Quabbin RR 2017

[djming]

In what was a downright comfortable, bordering on getting too warm, Quabbin (just doesn't seem right when you're NOT shivering at the bottom of the neutral start), I had what was clearly a first - finishing the race with a porcupine quill in my front tire (more on that later)

Masters 50+, with the same lineup from Monson plus add Fintan for seven of us. Good size field with 75 pre-reg'd. 12 of the top 15 from last week racing plus at least 6 other top guys not there at Monson. We had some general ideas, but basically with this field it was: "we realistically aren't going to control the race, but lets make our presence known in smart spots".

John E patrolling the front for much of the initial miles and into the 202 climb. A few small groups go off here and there but after last week there was a much shorter leash. Over the climb, into the descents and John back to the front with everyone else still safely in the group. Nothing really going, field really bunched up, yellow line getting tested when there's a few yells about something in the road. Two guys in front of me go left and right and there's this dead porcupine right in front of me. No chance to safely steer around so pick what looks like the "flattest" part of the animal, try to do a bit of a hop/ride over it. Apparently not enough of a hop as now it really looks like there's something sticking out of the side of my front tire. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now.

Thru the feed zone and things getting a bit more animated. I have no issue matching any surges and just keep waiting and watching. Still nothing exciting into 32A. Rich does his thing on the right and gets up to the front. Figure I'd try to move up a bit more in case he's trying to create something when there's a touch of wheels off my right shoulder and a guy goes down HARD right on his shoulder and almost into me. Quick shift into the small ring as we're on an uphill, but all momentum lost. Kevin also safely thru it. Pace start to ramp up again so I go towards the front, look up and there's a 5 man group with a decent gap and Rich is in it. This is good!

Into Hardwick, onto the climb and winding descent and I'm patrolling the front of the main group. One New Yorker starts yelling at me to keep going. Dude, got a guy up the road, you want to go, go ahead. To his credit he did go quite hard, but all that accomplished was him getting stuck in no man's land so back he came. Past the winery and KT and I have a quick discussion and off to the front he goes, sitting just behind Tom Francis' (Wheelworks) wheel who is driving the main pack. Nobody else willing to work with Francis so we just continue following him. Onto Rt.9 and it would surge/slow, repeat. Again I have no issue maintaining and KT there as well.

Just before the park however the break is caught, and CCC/Keltic (who had a guy in it) brings 4 more to the front and starts drilling the pace. Obviously looking to set up Cliff Summers. They continue always having someone on the front and I'm following Tobi Schultze's wheel maybe 4th/5th. Pace is high, I'm near my limit HR wise but legs don't feel (that) bad. Now Paul Richard moving up on my right. Get on his wheel and as we approach the lookout there's this very slight letup in the pace as the last Keltic guy (other than Summers) pulls off. Something went off in my mind that there were some solid sprinters here and I should just go for it. But alas I didn't and suddenly we're at 200 to go. I now hold on as a couple go by me for 9th.

Absolutely can't complain with a 2nd top 10 in as many weeks but in some way I regret not listening to that little voice. But hey, at least the porcupine quill (which WAS still in the side of the tire at the finish) didn't cause a flat.

[jraguin]

Great job guys in the 50+. A very tough field and it sounds like you guys fought hard. Rich was in the breakaway for something like 20 miles which is too bad it didn't quite make it.

My brief Cat 3 report (I won't report on others since I wasn't there to see the last stretch): Tame for the first 22 miles, then the fireworks started going off. Young 22-25 year old guys lighting it up who can recover a lot faster than this old man's legs can. Took blow after blow (my power analysis shows a many multi-minute efforts of 400-500 watts) but I could tell I was not recovering enough before the next effort would start. At about the 45 or 46 mile point more attacks came and I made a mistake being of being on the far right and came to pretty much a complete stop as I was squeezed into the back of a dropped rider from another field. Tried to stay re-accelerate but was blown and dropped. Busick came by me yelling to get on his wheel but my mind was no longer in the right state. Rode in with another couple of guys which made it somewhat fun.

John

[cbusick]

Nice Job Dave. I saw that porcupine, and joked about how funny it would be to get a flat from a quill.

