1st Place – 2008 Smokin Spoke Comp 30-34

Posted by joel on September 8, 2008

On the heels of Monica and Jeff’s wedding, Sunday I headed up to Rhinelander for the Smokin Spoke. Coming in I was feeling a little soft after the festivities on Saturday. The drive up I was feeling sleepy, my stomach was churning, and I had a little headache. To top it off I arrived about 45 minutes before start time which didn’t give me much time to prep.

The start group was smaller than normal given this race is the furthest north. The lead out was rather slow and no one really wanted to take charge. After about a mile of sitting on a wheel we came to a hill and I was thinking this pace is too slow so I stepped it up and pulled out front. I continued to pull away and maintained about a 45 second gap through about 8 miles. At that time, a single speeder from Milwaukee caught up and we rode together for about a mile. All was going well until I dropped my chain on a bumpy downhill section (first time this year with the Rohloff mind you). I was half expecting to loose a couple spots, but that didn’t happen! I got the chain back on and over about 2 miles made up the gap Doug Pietz put on me. After completing the first lap he and I rode the remaining lap 1 and 2 changing positions on occasion. Knowing he was on a single speed and that the last mile or so was pretty open I had the advantage of a bigger gear and took advantage. I pulled ahead with two miles to go and maintained it for a Comp overall win – my first!!

Post race was pretty interesting because about a minute after I came in the wind picked up and a hail storm kicked in. The race coordinators pulled the elite racers off one lap short of completion.