This has been a long, overdue post, but better now than
never! Normally, I would try to make a loooong, tedious story out of my first
ever Nationals experience, but it’s summer! You should be outside, not looking
at a computer! Enjoy the sunshine, not the laminated screen of technology! So,
for expediency, I present to you my top moments from Nats! Enjoy!
#1) Kevin: Becca,
did you ever get the bar tape?
Me: No.
Unfortunately, the pricing never worked out and I just didn’t have time—
Kevin: [Pulls out
two rolls of blue and yellow bar tape]
Me: YOU HAVE THE
TAPE! I AM GOING TO HAVE BAR TAPE! I am
getting way too excited about this, but YOU HAVE THE TAPE!
#2) Mackinzie and I
are in a group. We are rotating through a paceline.. I take a pull, and when I
start to slide back to let Mackinzie take a pull, I notice a huge gap between
her and the other people behind her. Going into TTT mode, I just slip right on
in behind her. As she pulls off, she sees me go to take another pull:
Mack:
Becca, GET OFF THE FRONT!
I obediently slide
back with her, turning red with embarrassment.
#3) Dessie catching up
to me after getting a mechanical and then promptly kicking my ass on the
hill. I could not have been happier that
my teammate was squarely kicking my butt.
#4) The group I am
with notice that the leaders are 1:30 ahead of us. “Hey,” we all think, “That
means they’re going to pull us, right.?” For three seconds, we were so happy.
But, they did not pull us on that lap… or the next…. Or the next... We all
realize that this is going to be a looong crit.
#5) I am off by myself
as I have broken away from my group. Every time I cross the line, I look at the
nearest race official with a clipboard. I give them a look screaming, “Are
you going to pull me? Please pull me. I am in pain. Look at me. Take pity on
me.“
Every
time I cross the line, that same official just gives me this pitiful look of, “I
pity you, you poor foolish creature… but no. Keep racing.”
#7) Dessie, Mackinzie
Sara and I are reaching the bottom of the last set of kickers (aka small hills
of death). Dessie looks behind her:
Dessie: Who’s with me?
(Translation: ready to go faster?)
Me: GEAGH!
(Translation: I am!)
Mack :AUGH! (Translation: Hell Yes! I am
prepared to die honorably!)
#8) Kevin’s photobomb after
the TTT race (see Facebook)!
9) Trying on different
pants (How did Alex’s thighs of steel fit into Dessie’s pants?!?)
#10) As we are driving
to the airport:
“The other car said they want to
go to Waffle House?”
Alex, Dessie, Zander: “WAFFLE HOUSE!!!!!
YES!! WAFFLE HOUSE!!!”
I am sitting off in the corner of the car,
wondering what the heck is this mysterious, glorious thing called “waffle
house.”
Thank you to every single person on the cycling team. You
are my family outside of my family. And thank you to everyone who helped with
chaperoning, donations (in both money and time), and keeping us “roudy kids” in
line (I’m talking about you, Debi).
Thank you so much, and I cannot wait until next fall where I can ride
with my team again. Until then, keep the rubber side down!
-Becca
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