This was one of those last-minute-decision races that happen from time to time. Since I decided not to go out and party for New Year's Eve, I started to look around for something to do the next day. What better way to start off the new year than with a race?
I got up at the crack of dawn and made the drive down to Brisbane, which took over two hours. I was already questioning the sanity of driving 110 miles to race a mere 3.5 miles.
I registered, dressed and went out to warm up. I hadn't raced a hillclimb in a while, but I remembered enough to warm up thoroughly. For a race that's going to last around 20 minutes, you don't really have to leave much in the tank. You want to be revved up and ready to hit it.
We lined up and I took a spot near the back. It wasn't necessary to elbow my way to the front; things would sort themselves out quickly.
The 3.5 mile course averages a 6% gradient with a short break in the middle and the steepest grade at the top.
We took off and within a couple hundred yards I was solidly mid-pack. A few guys got together and we paced up the climb at a moderate clip. I was actually pretty comfortable.
When we hit the halfway point with the slight downhill, the guys I was with started coasting. My strategy was a bit different. I sped up.
I hit the little downhill hard and then never really let up. I picked off people pretty consistently the rest of the way and not a single rider passed me.
Towards the top I did struggle a bit and had to shift down a cog as the grade steepened.
I ended up 8th out of 23 in my class and was pretty happy with that. Not a bad way to start off the racing season.
Later.
