Naionals went better than expected. The trip started on wednesday around 4pm when i left the homestead for the 700 mile trip to sugar. After stopping for pizza hut for a quick 1 hour large pizza in west virginia, i continued on my trip. Around midnight i stopped around 450 miles at beckley, wv, and slep in my car in the mall parking lot there. the drive resumed at 6am and breakfast was a leftover slice of pizza. I arrived around 2 at my aunt's house near charlotte, nc. i ate, slept and then went riding on some awesome trails around her house. After a day and a half there, it was time to ascend to the high country. I was looking foward to this, but was sure to miss the high level of pampering i receved while at my relatives house (my grandparents also live nearby.)
The trip up to high country was fine except for the cars tendency to slip out during right hand turns. This became more frustrating on the windy roads up there.
Banner elk is an awesome place. I stayed at a nice inn with a huge suite for cheaper than anything else around! I felt bad not sharing it with anyone! i went sleep to some movie with Samuel Jackson and Kevin spacey, it was pretty dramatic (haha.)
Saturday i picked up my registration packet and watched the women pro race. They were awesome. I watched it on the steep section of the climb with a very enthusiastic lady who loved 4 leaf clovers? Georgia Gould handily won the race by a and was flying the whole day.
Trying to take my mind off of the quest for semi-pro points i rode the course, then went to the local bar/restaurant for dinner. sitting at the bar, because it is what i feel is the proper thing to do when you are alone (who eats at a table of one?) i spoke with some funny southern guys, all very friendly. As i was leaving, a man seemingly from Texas wished me good luck and told me to say "howdy" to everyone up there (new york.)
Sunday went off without a hitch. I only got nervous a few hours before the race, but when it started i decided to try out the technique of taking it easy and saving a bit for the end. first place took off right away, the national champ for experts. I didn't attempt to follow but held a pace at 85% because it was enough to shred all but one rider from my wheel. The course was muddier than the day before, and the lines i had seen the pro women take were all but useless.We went back and forth, then on the 3rd lap climb, he caught up to me. I was mildly worried but held faith in my tactic. After talking to him for a while and telling him to be careful (he was guaranteed a podium if he didn't crash) we rode in silence. On the final climb i put everything i had on. A gap opened immediately and i knew if i got into the woods, the race was mine. Riding smart in the woods, i came out and finished with a 30 second gap i had opened in the last 5 minutes or so.
A few more norba races and the semi-pro is mine, and to top it off, i would have finished about 38th in the pro class out of about 60. Looking foward to the 24 hour race, which is purely for fun, and a nice late season.
Pictures to come soon.....
Howdy?!,
Chris
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