The King headed to the Ommegang Brewery with city mouse in tow to help the Gangstas set up  the course for our event. We had plenty of help and I appreciated others asking for my wisdom on course layout. All added their own touch and we made a great course. Staking it out around the waffle and puppets event. Maybe even creating a few converts to come watch the next day. Six hours later we were done.
Headed to Oneonta for dinner at the Autumn Cafe. Good food and good beer. So after a nice meal we headed back to the humble Amber Inn. Minimal was it's feature. But it was clean warm and dry.
Up early prepped the race breakfast and headed to the Brewery. City mouse was supposed to work the reg table? I'd help a bit with course prep. Then suit up.
Kitted up and hit the course. The Michelins were working and pressures felt good. Legs were not feeling the Mad Alchemy Chocolatee love. The were feeling the being on my feet all day. But you have to make the best of what you have. Plan to work, work the plan. There was a Vermonter there in my age group that looked strong. I got a call up because of the Kirkland race. But I was on the right and should have moved left.
Off goes the gun and I get pinched at the first corner. Kick it in and move up. The Vermonter goes,get on his wheel. He punches the hill can't quite answer that but make it up in the technical/ But I'm already bumping the rev limiter hard. So have to ease up a bit and settle in get the diesel working. Start figuring out the course. OK ended up fourth. A bit of fade when I usually turn it up. Had decided to do back to back races.So I run in .change numbers,shoot a gel and some water. Toe the line mid pack. Oops forgot my timing chip. Back I go and now at the back of the pack. The first two laps are easy. It's a big living organism back here. Catch my breath as we lumber around. Punch the hill pass people. Move to anew organism,pass when I can. See an opening and go for it. Settle in and train. Then a Chris Cookie guy and I go at it for two laps in the end it comes down to a sprint he gets it after sitting on for two laps. but that's cool. The extra race will pay off. It's a rest week in the training cycle. Pics here.
http://mrw-design.com/ommegang10/

Thursday is too nice to pass up after three days of monsoons. It will just be a ride. High winds but no need to push it. Legs were so so. But that's cool too. Rest as hard as you train. The Swandrome awaited.
So the Texter emailed me and we had a plan for dinner. Text, text, text. We hit Los Tapitios then The Ale house for Firkin Friday and have a Dogfish 75 minute IPA and  Oktoberfest of various breweries. About midnight the rumblings start. This is going to be  bad. Backwash over and over. I give up and drive the bus thinking the evil will leave me. No it continues till 4:30 am along with a fever and aching. Needless to say I'm wiped out from lack of sleep.
Get up and meet Bobber for breakfast. I have an appetite but not much hope the coffee will remove any evil that is left in me. It helped.
Then had to get ready for house guests. Thought the exhausted haze I'm thinking Thai. Nothing like a green curry hot to rid the body of all things bad. It helped. I hit the bed early and had a decent nights sleep.
We were up and headed to the Swandrome. What a day. Bright blue fall sky. Low key,but hard event. I'd decided to give the Clements another try. More pressure in the rear. The front was fine.
Toed the line with everyone open men etc. Ad got the holeshot then some Syracuse guy took over. Slotted in the mix and tried not to hit the rev limiter. Then it happened a big hole opened and I moved into second. Pace yourself. We had the split and the idea is to hang in there. It was a mix of old and young. Then on lap three. Bang a flat off the back I go. Way off. Ride to the pit get a wheel change. Didn't bring the spare bike. Chase. Caught a few. Keep working the course. A few more. People are telling me my progress. One to go and one to go to be back where I was. I end up ninth overall fourth in the 55 as best I can tell. Bill Erickson is killing it. A target. I could have been fifth or sixth had a I hung in there. But I had fun and rode well.
When I was walking my wheels back  a man I didn't know that had been cheering me said " It's a joy to watch you race". That took me back. I thanked him. Was the gunfighter back? I hope so.
What a day. Nature at it's best. Now for week one of the second phase.
Eat good food,drink good beer and love the one you're with. The King