TRW Rookie recaps Greensfelder and Rhett's Run

Hi everyone. This is Randy Blackwell - rookie member of Team Red Wheel. Nick asked me to send recaps of the races I've attended as a TRW teamster so here we go.

Corey and Nick initiated me onto the team by letting me know that I needed to provide support at Dirty Kanza. Give up a racing weekend to drive around Kansas hills in a sporty Toyota FJ and pass out Butt Butter. You bet I'm in.

I'm new to bicycle racing, but not new to racing. I've got a few years behind the bars of flattrack motorcycles. Although the power units are decidedly different. Some of the things I know about racing lines, set up and the like are similar. I logged two XC races before joining TRW. The Clinton Lake Bone Bender 3-HR marathon was my first. I finished two laps just under the 3 hours, but didn't have enough in the tank to take another lap. I finished 15th in my class, but if I could have nursed another lap out I would have finished at least 9th.

Next up was Tour De Tick in Neosho. Dana and I went down and signed up for sport. 7.5 mile loop for three laps. Fun and fast track with a few good climbs and lots of flow. It was 42 degrees and raining all day. Both Dana and I sucked it up and finished all three laps besting our competition and taking the gold in our respective Cat 2 divisions.

I went by myself to Greensfelder. Signed up as a TRW member and promptly met Justin Neely. Greensfelder was a tough track. Rain had made the rocks slick and the downhills treacherous. I signed up for Sport and put in my 2 laps around the "Hard Eight" mile loop. I finished last in my class where 8 out of the 13 riders were under a buck fifty. I've lost a lot of weight, but have more to go to be competitive in Sport. I finished dead last and felt bad until I checked the overall standings and saw that if I read correctly would have won the Cat 3 one-lap event. It's kind of cool that you can run Cat 2, get more seat time and still see how you would have done with the Beginners.

Onto Rhett's Run this weekend. 2.5 inches of rain this week kept a lot of riders away, but actually the trail was in great shape. I enjoyed this 4.7 mile course. Lots of turns, downhills and climbs with just enough speed to keep it really fun. I've been trying to improve on my speed the last few weeks and I've trained hard. Unfortunately I woke up with a serious head cold Sunday morning and the forecast for noon was for a lot more rain. I came up with the brilliant idea of running Cat 3 with the earlier start. I had no idea how I was going to perform. I was sick as a dog. Adrenaline took over and I felt good on the line and through the first two miles I led the combined 30+, 40+ and 50+ classes. I took a misstep on a rocky climb and let a couple guys by and then settled in. I rode hard because I knew I only needed 10 miles today. It was a blast. I got to pass some people and improved my time in the second lap. (had to clean my cleats at refueling area - so record doesn't show it) I didn't have any competition in my class, but I did put a few other "veteran" beginners behind me.

I'm really enjoying the biking. Corey will tell you - I'm addicted. I thought I'd miss motorcycle racing, but I went to a big race Saturday night in Sedalia and although there was a twinge of jealousy when one of my good friends picked up a $1,000 for a dash for cash win, I think I'm gonna be okay without it.

It certainly makes it easier being a part of TRW. I've enjoyed meeting some of you and I'm looking forward to the camping trip at Council Bluffs. Most of you know with age comes great wisdom and maturity. I'm old and gray, but incredibly immature for my age.

Thanks to all who had a part in bringing me on board. Maybe see you at the demo day tomorrow.

Randazzle

Comments

[barry]

glad to have you on board Randy. We'll see you tomorrow at Binder. I'll be checkin out all the bikes I'll never afford to buy. Good report, I think you'll like TRW. Do you have thick skin? You'll need it, we're kinda tough on each other, but we never mean anything bad by it. But we do enjoy ourselves. Stoney is a little bit of a dick though.

[Stoney]

Welcome to the team, Randy. We might have to work on a new nickname for you though, I'm not quite sure "Randazzle" is gonna work for me.

Hmmm, I guess Berry was right about me.

[Bob Jenkins]

Good write-up, Randazzle. I didn't know you'd been racing so much. Dont' worry about the weight-loss, when you ride that much it kinda takes care of itself.

Just don't let Corey start to think you may be getting faster than him...he'll set you up with a beautiful woman, and then you'll fall in love and get fat as shit because you don't train anymore. He's tricky like that.

I think Randazzle might stick, it makes me laugh every time I say it.

Randazzle.

[Stoney]

I actually like it too. I was just being a dick, sorry.

[Peat]

Randy, welcome to the team. I was at the Greenfelder race racing marathon. Quite the mudfest. Had I know you were there, I would have introduced myself.
Pete