Race Time Decisions

The Barry-Roubaix is this weekend. Yeah! Me and 900+ other folks willing to bite down on the bizness end of Old Man Winter's knob and ride 23, 35, or 65 miles in what looks to be a race time temp of about 25 degrees. While my "friend" D-POW will no doubt be disappointed that I am doing the 35 mile option, I am thanking the Big Guy upstairs on an semi hourly basis that I opted for that length given the temps and my slowness.

Given those lingam tip burning temps, I am now opting for the El Mariachi for the race. I was like 99% sure that I was going to run the Jake, then the weather started getting Witch Tit like again, so now I am back to the mountain bike for a few reasons...

Shifting: I will be PROBABLY be wearing lobster mitz, or at least a double layer of gloves. Dexterity is a plus with STI shifters, and would be really hard to shift in lobster mitz. Eph the STIs. (Cue single speeder thinking/posting why a single speed is superior).

Flats: While there is the chance that my Stan's will not work all that great in 25 degree temps, I STILL trust it more than tubes, and I am soooooo NOT wanting to change a potential flat with numb fingers. I would rather just DNF at that point.

Ice/Frozen Mud Ruts: Thankfully the area of the mitten that the Barry is located, did NOT get the 7-8 inches of snow that MP got, BUT it did get rain and freezing rain, and then the aforementioned Witch Tit, Lingham Tip Burn temps. Frozen muddy ruts and ice are a threat- give me 2.1 tires over 40c CX tires any day on shit like that. Sure if I had Sven Nys like CX bike handling skills that would not be an issue. But I don't. I have mid pack at best bike handling skills and a body that is nearly 40 years old and not wanting to drag it's sagging, flabby ass over frozen Barry County dirt.

OK, that's all the reasons I have, the only other one is that provided I finish and don't have the tip of my lingam turn black with frost bite through the chamois, is that I have a feeling I would finish as good as (if you're an optimist type fool) or as poor as (if you're a pessimist type fool) on the mountain bike as I would on the cross bike. Might as well be comfy doing it. Or at least as comfy as one can be racing in twentyf*ckingfivedegree temps.

BTW, is there a chick equivalent of tip burn? Hmmm, I have some thoughts, but this is a white trash, trailer court family blog, and I don't want to say too much. I have heard if you stuff a sock down there it will take the chill off the ol' chap. Or was that how to look like Led Zeplin erea Robert Plant? Still, I don't want to be a chamois stuffer.

Might post Friday, as I will surely be bored at some point. But might just save if for the post Barry race action. Even with the 25 degree temps I am SOOOOOO looking forward to getting back to racing, even if I am racing for age group bragging rights and overall mid pack placings.

BTW, have you seen the course pre ride video I did for my employer? No? Well, then here it is...

So let it begin...

Later.