weekend recap

So I headed down to dripping springs Texas to race at Lance Armstrong's ranch. Got there Friday afternoon to sign in and hit the trail for the pre-ride. the trial might be one of the best,read hardest cross country trails Ive ever ridden.Including Moab,Colorado and New Mexico. loose chalky soil, gnarly rocky drop offs and lips and some pretty good climbs.Especially for someone racing single speed.
Saturday was the cat 3 racers and the pro tour men and women races. got there in time to catch the finish of the cat 3's and the start of the pro womens. by the time we parked and got on course they pros had already done one lap. They had a UCI/Olympic course of about 5K so it didnt take them long. Made it over to the 1K to go climb just in time to catch the leaders fly up the climb and see Heather Irmiger walking her bike. She cut a tire, tried to air it up to no avail and walked it in for a DNF, we walked in with her, chatting a bit and then once at the top and on the road she hopped on and rode in on the flat.
The pro men, man those guys were flying, they made it look so easy. Gliding over the rocks, airing it over the lips and drops and making the climbs look flat. At least they looked gassed at the end and complained a bit about the "oppressive" heat. but then they got to go over to Lances house for a dip in the pool once it was all over, so they got over it pretty quick.
So, Sunday was my race day, got there with some time to spare, kitted up, did some warm up spinning, rode down to Lances gate a couple of times then off to stage for the start. It was a pretty big group nearly 40 guys in the single speed class. I was pretty wound up and got a decent start, mid pack. the first few K's are pretty crappy, tight twisty loose switchbacks down then back up. then it opens up for some passing and then back to tech stuff. Lots of flats and attrition so I was making up places and then passed a few guys, then got passed on a climb but got right back on them and stayed there in the top 20 until they pulled off and I got by just in time for the end of the first lap. 8K down, 8K to go. Kept up my pace even though I was redline in the heat and was standing on the gas on the first hard climb and kept getting tire rub in the rear. then a few creaks and squeaks so I looked down to find a big crack in the frame. Shit! I stopped, pondered finshing out the last 5K standing up until the coarse marshal looked at it and said the pending failure would definitely cause bodily harm,SO, I walked it up to the road and pedaled over to cap carter and DNF'd. IT sucked to pull out in first race as a Big Pig, but it seemed like the smart thing to do.
I did get to cheer on Charity a little though. And was pretty impressed at the reputation that the jersey has, lots of people holler'n for the Big Pig to push it harder. The one consolation was the free beer in the expo area courtesy of Michelob.
Next year Im going back to kick that trails ass, or break another frame trying, whatever it takes.