2006 Cross National's - Providence, Rhode Island

Friday, December 15, 2006 - Cross National's, Providence, Rhode Island - Men 34-39

You could not have asked for better weather, this time of year in the North East. It was a little over-cast...but no snow, no rain and about 50 degrees! We arrived in Providence and made our way into the Roger Williams Zoo and park, the location of this year's extravaganza! As Mike went to register and get his number, I ran into Barry Wicks and Ryan Trebon and did something I haven't done in a long time (allright...not that long, I did get Jeremy Powers' signed race number a couple of weeks ago for my nephew)...I got them to sign my messenger bag---not behavior of a gal my age...but what the heck!

California Giant was sponsoring this year's event, and I ran into so many old friends---it felt like National's - Presidio style---as in San Francisco. As Mike went to warm up, the Scrapper and I wandered around and checked out the competition. All 177 of them! Sigh.

177---OUCH! Mike got another rotten start. He was in the 8th row---like 100 guys were in front of him. Matt Kraus, (Alan Factory- New Englander) took the "hole shot" and rode away from a chase group in the front row almost immediately! A chase group, which included Brent Prenzlow, Richard Feldman, Curt Davis and Shannon Skerritt got underway quickly. Amazingly, Mike had somehow managed to work his way into a top 20 position. Wow! How'd he pass all those guys?

Clearly Kraus was in fine form...unfortunately his bike wasn't doing as well and by the third time around his mechanical allowed Richard Feldman to take the lead, with about 15 seconds over the rest of the chasers. Kraus had to do a whole lap with a rear derailler that wasn't functioning and by the time he made it to the pitt...the front of the race was up the road!

Speaking of mechanicals...while Mike was warming up with Andy Jacques-Maynes and Justin Robinson, they said, "Dude...you're not riding clinchers, are you?" So Mike rode up to me to get his tubulars out of the car. The tubulars that he glued last year in Minnesota. And of course he rolled one---after he had worked his way into a top 10 position. RATS! He was able to work the tire back onto the wheel...but not soon enough. He lost his top 10 spot, and had to settle for 20th. But he rode really well.

We loaded up the car (we received a Rhode Island parking ticket!), and headed back to the Seven Cycles Factory for a Whole Foods Catered Holiday Feast & celebration...a nice end to a lovely day and end to the cross racing season!

Happy Holidays!