A Midwest Classic to Start the Season

Last weekend's Hillsboro Roubaix was road racing as I have often dreamed it to be. In my dreams, though, I didn't get dropped off the back of the group after 20 miles to ride the last 46 miles alone. I have much yet to learn, and the men's Cat3/4 field was an uncompromising teacher. Many others apparently shared my pain, though, as I stubbornly persisted to finish 49th out of 50 in a field of 100 starters. The hills, wind, and brick streets unrelentlingly separated the weak from the strong, so I must say "hats off" to the winners and to the few others who finished in the front group of my race. This is surely the kind of experience that inspired poet Stephen Dunn to write about "the sincere if onlys of grown men in short pants." I can only say that I hope to return next year and try again.