First race of the season and with the new rollers

I was a little worried after reading all the crappy reviews of the Pythons going to Buck tonight but they must have been smokin' somethin. The combo of stiff Mavics and the fast rolling Python rubber put me at 16th tonight. I've never broken the top 25 at Buck. Seriously though the rims and tires work fantastic. There is a little drift in the hard corners but it is controllable and with smooth brake work I think it will just get better with the season. I think the larger 29er contact patch makes up for a lot of sins in the handling and pedal mashing arena.

The race was a blast. I felt decent although my HR monitor was working over time. Averaged 178 for the race. I wanted to quit about lap two but somehow kept soldiering on. If I could get a little more endurance built up and some smoother handling I could maybe break top ten. I really think a big part of my finish had to do with the sprint at the begining of the race. I've never gone out so hard for fear of blowing but this race series is all about making it to the single track in the front pack otherwise you are screwed. I put it in the big ring and let it rip up the starting hill and end up the first time ever I didn't have to get off my bike to wait for the pig to squeeze through the singletrack entrance python.

Anyway, this is just the first outing. We'll see how I do at Harmon for the MNSCS opener. The new lower geared cassette will pay off there (thanks again Gene.)

BT