Providence Day 2

[PJ McQuade]

I liked the changes to the course today. Shorter laps, but harder and more fun. Once again, I found it difficult to open it up on the straight sections after busting it on the more twisty sections and barriers. Hit the hole shot in third with a Newbury Comics rider just in front of me and the eventual winner rocketing away immediately. Held my position until the pavement where I came off the curb at an angle and ate it for the second day straight. No road rash this time and I hopped back up after surrendering 3 spots. The trend continued until I eventually moved backwards to 12th place, where I stayed. I'm not sure if I came out too hot, but the tank was empty by the last 2 laps. Just need more fitness I guess. Another solid finish by Mike W in 11th - my new Crossresults nemesis! I won't give away the exciting report to be told be Smudger, Chris and the rest of the 35+ cat 4s.... Very respectable showings by MRC this weekend! I should also add that Doug was at the cat 4 race (8:00) BOTH days coaching/cheering us on when his race didn't start till 12:30. True class act and one helluva cross racer.

[ddeitch]

I reg'd late, so I lined up in the nosebleed section. Gun goes off and the guy in front of me goes for the reverse holeshot. OH MY GOD WHAT ARE YOU DOING PEDAL DAMMIT. I watch Abel, Joel, and Carl ride away from me until I see a hole open and drill it up the hill. I ride hard, bumping bars and shoulders to catch Abel. Finally I get close at the "run-through" on the hillside, blocking with my bike, throwing elbows, grabbing wheels, and picking up spots. On the backside, I remounted and charged for the gravel by the water. A guy with no feet on his pedals drifts in front of me.
"Hold your line"
"DUDE MY CHAIN FELL OFF DUDE"
"HOLD YER LINE!"
POW. Broseph puts me right into the hard fence, leaving me with a half-torn number and a full dose of rage. I spend the next 20 minutes attacking everything that moves, working my way back to Abel's wheel. We go back and forth for the rest of the race trying gap each other. Abel gets the upper hand on the climb and cooks me a bit. We're neck and neck until the final trip up the stairs. I think Abel gets the faster remount and is onto the pavement a few seconds ahead of me. Could not close the gap, but I managed to fend off a Threshold rider who was nice enough to call out my shredded number to the officials. 34/96 after starting 96/96 is a good day. Aside from the crash, I only gave up one spot and that was Abel taking back the real estate I stole on the bell lap.

[onegeardoug]

After getting swarmed yesterday off the line, I decided that I was going to be super aggressive off the start with the goal of being in the top 3 to the dirt run-down/run-up. I didn't find my pedal immediately off the whistle, so was in about 10th up the hill. But then everyone was looking for a wheel to hide behind, so I went wide right as we crossed the finish line and sprinted fearlessly all the way to the curb...onto the grass in 3rd (I think). I continued to drill it to the dirt and was 3rd to the run-down/run-up. That was likely the best part of my race.

I was in second at one point on the first lap, riding with Synjen. On lap 2, Synjen was out front, 3 were chasing and I got isolated in 5th. The five of us came together again a bit later in the second lap and the pace eased a bit. I considered attacking, but decided against it. Good thing, cuz not long after that the pace picked up and I was on the ropes. Then the elastic snapped and hit me right on the chin. I saw "5" on the cards...and the group of 4 riding away from me. Neither was a good sign.

The group of 4 was Synjen (19 yrs old), Nate Morse (15 yrs old), Curtis White (15 yrs old) and someone I never got a look at. 6th place gradually reeled me in over 2 laps and went by (Jack MacClarence; 16 yrs old). With 2 to go, Embro guy from yesterday and Kris Dobie get me and go by, so now I'm in 8th. I need to salvage something from this race, so I stick to Dobie like glue and figure I'd use him to get 7th...or maybe even 6th. I found that I could actually ride with him comfortably, and when we passed the pit for the final time, I took my pre-scouted superior line (IMO) onto the gravel by the lake. With better exit speed out of the turn, I drilled it and opened up a gap. I have 3-4 lengths at the dirt ride-up, so I drilled it again. Up the stairs, then a careful off-camber, then I'm into the drops and the big ring for the final straight. No chance to get 6th, and no chance of loosing 7th...but I'm sprinting anyway. 7th. Not bad, but not great. It's funny how your expectations change. I was THRILLED with 3rd a GP Gloucester; and now a week later and I'm slightly disappointed with 7th.

Thanks to those who stuck around to cheer. I heard you (especially Smudger!) and I appreciated the advice....I just couldn't execute cuz I was in the pain cave. I'm sure there was a suitcase of courage in that damb cave somewhere, but it was so dark in there that I couldn't find it.

