Crazy Old man strength = 1st place single speed

by Travis on November 4th, 2009

race3 So the depend bibs wearing, alzhiemer’s addled, overweight, about to break his hip senior citizen wins one for the Empire. As can be attested to by Darren, the Estrella race coarse is a biznatch because of the ridiculous amounts of large and middle sized loose rocks waiting to toss you ass over tea kettle. Add to the equation single speeders were required to complete 30 miles of what I like to call “Satans Playground” and youve got a formula for a serious beatdown.

This time I wasn’t having an alzhiemers flare up so I got to the start line in time to start with the other single speeders, pros, and cat1’s. I got a great whole shot and pegged myself on the wheel of the leading 4 geared riders for the first 4 miles till I had to taper back to a reasonable single speed rythum. I look behind me to see where everyone is and can’t see anyone for a 1/2 mile. So I just keep the hammer down as hard as I can the first long and tech loops. The second long loop Im starting to feel the pain in my lower back, shoulders, and neck; honestly at the end of the last long loop im begging for mercy but I know im in first by a long shot. Then the infamous pinch flat strikes just as im starting the last tech loop. I pull the tube and try putting the new tube on the rim, only to realize my spare tube is a 26inch tube and im riding my 29er dohhh!

At the moment im about to give up the guy in second passes me and I cramm that 26 inch tube onto my 29 inch wheel and pump it up as much as I dare. I take off, pissed I got jumped with a flat tire, riding like a man posessed. I can’t see the guy im chasing till I hit the climb. I know ive got him, because I see him walking up the climb, blown like a limp celery stalk. I pass him half way down the decent hoping my 26inch tube holds up under the abuse. One more big climb and down to the finish where I take the win by 3 minutes. So other than the blood in my urine from having my kidneys punched for 30 miles I had to feel good about my first, 1st place win in 6 years.