The Alpha Goat

Just like a wolf pack, the 'goats also have an Alpha. By a committee of one (me) I hereby state that Devin Erfle is the Alpha Goat - Road.

I think there's a fair body of evidence to justify this title. First, there's the last two weeks of Bragg Creek sprints. Some guys just have what it takes for sprints - doesn't matter if you're riding 35mm 'cross tires or if you're riding aero road wheels. If you can sort your way through the first 300m of jockeying for position, that leaves most of us gasping for breath and falling by the wayside, THEN turn it on for the last 100m as if they were totally fresh and just leave everyone in the dust, you're a sprinter.

This is the 6th gear I keep telling everyone that Devin keeps hidden till when it counts. Things start to heat up, and once the pack speeds up to about 7,000RPM in 4th gear, some it's time for part of the field to drop out and coast in to the finish. A selection is made, and the 5th gear shift happens. Over the next 12-20 seconds, the 5th gear acceleration from 4,000 to 7,000RPM plays itself out, leaving but two riders in this case. Most cars, and most riders, only have 5 gears to start with, and redline in 5th is the end of the show. But everyone knows, there's a few out there that have 6 gears. They come with high price tags, and look fast sitting still. And they aren't worried at all about all that 5 speed crud on the road, cause they know where the finish line is. Once 7,000RPM is passed in 5th, what do they mercilessly do to the 5 speed crowd? Put it in 6th and leave them in the dust. From behind, with legs burning and lungs searing, knowing that you had NOTHING left in you to produce anymore speed, you wonder "how the hell did he just do that

The picture above warrants some discussion. Zoom in and have a look. Let's revisit last season. Devin is the first Cat 2 deadgoat, and the points for the upgrade were awarded upon his victory at the Pigeon Lake Road Race, 2006. The above photo captures this moment quite nicely I feel. Note the basics - a field of 30-40 riders. A straight view of the finish line from a little over a kilometer out, where we come onto the straightaway from the intersection that can be seen in the distance. And it's an uphill finish on a long mild grade, which makes the power to weight ratio an unescapable truth.

Maybe it's just the angle, but take a quick look at the faces involved. I see a lot of grimaces, a lot of sucking wind. But one face doesn't have that grimace. That's what earns you the right to put your arm in the air. Winning road races isn't easy. Mathematically, you've got a 1/40 chance, or 1 over however many participants there are. Those aren't good odds. But it's harder than that. You need strength, endurance, and cunning. Road races are seldomly won by brute force. The last 1 minute can play out a thousand ways, and split second decisions can mean the difference between podium or 15th spot.

4th place, by some divine luck, is me. I was just close enough to see the real action unfolding in front. In 3rd place, is Spence Smitheman. Spence is a "young buck" by the standards of the guys around him, and he's an "up and comer" by virtue of being a national level track kid, going to 'cross worlds in Belgium, etc. I think the remainder of the top 4 had 10 years on him each. Rider number 2 is Jason Lapierre, who put a lot of heart into the sport, and into his ski coaching career, and into everything he did. Jason was never afraid to work on the front of a race. And his riding style is what bonded us. That's the last ride I ever did with Jason. He's always in my memory when I'm riding a bike. The details of ABA insurance policies are all for naught when you meet your fate with a few tonnes of steel. If you're riding home from Cochrane on the 1A, and see the cross made of some skis and garnished with a ski boot, crank it up at least three notches for the ride home, just because you still can.

Not that we want to burn out Devin for the race season, but if anyone disagrees with the above assessment, bring out ALL your game for the last 1km into Bragg, and see where it get's you. Then don't be upset when your game gets shoved right back down your throat in the last 100m. Having kids apparently isn't an excuse for being any slower on the bike.

Notice how I've left other categories open by only designating a roadie Alpha? That means there's room out there for YOU to fill another unique position. Maybe we can take votes later in the year on some of the other ones... and sorry for all you hopefulls, but I think the Single Speed position is already spoken for, if you know what I mean.