Welcome to Augusta, Georgia! Today we awoke to a bright sunny, albeit hot and humid, day. After breakfast I met with two folks from the Olympic committee who put me through some exercises to judge my handicap. They were charged with "handicapping my handicap" which then would be used to slot me into the proper category so I would race against like handicapable riders. My right leg's strength was graded all "5s", my left leg was mostly "1s." The funniest part was when I laid on my belly and raised my right leg and held it up while he pushed it down. For whatever reason my left thigh chose that moment to go into a full blown cramp that shot me off the table. While I rubbed out the cramp he suggested I stretch more - he didn't seem to understand that my left thigh has a mind of its own and it didn't seem to work me into a more advantageous category. After he was done, they reviewed my medical records then rated me a C4. C1 thru 3 are lumped together as more affected with their situation - C4 is less affected - C5s being pretty close to "normal" riders.
After being classified Holly and I drove to the time trial course - the roads here have 3 inch shoulders - honestly - I was a little afraid to ride to the course. Once there - without warming up - I rode the course - an out and back affair that looked lumpy on paper and was so in person. I rode away from a multiple National TT champ and caught up to a Colorado state champ during my ride. The national champ was a nice girl who said she would turn 14 next month - the little boy who reigns over Colorado TTs had to weigh about 70 pounds - he was about 10. It was a "Seinfeld" moment like the one when Kramer "ruled his dojo" which was populated by little kids.
On my second loop I was warm and better prepared to power up some of the hills. I caught up to a couple of riders wearing "FFKR, Tour of Utah" kits and slowed to introduce myself. They were Tim Eisenhart and his son John from Lehi. Their son/brother is TJ Eisenhart a 17yo who has been in Europe racing with Team USA and kicking butt at Worlds. Imagine being the best in the world when you are 17 - wow.
I finished strong and look forward to riding the course for real on Thursday - should be interesting.
 

Downtown Augusta - along the crit course

Stopped in Sweet Lou's Crab Shack for dinner

Whatever that spice was on the sausage was awesome

Holly polished off a plate of oysters - yikes!

Downtown Augusta - old school Southern living

Reality
Ran into Brett Weitzel this evening - a fellow Utah Para Cyclist and sarcoma survivor who had his left leg amputated at the hip. He had been in Colorado Springs for the past two weeks training at the Olympic facility so he understood and explained the reality of making the Paralympic team. There are 8 men's slots that can be filled by either hand cyclists or para cyclists. Of those 8 slots at least 3 to 5 are already spoken for by reigning World Champs.There are a few open to coach's discretion but the "real" final two slots are earned by our ranking across all categories - determined by the time trial on Thursday. They determine that ranking by comparing each riders performance against their categories' standard time - say 1:30 per kilometer. How much a rider betters his standard time - figured as a percentage - is used to slot him against all other riders in all categories. Too much math for my pea brain right now so I have boiled it down to one thing - do as well in the time trial as I possibly can do then let the chips fall where they may.  I probably don't have a great chance of making the team but I also know that if I was at home on the couch eating bon-bons I would have no chance at all. My next couple of days I'll spend visualizing the course, seeing myself giving my all and working through the pain to race as fast as I can. The pain won't compare to the pain I felt when the air bed deflated a couple of times the day after my surgery which required a move to a second bed - that was pain on a whole 'nother level. I'll remember that experience and use it to block the pain emanating from my body to my head.

Tomorrow I will preride the road course to be raced on Saturday then meet my Mom who is flying in to watch the races. We are soaking in the experience, meeting incredible people and preparing for the time trial. Thank you all for joining us along the way - many of you have passed along well wishes and positive vibes - thank you - we'll put them to good use.

Our best,

Steve and Holly