It has been a hundred thousand degrees in Kansas the past week. I was juggling between going up to Elk Grove of staying local and doing the Tour of Kansas City. Elk Grove was going to be abit anticlimatical since I couldn’t ride for the “real” money, it switching to a PRO only race. Anyway, I was dreading the weekend because of the heat.

And now, after the first stage, a night time criterium in downtown Kansas City , Kansas, I had good reason to dread it. It was a hundred million, gazillion degrees. Even at 9pm. The heat index was way over 100. Anyway, 80 guys lined up for the start, which is good for the race. I think adding another race, making it a 3 race weekend is good. I felt pretty good for the first 30 minutes and really bad the last 40 minutes. I’m not sure how many guys finished, but there are varying guesses from 25 to 35. So, it was hard. Good course though, with a couple big ring climbs per 1 mile lap.

We had the race under control until the end when Brian got into a 5 man group. That wasn’t the “plan”, but in bike racing, plans are ever changing. He did what he’s been doing most the rest of the season and won. Not convincingly, inches, but a good win none the less. It’s scored on points, not time, so nothing is set in stone.

Tomorrow’s racing is scheduled at 2:30. Forecast temperatures around 103. Heat index 115 or so. Should be a really enjoyable afternoon if tonight was any indication.

Today made the heat last night seem tame. Actually, after the fact, it wasn’t as bad as it could of been looking at the numbers. Somewhere between 102-106 depending on who you believe. It was hot anyway you look at it.

The race today was a little under a 3 mile circuit that has a couple big hills in it. It’s a great course really. We planned to try to get as many of us up the road semi-early before/when everyone else fell apart. I got away early and then was joined by Bill a lap later. 2 our of 5 was good. The next lap, Nolan Froese, junior, fell in the U turn and split us up abit. Nolan was riding great the whole weekend and has matured a ton as a rider. Brian said on the radio that he was coming up. He was alone then, but by the time he got up to us they were a lot of guys including the bleeding Nolan. People kept coming up until there was a big group of 15 or so.

By then everyone was really hot. I got away a few times, Bill rode a couple laps alone, but about half way through it split up pretty good. I got away with Alex Welch from Mercy and then Brian bridged up on the hill. He pulled the better portion of a half a lap, but we got caught by the remainder of the victims. I sat up immediately on the next corner and Brian road way for good. Alex Welch put it the best. “He’s gonna win anyway, we should just let him go.” And that is what they did.

The next lap got a little more animated. I ended up in a 4 rider group of a couple Big Shark guys, Mark Southard, Jeff Hartman, plus Alex Welch. We were all falling apart and Brian was riding 20 seconds or so a lap faster. I fell apart faster than the others. Within one lap I went from feeling pretty good to losing everything I drank (plus some) everytime I tried to drink. It got ugly quick. I sat up with 4 laps to go. Rode another lap as slow as I could go so I didn’t seize up when I stopped and called it a day.

I have some issues going right now, but I do know that I don’t deal with heat like I used to. I’m not sure what is up with that, but it’s a fact.

Anyway, Brian went on to win for the second day in a row by nearly 3 minutes. Bill dragged in around 12th or so. It was a tough guys race. There was no faking it here.

Tomorrow is another criterium. 75 minutes. Should be just as painful as the previous two days I imagine. Maybe not. There is always something to look forward to.