I'm not sure what's worse: Loosing to a bunch of kids that are younger than my own...or loosing to a bunch of old men in the M35+ that are WAY faster than me. I'll tell you in a few weeks. Ciao.

[onegeardoug]

Everything PJ already said about Doug is absolutely true, and I will leave it at that.

Aw shucks. I just like watching cross races and yelling at you guys...

[michaelcole]

Doug,
I wish I could be there with you when you upgrade to 2 and are forced into the masters races. I hope I can get some fitness back in time to do a couple of them with you.
Planning to give it a go at our race next week. But I've done the P/1/2 at all of our races in the past. Not sure if I should consider continuing that tradition.

Congrats to all who attacked Roger Williams this weekend.

Smudger,
I'm sure I can't keep up with Doug, maybe I'll try to get a downgrade so I can attempt to chase you around next year.

[atomkin]

After being sick as a dog on Saturday, I made a last minute decision to try coming down for a day of registration, after seeing that Sunday's course was going to be a more technical affair(more fun for me). I lined up in the back row, 88th out of 96, but I wasn't alone. I was happy to see some friendly faces with Carl, Joel, and David all lined up in the back with me. After hearing about the 80% rule, I knew that I would have to move up fast, or risk getting pulled. Starting from the back was slow, but as soon as I cleared the starting grid, I was able to punch it past a bunch of folks on the far right side. I was very careful hopping over the curb, after seeing several people flat there on inspection laps. After that it was a bit of blur as I steadily worked my way up. I made a big move at the first chicane runup where everyone dismounted, and basically let Dave be my battering ram as we muscled our way through the slowpokes. I only had one crash, as some big guy hit the roots at the top of the first big drop in, and then managed to fall back on top of me, and throw his bike into me at the same time. I lost several places as I pushed him off of me, and disentangeld my bike, but was able to gain them right back by punching it up the long straightaway behind the barriers. I concentrated on riding as smooth as possible, and staying off the brakes. As some of the other guys already stated, Doug as well as the other members present, were a big help with their encouragement. I tried to keep a little mini Doug Kennedy/ Jens Voigt on my shoulder through the race telling me to "ATTACK, ATTACK!", and "If you aren't moving up, you're moving back." I will also say that having Dave breathing down my neck through the second half of the race, was also a big motivator to keep my speed up. On the bell lap, I was able to close with a group of three who had a gap on me right after we hit the pavement, but I didn't have enough gas left to motor past them, missing out on some spots by half a bike length. In the end I was able to claw my way up to a 28/96 finish, which I was very happy with.

[pace21]

I love cross.

Today was near the top of the "most fun I've had in a bike race" list (except for the last 0.5 seconds -- we'll get there shortly). The RACE was fantastic, with many of the usual suspects from the front end of the 35+ 4 races there today. Namely Smudger, me, Dan Baker from Cape Cod Racing, and Brian Medeiros from Scottee's Westport Bicycles. The race started fair enough, no real issues. Scott Sweeney got a great start and by the third or fourth turn he was in the lead and pulling strong. I was in a smallish group with Brian and a few others, with Smudger just a few spots back. I did no work for the second lap, with Brian leading the race, me in second wheel, Smudger on my wheel, and a few others in the group. Dan had a third row start so he was a bit back still on the second lap, but Smudger felt him coming on, and decided it was time to take action. John pulled around me and Brian on the start straight, luckily I had a sense that he'd do this (since the pace was fairly pedestrian and I new Smudger wouldn't be able to keep the ponies bottled up for too long) so I was able to quickly jump on his wheel, where I stayed for the next lap. We rode great, took good lines, and generally gapped the guys behind through the twisties. It all went bad for Dan, Brian, and I at the end of that lap though, where up the steep climb Dan bobbled and basically took out both Brian and I for 5 seconds or so while we untangled, plus we had to run the rest of the climb and remount. Smudger got through unscathed and now had about 10 seconds on us. The next lap and a half was where the excitement of the race came in. I led our group for a while, but I didn't really want to pull us back to Smudger, so I kept slowing down but they wouldn't pull through. OK, now what.... I tried a new tactic, I pseudo-bobbled in a corner and lo and behold it worked as they both came around. So now I'm behind Brian and Dan, and feeling great about my position (as well as Smudger's of course). At the end of that lap we took the bell, and it was almost comical on the start straight -- Dan was now playing my game from earlier, as he slowed way down and swung right, left, right, etc. but I refused to pull around him, almost like a match sprint. I finally said, "dude that's my teammate up there", and he got the message as he then started to pull again. I stayed on wheel for a while, and then attacked right where I had pre-ordained myself to go from in warmups, pretty much knowing that we were racing for second place as Smudger was still ahead 10+ seconds. Basically right on a little uphill left-hander right after going between the announcer tent and the podium (or is it a Parthenon?). I knew being first going into that whole section would be huge as I could try to hammer through all the little twists, turns, off cambers, etc. and hopefully get a gap. It worked, and now I had about 5 seconds on the chasers and Smudger ahead by 10 seconds or so. I continued to hammer through the last quarter of the course, by the pit and across the road the last time. Dan and Brian drilled it as I started to fade a little, and halfway up the steep climb they were 1 bike length behind me when they bumped each other and had to dismount. I rode it out, and punched it at the top (Heart Rate a gazillion BPM), down the sweeping right, over the steps, good remount, good off camber left leading to the finishing straight.

