Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Bike Racing and Tacos

Normally this post would be all about the A+M race weekend that just happened, but nothing too exciting went down, so it will be about other things. Well okay, a little about the race first:
Saturday was the traditional Tunis Rubaix, only this time on a much tamed down course.
I don't feel like finding pictures if the actual courses, so here are some Google Image representations:
Old course


New course


Note that I have absolutely no problem with this. I like not having three wheel changes to finish a 60 mile race. It was cold and windy and rainy though, so don't be thinking I'm a total pussy over here.
I didn't ride all week because I wasn't sure what was going on with my finger and couldn't get in to see the doctor till Friday. Turns out I just have a torn ligament though, so as long as I leave this brace thingy on I can do whatever I want. Anyway, because of said not riding I was expecting a not so great race. And yeah, pretty much. I got dropped right at the end of the fourth out of five laps and rode the last one in with a guy from MSU.
The time trial that afternoon went about as well.

Sunday is crit day. About 3 laps in I saw what appeared to be the move for the day going up the road, and with a couple other guys that felt the same way, worked my way up to it. We caught them, then lapped the pack about half way through the race. The race went MSU attacks, S.Haga or Cody (A+M) chases down the attack, we ride a tad slower for a minute or two, repeat all day. I sat at the back of the leaders and called out attacks so that the A+M boys would be ready for them.
Two laps to go, lead out trains start organized. Baker (an A+M guy we had lapped), Cody, and S.Haga were on the front, followed by five MSU riders, then me. Baker pulled all of two to go, then was done. I know I have no chance in a sprint against those guys, so I moved up and pulled for about half a lap to help out Cody and Shane. Shane ended up getting the win. And rather convincingly. Over a bike length ahead of second!
There are a bunch of pictures by JToka photography here

Hrm. That ended up being longer than I thought it would be. I think there's still time for one other thing though. AND WHAT BETTER THAN TACOS!?
I'd heard of this taco place called Rosita's Al Pastor. I've known where it is. I finally convinced Joseph and Parker to go. We pull up to the truck in the parking lot of a bingo hall, get out, and discover that the menu is in Spanish, and the lady working the truck doesn't know enough English to explain what things are. Perfect!


We know about a third of the menu from other taco places and stick with that. I don't know if it was the meat in the tacos, the homemade flour tortillas, or the fact that I felt like I was in the middle of a drug deal half the time I was there (it was probably a combination), but those were easily the best tacos I've ever had.