A nice long run
This past Thursday our team wrapped up a fifth month in row of mini-series victories. The seasons have changed quite a bit since the first three-week March mini-series. I recall the very first Driveway of the year was wet and with temps in the 50’s. Wenger attacked in the first 15 meters and the standard was set for the rest of the season. He took out March after a win and a few solid podiums.
April arrived and with stage races still on the agenda, the local criterium legs were still coming around. I lost a few, that’s right more than one, bunch sprints to Stefan in April but perseverance and attendance yielded a win, a handful of podiums and finally, the monthly prize. I resented getting the five race mini-series short straw within the team but I ended up needing every point I could get. Cycling’s version of a mulligan.
May saw total Wheeler dominance such that we were even able to skip the last race of the month in favor of a few frosty ones at SIX Lounge before taking on Tulsa Tough. I’d love to write something interesting about his wins but they were virtually uncontested. I took him on in the finale of the third week and it wasn’t to be. I ended up on the ground with road rash all over my body as Wheeler coasted it in. Never challenge your team leader lest his God smote you and leave you covered in tegaderm.
June was a wild month to defend as the temperatures soared into double the degrees Fahrenheit we raced through that first Thursday in March. I took out the first week’s win but was abysmal the second wind-swept week where Steven and Wenger left me in the dust to represent the team. Wenger asserted himself even stronger the last week with a late attack and decimation of the breakaway.
After a successful but boring defense of the jersey last Thursday, we head into the month of August ready to face its challenges. State time trial, criterium national championships, and HHH as well as another month of Driveway crits will give us plenty of opportunities to excel.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Nice 808, skin suit, and frame pump combo. I also like the new kicks.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Ting; our own in-house bike snob. Yes that is a hurting and tacky combo. I’d be laughed out of an LA group ride. Also, only 3 short weeks til you’re here. Our joy but Miu is gonna miss you.
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Although the Driveway is perhaps one of the nation’s finest weekly crit series, unfortunately Mavic does not yet provide neutral wheel support. A true champion always races prepared.
August 4th, 2009 at 9:49 am
I agree, Phil is a true champ. Does this make the 808, skin suit, and frame pump the new tuxedo t-shirt?
“I want to be formal, but I’m here to party.”
August 4th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Yes. And Wenger’s idea for faux denim compression tights is the opposite of that, “I want to party, but I’m here to recover properly.”
August 5th, 2009 at 8:58 am
At least no one teased me about my ‘girl’s bike’
August 5th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I tried to work with Wenger’s fashion sense; he would have none of it! (BTW, whose bike are you on; is there any seat tube in the frame, looks precarious.)