Back then finishing the event meant something. 4 previous attempts met with failure on my part. The course was in the heart of the Texas Hill Country north of San Antonio, and while the altitude might be lacking, the steepness of the grades wasn't. In '91 and '92 the course was "T" shaped with the start and finish at the bottom of the "T" which was at the top of the steepest climb (see the last 3 images). The feed zone was on the right part of the "T" and was probably as steep. I finished that year, thanks to proper training, but mostly to by younger brother and other friends in the feed zone making sure I took water every lap. Late May in Texas sucks marginally more than most other months with the exception of August. It was generally 100 degrees at the start and got nastier as the day wore one. I don't recall the distance but I think it was around 96 miles or 5 laps. That year I finished 31st or 37th, I don't remember precisely, but only 40-some finished of the 130 starters. Every year people dropped like flies between the climbing and the heat. I think I was at least 15 minutes back. The next year I was in the Neutral Support Truck since it was the mandated qualifier for the Olympic Road Race Selection for Nationals. Some Lance Armstrong guy won in a walk and Chann McRae was 2nd (I think. I was trapped behind the field when they finished.)
1991 Texas ITT Championships
1991 Texas ITT Championships
Held in the middle of nowhere Midland-Odessa it was a relatively flat out and back course. The cross winds, as were usual at all Texas events, were out of 10 o'clock on the way out and 3 o'clock on the way in. I finished in 58-something for the 40 Km course which put me in the top 15 and was fine with me.
Later that day there was a Crit back in town. Not many of the guys were up to doing a crit after the TT but it had prize money so what the heck. I finished 2nd to the guy from Arizona in the cool patterned jersey on the Specialized. It payed for the weekend
Later in 1991 I went to Natchez Mississsippi for a stage race. There were 4 of us, 2-3's and me and another 2 and we found a new level of uncomfortableness. The humidity was off the chart. I had a night Crit that Friday night for the P-1-2's, which was entertaining. It was in a mall parking lot that was poorly lit and had a raging downhill on the back side of the course. I only remember that because I came down the hill way too fast on the first lap and center-punched a construction barrel at >40 mph. It flew into oncoming traffic and I was on the wrong side of the barrels until the next corner. Everyone behind me thought I was a goner. The next day was a short TT followed by a road race in the early afternoon. While the other categories were on the course we waited about 30 minutes after our start time for the course to clear. They only had enough vehicles for the rolling enclosure for one race at a time. Everyone had to refill bottles before we could start. The roads used were centuries old and worn down several feet. In some spots you were eye level with the roots of the trees above the road shoulder. While this was cool from an historic sense, it made the for a sauna effect since there was no wind on the pack. Sunday was the crit in downtown Natchez. I don't remember much of the day but everyone was flying.
Later that day there was a Crit back in town. Not many of the guys were up to doing a crit after the TT but it had prize money so what the heck. I finished 2nd to the guy from Arizona in the cool patterned jersey on the Specialized. It payed for the weekend
Later in 1991 I went to Natchez Mississsippi for a stage race. There were 4 of us, 2-3's and me and another 2 and we found a new level of uncomfortableness. The humidity was off the chart. I had a night Crit that Friday night for the P-1-2's, which was entertaining. It was in a mall parking lot that was poorly lit and had a raging downhill on the back side of the course. I only remember that because I came down the hill way too fast on the first lap and center-punched a construction barrel at >40 mph. It flew into oncoming traffic and I was on the wrong side of the barrels until the next corner. Everyone behind me thought I was a goner. The next day was a short TT followed by a road race in the early afternoon. While the other categories were on the course we waited about 30 minutes after our start time for the course to clear. They only had enough vehicles for the rolling enclosure for one race at a time. Everyone had to refill bottles before we could start. The roads used were centuries old and worn down several feet. In some spots you were eye level with the roots of the trees above the road shoulder. While this was cool from an historic sense, it made the for a sauna effect since there was no wind on the pack. Sunday was the crit in downtown Natchez. I don't remember much of the day but everyone was flying.
3 comments:
Didn't y'all hit a pig in Lousiana on your way back from Natchez? That was a good story, from what I recall you telling me of it.
Also, is that Wolverine holding you at the start of the Time Trial?
No, just his mullet. The Camero was parked just to the left of the shot.
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