Saturday, June 28, 2008

Crit Envy

As I grow older, I'm beginning to realize that all of those little expressions and sayings that your parent's laid on you are 100% based in fact/reality. These were the things that they said to you as appendices to life's greater lessons, the bonus content you never asked for, and generally the type of talk that guaranteed that your parents were your parents, and were never going to be cool.  

These additive words of wisdom drive you nuts... right up until the day that you realize that they are coming out of your own mouth to your own kids. 

Today my kids heard a few of these expressions and I thought "oh my god, I am every father on earth right here, right now." It was a good feeling.

Today was epic. Initial plans to head to Mystic Aquarium (nice but overpriced) were put aside in favor of a trip to our Mecca... Providence.  I'm wondering if it is legal to love a city in the manner that I do. Hey - I live in Massachusetts - that sort of stuff is common fare here.

We hit the bike path to try out CJs new bike: a hand-me-down from a friend of ours who's 8 yr old just graduated to geared cycling. After a bit of early morning TLC, the bike fit and rode like a charm, and the pilot was ready and willing to tackle the upper portion of the path from Broadway down to Haines park.

Post ride we headed into town to watch the P-1 Cox crit. A new course looped through RISD and down by Hemmenways, with the Finish line in front of the Parkside. Standing on the infield watching the race I was reminded of two things: how much I like RI and how much I miss criterium racing. 

Bumped into gewilli and jjamner as well as neo-pro sean o'rourke who managed to finish the pro race in the main field. It was great to catch up with those guys.  Jamner reports that he was 119 lbs at the end of last week's tour of ohio. freak.

TJ in the black and green of HealthNet is undoubtedly looking forward to riding in the stars and stripes of US Cyclocross champion in a few months time. This road stuff doesn't have enough slop for this guy.


JP and JP on a bit of a break here, two gross guys showing the field how to guarantee that you won't win the race. JP looked super strong, but JP looked a bit undertrained.


The leaders come by on the back stretch, leaning deep into the turn as they cross the river West to East.

Waterfire was the backdrop for the race. I like waterfire but I'm not sure why. People just walk around and there really is no where to go.


1 comment:

EyeBob said...

Nice pictures. I especially like the one of the building, you know, the first picture at the top?

Oh, and the riders were nice too.

BT