2 weeks ago as I sit in Sociology class I got a text. Being a senior and loving any distraction from talk of globalization and development I hastily scrambled to get the phone out of my pocket. It was from my good buddy Jacob Aber, a sophomore rider at Virginia Tech. "Going to Nats homie" it read. Well this was certainly better news then learning about how Wal-Mart was quickly replacing the nation-state with its influence over a countries population so quickly I began working on plans to get to the race. This was going to be awesome I thought.
Eventually after an afternoon of annoying Ben the president of Vtech and calling James McCabe, the president of Wake I had a plan worked out. Tuesday night I would drive up to tech to stay with my buddy Jacob and Wednesday morning I would board the van with tech for a 13 hour venture up to Madison Wisconsin. The first night I would stay by myself and the next I would share a room with Wake. This quest was possible, even for a college student that is basically broke!
Arriving at tech Tuesday night a little later than expected after being stuck in Richmond for nearly an hour at a stand still Jacob and I watched Mike B., another tech rider eat a half gallon of ice cream and had a few beers. We woke up the next morning to get in the van for a long days drive. We stopped at the infamous Hooters for lunch to show Tech's Italian exchange student, Edoardo, what this great american establishment was all about. After 5 more hours in the car we got out at a Wal-Mart for a sayg ride (slow as your grandma). We then feasted on some Chinese buffet and when we were done stuffing ourselves we again got back into the van for another 6 hours with Edoardo at the helm.
We got to the hotel at about 1am and I was told they had given my room away and would be putting me in the parlor with a roll-away. Sure I told them, as long as I get a discount. Overhearing the conversation Ben laughed that I was getting a closet. After being informed that she could not provide me a discount and asking me if this was acceptable I replied no thanks. Upgraded to governors palace. Place didnt suck. In the words of Jacob Aber (Jaber) the sheets were no bs Egyptian cotton, mad high thread count dawg. Dont ask why he slept in the bed with me and not his teamates. Were cool like that.
The next day we ventured off to the trek factory for a tour. #manynewpairsofpantsneeded. It was awesome. Saw mad cool bikes. Touched Lance's saddle, almost as good as touching his ass? Saw Contadors bike, I think I saw some contaminated steak in the bento box. After the tour we went to the course to ride. Unfortunately it was quite rainy so we decided driving would be better. Saw a few riders on the course and we were pretty glad we chose to take the day off. That night we went out to dinner at this wierd design your own pasta joint. It was good. The cheesy bread Ben and I split was awesome and totally unnecessary. After dinner we made our way to an ice cream joint where we found some pretty cute scoop girls. After harassing them with inquiries to their favorite flavors and being rejected we went to the liquor store to find Edoardo some grapa which he said would "aid in digestion" #shitsucks
The morning of the road race the sun was coming up and the riders waited anxiously. I got on the second line. That was sweet in a huge race. The neutral roll out was far from neutral as we made our way down the finishing 1.5 mile climb the smell of break pads filled the air...beautiful. The beginning of the race was loko. 1.5 miles downhill, 50mph, bumping #nothanks. Saw a guy from Denver eat mad shit as he went flying across the grass then nailing a tree. Guy in the D1 race hit the same tree, broken pelvis and punctured rib...fun. At the bottom of the hill I thought, 4 more times own that...SHIT. The difference between this race and all the others I had done was the pace. No let up. First lap I wanted a gu but waited till the second. The 1.5 mile climb at the end of each lap was my saving grace. I always finished in the top 20. Thats ok though as about 30 people would pass me on the downhill #ineedbiggerballs.
On the third lap of the race negative thoughts began finding their way into my mind. Quickly I jammed down a honey stinger waffle and then some accelerade that I got from a duke rider. I think the waffle stayed down. The accelerade...not so much. Throwing up blue is something usually you would go to the ER for. But the culprit in this case was clear. Im never drinking that vile liquid again. At the end of the third lap about 15 guys and I got away up the climb, unfortunately 14 stayed in a pack down the descent and I was not one of them fuck my descending skills. Luckily I was swept up by a chase that would end up catching them about 3 miles from the finish. About 30 of us were in a pack at the final climb with 1 rider off of the front. About 1 mile up the climb i went to shift into my lowest gear and dropped the chain. This is the worst feeling EVER. I tried to get it to catch but to no avail. I got off my bike and put the chain back on and began hammering up towards the riders ahead. I have put myself through alot but I speak the truth when I say I have never hurt this bad in my life. Never.
Final result: 24th in the nation. Feeling: pleased. Time to go to sleep. Crit tomorrow and I DID NOT DRIVE 18 hours to get pulled tomorrow. Im stoked. Go hard or go home.
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