Or more specifically, my tire. The race was a mountain biker’s course, it was perfect for me. I had a call up. I should have easily placed top ten.
However, my start sucked. I don’t know, I just didn’t bring it. I didn’t bring much of anything, I was barely pedaling. In fact, Heidi yelled at me I was going so slow. I’m really not sure what the hell is up with me, I had a really long warm up too.
Anyway, shortly after the first pit, after the long descent, I realized my tire was flat. I had a long, long way to go until the Shimano neutral wheel pit. Jennifer, a master A rider who also recently left the As, also got a flat, so we kept each other running for the next mile or so. The entire women’s field passed us by. Were it not for her, I probably would have just given up.
I got my wheel: race time. Maybe I can even stay on the lap. Yeah, that idea was quickly squashed as a few Master As and a B or two passed me, but they were the only ones, so I felt pretty good about that. It was hard to get my head in the game, and I wouldn’t say I was 100% on it, but I pushed. I felt pretty good, actually, which made me sad. Oh well, I had fun, I got in a work out, I almost puked, so it was worth something at least.
Mechanicals blow. Sherwood was the first race this year that I didn’t have an issue where I had to stop and get off the bike at least once.