weather permitting
This past Saturday I participated in a road race/ride in Wytheville, VA, proceeds benefiting a support center for abused women & children in the area. It wasn’t exactly a race because it wasn’t USAC-sanctioned, but it was closer in feel to the Blacksburg Wednesday Worlds race rides. The name of this ride is Mule Hell-Roubaix.
If you’re not familiar with Paris-Roubaix, then allow me a moment to explain the reference. The oldest of all cycling races still held today, Paris-Roubaix is known for brutalizing the best riders out there from the start in Paris to the finishing velodrome loop in Roubaix. Dozens of cobblestone “sectors” are chosen each year for the course, which varies year-to-year based on the condition of the roads. This year’s course was 260 kilometers long (~180 miles) and contained 28 cobblestone sectors totaling 50km. Half of the time, France is doused in rain during the spring turning Paris-Roubaix into a demoralizing slop.
Mule Hell-Roubaix doesn’t actually take you to Roubaix but does include several gravel sections - cobblestones are hard to come by in Wytheville. This year’s ride had some showers at the beginning which tapered off as the day went on. The course was 50 miles of flat terrain with a finish of steep rollers in a residential neighborhood.
Several of us Rogues racers went out to support this local event. The pace split up the group on 2 or 3 occasions leaving a group of 9 of us as contenders for the finish; the pace never really let up and only accelerated towards the finish. Fortunately, 5 of the 9 remaining riders were Rogues and there was a general agreement among the Rogues to set me up for sprinting up the hard rollers at the end. Unfortunately, no one wants to really finish a race ride on a slow note, so not long after I was off the front sprinting, a few other Rogues started the chase as I reached the flat, time-trialing section before the line. But, I was about 10 seconds ahead by that point and was just moments away from the finish. Where I finished alone, alongside several tables of prepared food and drinks. It’s not common to be treated to a small banquet after a local ride, so we enjoyed that.
So, it was a good start to the weekend. Then, once home, I napped and then headed back to the lab for a group meeting. Wow, the fun never stops. Actually, the fun slows down a bit once the semester ends in another week. Thankfully.
