Giro d' Grafton

First off, I would be out of line if I didn't wish Aaron Busche (whose brother is Matt Busche on Radio shack for those not in the know) a happy 2 year Anniversary on the squad. He's currently on duty fighting crime somewhere green, but it's been great to have him around.

So race recap. Here it comes.

I don't know how Grafton does it, but for the last 3 years they have put on an excellent event. Always a little hot for me, but good event. I showed up a little early for my prerace subway meal and watched some of the racing beforehand. Dan, Jay and Todd were hanging tough in the Masters 1/2/3 event. It looked pretty fast. Todd took a spill at the end, but he was smiling, so all must have been ok. The highlight of this race was a coworker/friend of Todd's who approached me three times to point Todd out. I mean, come one, it's Total Khaos, who can't spot that???

I want to say that the main event of the day was a stacked field, but I never saw the front of it (literally, the front was always a corner ahead) but it sure seemed fast. No call-ups tonight, apparently the numbers were not order of preregistration, but preregistration in alphabetical order. Note; next year I will be Luke aHoltan ... or maybe just Luke aHole ... we'll see.

Bang. Go. I went into turns 1,2,3 in about 30th, and then took the next 5 laps to drift back to mid middle rear. Its the sweet spot where you are not jockeying for wheels up front, and also not yo-yo'ing in the back. I rode here for quite awhile. The race was corner, corner, corner, corner, HAMMER, then another corner. I'll have to look at my data file from last year, but the straightaway seemed slower, but everything else fast this year. The homeowners on corner 2 were awesome, it was straight outta the World Cup. As you came blaring outta turn two into the incline all you could hear was the vuvuzela (b-flat if you must know) horns. It was kinda cool and surprisingly did not get that annoying.

As some may know, I don't look at the lap counter or my watch while racing. I don't like to focus on how much time is left, it distracts me. So anyway, when I perceived that the race was nearing the countdown of laps, I snuck a peek at the clock; 37 minutes had gone by. 37! that's it! So, 53 minutes to go. I was not getting tired at this point, but others were and my mid middle rear was sort of becoming first person tail gunner. I felt fine, was not in trouble, but a little hot and just sitting in.

With maybe 25 laps to go, I took the final corner and watched N88dles t-bone some dood real hard. I could stay wide and hit the side walk, peek that N88ds was getting up, then got back on the road and continued racing. By this point a 30 yard gap had formed and the field was riding away. I buried it and caught back on easily, but it was pretty taxing and made the next few laps a little uncomfortable as I recovered and tried to make up lost wheel to get back into a comfortable spot.

Nothing else really to report, the race continued on, I think we did 45 to 50 laps total. The countdown started at 16 and I could sense a little increase in the pace. Again, no idea what went on up front. Laps 3,2,1 were fast, but I was fine. I'm not real into contesting the finish of the ToAD races, getting 60 instead of 59th isn't going to ruin my night. There was a pretty good crash of the leaders, Cole House was on the ground when I rolled into the finish. I'm sure there will be some crash video at some point on the tube of you, looked like it kinda maybe was nasty.

Cleaned up, had a beer and then some chocolate milk (in that order, not a good idea) then hit the pizza place with the Haley's and soon to be Schrubbe's. It was good, and also fun to celebrate Pax's #2. (Head, neck, nose, boogies, mouth ... in that order!)

Sad to report that we have another dead soldier in N88ds bike. Frame was cracked in a few places. But good for the rest of you, this was the third (Scott, Luke, N88ds) so all of your bikes will be ok. N88ds and Luke will be dueling with steel like it's the middle ages for a little while; it'll be interesting!

That's all, 50/50 on A-town tomorrow ... we'll see what the day has in store!