Bike the Bricks
On Friday night in historic downtown McKinney, Texas was the first annual Bike the Bricks cycling race put on by McKinney Velo. McKinney Velo had been pumping up this race for quite awhile and let me tell you they didn’t disappoint. The Pro 1-2 race started at 9:30 pm and had a stacked field of almost 90 riders with all of the big teams present.
After riding a few warm up laps it was obvious with the narrow roads, tight corners and a big field racing in the dark that it was going to be key to have a good starting position. After pulling a veteran move and sneaking up through the crowd, I placing myself on the front line. After a few call ups for the big names, such as my handsome teammates Ian Dille and Phil Wikoff, I was set to race.
The first 20 minutes of the race were a big blur as I tried to just stay on the wheel in front of me and not botch a corner too bad. I remember thinking to myself when is it going to finally settle down and when will I be able to stop jumping out of every corner. The answer: Never.
Wheeler and Chad represented at Bike the Bricks.
Thirty minutes into the race 3/4 of the field had dropped out or been pulled by official. The prime bell started going off offering riders $100 primes and merchandise like Oakley Jawbone sunglasses. Chad decided to make a move and ended off the front winning the matte white Jawbone’s (fortuitous since he lost his previous Oakleys in Tulsa). A break countered Chad after he won the prime and Ian bridged up to the seven riders that had powered away. The group kept the pressure on and eventually Ian succumbed to the pace along with a couple of other riders. Chad and I tried to secure a top ten for the team but little groups kept getting away and I found myself in the fourth group on the road. After sprinting my little group I ended up 15th with Chad in 22nd place.
Anytime Ian gets to wear clear lenses, he's happy.
The best part of the night came as I was cooling down. My two of my biggest supporters, my mom and sister, surprised me. They had driven to the race without me knowing and were cheering for me the entire time. It was a great way to the end night having my mom and sister there after taken part in such a cool race. Super Squadra cant wait till next year.
Images courtesy C. Haga Photography.