Race Report from Clayton Feldman

As this was my first non-collegiate race of the year, it can only be expected that I had my first real mental error in racing of the season. With 11 or more Texas Road House riders taking to the start line, it was apparent who would be dictating the 50-60 rider pack. For those who haven’t done the course, the circuit could be fast and fun on a windless day,instead it was painful and strung out as it was a windy day. It really seemed that about 75 percent of the course had a headwind or a considerable crosswind. With two gradual climbs adding to the fun, it didn’t seem like a course suited to my early season fitness. One of the climbs was also the finishing stretch, a placement that the smaller boned riders of the world seem to enjoy more than I do.

The Scholars Inn Bakehouse will be well represented at the Long Run Park circuit race in Louisville, KY this weekend. A full schedule of racing is set to go on Saturday from 9 am through 4 pm. I’ve done this course a couple of years ago, but it was in a cold rain. It’s a deceptively challenging (quoting the promoter) 1.7 mile circuit with an uphill finish. And that’s how I remember it! There’s a technical section that’s really not too,too difficult with a few sweepers around a small lake.

Seven of us met to ride this morning at 11am from the Scholars Inn Bakehouse. All were riders from the Scholars Inn Bakehouse team including: Fred, Gary, Tom, Liz, Sarah, Carl and Aaron (Prange). It was 34 degrees when we left our steaming coffee, tea and the warmth of the Bakehouse, stuffing half of our muffins into our jacket pockets. Early forecasts indicated that the sun would come out at some point, but it never made an appearance. Due to some local road flooding, we settled on a 100k route that would take us clockwise east on 45 through Bear Wallow, Nashville and Owl Creek then home on South Shore.