Return of the Spider Man

Saturday the flies were thick and apparently that was good news for the "spider-bike" as my kids call the Intense Spider.

On the pre-ride Wednesday night, I decided I wanted something a little stiffer and better for speed than the SID-equipped Nitrous, so rode the Spider for the first race this year (it has a Fox 100 and CrossMax on the front). I was also interested in the Spider to get some power-measurements since that bike has the brake posts which allow me to ride the Powertap wheel on that bike.

Anyhow, The race started with Sam Moore sprinting off the line and Bob Saffel chasing him. I quickly moved into 3rd and fully expected everyone to come rushing by, but they didn't. We entered the single track and rather than getting passed, I was putting time into everyone behind me and gaining on Bob and Sam.

As we continued the first climb, Bob went past Sam, and moved in rightbehind Sam, and things remained that way up the climb. The pace was pretty high, but I felt like I'd just try to stay with them.

Of the first descent I passed Sam, and then Bob. I hit the bottom in 1st place, and had a good 10 seconds on the other guys, but they quickly caught me again. They both went by, and put a few seconds into me in the single track across the bottom. Things remained this way all the way up the second climb, but then I passed Bob again on the downhill. Nothing changed on the 3rd lap, and then on the 4th lap I was suffering but kept the pressure on hoping Sam would crack. He didn't, but I apparently put more time into Bob and finished in 2nd place -- best of the year for me.

The wattage plot was interesting. I haven't had a chance to look at it very closely, but one thing that stuck out at me was that the climb on lap 1 was about 20 watts higher than that of laps 2,3,4, all of which were within about 7 watts of each other. My last was the lowest, but only by 5 watts.

The field was pretty small. I know if Brad Pilling, Chris Fox, or Jarom Zenger had been there I'd have been further back, but I still feel good about it.

During the race, Scott handed me bottles, and we had radios -- mine with an ear-piece. During the race, he would encourage me from time to time. Big fun.

I'm spending this week at a family reunion at Aspen Grove near Sundance, getting a little riding in, but mostly family time.