On the road

So at 5pm (that's right, 5pm, not am) we finally got on the road to Chicago-after stopping at Radioshack for roughly two hours while the wonderfully pleasant owner tried to explain to my father and I how the Dish Network system we were purchasing could be installed (oh, he also explained, at length, his involvement with and advocacy for local tennis programs, his recent discovery of the Body for Life Program and it's benefits and the purchase and subsequent restoration of a Datsun 240z), then a short trip to Lowes, then other assorted delays related to dad's need to get work done prior to leaving.
None of this really bothered me, other than the fact that we didn't make it all the way to Chicago, or at least to a place closer to Chicago where we could safely park the RV for the night.
Didn't get to ride the day before the race, feel fat (am fat), not the best frame of mind before the biggest races of my year so far.
I looked at the past winners of Friday's race-Steve Tilford, Victor Rapinski, Jonas Carney-crazy to think I'll be lining up with guys of that caliber tonight.
Oh well-stick with fear and arrogance.
We drove the course this morning when we finally arrived (and then later parked, which was another tail of woe all together involving my father's reluctance to put the RV in reverse). Course looks pretty good; one fast downhill right, one grading uphill, but overall not too bad-although I'm sure it will seem it at full-tilt boogie 40 miles into the race.
I couldn't find any gels, so I'll be riding tonight with Clif bars. I have no idea how this is going to work out.