Rouge Roubaix. Saying Hello and Goodbye
Its been what felt like ages since the last time I was able
to see the south, see the swamps, my family, my friends, and my old dogs. The
Rouge Roubaix is always something I had heard of, but it had always been to
early and conflicted with school for me to attend, this year I made it a point
to change that.
Rouge Roubaix: a 109 mile race in the early part of the year
that had multiple gravel sections that you never know what condition they will
be in, from what I heard this year was one of the worst.
I arrived in Louisiana a few days before the race to spend
time with my dad and Sarah, it was of course very great to see them and brought
back great memories. I then drove out to the race and stayed the night with a
good friend of mine, Stephen Mire and a few racing buddies of his. We awoke the
next morning, had our respected oatmeal and coffee and headed on out to the
race start.
This race was not only special to me because of its
prestige, but because it was the first time I had been home since a friend of
mine was struck and killed by an SUV. He got struck on a ride that had been on
thousands of times before. Justin Addison was a strong, young, eager, and
incredibly kind person who I got to know during my summers in Covington, LA.
His passing was a big blow during a key time of my training, it forced me to
stop and ask myself if all of this is worth it.
It took me a
while, but I finally came to the conclusion that he was doing what he loved to
do, as I do. He was riding just for the fun of it one late afternoon, doing a
little sprint just to feel the rush as I often do; these are the moments we
live for. So as long as I hold on to the love for riding my bike, then every
race, every moment I put everything on the line for is worth it. At the exact
moment I came to this conclusion I remembered something Justin had told me
while we were riding together, he said that someday he would beat me in a race,
and I believed him. He always aspired to race and I new that was something I
could still give him, with working with his mother, a good friend of both
Justin’s and myself, Kyle Boudreaux, I was able to receive a trinket that
belonged to Justin which I will carry at all races I do all over the country
and possibly the world. You will be with me Justin and get to see the world and
still ride your bike as fast as ever. And it all started with a long gravel
race in his backyard of Louisiana.
Some big boys
made the drive out to do the Rouge this year, three boys from the Hincapie Pro
Squad came out including Ty Magner, who I had already done some gravel training
rides with in years past and new he would be riding well. Mike O. came out who
has won the race on several occasions, and then some pro cross racers decided
to give it a go as well. A change in the course brought the gravel section a
little sooner then years past so it was just trying to get good position from
the start. When we made the right hand turn into the gravel and felt our wheels
sink, it instantly became clear what the day would look like. Pushing furiously
on the pedals we tore up the first gravel section, rider after rider pulled off
due to flats, but then finally I could see the end of the first gravel section!
But as fait would have it I looked down and felt that my rear tire had gone
flat, a brand new tire, never ridden, couldn’t hold up to the rouge.
The race for me would be a long one, jumping from chase
group to chase group, but I would never again see the lead group. The other
gravel sections proved even more testing, three times I had to get off and walk
my bike for I could not find traction in the inches of sand or gravel on the
steep punchy climbs that I didn’t even know existed in Louisiana. I race my
bike for a living, as do several riders who had to get off and walk that
day…everyone needs a race a two to bring them down a level. This was an early
season race that tested me up and beyond what I expected, while I only pulled
in in 16th place, I was satisfied and helped myself to a good ol
Louisiana beer that I had been craving for so long. To all those that have
never done the rouge, do it for you have never done anything like it. But for
myself I will try and remind myself every year to never do it again…try is the
key word.
I will always miss the
south and think fondly of my time spent there. I very much hope to be back
soon. But for now, Justin and I will race my bike in all the places we can
muster.
