NEO kick off

Sunny skies started off the NEO Power Series nicely. The first stop was the Findlay State Park TT on the 9 mile course. I had made a few trips there in the last two weeks to get used to the course. When it's dry you can really scare the crap out of yourself through all the twisty stuff.
Naturally, Ohio weather dumped a good bit of rain the night before so it was partly dry with some greasy puddles lingering. The real problem was that some corners were dry and others were a mess. So you never really knew how fast to take them until it was too late to change your mind.
A proper race pace in these conditions should leave you on your butt several times. Unfortunately I never went down, which means that I was pussy footing around and not really going the right pace.I kept swearing at myself the first half, trying to get some motivation to take the proper risks. Finally about half way through the course it got dry and my confidence rose, as did my pace. I started grazing trees with my shoulders and hips, which meant I was doing what needed to be done.
I pulled out a second place, about a half minute behind Jeff Cochran, he is obviously a great bike handler.
The wife raced too, for the first time since the mid nineties. This is a mixed blessing. It's good to have a spouse that approves of my racing, but it means twice the bike maintenance. I won't complain. This week starts my fourth week of riding off road only, which is nice.