Paul and I drove to Memphis last night for a road race this morning.  It is one of the normal rides for the Memphis crowd.  We were told that there was "the hill". It was an incline and about a mile long but not a hill by Bham or MD standards. Course is 5.2 miles, Pro Cat 1,2
10 laps and Men Cat4 8 laps.
Paul's race lines up and they send them off after the official let 2 girls in a
little convertible pass through the men - that was the "Cat 4 men's prize" the
official told them. MEN!!! Anyway, they started. 12 guys - 5 Marx Bensdorff
attacks go off first lap. Paul sits on til 3rd lap and starts break with 3
other guys. Dropped a M/B guy on the next "hill" so the other M/B guy starts
sitting in. Herring Gas and Paul pull for 3 laps. With 2 laps to go they
decide to drop the M/B guy so Frank (Herring Gas) opens a gap and Paul waits to
see if M/B pulls it back but he doesn't. Paul jumps and bridges up to Frank -
no M/B in the break anymore. 2 Laps alone with Frank until bell lap. Field
comes out of no where and the race starts again. Solo guy attacks with half a
lap to go and you would think M/B would go after him. Paul jumps at 600 meters
and didn't time it quite right ended up second. He has been pissing and moaning
about it all afternoon!!!
Men's Cat4 race - no I didn't get a sex change but thought it would be more
intersting to ride with the men. We line up, the official announces this is the
Men's Cat 4 race anyone not a Cat 4, looks at me and asks if I am riding with
them. "If any of you get beat by her, I will personally kick your ass myself.
Just kidding, she will beat some of you I am sure." Field judge (I kid you not)
is a real class act. We start, first lap attacks go off. Everyone settles down
after the "hill". 2nd lap and you can see the rain rolling in. Held my own, no
attacks from me but I bridged myself up many times and pulled up the "hill" on a
lap. Rain starts 5th lap and lightening on the 6th. We came around bell lap
after passing neutral water and the rider next to me glances over then double
takes. I said, "Yeah I am still here and hanging in", he replied "You are
stronger than what we were told". I about slapped him with my strap on but
decided against it. It came down to a sprint up the "hill" in a downpour. I
managed to get 8th - not super impressive but I didn't crash or get dropped.