MSU/Michigan

Michigan State Road Race: The "Road Rampage" was as brutal as ever, with the 1.2 mile stretch of dirt road being the defining feature. The dirt stretch was relatively compact and stable, but there were a few large potholes and some "quicksand" to make it a nailbiter every time we pushed through it. Mark and Jordan saddled up for the C race, which fractured into several small groups after the first 4.4 mile lap. Jordan was in the main bunch chasing a 2-man break and solo chaser for the rest of the race. Mark was in a separate group a few minutes back. Jordan ended up taking third in the bunch sprint for an excellent sixth on the day, and Uncle Mark rolling in mid-pack. The As and the Ds were on the course at the same time. Marty and Josh both spent a lonely day riding most of their 18-mile race solo, learning not only road skills but some cross as well. Seth and I lined up for the 12 lap A sufferfest, and the attacks started the moment we hit the dirt. Headed straight for a huge hole, I instinctually bunny-hopped and just barely held it together. Seth was a few wheels back and did not have the same fortune. I heard the sickening crack of a carbon wheel, and when I didn't see Seth anywhere in the pack, I had a sinking feeling that he had gone down. By the third lap the course was neutralized around the area of the hole as a full EMS squad was out and Seth was on the stretcher. It turns out he faceplanted hard enough to crack his helmet, but after a day in the hospital, he was released with nothing more than some bad road rash and bruised ribs. We're all hoping for a speedy recovery so Seth can laugh and breath deeply again! My race was ugly, as I slowly wore down and dropped out just past halfway. I dropped out after nearly half the field already had, so it wasn't terrible, but nonetheless another failed road race.

U of Michigan Circuit Race: The 2.1 mile course whipped around the Engineering campus and featured a fairly steep hill that caused significant attrition in each race. Marty and Josh improved significantly in the D race, with Marty finishing further away from lanterne rouge, and Josh charging to a 26th place. Some more training and these guys will be spicy! Jordan again raced comfortably in the C bunch, and learned a few things about sprinting while cruising in for 8th place. That's 2 top 10s for Mr. Ross this weekend! Uncle Mark was fried by the hill and after flatting his rear just before the start of the race, he flatted his front on the last lap before the hill. Rough stuff, but Uncle Mark took it out on a Redamaks triple swissburger later that evening. I was riding solo in the A race, but Seth was at the top of the hill cheering me on. Poor positioning at the key point of the race left me off the back with about 20 minutes to go and I rode solo before getting scooped up by two other big boys, and we motored to the finish. I missed the points by one spot!! Given the caliber of the riders finishing in front of me though, I'm happy with the result and driven by the fact that I'm so tantalizingly close to having the fitness of truly elite riders.