Turtle Pond 4 Report

Giro makes a fine helmet.

Loved the old TT race layout, hate the new one. Got to the line bright and early for a front row seat. I have had decent placings here before and wanted to keep the streak alive. Promplty gave up 15 spots at rollout as I had issues w/ clipping in. Neutral up the first climb and I felt good. The hill was shorter and less steep then I had remembered. I took advantage of the back straight away to get back to where I thought I should be and was in top 10 going into climb 2. Came around strong on the right hand side and gapped the field. I looked back to see who was coming w/ me: nobody. Decision time; go or hold. Having 2.75 laps left, I wussed out and soft pedaled back into the fold. I should have gone, I really should have gone. Clevenger showed up to the front after the hill. He had been working his tail off to get up front (narrow roads were brutal for moving around). Nothing was doing for the ensuing laps. Jason and I spent time at the front, but there were no takers in the field. Final climb up, I’m in good position, hit the short steep section; again good position. Twisting descent and into the right hander I lose a few spots as a rider in front of me cuts my line. Backstretch gets hot and dicy as the road is narrow and the pack is together. Lots of yellow line pimping (this is really starting to get annoying. I used to not care as much, but I also used to spend my days mid pack. Now that I have been using energy at the front for the sake of position, well, I’m annoyed). I find myself mid bunch w/ less than a half mile to go. I’m not in a good spot. Anxiety all around and we’re jamming people in right and left. I feel pressure on my right hip. I lean in and BOOM!! Bike down (I took the brunt w/ my hip) and the race is over. I slammed my head pretty good and was a bit out of it on my journey back to the car. Took of the helmet and the rear had collapesed/cracked. Brian Morrill says they have a good crash replacement program. I’ll be calling them Monday.