Anyhow. So the weather forecast said 30% chance of rain from 7am until the next day so I really wasn't even sure if there would be racing, but this was basically my only chance to get out on a saturday before my track upgrade goes through. I went in to NYC on friday to stay with my brother. Helped him clean his apartment and drink his beers. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. I got only a couple of hours sleep before it was suddenly 7am. Time for business. Quick breakfast at George's would be the only food all day until I got home. Met up with Andy, headed to jersey city to pick up the others and off we went.
We got to T-town around 11:30 I would say. Registered, got number 432 which I think is my easiest-to-remember number thus far. Got changed in the locker room (a locker room!), then got warmed up.
The first race was a 15 lap (5k) scratch race. As usual, I found myself near the back and began to filter up through the pack. I found myself at the front pretty quick and decided to jam. Off the front I go, with nobody else bridging or coming with. around and around and around. Maybe I should just sit up? I set the burner to simmer and just keep on turning the pedals. Finally another guy bridges up to me, gets to the front and just slows down. Obviously has a teammate back in the group but I really didn't care. I was just tired of being by myself on the front. Nothing else to say about the rest of that race. Rolled in with the pack. I definitely felt like I was spinning out in my 90" when the heat was on.
Next was a Super Sprint Elimination. I think that's what they called it at least. A Devil's Scratch is what we call it at kissena. Miss and out until 10 guys left, then a 5 lap scratch. I alternated between staying up at the front uptrack a little and hanging near the back almost playing the devil. I just made sure there were less than 10 riders in front of me when we got to the start/finish line. I didn't get eliminated, which is always a good thing. I might have even placed in this one. I don't really remember. at around this point in the day the sky cleared up a little and it just became a hot, humid mess. I think I lost some of my brain cells to heat damage and that's why I have no clue what even happened in most of these races.
The third race was a 15 lap (5k) points race with 3 sprints. I think I was just about the last guy on the rail starting, so it took me beyond the first sprint to get in a good position. Nothing exciting for the first sprint, I think I got 1st in the second sprint and got pipped at the line for 3rd in the last. I don't really know if the placing went more than 3 places deep or not, so I might have gotten points for 4th, might not have.
This concluded the omnium and I ended in 4th overall. This meant I could do the A feature - A 36 lap scratch! Fortunately for me, they decided to shorten it by 2k to just a 30 lap scratch. The race started out casual as most longer races do. I think a couple of breakaway attempts. Nothing stuck. Finally two got away and it looked good. I got to the front to try to start bringing them back and next thing I know I look back and I have a gap between me and the rest of the field. So now there's 2 ahead, me in no man's land and the pack behind. I accept my fate and just get aero. Full steam ahead, trying to bridge. I finally get there with about two or three to go. Rest up a little, bell lap, look back and there's the pack. ffffuuuuuck. I sprint around the other two hoping to keep up some momentum to pull myself to the line, but it's no good. Soon after the pack just blows by me and I roll in.
All in all it was a fun time. looong day though. I finally got home around 9pm. The guys I was with said some of the other racers were talking behind my back about my skinsuit and helmet. I just don't see where that has any place in racing. Whatever.
