Rosewood Road Series 2 - Race 4

Now I’m nearing the end of my road campaign and I’m feeling the effects of so many races, especially after June 3rd lactic acid bath. I’m still leading the series by to 2 points over powerhouse Mike Bush. I’ve never lost to him in a bunch sprint, so I’m pretty comfortable that I’ll be able to extend my lead. I’m going to miss the last race because I’m going to be saying a quick “I do” in Las Vegas on July 7th with the Queen.

So today I’m not sure what I want to do considering my chances. Every time I have committed to trying to win the race, it has never worked out. And every time that I have set no goals, I was escorted straight to the line. For me to win the series I need to win this race, and Mike needs to finish 5th, which is highly unlikely. First reason, super-sprinter C-Wright is not in attendance because he is out of the series.

We are at the line, and I’m dreading what the announcer is going to say. “Who is the leader?” I raised my hand slowly, and he said “Why don’t you have the yellow jersey?” SH*T! I don’t want that thing, it’s a freaking BULLSEYE. The last time I had that thing on in the first series, I got my ass dragged around the freaking course. He said, you lose 5pts if you don’t wear the jersey. OK, off with the Active Cycles, on with the Bullseye. I’m not concerned, because I only have to follow one rider today.

We are at the line, and I’m dreading what the announcer is going to say. “Who is the leader?” I raised my hand slowly, and he said “Why don’t you have the yellow jersey?” SH*T! I don’t want that thing, it’s a freaking BULLSEYE. The last time I had that thing on in the first series, I got my ass dragged around the freaking course. He said, you lose 5pts if you don’t wear the jersey. OK, off with the Active Cycles, on with the Bullseye. I’m not concerned, because I only have to follow one rider today.

We are off and I have one objective, and that is to shadow Mike around the course. He is not a classic sprinter at all, but he can TT to the finish if you don’t watch him. He has won 3 races between the first series 2 series, and he has done it by making a jump in the last 3 laps before the sprinter all came into the fray. He normally sits in and does no work, NOT THE CASE TODAY. He can make a break stick, so I had to go every time he went. In the first 10 min he took like 5 digs at trying to make something happen. He had a guy that was on his wheel and he kept blocking me from being right behind him. I’m feeling ok, but I’m not going to go for any Sprints for Points this race even though I’m tied for 2nd. I don’t think I have the engine for it as I’m tapering down.

I haven’t seen Abel or Raul for Sun Cycling, they normally light things up to let their presence be know. Carlos rings the bell for points, and my plan is to shadow Mike. The pace picks up, and I just keep it easy. Around the last turn the pace picks up, and then it happens. POW!! I blew a rear flat at 30mph, and all I here is my rim on the road. I stand up on the pedals, keep the bike straight, and the riders part like the red sea. I hear the tube wrapping around my cassette and I head for the grass.

Now I’m running the bike in and the Spanish Dude on the Ducati motorcycle tells me that I have 3 laps, then I stop stressing a little. When I get to the finish line my mind starts racing. Do I have enough time to change my flat? The car is about 45sec away? Can I do it in these shoes? Is someone going to give me wheel out of courtesy of being the yellow jersey leader? Carlos says, you have 1 lap, F#*K man. New plan, start looking around for someone that I know, SH*T I don’t know anyone. Carlos says, “ Get back in the race, you are the leader. I'm thinking, "Black dude in a yellow jersey", Can’t miss me if I wanted you to. Someone yells out” Do you have Dura-Ace”? I say, "Hell yeah I do". He starts to take off his Cosmic wheel, and I run across the street. He says “ It’s your lucky day”, I was just about to leave. Then I say, I have to make this rear wheel proud and win the damn thing for you.
Observe: Red front wheel, Yellow Rear Wheel!


I get the wheel on as the riders are coming through the start/finish and the crowd starts clapping when I get up to speed. I’m nervous about this wheel because I’m particular about my pressure, and I don’t know how it will corner. When we come back around to the start/finish I give my new wheel support guy the thumps up even though I have no idea how the wheel will perform. I look down, and it’s only 21mins into a 52min race. For the second sprint, the leaders where weaving back and forth across the 2 lane road, and just before the finish line I see a bike go flying up in the air. When I pass by I see Raul on the ground. Damn, that is on of the top 5 finishers out.



Soon after the anxiety goes back down I’m finding my groove again. Mike is up to it again, and he does about another 4 to 5 digs at trying to get something to stick. The last dig I was in bad position, and his teammate actually paces me back. I looked up to the sky and said “Thank you God!”

Carlos rings the bell to indicate 3 laps to go, and all the non-sprinter start trying to make their moves and that only keeps the pace high. Now we taking turns at 30mph and I can’t get a handle on these wheels. Riding upright they are effortless, but taking sharp turns these wheels really suck. OK PACER, SHUT UP, FOCUS. YOU HAVE A SPRINT TO WIN. 2 laps to go, and I decide to no longer shadow Mike and stay in the top 15 riders. With one lap to go it surges, then slows down, and I’m right in the middle. Mike and his teammate make a move, I get out and make chase. His teammate is in the top 5 and he makes a move. Does Mike want me to chase his teammate? Hell No, I’m not gonna fall for the bananas in the tailpipe?

Mike makes his move coming out of the last turn, and I’m right on him. He is really drilling it and I look back, and the entire group is together. I don’t think they can really come around us, but they are hanging on. 200 meters from the line I’m thinking “Thanks for the lift”, and I make my move. I take a look behind me and it’s no one that has come around me in the other 8 races, so launch my J.J. Haedo move. I get a gap and just when I really want to stretch it out, the back wheel buckles. I stabilize the bike, and make another move and it buckles again. I have enough of a gap to win, and barely enough to celebrate. But for all that happened in this race I want a real show of strength at the line. I raise my hand and give a very hard fist pump 10 meters from the line. I pass the line, and a Roberto comes right by me. Phew!! That was close, very close, but I know I got it. The second place guy actually thinks I got it.








Then I come back around to the start/finish to confirm my win, can Carlos says “You got it, but don’t ever take your hands off the handlebars, we’ve had enough crashes today.” As I give the wheel back and a high five to the guy I look back at the start/finish and it is a huge debate going on with Spanish riders. I’m nervous about whether or not I won the race, so I ease back over. The camera man tells me I celebrated too early and lost the race. F#*K Pacer, why did you have to showboat? That cost me my first place. The cameraman told me he would send me the picture to confirm it. I go to the results website, and there it is, “I’m first”. I scan through the photos, and you let me know if I got it. Btw, no more gangsta ass showboating before the finish line.

Speed Pacer Out!