Lookout!

http://www.markwoolcottphotography.com/racing-page-index.htm

A picture is worth a thousand words and Mark Woolcott has some great looking photos from a variety of races. I especially like the series from Lookout Mountain Hill Climb where I'm at the front, wielding the beatin' stick. The plan was to keep the pace high for the first 10 minutes and then let Kevin do his thing. A few eager riders did a few moments of tempo and puttered out at the beginning. I just kept it in the 53x19 and held a steady pace. Not too long after the spot where the photos were shot, Ang Sheldrake attacked and took Kevin, Tarkington, and Dan Porter with him . . . never to be seen again.

The race report from up the road as reported by Kevin was quite amusing. He has a certain intensity about him when it comes to races that his otherwise very calm, polite manner does not indicate. It is something on the order of take no prisoners and leave no survivors. He said he heard heavy breathing and gears being shifted. When he realized that his partners up the road were in the small ring he knew they were done for. He rode away to a sure victory, a good 30+ seconds up the road from 2nd place.

I shifted once or twice during the race . . . into the 53x17 where the road levels off a bit just past the giant 'M' and into the 53x21 on the steeper switchbacks towards the top. I kept Tarkington in sight for the most part, but couldn't quite catch up to him. My time was my fastest recorded climb of Lookout to date, but I have done better on a couple training rides. So it goes, but 5th place scored some good BAT points for the team.

Dan and I continued on for a couple more hours, hitting some of the lovely climbs the foothills have to offer, Grapevine, Bear Creek, Kerr Gulch. Post ride we took advantage of our free Chipotle coupons and then stopped by the Sampson shop (the HART shop/bike sponsor) so he could pick up a couple things. Not a bad day, not bad at all. The weather held off and we stayed mostly dry, hopefully the same can be said tomorrow.