Old guy Roadie for a month or so

April is almost here.  This year April means two things to me.  

First: 
I am moving up an age bracket.  I turn 30 this month.  The big 3-0 has no real mental effect on me other than now racing in the "Masters" class.  Yes the word "master" has many meanings. 
The one the applies here is "an artist, performer, or player of consummate skill".


I started racing young.  As a Junior I always thought of people in the Masters class as the "old guys".  No I am there and am seeing things from the other side of the fence.  Age is but a number.
On the other hand the Masters class tends to be the fastest.  Truly players of consummate skill.




Second:
The only races that are a 100% yes for April are criteriums.  One every Sunday in April except Easter.  Yes I will be a roadie for the month.  The catch is that I do not own a road bike.  I do have a single speed cyclocross bike.  Last year that bike was used in these training crits.  This year I will be racing in the A race.  I want gears to contend.


Yes I am breaking my self imposed vow of not needing to ride gears.  It will be seventeen months without shifty bits.  The thing I told people when they asked me why I was going solely single speed was that it will make me a stronger rider when I do get back on a geared bike.


Well Sunday will be the litmus test of my whole SS vow.

Not owning a bike, I am borrowing on.  A very kind person has four road bikes that will fit me.  One is illegal for sanctioned events, one is a sweet ti bike, one is a super racy carbon bike, and one is a relic.


For the big Pittsburgh race I will choose the carbon bike. It also happens to be a Trek which fits nicely with my MTB sponsor.  For the other local training races, me being me, I am choosing to race the relic.  Downtube shifters, biopace, single pivot brakes, quill stem.  I am choosing this bike simply because I know I will be competitive no matter which bike I ride, and I love causing a shock factor.  Oh ya, it is also a Trek.


Does this mean my poor Fly will be ignored and I will hang up my dark Trek kit for a flamboyant Powder Blue kit.  No.  It just means that on the weekends  will be racing skinnies.  That is the only time I will be touching a road bike.  All other rides will be on the Fly in the woods.


I am a mountain biker with mud in my veins after all.