Is losing for losers?

The two big motivations for me to do a race like Joe Martin are the experience (yes even at 33 I am looking for experience)and the recovery after. If you can recover after Joe Martin you will most certainly be flying at Quad Cities. For me it is always a blast to be competitive at the big races. One of my best memories on a bike doesn't even have a happy ending. Three years ago or maybe four now, at Nature Valley, we came into Virginia, MN after 90 miles at 30mph, I was sitting 10th wheel with 7 circuits to go. Man we were flying into town, and the place was packed. I could not care less about doing a grand tour at this point. That was the moment I most wanted, and I was in it. At that point I was convinced I would be sprinting with Henk Vogels, Marty Nothstein and Victor Rapinski. I just knew this was my day, but......I blew with 3 to go. A three man break actually held off the charging field. My point, Sometimes the result doesn't matter. It left a lasting impression no win at a regional race could give me. Just like nobody could take the win away from Ciaran Power (Navigators) that day, nobody can take that feeling from me. Some say that is what losers say when they lose, but I hope to remember it someday in the near future.