|
|
Some interesting notes on Snake Alley: Snake Alley was constructed in 1894 as an experiment. The idea was to provide a more direct link between the downtown business district and the neighborhood shopping area located on North Sixth Street. The brick paving of Snake Alley is still the original brick laid down in 1894. I’m betting most cyclists had guessed that.
Local legend has it that the fire department used Snake Alley to test horses. If a horse could take the curves at a gallop and still be breathing when it reached the top, it was seen as fit to haul fire wagons. Unfortunately, many teams of horses would run out of control or stumble over the limestone curbs, sometimes resulting in broken legs.
Even though I had had successes there, about fifteen years ago I raced Snake Alley for what looked like the last time. I had no idea that I would develop of passion for cycling again someday. Seems funny then that here I was this past weekend in Burlington on the line to see if I couldn’t feel the rush of flying up the snake again. Has the world changed in fifteen years or what?! (ok – I’m trying to get mileage out of the that old man crap, I admit it, it’s me that has changed). Expecting to be competitive (we’re all supposed to do that, right?) I went out with the leaders. It was great! There we were Matt and I in the lead group of 6 with a gap forming behind us and the announcer mentioning the vitaminwater-Trek team - wooo hoo! looking good!
And then in about the amount of time it took me to look down and read the chalked words “this snake will bite you” temporarily written on the base of the snake, it was over for me! I think when horses break their legs they have to shoot them, right? Well let’s just say that I am very lucky not to be a horse! Jeff started further back and as his more complete race report explains had a solid race. He would have been very competitive had he not had mechanical issues. Way to hang in there Jeff – nice to know we have guys who could haul fire equipment!
Although I was pretty bummed, in a way the weekend worked out because Jeff had put in a respectable showing on the snake and Matt and I were able (forced) to save our energy for races that would suit each of us.
For me Mellon City went ok – I felt pretty strong, if a little under confident after receiving a mandatory downgrade to cat five in my head during Saturday’s race. I was moving around in the pack and climbing comfortably. Jeff tried a superhero attack with two laps to go that would have been super cool, but got hauled in eventually. I sat near the front waiting for the end. Overall, I guess top tens are ok, but I still feel pretty rusty mentally at the ends of races these days. I jumped way too soon on the last lap and got swarmed on the line. Would have been nice to be top five, but the guys who came around me were little sharper with their timing – good job guys!
The Quad Cities Criterium was a great fit for Matt – flat and fast - and he looked super comfortable the entire race. I messed up an opportunity to hook up with him for a good lead out on the final lap because once again I turned really stupid toward the end. I put in a couple of hard pedal strokes just after the start finish on the last lap to move up and ended up all the way on the front of the pack (there was one guy just dangling off the front who would survive there and win – nice job dude!). I hadn’t even found Matt on the way up to the front – d’oh!!! Once I was there I decided to just try to motor along on the front at a pace where I thought I might have enough left to jump – ya know, cause my family was hanging out between turns six and seven and my wife might think I was cool (and I gotta tell you – that worked, yesssss). When I thought everyone else was just about to jump I went all out…..but had almost nothing left. Something like eight million people swarmed by me (thankfully Matt was one of them). I somehow hung on to end up in the money even as another wave passed me like five feet from the line. Matt got boxed in, but still managed 8th – kick ass job Matt. All I can say is watch out people! When you don’t box him in and one of us leads him out…..well, I can’t wait.
Overall I’m with Jeff. My feeling about the whole weekend really boils down to this: we had a good time and we learned a lot about what we need to do better next year. It was a fun weekend. We have a bunch of people on this team who are great to hangout with in a park on a Sunday afternoon (who doesn't like to have people waiting with a cold beer and cupcakes with big thick pink frosting after a race??) and just for extra insurance we are in the habit of dragging other fun types like Nate from team Spidermonkey along. Even though we have the fun part down, as Jeff says we’re waiting for the re-match next year!
|
|
Print this
|
Send this
| Hits:
289
Archive |
|
More by
Andreas Fischer
|
RESULTS
|
IMAGES
|
|
