Great weather awaited us, and with a smaller group on the start line due to the Bruce Country Road Race, it was myself and my Eric Jobin off the front... a Duet of Dirt.... my Partner in Pain.... my Brother on a Bike... my... Okay - I'll stop...
With a switchback climb that took us most the way to the top, it was full gas through the upper fields and some tough rocky sections before laying down the gas again....
We stayed together for the entire race, working our way through all of the 30-39 year old racers who started ahead of us before playing out our own strategies for taking the Win...
I knew that the later part of the race would be hard to pass on, so I made a strong effort to get away on the last section of double track... but let off the gas just enough to allow Eric to get around me before the trees narrowed, so I was forced to stay tight on him looking for every chance I could to pass.... but that time didn't come until the final uphill finish.... not enough time to get around so I had to settle for 2nd... even though Eric isn't technically in my category so I still got the Win.... but it still feels like I got beat!!
As all racers do.... I spent some time thinking about the race later that night to figure out where I went wrong...
"So Barnes.... what happened today? Why didn't you get the Win?"
"Well Barnes... you never really took control of the race. You need to stop waiting around for others to make a mistake or allow you to get away.... you need to Make those opportunities and Lead rather than Follow....."
"Yeah... I guess you're right Barnes. I need to stop saving myself for later in the race instead of attacking... I'll always have enough to finish strong, so I need to stop being afraid."
"There's always next time Barnes...."
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