This is were things got decidedly less fun. It was partially because subconsciously I knew that I had almost perfectly cleaned the last stretch all the way from the steep climb to the finish straight, and I knew that the chasers had to have lost time with the bobble on the hill. This was compounded by the fact that I could see Smudger was sitting up a little, presumably to do the "teammates crossing the line together as 1st and 2nd" thing. I eased ever so slightly, and dammit if Dan Baker wasn't stealthily turning himself inside out to chase back to me, I looked back just before hitting the pavement and he wasn't off the hill yet, but before I sensed him coming it was too late and he got me by a wheel at the line for second . Aargh. Total bonehead move on my part. The sting faded fairly quickly as I realized MRC still had 2 guys on the box, and we raced a great race as a team. Congratulations John on a well earned W.

Who remembers the "Sprint like Oscar" post by Rich Mazzola earlier this year? I sure as heck did. The good news is live and learn -- I won't be making that same mistake anytime in the near future.

After receiving my medal and all that Cat 4 glory , I bid a fond farewell to the podium steps as she and I won't be seeing each other anymore when my upgrade to 3 goes into effect. It was fun while it lasted.....

[Bruce]

Its really fun after a day putzin around doing nothing and then a great night out to come home and read, in living color, all these great race reports. Next best thing to being there. Nice racing guys...epic battles. Good decision to move up...spreads the MRC colors out through more of the day!

[taudep]

Day 2 Race report: I slept in and it felt great. However, reading these reports, I wish I could have mad it. I even gave up another front row start.

Good racing, people. Going to miss having John and Chris in the field.

[Bruce]

Yes but now the pressure's on you to step up:)

[Smudger]

Chris captured the race and the unfortunate torture at the end really well so I will keep it short. I got another good start going 1st or 2nd under the finish. Scott and Chris took the straighter line over the curb and onto the grass and got inside me which I was happy with. I backed off a little going into the tree turn and let a couple of guys through should have been a little more assertive but I was still in touch with the lead which where Scott was killing it and getting getting lots of name checks from Ricahrd. Rode steady through the drop-in/swooping turns then opened it up on my planned attack zone up the rooty section before we drop down to the water where I passed Scott and jumped across to Chris's wheel and 3rd place. Smooth ride sitting on the wheels for the 2nd lap but was conscious of Dan Baker (Chris and my Nemisis) moving up as we pulled onto the finish straight . Brian was fading on the front so I decided to go. This was earlier than planned but I wanted to keep as many wheels between us and Dan as possible. Got in a good groove straight away. Not as fast as Chris through the tech stuff but not too bad and always in control. Heard the guys shout as Dan messed them up on the ride-up as I cleared the hill and that was my signal to go. I pulled away and got a good gap. Continued to ride smooth and kept it clean until I was about to get on the road to head over to the ride-up. Some numpty (token Scottish word) decides he wants to cross the course right in front of me. He gets the full benefit of my Scottish vocabulary as my heart rate goes through the roof. I concentrate hard to make sure I ride the run up and remount well after the stairs where I had some trouble all day. I pull onto the road and debate whether to sprint or not. I look round and see Chris coming through well and with a small gap in 2nd. I'm taking it real easy with a plan to pull Chris up the hill when he gets to me but then see Dan charging hard from behind. I decide to make sure I finish it off and look round immediately as I cross the line to see Dan lunge for the line and beat Chris by a tire width. I feel bad that my sitting up gave Chris a false sense of security.

Can't believe it, after the elation of winning sat in what seemed like an almost perfect race, I am debating which one was better. I really liked the way my in race decisions and tactics worked today and that I rode totally clean on the more technical course.

Hung around and payback Doug for all his support. Gave me a chance to see how fast the 3s are. I'm now prepared to get humbled at NoHo.

[swawersik]

Congrats Chris, Smudger, and Doug on more great results. And to everyone else, too - it sounds like a bunch of people had great races.

Reading the race reports makes the frustration of not racing slightly less painful.