Saturday evening

The run tonight was slower than the run yesterday. Update will follow.

We went to The Owl for something to eat and the prize giving ceremony, and also for all the fun we had. We all got a medal for participating in the race, either in the speed runs or in the drag race. It was time to say goodbye to a lot of people.

It was late when we got back to the hotel, where we had to put Sjaaks bike back together again. It took some time, so it was around 1.30 h before we could all go to sleep. Sjaak is driving along a bit with Bram and Annette Wielemaker in their camper, and will cycle some more. Sjaak is going to enjoy cycling in Amerika for a bit longer.

We had a lot of fun. We hope to see everybody again next time.

Saturday morning

Since we're just a bunch of gits, we slept in again this morning. Jan-Marcel could do with the rest, because his legs were really sore from yesterday evening. The bike is fitted with a new tire, so we should be fine tonight.

At the Civic Center we had the meeting and now we are about to make pictures of the teams and the bikes.

Friday evening

The weather was looking very good this evening, with hardly any wind. Jan-Marcel started as the second bike in the second heat, after Damjan. The start was one out of the book. The run looked very good from the chase car too. At catch the bike did waver off to the left a bit. When we had extracted Jan-Marcel from the bike, which took some effort, the front tire was as flat as it could be. Jan-Marcel did say that he could not get the bike to go faster anymore, the flat tire explains that. He did get a decent speed, but not the speed he had wanted to reach.

At the riders meeting the speed Jan-Marcel reached turned out to be 76 mph. After diner at the Chinese restaurant,we went back to the hotel where Jan-Marcel took some time in the spa. The front tire turned out to have a number of punctures from goat head thorns. There must have been some on the road somewhere. The tire got changed, the bike is ready for tomorrow again.

Friday morning

This morning was a nice and easy one with sleeping in, having breakfast, and for some, spending some time on the warm-up bike. Then to the Civic Center for the ridersmeeting and the allocation of the slots for the heats during this evening runs and for the next morning. After lunch we went to a street near the High School where the drag races were held. Sjaak, Thomas and Erika took a turn in competing. Sjaak was one of the faster riders, but not the fastest. Erika turned out to be the fastest of the ladies on a Cannondale road race, borrowed from Robert Barnett.

Back at the hotel we split up in two groups. One half went swimming, the other group stayed at the hotel room for some needed rest.

Thursday evening

We got everything in the car and went to the 305 around 16.30 h. Jan-Marcel warmed up on Sjaaks bike which is stationed in the trainer Jun brought for us. More familiar faces were present this evening, George Leone was there with some of the CalPoly students. Tonight was really windy. Three heats again, with Jan-Marcel in the second heat as the second bike. Damjan was in front of him. Thomas started Jan-Marcel for his run. This was a bit more challenging due to the wind. Jan-Marcel was not riding very fast, the wind was gusty and pretty strong. In the last heat only three bikes started; Gareth, Greg and Todd.

It was a lot easier to get Jan-Marcel out of the bike this evening. This time he got out himself, yesterday we had to help him out of it. After all the heats were done, we went back to the hotel to put some things back in the room and the bike in the corridor. Now we are in the Civic Center to hear what speed Jan-Marcel had. It won't be fast.

Jun always announces the speeds. This evening Jan-Marcel ran 70 mph. When the meeting finishes we wil go to the Chinese restaurant again to get a meal.

Thursday morning

Yesterday we were just checking the bike, this morning the bike needed a bit more to it. The derailler cage wasn't in its original position anymore. Thomas managed to get everything working again, and that was really a job well done! Then it was time for the riders meeting again at 11.00 h. The morning runs had varying wind conditions. Alan had the highest wind speed until now. After the meeting we went to some more shops. We found new places for groceries, materials and shopping. Back to the hotel for lunch, the last hand on the bike repairs, and some swimming. Now we are having a bit of rest before the entire circus of the evening runs will start.

Wednesday evening

This evening we had 3 heats, Jan-Marcel was the first in the second heat. Toronto had a broken spoke and did not run the second time this evening. That opened up a spot for Jan-Marcel in the third heat. He would be the last one to ride this evening, after Barbara and Ellen. Just before the start the chain had fallen off. It took Thomas some effort to get it back on, in time to start. The first starting attempt resulted in a fall. James Schroeder helped to lift the bike up and put it back on its tires again, so Jan-Marcel could be started again. This time he did get going. Somewhere along the way the bike moved to the left lane to signal a problem and wanting to be caught. The chase car overtook the bike, Thomas and Erika got out to catch the bike. But Jan-Marcel had regained speed again and overtook the car and moved on. Thomas and Erika got back in the car again to chase the bike.

Jan-Marcel had a nice stop at the catch area, Barclay is very good at that. Jan-Marcel had trouble getting out of the bike, because he had blown up his legs. We had to help him out. It took him some time to regain himself, then we headed back to the hotel. Jan-Marcel pedalled a bit on the warm-up bike to get the blood flow in the legs going and speed up recovery a bit. Off to the Civic Center where we heard that he did 72 mph during this run. Now we are off to get something to eat.

Shortly after take off I wanted to shift gear but the chain came off. Riding at about 25 mph there was no way I could make it to catch safely, so I moved over to the left lane to signal distress. On the left lane just after the car came by, I managed to get the chain back on and was able to peddle again. I went back to the right lane to signal I was okay. I saw alot of vests moving in the right lane where the car was located to catch me. I went back to the left lane, passed the car and continued my ride in right lane. No worries about the chase vehicle it would catch up on me later.
Spinning out of the gear, I tried to switch over to the next one. But again, nothing happened apart from the chain that came off again. It took some time and effort to get the chain back on. The speed had dropped and when the chain was back on I had no idea whether this was in the same gear as it was before or a higher/lower gear. Again, had to shift because I spinned out in this one. And again the chain came off (for the third time during the run) and I had no traction what so ever. Just before the 1.5 mile marker I was able to get things going again. I kept in mind that the weather seemed to be good at start so I started sprinting to get at least a reasonable speed.