8/18/07 - The mellowdrome hosted the North/South Carolina State Track Championships this past weekend I represented the BWR contingent but since I’m only a cat. 5 on the track (until I make it to Dick Lane Atl.) I wasn’t able to do individual events but I did compete in Team events with Chris and Doug of the ‘bloods’ across town.  In track championship races there are no divisions everyone races elite men, women, old fart, or junior. 

We began with the Team Pursuit 4000m with 4 men taking half lap pulls but we ended up mid-pack behind many of the pro teams.  This was all to plan since now one would suspect this team of hairy, fat, non-flashy riders in the next race the Team Sprint.  The team sprint is a 3 man 3 lap timed race where each man must pull a lap and pull out of the race leaving the remaining 2 then 1 guy to finish off the race.  We decided it best that I anchor and we just begin a sprint from the gun.  Well the two and three man or Chris and Chris overran then was quickly gapped by the 1st man right at the beginning and I realized I had to casually cover ground without expending energy.  Once the second man pulled off just before the last lap I stood for a couple of strokes to get up to max speed and attempted to hold the sprint in the saddle for the entire lap.  I was rounding the turns so fast the bike was jumping out but I kept pressing and my Jamis Sputnik (available at any Biowheels location) held fast and true.  I tucked low as I rounded the final bend and crushed the pedals to finish 3/4 of a second ahead of the next pro team.  Incidentally the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th teams were all within hundredths of a second from one another.- Chris Emory