My last and only road race prior to today was Conquer the Canyons back in April 21st-22, 2007. Today was an attempt for me to see if I've improved at all since then and also to test out my new Specialized Tarmac frame which I just finished building up last night. Matt who was also racing decides to "Ride to the Race" knocking out a 60 miler up over Angeles Crest as a warm-up. After a very long drive to Pearblossom, we arrived just as Matt was rolling in and with 30min to the start. This was a 32mi race consisting of 2 laps of 16mi. During the race I was feeling pretty strong. In the past I typically get suckered into pulling the pack. This time I was trying to stay in the 3-4th position back. We hit the first hill and the group started to break up. Some tried to take off but I knew I'd catch them on a hill battle, which I did, as did several others by the top. As we started the descent a nice paceline formed up again. I kept having to hit the breaks so I moved up to the 1st position and pulled the group. No one ever rotated up, and last I looked a good size group was hanging on. I picked up the pace and started cranking the descent to get ready for the next turn, people were starting to drop, but I was still feeling strong so I kept it up. The second turn was now approaching and there were race volunteers directing traffic and riders, I was sure that we were making a right turn here but when I got close the volunteer waved me straight so I went straight on down the hill a ways. I turned around to look up the hill and saw NO ONE! I thought, "I missed the turn, I'm done"! I turned around and hammered back uphill and made the turn. Looking ahead at least a good mile, no one. Now facing headwinds I thought, "There is no way I can catch them now." I hammered anyway, passing a few stragglers, some from other categories. I passed one guy who said "let work to catch them" but I flew past him at 8mph. I was not going to slow down! Beginning the last climb the start I could see a group and I was coming up quick, it was the trail group from 4's from the wave before and I flew right by. Passing the start line I still could not see my group, they must have had a 4min lead on me, damn.
As I cross the start and begin lap 2, My wife yells "You're right on time" and I think "ha, ha so funny" but as I made the next turn I could see them up ahead on climb. "I can't believe it," I thought. I caught them before the top and here we going for the descent again. I'm don't miss the turn this time. Instead I get ready for a break away, and there it is out of the turn, three hang on as we gap the pack. We catch another up ahead and he hangs on. By the last turn there are only two of us left. He says "I don't care if I get second," I'm thinking neither do I, I can't believe I caught back up.
So I watch as he rides past for 1st.
Matt comes rolling in close to 30min later. I was super worried that he had crashed or something. But then knew he was OK when he came in and told me that he was bonking so hard that he stopped and was picking up used cliff shots and water bottles of the ground.
Results
As I cross the start and begin lap 2, My wife yells "You're right on time" and I think "ha, ha so funny" but as I made the next turn I could see them up ahead on climb. "I can't believe it," I thought. I caught them before the top and here we going for the descent again. I'm don't miss the turn this time. Instead I get ready for a break away, and there it is out of the turn, three hang on as we gap the pack. We catch another up ahead and he hangs on. By the last turn there are only two of us left. He says "I don't care if I get second," I'm thinking neither do I, I can't believe I caught back up. 