I got wrecked by the same repeated hard V02 max efforts John talked about. Comparing the data against last year, similar amount of work, but way more V02 max and higher heart rates. When I finally got popped for good I started working with a couple guys. We caught John and when he didn't latch on it was really tempting to sit up and just cruise in with him, but I told myself I obviously needed more training after the poor showing that got me dropped.

Then I saw a group of about 25 riders ahead trailing a moto and a couple cars. My addled mind said this must be the back 1/2 of the 3 race, and I dug a little harder, dropping the guys I was with to get to the caravan and then finally make it back on. Only something wasn't right. There was a lot more disc wheels, mirrors and grey facial hair than I remember from earlier in the race. Crap this is the 60+! I tried to pass them, but at the same time a break started and everyone else jumped on my wheel, so I sat up and waved them by. After trailing them for a while another Cat 3 straggler caught up and we decided to make another attempt to pass them. We shot up the right side yelling "not in your race" and they let us go. We hunted down and passed their break-a-way saying the same thing and we were clear, but now the lead moto was going with us. Anyone know what the appropriate sign is to get the lead moto to come back and talk to you? I tried several, mostly waving ,and come here type gestures. Finally she dropped back and I told her me and the two guys with me weren't her race. She was thankfull and dropped back.

So we did the normal pick riders up and put them down thing as we worked our way through stragglers of various fields. When we turned into the park the Moto came up again and said the 60+ was coming. I couldn't let them catch me so I picked up the pace, dropping the guys with me and made it to the line with 30 secs to spare.

[JeremyC]

Chris, when do you turn 60? You're going to dominate

[KTeves]

There was a lot more disc wheels, mirrors and grey facial hair than I remember from earlier in the race.

Hey, I resemble that remark.

[cbusick]

Chris, when do you turn 60? You're going to dominate

HA! A couple months before you do Cratty. Those guys move pretty well. I'd be thrilled if I could even hang in the 60+ group when I get there.

[JeremyC]

Chris, when do you turn 60? You're going to dominate

HA! A couple months before you do Cratty. Those guys move pretty well. I'd be thrilled if I could even hang in the 60+ group when I get there.

These are the only bikes I'll be racing when I'm 60...

Scooter.jpg (169.75 KiB) Viewed 12428 times

[cbusick]

Chris, when do you turn 60? You're going to dominate

HA! A couple months before you do Cratty. Those guys move pretty well. I'd be thrilled if I could even hang in the 60+ group when I get there.

These are the only bikes I'll be racing when I'm 60...Scooter.jpg

Ahh, so should your new nick-name be Costanza?

[slisab72]

Speaking of age - one of the 20-something women who I raced with on Saturday told me that I'm her new inspiration. She hopes that she's as young as I am (old) when she's my age. Damn. I guess I'm in that category of people now. I remember thinking the same thing about some of the "older" women who were still playing high level ultimate when I was struggling to keep up. On top of it, Sarah Shipley blurts out later when we were having dinner together: "45?! You're old enough to be my mother!" I told her that I'm nowhere near mature enough to be her mother. Enough said.

My new motto:
Older = Smarter; Smarter = First

[cbusick]

A number of people at various races think Katie and I are Patrick's parents. We just roll with it now.

[jraguin]

Nice Sharon. Awesome stuff. But where is your race report? You owe us a doosy!!!

[jmorrissey]

Katie and I are Patrick's parents. We just roll with it now.

Especially with the results he's been having? Two 2nd places in the past two weeks! Congrats Patrick!

[jmorrissey]

Cat 4 field was the largest of the day with 110 ish at the start.

The early hills were at a good pace but not terrible no problem staying with the group and I was actually moving forward on the hills for once. I wasn't doing any work but staying alert of who's in the field (I don't know anyone really). I notice the nycc racing team had a lot of guys and seemed to be controlling the field so I spoke to the the other MRC guys to keep an eye on them and Robbie and he informed me their leader won monson the week before.

