Fayetteville Stage Race, Fayetteville, TX Cat 4
(3/18-19/2006)

"Felixville"
Nick Nichols

What a great weekend in Fayetteville, population 261.  Also known as Felixville, population 1.  More on that later.  Initial thanks/props to Dave and Rhonda for setting Ryan up with the great house in Fayetteville.  It was perfectly located about .5 miles from the staging zone, which was great.  We could hit the trainers and head down the race with no problems.  It was also nice to be joined at the house by Frank, Bradley (Really, how do you get the pancakes so fluffy, it's truly amazing?) and Luiz.  I had a great time hanging out with you guys and getting to know you all a little better.  I would like to point out that before leaving for dinner on Saturday night, we couldn't find the house key, and Ryan was convinced that someone else (namely me) had lost it.  I believe he said, "if I think someone else had it, surely I must be right."  After 30 minutes of searching, he found it in his jacket pocket.  I just want to you all to know that.  He had the key and blamed me.  I hate him.  Ok, now to the race...
 
Saturday began early for us with an 8:10am, 51 mile, RR.   Literally from the gun, Felix was off the front on a break that he held for the entire morning.  He was joined by the super-kid from the Wate Management Team that Scott wrote about last weekend.  This kid is clearly a freak and is on his way for sure.  After he catted up from 5 to 4 for this weekend, I am pretty sure he will move up to a 3 after taking the win at Fayetteville.  He and Felix managed to work to hold their break for the entire 51, which I thought was pretty impressive.  
 
Though I can take little to no credit for doing any noteworthy work in the pack, I can easily point to the GCCAers who did.  Both mornings I got stuck towards the back of the pack pretty quickly and had a hard time getting up front to help.  I like to think the 3 or 4 minutes I was on the front in Day One helped some, but the real worker for "Team America: Bike Police" was Ryan "Cooler Than Freon" Dionne.  For the entire first day, Ryan was on the front working to control the pack, and he did a great job of working for Felix.  His efforts clearly worked given the fact that even with tough competition in Saturday's 6-Mile TT, Felix was able to maintain 2nd overall for the weekend.  As he mentioned, some more bodies in there would have been extremely helpful. 
 
Ryan had an awesome finish on the first day- 9th place in the final sprint!  He also had a great TT on Saturday.  The course was pretty tough for me, but I am feeling definite improvement with each race.  Obviously, Lago was a tough way to break oneself in as a 4, and Fayetteville was only a little bit easier.  I was frustrated with my ride on Saturday, and I'll just say my second TT ever didn't feel that great, but I felt good about Sunday's 48 mile RR.  I at least stayed with the pack longer.  On Sunday, I was dropped twice after the big hill, but the first time, I was aided once again by Doug "Life Flight" Baysinger.  Thanks again for pacing me back in there, man.  You saved me again!  Doug caught up with me, and we worked together to catch the pack.  It was a good feeling to get back on there.  Doug went on to ride a great race on Sunday.  Ryan, Doug, and I got popped again the next time we hit the hill, and rolled on in hoping Felix maintained the #2 spot.  Thanks to Ryan's efforts, and flat by the guy who won the TT, he held it, and The Blue Train got some podium action. 
 
You all saw the overall results, and I think we did a good job of representing in the 4's race.  I heard numerous other teams discussing how well we worked in the pack, and I think some people will be remembering us for sure.  I know that come Coldspring, we should take it with a good showing.  Looks to be a good season forming for the 4's.  Let's keep it up.  I would also like to point out that Ryan and I would have been a few GC spots higher, but we were given 30 second penalties for not signing in on Sunday.  This was crushing as my potential 26th overall was pushed down to a demoralizing 29th (sarcasm implied).  Those strumpets kept me out of the money.  Seriously, I think without the penalty, I would have finished right behind Doug at 26th or something.  Oh well, I won't lose too much sleep over it.  And since I'm on Spring Break, I have plenty of sleep not to lose...that was a shot at Dionne.  Sorry to rub it.
 
Personally, I feel like my "trial by fire" induction into the 4's is passing as I get stronger/smarter with each race; I anxiously await the next opportunity to get in there and work with you guys.  Hanging out with everyone the last two weekends has really boosted my drive and my desire to compete with the team.  I was more angry this weekend that I didn't do more to help Felix than I was with my overall riding.  That, to me, is a good sign.  I am learning more about the strategy with every race.  No longer is about going out there and trying to place well.  I am understanding so much more about this sport with every race, and you guys have taught me a lot.  More importantly, I'm enjoying doing it.  It's a blast competing with all you guys; let's get some MORE people in there next time and start bringing home some hardware!