Possibly the coldest racing conditions I have ever experienced in my extremely long 2 year career of cycling. I believe the temperature during our race down in Fremont was around 38 degrees and the high some mid 40's. Right before the race I opted out of wearing my thermal jacket and I just stuck with the under armour, jersey, arm/leg warmers, shoe covers, bibs, and headband for my ears. I was actually pretty warm and the sun came out about halfway through the race.
Coach Mike Pugh came down with my dad and I bright and early and raced with me in the Cat 3/4 race. The plan was to just chill and shake out the cobwebs and get up front for the latter portion of the race. With about 4 or 5 laps to go a break of 2 went up the road and 2 more eventually bridged. That break would stay for the remaining portion of the race but Mike said he thought one guy got dropped and returned to the field.
I played it risky and didn't get towards the front until about a half a lap to go. I followed LaBerge's wheel up to Mike's. I was in good position but a guy to my right drifted over towards me enough so that I had to scoot over a little bit (not experienced to but-heads quite yet). This shoved me off of Mike's wheel and into the wind with about 300m to go. Mike accidentally got led out and easily gapped the field in the sprint and I finished not too many spots behind.
Overall it was tons of fun and I remember how to race again. I heard something about The Staz getting 4th in the Pro/1/2 race, so hats off to him, Zach, and Alex for racing hard despite the cold weather.
