This past Saturday was the last of the Quicksilver Winter Solstice Series training races, and I’ve learned, frankly, that I need more race training. I've noted in my own progress that I’m not thinking about how to finish a race any more, rather I’m thinking about how to finish first. This is a pretty big step for me as any who’ve followed my change from couch potato to bicycle racer can attest.

It was pretty windy for the ten-lap “D” race. After the first lap two guys in front took off. I was very close to the front and could have gone (or at least tried to go) with them. I distinctly chose not to and that turned out to be the big losing moment for me. At the time I figured they would come back pretty quick with the wind. I was wrong. The eventual winner rode solo for more then eight laps and was never in danger of getting caught, and second place just survived the closing group. I ended out of position coming up the hill in the last lap, so did not contest the sprint for third.

I came away with two main thoughts from the series: if you are not willing to be aggressive and risk losing, you are not going to win; and mistakes will be punished, especially in short races like this.

-michael