I was mostly staying in the top 20 - 30 just staying with the pack. There were some sketchy bike handlers in the field so as always so I tend to ride on the outside (either outside or inside) to always give myself an out if needed while still drafting. At one point we were actually braking on going up hills go figure

All of a sudden I see Dave D. going backwards while we were going up hill. He said something but I honestly couldn't understand what he was saying so I just stayed with the group.

At about mile 40 ish I was still feeling good and saw Dave was back in the field and let me know he dropped a chain previously I remember thinking crap I should have stopped and helped him back but all was good at this point I think we still had 4 MRC teammates in the group.

Nycc racing team sends a strong guy off the front and I remember crap I should have gone with him but unfortunately I was too far back to react. He gets a few hundred yards on us and his team is slowing down the field. I go to the front and put in a few digs to try and get away but no one was letting me go as the field kept pulling me back. Ok that's not going to work so I start talking to other teams letting them know nycc is intentionally slowing down the field as it was their guy up the road (ok pay attention people I thought). So I recruit others to work to pull him back while doing a little myself.

Mike W. comes to the front and says "the hills are killing me" so he gives it a go to try and pull back the guy which I was on the front I decided to slow it down a bit to see if he can get away but again not much luck people come around and get on his wheel. At about 5 guys getting around me while being on the front I decided it's a bit too big of a group so I jump on there wheels and we're all together still. Mike gave it a hell of an effort and I think may have blown up as I think this was the last I saw of him.

Fast forward to yet another hill around 45-50 mile mark. Pace ups and I'm a bit too far back as the field splits. I try to come around and the split was too big to immediately latch on but I see two others digging to catch back on so I sit on their wheel. We were probably about 400 yards back and they wanted me to pull through but I didn't want to bring them back to the field as we still had guys up there. A few f bombs are traded and finally they realize it was useless. They tried to shake me off but no luck. I figured use them for as long as they can work and if they fade then try to catch on solo. We end up catching back on and I felt ok not great but not bad.

It was at this point I realized there's no change me sticking with them on the final climb so I find out where the rest of the team is. We still have 4 guys (Dave, Robbie, Christopher and myself) in probably a group of 40. I know the nycc team was still strong and toward the front. I chat with our guys and decide I need to try and break things up a bit. I go to the front and try to get something going. Not really to get away more to try and catch some climbers out on the flats and break up the field a bit. I put in a few attacks and then the Christopher counter attacked a few time when was brought back.

I felt my legs twingeing a bit so I knew I wasn't going to be able to do much on the final climb so I pop back and let them know I'm going to bring us into the park at full speed. I go to the front and more digs, more twinges but continued on till we hit the park then pull off to the left.

All in all happy with the day I definitely know I'm not a climber at my weight.

We'll need the others to fill in after this point as I just peddled a decent pace to the finish which I came across Christopher on the way to the finish.

Ok onto plymouth for me and in the 4's we have a good squad so it should be more fun than this race Mike W.

[slisab72]

Chris, I'd definitely roll with that, too! Patrick is one talented guy. Good to be associated with those genes.

Jeremy, yes, I owe you a race report. I wish it were more exciting! It's really not. However, I'll highlight my rookie mistake of the day for fun and to provide a possible teachable moment. (Speaking of, I should probably do one for Monson. I had some fabulous rookie mistakes there as well.) Here goes my off-the-cuff gonna-be-too-long version:

Honestly, our race was very chill. (Maybe this was good since I'm not feeling as strong and zippy as I was at this time last year.) My average power was only 137! And the little Strava circle pie thing was mostly pink - no red. Come to find out that there was a pro in the race (does anyone know her name?) so everyone was sitting in and waiting for her to do something. Basically, it seemed like she and her teammate were leading a lovely bicycle ride on a beautiful April day for a group of ladies, all dressed in colorful lycra outfits! That's how it felt to me, anyhow. Of course, I didn't realize all this until close to the feed zone because did not do my homework. After Saturday and a disastrous performance at Monson, I am realizing that knowing the competition is crucial. (Advice and experience welcome here.)

