Lots of good results will get posted soon by MRC guys & gals in many fields.
Jeremy and I were in the Masters 40+ field. The result for me was the worst place in cycling: 11th. I so desperately wanted a top 10 and finished just out of it. I think I lost by less than a tire to a guy at the finish. But as Jeremy said, we both raced a really good race. I will add more later but that is the short story.
Lake Sunapee RR 5/16/2015
Lake Sunapee RR 5/16/2015
Last edited by jraguin on Sat May 16, 2015 9:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Lake Sunapee RR 5/16/2015
Wow John that was the shortest race report ever!!
Here's the real report from the 40+. Smallish field, 31 was a number I heard. Great weather, on the coolish side before the start but perfect temps for the race. We're doing 2 laps, 22 miles each then the final hill sprint to the finish at the lodge. Nothing crazy at the start, the old guys can be aggressive but 15 minutes went by before the first attack. The pace on the first couple of hills was fast but manageable. The first real test was at 15 miles on the steepest climb, which was really fast and after a short decent hits a 5% grinder before you can fully recover. John and I we're covering attacks from Brian Campbell (545) and Andrew Boxer (Vermont Castings, very nice stainless steal grills, you should pick one up), and mostly anything with Downeast in it as they had 6 guys. On the 5% grinder I was not feeling great and was happy when John covered a menacing attack from Brian. I slid in the passing group and hung on, once it was caught Paul Miller (545) attacked solo and got away. A half a lap went by, short neutral as someone was getting carted away from another race, but we never had to stop completely. Downweast did a valiant job chasing, and John was in the top 3 looking really comfortable with out working. It took a while but we caught Paul on the 2nd climb of the 2nd lap. I was at the front about a mile from the steep climb and Brian and Ciaran Mangan (CCB) attacked really hard. I jumped in this one and we had a small gap but it came back together right before the last major test. Luckily I recovered well and we started the climb and went "relatively" easy up it, both John and I in the top 5 at the top. At the top John semi-attacked, descended really fast and had a gap and I thought he was going for it. Unfortunately they slowly pulled it back and on the 5% grinder Ron Jacobs (Wheelworks) attacked. Since Brian, Andrew and Downeast didn't follow, neither did I. Eventually that meant Downeast would have to chase since they had the only sizeable team (Brian Campbell complained afterwards but I never saw him or his 2 teammates on the front). We covered a few lame attacks and we we're barreling for the rotary with a small possibility of catching Ron who surprisingly was still out there. I made the turn around the rotary in good position on Brian Campbell's wheel probably 10 back on the inside, but swarming was eminent on the right so I sprinted up the first kicker passing people on the left then jumped in the line maybe 6 back but side-by-side at least 3 across. The pace was fast but not all out on the false flat so more people were coming up, which caused the sprint to open up early. I was probably still 10th at that point, had to make some evasive maneuvers while putting out a pretty massive effort, passed a few guys and crossed the line 5th out of that group, 6th overall with John only a few meters back. We literally missed catching Ron Jacobs by 10 meters. Brian Campbell won the sprint for 2nd but I was still pretty close to him to I was happy with the effort. No regrets, that was pretty much all I could do in a hectic run in. It would have been nice to have a couple of extra teammates, it was a very tactical race but John and I had limited options and I think we played our cards perfectly since I wanted a group sprint finish.
Good times and great MRC results.
