Crankin on the Monocog
Well I ended up racing Senior Expert on a singlespeed
Sunday...
The clock read 4:06am, I better get moving if I want to make it out to O-cup#2 citizen I wouldn't be allowed to get myexpert license later. "But I only brought one water bottle" I thought... oh well.
The course looked fairly steep and was covered in thickoozing mud from the days of rain leading up to the race. I sat and watched the earlier categories go before me, and all I could see was the looks of pain on their mud covered faces. I could hardly wait for my pain to begin. Start time approached, I lined up, and got some odd looks and comments from my fellow riders:
"A single speed? Cool"
"Are youactually going to ride that?"
"How light is that? Another asks. "Uh, that weighs more than my bike, I thought singlespeeds were supposed to be light? Just don't pass me"
I messed up their day when I replied "I don't have to place to win, I just have to beat one of you"
Then all of a sudden I hear "Go" and we are off. My mind is focused on one thing and one thing only... "Ouch." Not only was the course a mud slog, but it was full of short very steep climb that were, of course, covered with this hell mud. I couldn't crank out of the saddle, so I tried pushing the gear in the saddle, that unfortunately just ended up giving me a stroke. I had to concede, that yes I am a weaker man, and I started running the climbs. Running too was almost impossible because the shoes I have do not have toe cleats, all I did was slip while trying to lug up my 30+ lbs singlespeed. After about 10 minutes of this I wanted to quit... never in my life before had I wanted to quit a race, but after 10 fucking minutes I was ready to call it quits.
I of course didn't quit and by the third lap I stopped feeling like a bag of shit. By then I finally started to find my rhythm and was passing people in my category. I could see the looks of pain and self hatred as I went by, they would quickly mount a charge and pass me back, but on the next climb I would pull away. Is it bad to enjoy the comment "Arrrg! Anybody, but you" as I ride by. I guess I am just an ass, oh well!
When I finished I was near the back of the field he didn't seem to like that idea as he started to crack a smile.
I think Iam addicted to the singlespeed, when is the next race?
