TT-less.

First day of the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic. NRC this year. Dashed my dreams of complete domination on the 10k TT course with only my road bike. I was willing to settle for a top 15...ish.

I didn't have a TT bike which wouldn't have mattered much because I didn't have a TT helmet, Shoe Covers, or Disc wheel, but what I did have was a skinsuit. So...I wore it. I got 18:08, for 86th place. Over 2 minutes behind the first place rider, Johnathon Chodroff (CRCA-Empire). Thank god for that skinsuit. Russ Langley had a pretty good day, coming in 10th, with the rest of the Harley team in 60th to 88th place.

It was interesting to watch all the other riders in the TT as I rolled back to the start after I was finished. There was definatly a stratification of talent across the entire course. Some were going pretty slow and some were going pretty fast (Bissell Pro Cycling Team). Every time I do a TT I always think about getting a TT bike and training just to see how well I could do, but that feeling goes away when I realize how much it would costs just for a bike and wheels.

My legs have been feeling really good so I am eager to see how it goes the next three days. I think the team plan will be pretty straight foward. In the RR try and stay near the front and get 1 or 2 in the break of the day while the others try and save energy and wait out the 105 mile day. Lot of eating and drinking.

Sean Barrie and I are rooming together in a suite at Fitchburg State College with Russ Langley. Our set-up is pretty nice, save the plastic mattresses. They remind me of sleeping on a couch with a slipcover. We gots the internet and three square a day at the mess hall. Food isn't that bad. good cupcakes. We are on the circut course and both the TT and the Crit are just a few miles away. The only stage we can't ride to is the RR, but its only 5-10 miles away. I would have to say if you are going to do Fitchburg then its a good idea to stay on campus. All four days for $250.

Weather's pretty nice up here to, crisp and clean. No humidity. Pour'd today in the TT and it looks like it is going to rain for the Circuit race as well. Let it rain, I got my new Pro Race 3 stickies on, My knees will be scraping the asphalt before those tires give out.