Here's the real report from the 40+. Smallish field, 31 was a number I heard. Great weather, on the coolish side before the start but perfect temps for the race. We're doing 2 laps, 22 miles each then the final hill sprint to the finish at the lodge. Nothing crazy at the start, the old guys can be aggressive but 15 minutes went by before the first attack. The pace on the first couple of hills was fast but manageable. The first real test was at 15 miles on the steepest climb, which was really fast and after a short decent hits a 5% grinder before you can fully recover. John and I we're covering attacks from Brian Campbell (545) and Andrew Boxer (Vermont Castings, very nice stainless steal grills, you should pick one up), and mostly anything with Downeast in it as they had 6 guys. On the 5% grinder I was not feeling great and was happy when John covered a menacing attack from Brian. I slid in the passing group and hung on, once it was caught Paul Miller (545) attacked solo and got away. A half a lap went by, short neutral as someone was getting carted away from another race, but we never had to stop completely. Downweast did a valiant job chasing, and John was in the top 3 looking really comfortable with out working. It took a while but we caught Paul on the 2nd climb of the 2nd lap. I was at the front about a mile from the steep climb and Brian and Ciaran Mangan (CCB) attacked really hard. I jumped in this one and we had a small gap but it came back together right before the last major test. Luckily I recovered well and we started the climb and went "relatively" easy up it, both John and I in the top 5 at the top. At the top John semi-attacked, descended really fast and had a gap and I thought he was going for it. Unfortunately they slowly pulled it back and on the 5% grinder Ron Jacobs (Wheelworks) attacked. Since Brian, Andrew and Downeast didn't follow, neither did I. Eventually that meant Downeast would have to chase since they had the only sizeable team (Brian Campbell complained afterwards but I never saw him or his 2 teammates on the front). We covered a few lame attacks and we we're barreling for the rotary with a small possibility of catching Ron who surprisingly was still out there. I made the turn around the rotary in good position on Brian Campbell's wheel probably 10 back on the inside, but swarming was eminent on the right so I sprinted up the first kicker passing people on the left then jumped in the line maybe 6 back but side-by-side at least 3 across. The pace was fast but not all out on the false flat so more people were coming up, which caused the sprint to open up early. I was probably still 10th at that point, had to make some evasive maneuvers while putting out a pretty massive effort, passed a few guys and crossed the line 5th out of that group, 6th overall with John only a few meters back. We literally missed catching Ron Jacobs by 10 meters. Brian Campbell won the sprint for 2nd but I was still pretty close to him to I was happy with the effort. No regrets, that was pretty much all I could do in a hectic run in. It would have been nice to have a couple of extra teammates, it was a very tactical race but John and I had limited options and I think we played our cards perfectly since I wanted a group sprint finish.
Good times and great MRC results.
Re: Lake Sunapee RR 5/16/2015
That's awesome guys. I can't believe Ronnie stayed away solo. Good on him.
Sounds like a great day, starting with avoiding rain!
Also I don't know how Ciaran fared, but he gets a tough guy award because 12 hours before your race he was in a successful breakaway at the Kermis in East Hartford. He must have some tired legs right now.
Sounds like a great day, starting with avoiding rain!
Also I don't know how Ciaran fared, but he gets a tough guy award because 12 hours before your race he was in a successful breakaway at the Kermis in East Hartford. He must have some tired legs right now.
Re: Lake Sunapee RR 5/16/2015
The Cat 4 race rolled down the hill. The pace car went left through the rotary, but the guys leading us out went right. Lots of yelling ensued. I followed the wrong group and had to get past the median before doubling back. People were yelling "don't worry, we're still neutral" but I could see the pace car and 1/2 the pack rolling away at what looked like race pace. Kevin started the chase with some Jrs and I in tow. Then he stopped peddling and started playing with his shoe covers in a brilliant move to get the JRs off his wheel and make them do some work. One more reason to wear shoe covers.
We caught a larger chase group and then finally things came back together a little later. Now instead of being near the front, I was at that back after an unnecessary 4 minute interval at 4 w/kg.
One interesting part of working my way back to the front was when everyone was so focused on getting an opening to move up on the outside that a lane opened right up the middle. I was skeptical for a moment but gave it a try and just rode right up the middle of the back from about 30 back to 10th. A couple more moves and I was in the sweet spot. I got engaged in a passive aggressive war with a GLV guy for a wheel a little later when things were strung out. It really didn't matter, and I could have let him have the wheel, but I thought it would be good practice to not let him bump me off.
