a few thoughts from what turned out to be an interesting weekend.  saturday was the quicksilver race.  the union forces were out and beginning to race together as team.  working with our guys was by far the most rewarding part of the afternoon.  it was especially nice to see guys covering moves when I knew they didnt' really want to or feel like doing it.  they did it because they understood it would help the team effort and they knew it had to be done.  that, was great.  the last few laps of the 30+ race were a mixed bag.  the break of the day was well established.  we just wanted to ride near the front and keep the pace high enough that we would not get swarmed.  i was supposed to lead out aric and would have done so but he took a good opporunity and freelanced it.  his lanes ended up clogging and i managed to grab a good wheel coming up and into the last corner.  between aric and myself, i figured we would have a good finish.  after the race, we rode around for a while.  i eventually went to check on results.  and this is where the story turns somewhat sub-optimal.  when i rode up to the registraiton tent, bernard was there and thye were handing out checks.  he had done very well (congrats, b.) but mentioned to me that he had to protest the results because he was not listed.  guess what, i was not even listed in the results.  my number appears nowhere.  the guy with the checks kind of shrugged and said "the protest period is over".  i wasn't really upset.  i would have liked the place, but it's a hobby, and stuff happens.  and maybe my experience will serve as a reminder to others to be sure to check the results during the protest period.  i have told others before that it's their responsibility to do so.  this time it's my turn to be told.  yippee.  i was mostly happy i didn't crash anyway.  thank goodness for small things.

sunday was a real adventure.  aric and alec had arranged a ride out to the oasis winery, and a subsequent picnic, west of the plains.  i was not sure if my wife would make it but i had never been to that specific area and wanted to check it out.  i also really didn't want to drive.  aric's wife, colleen, our newest union member, offered to drive ben along with her kids.  the only trick was that she needed another car seat.  so early on sunday morning, we loaded up the trailer but good.  the car seat went in the back of the trailer, along with 1 leap pad, three books, eight little nascar replicas, some snacks, extra fluids, tools to fix bike and trailer, extra clothes and a map.  yup.  i couldn't even bring myself to weigh it but it was substantial. 

ben and i rode out to leesburg, into a headwind.  he would ask me why the other cyclists were passing us and never seemed happy with the answer.  he asked me how i can race if everyone is always passing me.  good point.   i was using the power tap and i'll spare you the details except to say that for the two hours of riding, I clocked in about 30 watts below lactate threshold and an average speed below 15mph.  ooofff.  still, it was fun and ben enjoyed it.

when we got to leesburg, we unhooked the trailer, set up ben and took off.  the ride to oasis was awesome.  there were two prolonged gravel sections but both were pretty clean and fairly rideable.  once you get out past marshall, the land really rolls and it is breathtaking.  we saw a lot of motorcylists out and it's no wonder, as the roads are tight and twisty and amazingly rolling.  we also saw some emt's on the scene of a motorcycle crash.  again, it's no wonder, as the roads are tight and twisty and amazingly rolling.  aric has the cue sheet for this route so i'll try to update this post later on our route details.

the winery was quite nice.  the others enjoyed a picnic near the pond.  ben worked on his photography.

i tried to hand out some manifestos but the customer base here seemed particularly resistant to the brand of economic populism i was preaching.  i just couldn't figure it out, but what the hey, another data point in planning for the revolution.  the trip wasn't a total waste.  i did scope out some nice sections of land that may be liberated for my purposes and returned to the people once things get going.  but i digress.  it was a very nice day.

i'm hoping to get out to greenbelt on wednesday.  if anyone is interested in riding from dc or carpooling, please drop me a line or leave it in comments.  - - - posted by scott