tuesday spinning.... like i never have before....

so after getting repeated flack from fresnoakland (couJUSTINgh), i returned for some tuesday night racing. this week was scratch racing, which is pretty boring compared to points racing, in my opinion. i was planning on riding the Bs today for a couple of reasons: a) B is for Beth, b) wanted to get some practice in the pack, c) hoping mark patten would tow me around the whole night, and d) see a), and e) get used to some bigger field sizes. larry always says during check-in: "have a goal for tonight's racing", and mine was to: a) hang on for dear life, b) not crash, and c) get used to bigger field sizes and riding in a pack. i felt pretty satisfied with my goals.

so the first race was 30 laps that was crazy fast. i mean, i think i had ridden fast races before, but this was fast the whole bloody time. i would like to report that i think i have finally experienced the sensation of "spinning out." people seem to say this a lot, but i never know what they are talking about. up until this point, i never felt like i needed a bigger gear to keep up. but this first race yesterday, after 20 laps or so spinning so much, i just couldn't keeping spinning so much to stay with the pace, and then slipped off the back. i probably spent a little too much time bridging gaps early on, which i know now...but i don't think it really mattered much. it was just hard to spin so quick. after i got dropped with about 10 to go, me and two other dudes nearly chased back on, but then with 3 to go it picked up just as we were close and fell back off the pack. anyway, this was an exciting day in my personal track history because i reached a point where i probably could have utilized a bigger gear.

the second race was 40 laps and much more civilized and slow. i knew it was slower cause i had no problem whatsoever with my gear this time. going in, i wasn't really planning on finishing the race...just going to stay in until i got dropped, but that didn't happen, so i finished. my plan this race was not to spend anytime at the front at all...considering i got dropped last race. so i didn't. i also tried to stay in the mix as much as possible to get better riding with people. the funny thing about riding with B men is they are such gentlemen; "oh sure, honey, go ahead in front of me." "yes, please, beth, get on my wheel and i will help you." "oh you want in? okay, here you go!" and that is pretty much how it goes. i am certainly not complaining it is just kinda funny. well, basically what happened at the end is i was lucky and in good position. i am usually in bad position with 2 to go, so it was probably about time that i just happened to be in good position. donut king jumped with 2 to go. then i let some ICCC dude pull me back. as he was fading going into the bell lap, i went around him and jumped out of turn 2. then i guess i kinda led out john, but that was cool by me. i kinda got swarmed by everyone and their mom on the homestretch, but i ended up fourth, so that was cool. i knew i had to sprint early, cause they were all faster than me to begin with. after the race, brian peterson said to me: "good jump, beth". i would just like to note that the words "good", "jump", and "beth" were all used in the same sentence .... that is without an imperative proceeding it, i.e. "you need a good jump, beth". anyway, i will take that complement with a grain of salt because, a) brian peterson is very polite and kind, and b) i jumped past the donut king who just goes surfing nowadays.

alright, well that was some tuesday track racing reportage. major props to sabina for being off the front FOREVER in the second race. she was suffering good and didn't even flinch when i yelled at her: "SUCK IT UP, WOMAN!" it was a rockin' break for sure.