Menlo Park

Don't really quite have a handle on what my mind conjures up when I think of Menlo Park... maybe some kind of cross between Gorky Park (the movie, not the actual park) and Central Park (the actual park, not some movie). Rumor has it that u-tube was born in Menlo Park. There is also an independent record label that goes by the same name...

I do know that it is a long drive for a 35 minute crit... in all fairness, the crit was supposed to be 45 minutes, but seems that things were running a little late after the women's 4 race was halted for an ambulance. Then, it was running a little more late after the 35+ 3/4 race was halted for an ambulance. After that, it was runing even later after the 5's race was halted, twice, while we all waited for a few would-be bike racers to scrape their skin up off the pavement.

So, El Gigante and Staz got to start a half hour late and race ten minutes less. I figured that, after witnessing all the carnage the morning had to offer, they'd be a little shell-shocked and kinda ride around at the back for the 35 minute duration...

Imagine my surprise when, with one to go, Staz was on the front keeping it all lined out and safe for El Gigante. He did a full 3/4 of a lap before pulling off with two corners to go... El Gigante was 2nd out of the final corner which would have been perfect positioning, but given that the finishing straight was 500 meters into a headwind, he might have been a little too far up...

Anyways, he held on until about 100 meters to go before getting swamped... ended up seventh out of ninety or so-- 2 places out of the prizes, 1 place out of the upgrade points...

Gotta say, the teamwork is starting to gel... the kidlets are working well together to deliver somebody fresh to the line... and I like it!