I went to Iowa to Race the memorial day weekend which includes the brutal snake alley crit. I went out to Iowa with Diane and Michelle. we stated with Charley Harper. when we left Orlando it was 89 degrees and when we stepped off the plane in Moline it was 48 degrees. From the air port we when to Charley's bike shop. where i put my bike together and got it ready for the frist race on Friday the Wapello to mediapolis road race.

then on to wallpello to the start of the road race. in the road race i had to wear 5 numbers one on the bike and four on me.

now on to the race it was the 24 mile rolling race with a 25mph wind. we rolled out of wallpello at a slow speed it stated at this pace till the first hill then the attacks came fast and furious. i when up to the second group which was the main field and when we hit the top and when down this is were i was spun out for the first time but it started to go back up. so i was able to stay in the group. then after a couple of more of these we when parallel to the Mississippi river till we got with in 4 mile of the finish we stated to head back away from the river and it when up again but now with a tail and i was dropped on the down hill at 36mph. now i formed the second group on the road and i when to line with a group of 8 and finished second in this group and finish 24th over all.
Saturday is Snake Alley Crit.


this is the brutal climb of snake alley with 5 switch backs and average grade of 12%. the frist race of the day was the 10-14 junior race which Michelle finished 5th in.

now my race was the 15-18 junior race. it was 8 laps up the snake. in the field there were 50+ starters. they seeded the race by number so i started in the back row. i finished in 31st.




after the race we stayed and watch the rest of the races. including the cobble climb.


Sunday Melon City Crit
this race was in Muscatine so it was 3 mile away from Charley's house. the course was around weed park the back sight was down hill and had a speed bump at the bottom. the front sight was up hill and had a 120 degree turn.
my race was the first race of the day juniors 15-18 i was pulled due to not being able to climb the hill in the group.

then it was the mens cat 4 race was pulled with 4 laps to go i was droped on the down hill because i was spun out.
Michelle finished 4th in her junior 10-14 race.

Monday the quad cities crit ( aka the great quad cities cage race)
this course was a 8 turn and in the shape of a figure 8. the roads were lined with chicken wire.
the first race was michelle's 10-14 juniors race. she finishes in 3rd.


the second race of the day was my 15-18 junior race. i finished in 32nd.



the next race was Michelle's womens 4's race. she finished 14th.

then it was my cat 4 race. in a field of 70+ starters i finished in 39th place.



this weekend was fun and i gained alot of experience. i learned what i need to work on.
JPR