Thanks for the encouragement. If it weren't for my little kid cheering section, I probably would avoid the race scene altogether - so it's kind of a big deal for me to commit to this. I had narrowed the frame choices down to the Javelin Primitivo, Van Dessel G&T, and the Van Dessel Hole Shot. I opted for the "budget" frame and with the savings I was able to justify upgrading a bit on some of the components. The short-reach shifters (Shimano R600) are a dream come true: braking while in the drops - what a concept!

I love reading everyone's race reports; keep them coming.