BAZAAR

BAZAAR Road Race. Not sure what to say about it. I've done it the last 3 years, not sure why. Its fun in a super weird way. This time was no exception, 93 degrees and 38mph wind with 45mph gusts. I new we wouldn't see too much wind from the sides(crosswinds) so I glued up some 90mm wheels my friend is planning on buying from me. 12/16 spokes, ceramic bearings, 90mm depth. I will argue till I die that these are the fastest wheels out there. 1440 grams! You kidding me?



We get to the old church 40 minutes before the start, rush to get registered, I have Brian pin my number( he does it upside down)...

Next I put my shoes on super tight, then put black shoe covers on.



Race starts and we are going 15 miles straight into a 40mph wind. We are moving about 12mph and there are a few people moving up, going faster, I get up there, everyone pulls through and when I get up there no one comes by, everyone still behind me, I see Bill from tradewind behind me so I punch it a little, straight into the wind. 30 seconds later we have a 20 second gap and Bill was the only one with me. After another minute Bill "realizes" we had a gap and decided to start working with me.


We maintained a gap of about 30 seconds for a while. My feet started burning. Shoes were too tight and black shoe covers were making them really hot.

We dug in and when we reached a small crosswind section I punched it and we put another 25 seconds into the field. At this point Bob from Monster attacks the field and we are coming close to the turnaround. When we make the turnaround we have a crazy tailwind and immediately jump to 40mph. We see Bob coming about 40 seconds back and the field 25 behind him.



Bill and I kill it for the next 10 miles. I start hurting too much. My groin gets pulled, my feet feel like they are falling apart, and I run out of water....all 56ozs of it. At this point Bob catches us and attacks, he's got a 56t q ring while Bill and I were pushing 53/11.


Bill stays with Bob while I start being a girl about everything. I try taking off my shoe cover to undo my straps on my shoes, end up riding onto the shoulder into gravel and stop. loosen my shoe and start going again. I see I still have a 2 minute gap so I get back up to speed and cruise until the last turnaround.


Bob loses Bill on one of the downhill sections with his big chainring.

I make the turnaround and a group of 3 catch me with 10miles to go back into the headwind.

We work a while and one guy doesn't, so I kind of stop working. Keep in mind there are 40mph headwinds and we are going 13mph.


At the sprint I get 2nd, the guy who never worked beat me by 3 inches. I was in way to big of gear.


Ended up 4th overall.



I'm glad I raced.


I was going to race Herman this weekend, but my mainman Kent broke his collarbone at hillsboro, so I am staying home. I am not ready for an 80mile road race yet. I may never be, but I will be ready for some 35 mile crits soon.