May 04, 2012 (Walterboro, SC) – I really love this US Speedweek series.  I love it for many reasons but I really do like how every course brings something a little different. Walterborough is pretty unique as there are two very long straight always, one narrow and one very wide.

It is also very unique because it is a small little town and the race is held on roads that aren’t lit. I think it is best known for being pretty dark. With the roads being not lit very well and they have portable light standards in the corners to help light the way. They do help but they sure don’t help a lot. You ride towards a blinding light and then as you pass, you ride right into darkness.

Your eyes are always trying to adjust to very little light after a very bright corner. You ride into complete darkness and then look to another light 600 – 700 meters away. Last year there was a huge crash on this back stretch and I couldn’t even see it in front of me. I heard it in front of me and braced for impact but didn’t know where it was…it was that dark. This race started off quite tame compared to the last three.

I don’t know if the group might have been getting tired as the Series was wearing on people, or it was the way the course was designed, but it really seemed like this was the easiest race of the week. It was easy because you could sit 40 or 50 deep and just hold the wheel in front of you in the draft on these long straight-a-way sections.

The problem was if you tried to advance and get closer to the front you had to work like a dog and there was always a lot of fighting for position in the top 30. One advantage I have now is these sprint shifters on my bike. Not only do I have the finest, stiffest, fastest bike I have ever ridden – a Specialized SL4 with Di2 – but I just had the sprint shifters installed and what an advantage it is.  I can stay in the drops the entire race and shift with ease.

Sprinting out of a corner or downshifting as I enter one on this system is by far the best upgrade I have ever had. The bike with these shifters really feels like I’m cheating. Even with this crazy set up, found myself settling comfortably in the pack until one point came when the wheel I was on decided to go right to the front.

I cranked things up and followed. He took me right to the lead and as we entered the corner I overtook him and sprinted like a fool out of the corner. What I didn’t realize was it was a preem lap and there was one guy off the front. I looked up the road and saw this lone rider and looked back and saw that I had a little gap. I continued to sprint and was gaining big-time on this lone rider, and the finish line was coming fast.

I gave one last dig and we crossed the line at almost the same time. I say almost because my front wheel was about a foot behind his front wheel. Second on a preem = wasted effort. I continued on as he sat up and still had quite the gap. I had been sitting at the back and thought I just might be able to stay off the front for a bit.

Then an Exergy rider came up and blew right past. I tried to get his wheel but there was no chance. He looked back and sat up to wait for me. I got on his wheel and he got back on the gas. He continued to pull and it was killing me. I knew he would be elbowing me through any second and I took a peek back to see if this next effort was worth it.

What I saw was a strung out field only 50 meters off my wheel. I wasn’t pulling through. The race continued and I found my way back to 40 deep.  With about 15 to go there was a crash in corner 1.  It was dark and I really didn’t see it but man did I hear it.

The group went crazy and the pace was all out.  This was a make it or break it moment and the pack was taking full advantage.  If you got caught behind this crash and did not get back on the group it was over for you. You might get a free lap but that’s a chance I never want to take. As we came around the announcer made sure we knew the race had been neutralized. They had us come to a complete stop and wait as the rider who crashed was still on the course and was hurt pretty bad.

So with 15 to go we were stopped and waiting for the road to clear. Guys were leaving their bikes to hit the bathrooms and it gave everyone a chance to drink and fill their bottles. It also gave some guys who were struggling a chance to recover and get back into the race.

When we started up again the group was pretty cautious. It took a while to get up to speed and I moved right up because there was this extra caution.  With three to go I was back to advancing in the corners but the last corner really was the race.
You needed to be in there first if you wanted to come out of it with any chance of winning.

I got into the top 25 but really wasn’t aggressive enough on that last corner. It was tight and everyone was hitting it hard right to the apex of the turn. I came out of it hot and passed two guys on the way to the line. Another top 25 finish and another sense of disappointment.

Logan was the first to greet me and explained it just wasn’t his day. He also explained how Brandon had smashed his knee on a barrier earlier in the race and couldn’t continue. The truth was he could barely walk.

I knew Ken had finished he was riding strong and was around me quite a bit during the race. He rolled up with a beer and a smile. One of the spectators was generous enough to call him over and hook him up with a cold one.

I helped him finish it and we were off to get ready for another day of racing.

Thanks,
Ed Veal
www.realdealracing.ca