There was a bikeman guy (Josh Gieb) who was strong and kept trying to force breaks. His rear quick release was sticking straight out like it was 1/2 open. A JR in an xmen kit that reminded me of feety pajamas tried warning him, but Josh didn't seem concerned. Anyway there were several break attempts including the hills John had warned us about, but nothing stuck in the first lap. In retrospect I should have paid more attention to the people who were riding like me staying a couple back, still around when the pace went up, but not forcing breaks, than marking the guys making the attacks, because in the end they were the ones that were there for the sprint.
Second lap Kevin went away with one of the JRs on John's double hill. Nobody reacted for a moment. I was thinking, well, here's Kevin's chance. Then bikeman took off after them. I jumped on his wheel and followed him across thinking that this would be a great 4 man, well, 3 men and and a boy, breakaway. Bikeman passed Kevin and moved in front of him. I pulled through then looked over my shoulder to see what we had for a gap only to find that we were all together again. I moved over to the yellow line sat up, coasted and took a big obvious pull from my bottle so that others would come around instead of forcing me to stay on the front. (I didn't have shoe covers to play with)
Bikeman surged again later and I was quickly on his wheel. Nothing came of it though and things came back together.
There was a little surge on the last rise before the rotary that I overreacted to and found myself on the front again. We went into the rotary 3 across with me on the inside then a couple guys attacked on the first ride and I went with them in 3rd place. Then the guy in 1st blew up and went backwards. 2 other guys came past me to replace him, then one of them swore and sat up, cramps I guess, and now I'm back in 3rd. I saw a dark kit with a red stripe comming by on my left and thought it was Kevin coming up to help me out, but it was just some guy in a sufferfest kit.
We hit the final up and I started pulling in the guy in 2nd. I got up to about his hip when 2 others went right at the line and my thoughts of maybe 2nd place turned into 5th.
I've replayed the finish in my head several times. Maybe if I'd gotten on the right wheel at the right time, I don't know. The guy in 1st had a little gap, but the next 4 of us were all in contact and overlapping as we hit the line. I did get my 15-20s and 1-1:40 power PRs for the last 3 years in the finish, so I don't think I left much on the table.
We caught a larger chase group and then finally things came back together a little later. Now instead of being near the front, I was at that back after an unnecessary 4 minute interval at 4 w/kg.
One interesting part of working my way back to the front was when everyone was so focused on getting an opening to move up on the outside that a lane opened right up the middle. I was skeptical for a moment but gave it a try and just rode right up the middle of the back from about 30 back to 10th. A couple more moves and I was in the sweet spot. I got engaged in a passive aggressive war with a GLV guy for a wheel a little later when things were strung out. It really didn't matter, and I could have let him have the wheel, but I thought it would be good practice to not let him bump me off.
There was a bikeman guy (Josh Gieb) who was strong and kept trying to force breaks. His rear quick release was sticking straight out like it was 1/2 open. A JR in an xmen kit that reminded me of feety pajamas tried warning him, but Josh didn't seem concerned. Anyway there were several break attempts including the hills John had warned us about, but nothing stuck in the first lap. In retrospect I should have paid more attention to the people who were riding like me staying a couple back, still around when the pace went up, but not forcing breaks, than marking the guys making the attacks, because in the end they were the ones that were there for the sprint.
Second lap Kevin went away with one of the JRs on John's double hill. Nobody reacted for a moment. I was thinking, well, here's Kevin's chance. Then bikeman took off after them. I jumped on his wheel and followed him across thinking that this would be a great 4 man, well, 3 men and and a boy, breakaway. Bikeman passed Kevin and moved in front of him. I pulled through then looked over my shoulder to see what we had for a gap only to find that we were all together again. I moved over to the yellow line sat up, coasted and took a big obvious pull from my bottle so that others would come around instead of forcing me to stay on the front. (I didn't have shoe covers to play with)
Bikeman surged again later and I was quickly on his wheel. Nothing came of it though and things came back together.
