Giro d'Otisco Lake

[jraguin]

I decided to drive the trek out to south of Syracuse to race in the Giro d’Otisco Lake. 62 miles, some hard climbs. These races in NY are seriously hilly and this one is definitely one to remember.

In summary, I ended up in a mixed field of P/1/2s, Cat 3s, and Masters 45+. We went off at the same time with no difference in the race numbers, so we had no idea who we was in our category. The race had everything. It was my first time ever racing with P/1/2s. The climbs were very steep. There were some crazy good climbers. We had a scary incident with a truck that almost hit us. I stupidly was in a break with a few P/1/2 guys. I got gapped on a big climb and regrouped with other dropped guys. It rained. I flatted with 5 miles to go and decided to ride it in on the flat in the rain. I almost wiped out twice trying to ride a flat on wet pavement to the finish. Surprisingly, I still finished 2nd of our group of dropped riders. I finished 4th in the Cat 3s but it was a very small field. There were a lot of DNFs in the races. I beat a couple of P/1/2 guys as we picked them off down the stretch, but they didn’t show in the results as I guess they didn’t cross the line at the finish.

Really fun race. Super nice people organizing it and very scenic countryside. I am really glad I went. I hope I can get some company to do it next year.

[PJ McQuade]

Nice John, sounds like it's worth the trek. NY races are really good. Check out Pawling Mnt. RR in July - another beastly NY race. I'm doing Catskills in Aug if you're feeling the itch.

[Len_E]

John, way to gut it out. I've not done this race but ridden the course a few times. My in-laws have a cottage on one of the Finger Lakes and the hills around the lakes are tough. I rode the Owasco Flyer today which goes around another of the Finger Lakes and most of the guys that road d'Otisco rode this. The race director came up to me before the race and said he ran into you last week and was severely impressed that you road the last 5 miles on a flat. He wants to see more of the MRC team up there for these two races.
-Len

[jraguin]

Yes, Len, I forgot to tell you that the director knew you as I chatted with him after the race. I am happy to go out to do some of those races n the Finger Lakes next year. I went to Cornell and I have friends who live along the way as well as Rochester. Since MA/CT seem to be shutting down a number of races, that is the only way I am going to get in the races I want in the spring (except crits).

[Len_E]

Sounds good. There's also a Syracuse stage race in mid-May that I considered this year but because of all my work travel I couldn't get the hall pass. May consider it next year if travel isn't as bad. Some of the top guys from these races are planning to do Hilltowns so we might get another crack at 'em.