Don't know what all the talk of bad weather is about. That was a beautiful Scottish summer day!
Seriously, it was pretty mingin out there. I had tights, shorts, base layer, jersey and winter jacket along with toe warmers and my fancy new water proof Mavic over shoes and I was already shivering while we were staged for the start. The down hill start all the way to Rt9 just made it worse. The pace was actually quite brisk from the start. Probably cause everyone wanted to get warm. When we got to the 1st junction our lead moto promptly takes a wrong turn. There is total confusion as 20 or so of us follow the moto. I realize this is wrong and cut through a gas station and chase back to the main group that had taken the correct turn. Unfortunately Bill stuck with the moto who apparently continued for 7 miles along Rt9 before realizing the mistake. Their race was over. I dropped back to the service car and told them what had appened so hee pulled round the group and led us round for the rest of the race.
Quabbin has a strange way of kicking you in the teeth. It's very much rolling compared to Battenkill but the ups just seem to go on for a long way. There was some attrition on most of the ups and our lead group got narrowed down to around 20 by the time we got to Ware. This is where I expected the race to kick into gear and it did. A young Geekhouse guy and another guy attacked on the steep part of this climb and got a gap. Around 12 of us were chasing and close enough to pull them back on the descent down to the park entrance but only myself and another guy would do any work so that fizzled out. I was stupidly on the front getting into the park and again nobody would come through. I sat up on the 1st climb and forced a couple through and then the attack came. I closed it down by the 2nd step and the next attack came. Rich from Stage 5 who we met at Battenkill put in an all out effort and got a good gap with 1 guy chasing him. I didn't think he would be able to sustain the effort to the finish but I was wrong. On the 3rd step I looked back and saw there were only 2 guys with me. 1 guy passed me but I stuck with him and as we approached the porta potties that I knew marked the start of the final climb to the finish. I knew I couldn't catch 4th so I waited and made my sprint pulling clear over the line. I cycled straight to the car and got changed. My new overshoes are extremely waterproof. Unfortunately the water runs down your legs and filled them up like water ballons. Went to check the results and confirmed 5th and came away with $75 so all in all a good day. As I left I saw Jorge with a plastic shopping bag on his head, under his helmet. Looked like he had some adventurous tales to tell us of his race with the 4s.
Quabbin Cat 4
Re: Quabbin Cat 4
Congrats John on a great result on such a torturous day!
Re: Quabbin Cat 4
How is it that this happens every year at Quabbin!?Smudger wrote: our lead moto promptly takes a wrong turn.
Nice job to all on what sounds like a really tough day.
Re: Quabbin Cat 4
Mingin = dirty, gross, disgusting (yes I googled itSeriously, it was pretty mingin out there.
)Thanks Smudger -- It's now in the lexicon along with bag of spanners, tosser, and numpty.
I feel so worldly.
Re: Quabbin Cat 4
The Quabbin Classic is the only road race on Bikereg.com now for New England and I'm already thinking about it. I'll be racing with MRC cat 4s in 2012 and saw some good results from the team -- congrats!