There was a little surge on the last rise before the rotary that I overreacted to and found myself on the front again. We went into the rotary 3 across with me on the inside then a couple guys attacked on the first ride and I went with them in 3rd place. Then the guy in 1st blew up and went backwards. 2 other guys came past me to replace him, then one of them swore and sat up, cramps I guess, and now I'm back in 3rd. I saw a dark kit with a red stripe comming by on my left and thought it was Kevin coming up to help me out, but it was just some guy in a sufferfest kit.
We hit the final up and I started pulling in the guy in 2nd. I got up to about his hip when 2 others went right at the line and my thoughts of maybe 2nd place turned into 5th.
I've replayed the finish in my head several times. Maybe if I'd gotten on the right wheel at the right time, I don't know. The guy in 1st had a little gap, but the next 4 of us were all in contact and overlapping as we hit the line. I did get my 15-20s and 1-1:40 power PRs for the last 3 years in the finish, so I don't think I left much on the table.
-Chris Busick
Re: Lake Sunapee RR 5/16/2015
Which clearly cost you the win...cbusick wrote: (I didn't have shoe covers to play with)
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PJ McQuade
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Re: Lake Sunapee RR 5/16/2015
Great racing guys. So many top tens for the club this year so far.
To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first.
-Shakespeare
-Shakespeare
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Bradford
- Domestique
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Re: Lake Sunapee RR 5/16/2015
Nice work boys - sounds like some great racing and well executed team work across all categories. Congrats!
Re: Lake Sunapee RR 5/16/2015
One point to make for all reading as I could not stop thinking about it on my solo 3+ hr ride this AM..
Captain Cratty has said this for a while: in order to podium in a bike race, you have to be prepared to completely lose the race. Case in point in the Masters 40+ field. Ron Jacobs went off the front with 6 miles to go. If Ron had been caught, he probably would have come in last of the lead pack. I know Ron and he is a great guy. But he was not the strongest guy in the field by a long shot and knowing his riding, he certainly is not going to win a sprint or hard uphill finish like this race. So he went when no one expected it (from him) and no one went with him. Then no one wanted be the one to damage their finish to chase. Even with a team of 5 guys from Downeat in the race where a couple of them worked to chase, there were still not enough people willing to work to chase (including Jeremy and I). I am kicking myself today for not going with Ron when he went, but as Jeremy said, if I went that might have been enough to trigger more from the pack to chase. Note that Ron has done this in the past: at Sunapee last year, he did a solo break to get 11th (solo from the 2nd pack) and a few years ago got into a two man breakaway in the Masters field at Blue Hills and got 2nd.
Sometimes I think you have to put yourself out there to be a better bike racer. Ron is one guy willing to do that. Chapeau to him. I wish I had the guts to do that and I pledge I am going to try.
Captain Cratty has said this for a while: in order to podium in a bike race, you have to be prepared to completely lose the race. Case in point in the Masters 40+ field. Ron Jacobs went off the front with 6 miles to go. If Ron had been caught, he probably would have come in last of the lead pack. I know Ron and he is a great guy. But he was not the strongest guy in the field by a long shot and knowing his riding, he certainly is not going to win a sprint or hard uphill finish like this race. So he went when no one expected it (from him) and no one went with him. Then no one wanted be the one to damage their finish to chase. Even with a team of 5 guys from Downeat in the race where a couple of them worked to chase, there were still not enough people willing to work to chase (including Jeremy and I). I am kicking myself today for not going with Ron when he went, but as Jeremy said, if I went that might have been enough to trigger more from the pack to chase. Note that Ron has done this in the past: at Sunapee last year, he did a solo break to get 11th (solo from the 2nd pack) and a few years ago got into a two man breakaway in the Masters field at Blue Hills and got 2nd.
Sometimes I think you have to put yourself out there to be a better bike racer. Ron is one guy willing to do that. Chapeau to him. I wish I had the guts to do that and I pledge I am going to try.
Re: Lake Sunapee RR 5/16/2015
Damn good results guys. Nice top 10 Cratty. Couple of good races ahead of us so you guys should be in prime position with a little more support from your elderly teammates.