaha team came over and said it looked like I had a good race, and asked if I caught them again. He saw my lead over him grow each lap too. I told him, I didn’t have anything left to climb with, then both of them chimed in about killing themselves in that wind yesterday. So, we chatted for a while and I learned which bike shop they were out of. I might have to go check it out and get in on some of their group rides.
RESULTS - 12th place, 0:31:24
Final GC place: 9th. A top 10 finish!
What I learned:
-I could say I was the lead straggler behind the pack each time.
-The pack accelerates near the end of the 1st lap
-I hate the wind
-Need to learn the course, and warm up more
-And I have no favorite event. I love TT riding, the distance of road races, and the crits are fast crazy fun.