Into the unknown
The Traka 200 was one of those races where everything feels possible at the start line, and by the finish, you're left with a clear list of things to do differently next time. I came in with high expectations. I left with a 5th place, two hard lessons, and a lot of respect for the course.
The week before, I had just built up my new OPEN U.P.PER. 2.0 with the SRAM Eagle transmission. Training rides felt great, the bike was dialled, the 165mm cranks were exactly the right call for my position, and I was excited to race it.
Then race morning arrived. One gear refused to cooperate. I went to see a mechanic before the start, but we couldn't figure it out in time. So I raced with it, 199km, either spinning too fast in the easier gear or grinding too slowly in the heavier one. No middle ground. It turned out afterwards to be a simple chain alignment issue. Five minutes with the right eyes on it and it would have been solved.
Racing as an independent athlete means you learn these things the hard way... but you do learn them.
Set-up
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