Madera -- Christine Anderson

Well said, Jenny - mad...era. I showed up hoping for anything other
than last place, considering I've been training for all of a month
this year. Flatted on the railroad tracks in the crit but took my
free lap & got back in. However, I spent most of the time moving
backwards on the corners & forward (doing all the work) in between.
Drafting's usually better in a crit. Finished pretty much with the
pack.

My flat for the TT happened about 10 minutes before it started, so I
had time to change that one. Thought I rode pretty hard, & I
actually passed 3 people. (Granted, one of them was sitting up with
her hands on top of the bars.) Only one girl passed me, & after she
did, I was able to stay with her until the finish. I figured, 18
girls, I passed 3, probably 15th place or maybe 14th, knowing my mad
TT skills.

Next day, however, I found out I'd gotten 8th - for me, that's a darn
good TT, but it meant now that I actually had something to do in the
RR. I'd told the girls the night before, only half-joking, that I
was hoping for a flat the next day so I wouldn't have to ride 51
miles in the 127 degree temps. I didn't warm up because of the heat,
but sat on the front during the promenade, planning on warming up &
controlling the speed of the girls up the hill - worked just as
planned. However, my wish from the night before came true 1/4 mile
into the race - pothole, hisssssss! I could still see Jenny's car
that had just passed us on the horizon but it was too late. Luckily,
Mike & John (thank you! thank you! thank you!) passed me a few
minutes later & fixed me up, along with a spare tube & pump in my
back pocket. Another girl up the road flatted also, so we rode most
of the rest of the course together. I'm not sure she thought
finishing all 3 laps was a great idea, but she was a good sport &
rode it with me anyway. Overall, I couldn't be that upset - I
haven't lost as much fitness as I thought, & it was still fun hangin'
out & meeting everyone.

What I learned: Don't wish for flats!