Mike Olheiser

What a fun time.  If you have not done this race, you are missing out.  We started the pro 1,2,3 field with about 100 guys.  You could just feel the nerves and the excitement as soon as we rolled out of the parking lot.  A small break went up the road in the first mile of racing, but if you know this course, going that early is a death march.  I am glad it wasn't me leaving the proctection of the field for the unknown.  Fast foward to mile 30.

As we were coming toward the first section of dirt, guys were flying all over the place trying to get to the front of the field.  I got swallowed up by everyone and went in the dirt in a worrisome position. 

At this point you know who is comfortable on dirt and who is not.  I yelled at some guys to pedal thier bikes, and as they did, I went flying by them headed for the front.  I made the front and turned the screws in a little, but was happy to chase wheels at the front and stay out of trouble.  After 7 miles of sand and sliding, we popped back out on the pavement with about thirty guys.  The field started to swell to about 50, I think, as we headed for the second section of dirt.  Fast forward.

We headed for the wood bridge and the second section of dirt, or sand box.  It is a bad sign when you hear a hisssssssing sound, I was really hoping it was the guy next to me.  Not so lucky, but with a good guy named Travis, I had a new wheel on in about 20 seconds and was back chasing to get to the front.  In my mind I thought the race was over, but I powered my way back to the leaders by the end of the hilly 3 miles of boulders and sand (Hello to the guys sun bathing in the sand on the way up the first hill, I'll bring the lotion for you next year).  I grabbed a bottle from Nicole and tried to rest a second.  Short lived.  San Jose started attacking, the field did a good job covering the attacks for the most part, but my legs would never fully come back from the massive effort I'd just put out.  Fast forward.

I think the third dirt section suprised some people.  Christian, from VW, and I came into the dirt flying.  The boulders were flying out from under our wheels as we tore up the hills (the road was the worst I have ever seen).  We quickly caught the last of the break (started in the 1 mile, we were at about mile 80, sorry guys, but nice effort). I got one quick look behind me and we were separated from everyone and putting time into them. We quickly decided to work together to maximize the gap on everybody else. 

I may have scared myself once or twice on some of the corners, you know what I am talking about if you have ever riden a road bike on gravel.  We hit the tar flying, with no sight of the remnants of the field.  We continued to split pulls for the next several miles, then o crap! what was left of the field was coming hard after us (about 10 riders strong). It was no time before they bridged the gap.  Apparently they did not want me in the break.

Well, now this sucks, I pretty much put my last effort into that break.  At one point I tried to attack, I laughed quietly to myself, my legs were dead.  San Jose keept up the attacks until Sullivan (San Jose) and Matt Davis (La Sport?) got up the road.  Futile.  No one would work. Let's get to the finish.  5th.  Sorry guys, I tried.  Great effort from everybody, Allen was great and thank you Travis for the wheel.