PWC- 2 out of 4 ain't bad baby...

Your 2005 District TT Champion- Billy V... Bad, Bad Man... PWC-

Fuck yeah. I did it, stayed with the group, didn't get dropped, hell I used smoke and mirrors but shit yeah, I made it to the finish with the group. Don;t get me wrong there were plenty of times when I was totally on the rivet, and thought I was done, but kept my composure and sucked wheel like a banshee, and stayed in. Great group tonight, although I did miss the Shark. Some of the really bad mofo's were back along with the usual cast of normal bad mofo's. Hope I don't miss anyone but I think the group was:

Dan the Man, Matty D, Spencer, Slick Rick, Yinger, George, Billy V, Pres Jay, Cool Ass Dave H, Postal/Disco Dave, Road Bike Amy, Jonathan, Cohen, who popped in fresh in a couple of sections, John Hagen, and your favorite Spot Brand Whore (sorry if I missed anyone)

Ride was fast, and fun, some good smack talked in a friendly manner. Started fast, and cruised over the cemetery bridge. Up 896 I thought I was in trouble and skipped a rotation. Ah yes, hide in the pack. Turned onto porter and the Yinger took a flyer at the front. Group responded and once we got together, Spencer flatted. We soft pedaled for a bit. John Hagen went to the front on 71 and set a viscous pace. Back on Chesapeake City road, I realized I was feeling a little tired, and was quickly coming up to the two rollers where generally I find myself dropped like a ton of bricks. I said to myself , "self, don't fuck this up, be smart, hide in the pack. Survive this section. " I hid kinda safely behind Slick Rick's wheel over the first. My plan was to try to stay in the group and make it over the second hill, where I have been dropped 2 of 3 previous times I've done this ride. For the record, drafting off of Slick Rick, Matty D, and Amy is like trying to eat a steak with a straw. Sure you can get some benefit, but is it really worth the suffering?

But digress, Dan the man took off up the second hill, and I threw my plan out the window and tried to hang on as long as I could. The new plan was stay with Dan the Man until I cracked, which was about 200 yards over the top of this small roller, and hope I could recover and catch a wheel of the rest of the group. I was very pleased that my new plan worked, and I felt a little victorious, as I had made it past the place were 2 of 3 previous times this very group had dispatched me.

Up 273 the group worked well together, Ying yelled at us, again no one listened, and Matty D had us reverse our rotation. Up some little shit road, Spencer took off setting up a sprint, Dan the man and Slick Rick ended up fighting it out Manu a Manu. Up the final strip, and the final sprint line the Secret Henry's team came together as Slick Rick and I took massive pulls and delivered Dan the Man to the line. Well, it was a crack in the road, it may have not been the final sprint line but shit we delivered him somewhere. It's the damn thought that counts! Matty D and Dan fought it out to the line, I'm not sure who won I was with the groupetto and frankly just happy to be finishing with the group. I race in the single speed class, when we do have to sprint, it usually just embarrassing, like Rasmussen on TT bike bad, if you know what I mean.

Back in the parking lot I got sweat in my eye. That stung a lot. Billy V had refreshments and we talked briefly about riley and our other dogs. That was cool. Prez talked about a Special Olympics, and a local duathalon coming up. I sat feeling really happy about my ride. Got a couple really good rides with intensity and I look forward to racing sewell this weekend. Shit I'm batting 50% for finishing this ride with the group now! Thanks folks tonight was a ton of fun.

Other quick notes, George and Amy were fantastic gate keepers and did a great job helping to communicate and kept the pack rolling. And Billy V who just won the district TT championship said, " I was happy to win one, now I have a district championship in my 40's, my 50's and my 60's" In my entire life I will never be as tough or cool as that guy. Tough as Nails. Yeah Boy, that guy is a bad, bad man, congrats and mad props.

respect
fatmarc