Titles are always tough. But as the shirts say "Old Guys Rule".

My team mate Jason kept saying that The Ramble around Prattsburgh was the most fun race he'd done. I'd seen it advertised and skipped it before.
This year it was different. It did sound fun. So Cory and I piled into zee French car and headed west. It was drizzling then turned to pouring rain. Grumble. It eased up a bit.
As per my usual we arrived early. Got a parking spot, had little to eat and started getting prepped,the temp had dropped about ten degrees. It was the "What to wear blues". But then the drizzle backed off. We headed out for a bit of recon. The first climb to the dirt road wasn't bad.
My goal was to stay on Cory's wheel as long as possible.
We lined up for the promenade through town by the moto. It like being in a cat 4 race again,ebb and flow. Then we hit the base of the hill and the attacks started. I went and going well. Only maybe seven got in the first dirt descent ahead of me. Almost endoed in a soft spot. Then started chasing. When the big motors hit the road the gap opened. Now my training hasn't been all that structured. But the TT motor is coming. I passed a few and thought I could get to Cory's group. Then the first dirt road climb started. Up and Up it went. Finally crested,  Jason had shown up,but over the top the TT motor on KX rig out did the 29'ers. And so it went for the rest of the race. Not quite getting onto the front. Get passed by a couple on the climbs,get them back and drop them on the flats. Very fun, feeling good ,eating and drinking when I should. The starting up something Hollow road, thee twinges of cramps came. A young kid joined me and said "The hardest climb is coming". He was right, a 38/25 was not enough for this one. I walked maybe a hundred yards. I heard Jason yelling "Way to go King" or something like that. That effort put a dent in the legs. Then came the headwinds. Onward we plowed. On a right turn here's Cory with a flat. You Ok?, Yup. Turns out he got three flats in the last few miles. Jason is pumped because the one says they took out the single track. Turns out he was wrong. Now tis little piece of hell almost ruined the whole race for me. Barely ridable,deep peanut butter then a quagmire field. But the garmin was reading 29.4. So I thought the end was near. A sprint at the finish would turn me into a cramping ball of knots. Wrong, we had almost three miles to go.
Rolling through the finish cold and wet I was glad it was done. Changing in the rain and cold made things worse. But then we headed to the Pub and warmed up a bit. Results were up fast.
I'd won the 50 plus. Cory would have been top ten. I was 16th out of 170.
So I get the call up for the podium and second place isn't to congenial about being beat. ( Seems he's a local legend or something) He says " Do you race a lot?". I say yes. He says "I've never heard of you." Then asks if I knew last years first and second place I did. He grunts "Oh". After we decided I should have told him I was a runner and just borrowed the bike. I won a helmet in the raffle and off we went.
I'll be back next year. Lower gears? I doubt it. Better trained? For sure. I'll make it goal.
It was way more fun than Battenkill, crappy single track and all.
I was so tired I even declined a  Southern Tier Imperial Pale Ale. Thanks bro.
We loaded up the Vi-bee and rolled home. Seven speed traps in 200 miles. That's a good use of our tax dollars.

Up next the dream bike needs to get built. Boxes are in my living room.

Lucinda is still rocking the Ipod.

Eat good food,drink good beer and love the one you're with. OGQ