Double Crossed.

There's a certain nervous panic to being support for these bigger races, especially the first of the season. Who knows what will happen? New bikes, new riders, different fitness levels from last year. It's hard to control the slight nausea that comes from when he gets a third row callup and a boxed-in start or hearing announcers shouting "someone's down at the barriers!" when you can't see who it is or rumors of illegal handups in the woods. I don't know how Ben controls it. From the pit this weekend, we couldn't see a thing. I sat there watching for Ben to come through....
1, JP. 2, Mueller, ok. 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10... where's Ben? 11... 12... 13,14,15,16,17, there he is!
Next half lap... moves from 19 to 15. Then 12. Then... wait! That's two back from UCI points!

See, here's the dilemma. He doesn't race well when I'm pushing too hard, but 30 sec back from the points, I had to make him try, and he wanted to too. This is how Saturday went, in the 80 degree heat. He laid it all on the line to try to bridge up to that chase group of 8 and just didn't make it. Popped and slipped back. What's the difference between 11th and 17th anyway? Out of the points and in the money, it's all the same. He finished with goosebumps all over his body, clearly some reaction to the heat. 80 degrees and navy blue longsleeves = bad idea.

Sunday brought a different game, cooler weather, and a more laid-back attitude. Ben found a small group in the mid-teens to roll with and stuck it out for 15th. Nothing really big happened, a clean, fast race. It's hard when you're in the third row and have no hope of a good race, and the guys in the points are off the front before you can pick through the first few people in front of you. Marko said it to us right this weekend when he said that first point is hell to get, but after that they keep rolling in. We're still chasing the first. BTW, Marko's just flying this season. And a few other locals are too, like Mike and Matter.

But, not having to service him in the pit this weekend was the best reward ever. I never want him in the pit. That's the way it should be, at least till it gets muddy. I much prefer shouting at him as he passes by, first splits and placing but slowly switching over to complimenting his physique and telling him I love him.

But I'm getting down the rhythm. Get up. Fill a bottle and force him to carry it around. Let him do his thing... like cut his pancakes once down the center and three times across both mornings. Mix the bottles. Load up the bikes, tools, pump. Double check that he brought everything. Drive to the venue. Find "staging" space that isn't too in the thick of things. Pull down the bikes. Grab registration. Check air pressure. B-bike in the trainer. Give him another bottle. Encourage him to stretch. Check the schedule. Check over the A-bike. He goes out for laps on A, check the B-bike. He comes back to the trainer. Encourage him to stretch, make sure he has his bottle. After the previous race is over, B bike, pump, tools to the pit, carrying camera and bottles. Then to the line with bottles and camera. After gun, scramble to the pit. Right crank forward, bigger gear. He passes, shout. Go to other side, shift to easier gear (this side is uphill), right crank forward. Wait. Gossip. See him, shout. Repeat. If someone without support comes in, drop bike to help. Two to go, start taking photos. One to go, start packing up. Everything back to the car. Get bottle to him. Load up. Don't forget payout.

The gossip, though, and the tips... the rumors and ideas. Being in the pit you hear alot and see alot. Like JP losing a saddle off one of those dumb seatpost masts (my brush with fame). Or riders rolling tires... lots and lots of rolled tires this weekend. Or JP calling another rider's bike a "boat anchor" as he rockets by. The inside scoop on JP's training and goals, the pro's schedules, strategy for gluing, race strategy. I'm learning.

It worked out awesome to share a ride n' room with Devon and Aspen this weekend- Devon's 4-2 placings mean she's in the USA UCI point rankings! They're both super friendly and Devon and I share a shameless love of custard. It was great seeing the CX crew and meeting some new folks... now, on to Vegas.