MS Cape Cod Getaway

[ahamilton]

This race, er ride, was a two-day event covering 150 miles. Call ups were made not by crossresults.com numbers, but by $$$ raised, so I had about 1800 riders to pass to get to the front. Knowing that endurance would be a big factor, I stayed at the back with my "Crank it Up!" teammates for day one, saving energy for the all important sprint finish in Provincetown. On day two I was very patient, again staying with my teammates until after the feed zone at mile 50 of 75. Just after the feed zone, at the agreed upon spot at the bottom of the biggest climb of the day, I put the hammer down. I was able to pass about 100-200 riders on the climb and ensuing false flats. Another 50-75 got dropped on the next set of rollers, and after some fun winding downhills I went into solo break mode on Route 6. Got past another 100 or so along Route 6, and was really having fun along the flats in Truro, as the wind was at my back and I was cruising at about 27 mph with not much effort. Got stuck behind a team paceline of about 15 guys towards the end of the flats, but after the car traffic subsided I passed them at the bottom of the hill leading into the dunes. I saw a double take from the guy at the back as I casually said "on your left" as I went. I guess they didn't have too many people drop them like I was about to. The wind shifted to a nasty headwind as I got to the top of the first climb and that slowed me down a bit, but I was still moving up well. I ended up crossing the line solo, happy to have survived 11 hours in the saddle without any "abrasive" issues.

Thanks to all my MRC teammates who supported me for the ride! More importantly, the MS Society thanks you.

[RFollansbee]

Awesome job Alan. Sounds like you had a good time...and for a good cause.

[ahamilton]

Awesome job Alan. Sounds like you had a good time...and for a good cause.

Rob, my tongue-firmly-in-cheek "race report" was just a ploy so I could plug the good cause. (I'm still accepting pledges for it!) The ride was pretty easy for me, but the people I really admire are the ones who go through a lot of pain just to finish at all. About a mile from the finish I passed a girl running, and thought "she's dressed like a rider, but she can't really be, can she?" I came to find out later that she had a mechanical a few miles from the finish and had run the rest of the way so she could finish without being SAG wagoned. And I saw many others struggling up hills after 25 miles on the first day, most of whom probably finished both days.