While many thought Saturday's race was a road race, it really was an ITT (individual time trial), which I ended up winning... here's the story...
Then, I note my rear tire is flat. Interesting..but, I'm not worried. I'll just head back to the BartVan and grab my spare and that'll be that.
So, I ask Bart for the keys and jam over to the van - which is about 1/4 mile away...la la la...
I get to the van, exchange the wheels. And I notice something...a group just took off. I decide that it is the cat 3s, since I was told they were going first...and I mosey back over to the stage area...
And no one is there!
My heart beats a bit faster. But I figure they've just been called to the line. So I continue to mosey.
I get to the line and see the women, cool. Then I move on up to my group. Only one small, teensy, weensy, problem...
He says: "Your group just took off about 3 minutes ago."
I say: "Neat."
And I take off after them - which is the start of the unofficial first annual (I hope not) Graton ITT...
I jam out into the blowing headwind and get up to 30 mph. Take the first left after the start finish and really bring 'er up to speed.
I'm jamming and feeling pretty darn good. I figure it'll be tough but I'll latch on fairly close to the climb - and then I'll deal with that situation when it is time...
So, I'm heading along this nice straight road, I see an intersection... I see cones on the left and a police guy on the right. I look both ways and scream through the intersection. The police guy watches me go by...
I then enter a new dimension. I roll over a bunch of little rollers and don't see no-one no-where no-how...but I continue in hot pursuit.
Then, I hit a T-intersection with no markings...I know we had to head west, so I head west...one thing strange though - a yellow sign on the right reads 'NO OUTLET' - now, I pray that that means I can't plug in my electric blanket...but I quickly realize that while Graton is a small town, they do have power...
I quickly turn around and head the other way..only to quickly come to a major expressway... with cars zipping all around.
I say the following very loudly in my head:
"They'd be crazy to put us on this thing."
And, I realize I have gone off the beaten trail. That my group is now zooming away down some different route...and I am a good 5 miles from that route.
So, out loud I state: "#@&*%"
I ride a bit less inspired back to where the police guy was and figure out that I should head west at this intersection.
So I do...
I make a commitment to do the whole race solo - and never draft anyone from another group.
Flying, this time, down the correct route, I jam through small rollers, a little bigger bump, down a cool S-turn descent with a nice course marshall on it - in fact, all the course marshalls were very pleasant and friendly.
I hit the hill and enjoy it. I find it tough, but not deadly - my legs feel good. I get to the top of the first stair - and jam across the flat section (ps: there seems to be headwind coming from all directions on this course)...and then jam up the final steep part. I see my first victim as I make a cool 130 degree turn to start the major descent.
I quickly pick the rider off, and begin to see more ITTers:). Most are part of the w1-3 ITT event.
To make a long ITT short, I pass gobs of women - there must have been a huge w1-3 field! On lap 3, I start seeing cat 3 ITTers - some are actually in the TTT division as well.
On lap 4, I go through another major group of women on the hill. One thought I was a woman - and was relieved to find out I wasn't. (don't ask how I proved it to her.)
After the start of lap 5, the grand finale, Bart yelled at me for the key to the van. Knowing I had a commanding lead in the ITT, I stopped, turned around, and gave him the key.
He said: "Are you quitting?"
I said : "No way! I'm finishing this thing! I paid good money to hurt this bad. I really want to get my money's worth."
And I began the final lap. It was a joyous occasion, knowing that I was going to win the Graton ITT. Just at the crest of the first big climb, I met up with Chris Black who was going for 'Dead Last' honors. He was riding with two others - which meant he had to go extra slow to make sure they didn't get too far behind them...
I told him the story of 'Wrongway Kev'. He said something encouraging as I left their TTT group and headed for the final climb.
I pumped it up the final 15% grade - and zoomed down the backside. Passed a couple other folks...and screamed into the finish.
I straightened out my jersey, and was about to put up my hands in victory when I realized there was no-one around...except a few officials, some people sweeping up, and a dog.
I went over to the officials and said: "Where'd everyone go? Don't they realize I just won the first ever Graton ITT?"
One of them looked at me strangely - then looked at the other official. Then he looked back at me:
"Kev, this was a road race...a road race!"
I looked at him, directly in the eyes - for a few seconds - trying to see if he was pulling my leg.
He pointed up the sky. I followed his finger up - up to a banner that was strung above the finish line: GRATON ROAD RACE.
He walked away - and left me alone to ponder this.
The town, which at the start was bustling with cheering spectators - was now quiet - the music from the live band was gone - the big giant thing kids get into where they can jump up and down was gone...
It was desolate. The wind blew tumbleweeds across the road. And salt dripped into my eyes - causing them to tear... or, were the tears really coming from my deep sadness?
THE END
I reached the end, rolled through the barricades, met up with Bart and Rob and other team members. Rob said I had salt on my face.
THE END
My legs stopped hurting for the rest of the night.