This is a race that I can win. Unfortunatley Luck and preperation must be considered. I did not test ride the course and assumed the gravel conditions where the same as last year. Choosing the hardest ( wire bead ) tire in the shop to prevent. So ridgid in fact my entire bike rattled a part. Starting with the water bottle cages and ending with my seat. The rough ride of the tires was enough to keep me out of contention and it was the first real race of the season on a new bike.

2 OUT OF 4 ain't bad

Well there's been 4 RMR training series races. I've won 2 of them. One one the oval and one on the long course. Putting me in 1st overall for the season long series. Now I have that monkey on my back for the season. I really enjoy seeing the progress and success of my friends and the team work of my new team" Canyon Bicycles". This weekends race is " Hell of the North". A flat 5 mile lap with 1.75 of it being on deep gravel. One of the few seasonal races that doesn't cater to the climbers as the mid season RR will. Barring any bad fortune I plan on making the winning break.