Battenkill Roubaix, 4/14/07

Battenkill was brutal. I threw up (and swallowed it) on the first set of
hills thanks to my lower back pain from the crash a few weeks ago. I
got dropped somewhere toward the end of this climb and I then time
trialed back onto pack. Within 10 miles I had my first mechanical.
I stopped and fixed it and then caught back on to the pack once more
while listening to encouraging words coming from of the Target
Training team car. After a couple miles, the pack slowed down and I
was able to finally bring my heart rate back to a sane number.

Some miles later we hit a dirt section that was a bit wet and
littered with huge holes. I saw Cecelia from RM. fly to the right
onto her side. Luckily where she landed looked somewhat soft and she
got back on her bike. I was catching up to the pack but once we hit
some more climbs, I was toast. My legs and back said "Enough".

After a mile or so of "rest", I saw the pack up ahead but hit a hole
and threw my chain off in such a way that it locked my pedals. I
was pretty furious and frustrated at this point, so after stopping
yet again, I got back on the bike and time trialed to the finish. In
an attempt to slightly redeem myself, I sprinted past a couple riders
at the finish line.

Nan came in with a pack of girls a bit later. From what she said, it
sounded as if as she was getting ready to sprint, she realized she
was in a pack of sprinters. Urgh!