This article was originally published in the Friday June 19th 2009 edition of the Sierra Sun.
The Tour de Nez bicycle race extravaganza has descended upon Truckee once again. It's a blur of bright jerseys and rolling wheels all traveling at speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour. The downtown criterium is an hour long display of pure athleticism and team tactics. It takes a mix of brawn, cunning, courage and luck to stand atop the podium at the end.
Bike racing certainly looks like a lot of fun. You might find yourself thinking, "I'd like to do that."
Rich paused, as a sudden silence fell on the normally chatty group. Without opening his mouth, the loudspeaker roared in the tongue of an ancient demon,
The winner of this day's Air Center Criterium shall receive not one, but TWO no-holds bared, full-day tickets to thy fabled Wild Island Water Park!
In the distance, lighting crashed beyond the shadow of Mount Rose.
Conrad and I drove out of Truckee at 3am to make my 7:30am start of the Pro 1/2 Berkeley Hills Road Race. 90 miles (5 laps) through the short steep hills surrounding the San Pablo Reservoir.
I was in a deep fatigue hole from the Tour of the Gila the week before, so I came up with a self-defeating plan. Sit in, don't work and eat. Then destroy the field for 40th to 75th place.