*Oh, I want to state for the records here that my commentary about the chillness of this race is by no means negative commentary on the talented group of women with whom I have the opportunity to race. Just the opposite. These women are tough and they are strong. Now in my second season of racing, I am finally moving out of feeling overwhelmed and intimidated by these women to feeling humbled and inspired by them (and this community, in general) grateful to learn from and get to know such amazing (albeit masochistic) people. (That said, someone nabbed my cleat covers from outside my car, which really bums me out.)

I digress...

There was a crash around mile ~20/25. It was my friend, Maria from NY, who I was in a break with at Hilltowns and raced with at GMSR. She's a 51 yo spitfire from NYC. The sound of her helmet hitting the pavement was so loud. She is "okay," but is still in the hospital with a fractured pelvis, hip and back, a hematoma on her leg, some cracked ribs and a slight concussion. (Why do I love such a dangerous sport??? Why. I am old. Will I ever mature? Hope not.) Anyhow, I remained calm and focussed - and would like to say that I have come a long way from stopping to help a friend who crashed in the 1st few miles of Battenkill 2 years ago and then having to chase for the entire rest of the race... Seriously! Who does that?!

We went through the feed zone still in a big peloton, rolling along, some ladies chatting. (You will be surprised to know that I am pretty quiet while racing, especially for someone who talks as much as I do.) A few of the descents were sketchy. There were some folks who were a bit squirrelly and everyone was riding pretty tightly. There was another crash at some point, then a break on a hill somewhere around mile ~40+/-. I wasn't positioned (good job, Shar) to go with it so I ended up (ROOKIE MISTAKE OF THE DAY) bridging the entire group back up.

Yup. I did that. It was a long pull, too. In my defense, I DID NOT want to lose that group. And I was so excited that something was finally happening that I went whizzing by the front of the girls off the back and yelled for them to hop on, naively thinking they would work WITH me. They did not work with me at all. Go figure. So, I finally got up to the break, panting, and I heard people saying, "We're all together. We're all here." I realized, "Oops, I did that. That was all me. Shit. Karen told me never to do that. I completely forgot." But at least I got a tiny bit of work in for the day.

So, we lallygagged along, the 2 pro ladies in orange helmets, pulling the entire group of us. At least they got a good workout in. This time, I made sure I was toward the front and I focussed on holding onto the wheel that I wanted and not letting anyone take it from me. (I am always giving up wheels.) I talked with one of the other racers (yes, I did talk, but specifically and purposefully to this one person only) who is an experienced Cat 2. She told me that all the sprinters were sitting in (and who some of those sprinters were). I confessed my rookie mistake to her and she said that if I was strong enough to bridge, I was strong enough to come out and around the outside and TT up without bringing people with me (I need to figure this out specifically - guys, can someone explain? Demo? Practice?)

With about 10 miles to go on Route 9, I started worrying. I am not a sprinter and there was no way that I was going to be able to place even top 10 if the group kept going like this all the way into the finish, even if I can climb a little bit. So, that same woman told me whose wheel to get on (Senta) - and to hold that wheel - bc she is a climber and likely to win. So, Kerrin and I fought each other for that wheel all the way up the hill and we all sprinted for the finish. With 200m to go, I wasn't sure quite when to go and I think I started 2nd guessing myself. Here is my next plea for some coaching: guys, who wants to work on sprinting with me? I need someone to chase. I work harder when I'm trying to save face. I need to know what it feels like with 200m to go - uphill, downhill, flats.

Okay, that's a doozy of a race report for such a slow pace. Whoever makes it through this gets a few extra kudos. And maybe a beer if I win enough races this year. After I buy a new bike and a fast set of wheels... In the meantime, I'll at least give you a couple of fresh green eggs from my chickens.

Oh yeah, with ~20 miles to go, I noticed a clicking sound. I DID NOT PANIC. This is progress. Turns out, I need new bearings in my front hub. Why are bikes such a pain in the butt?

[cbusick]

Wsee the pros you beat Clio Dinan and Jill White from Stans NoTubes?

[slisab72]

I will look them up. Orange helmets and black kits with blue and orange and white, maybe pink? One was tall and one was short. You'd think I'd have more of a clue...

[cbusick]

Larry Alford (545) crashed pretty hard in the 50+ race. I wonder if he's the one who went down next to you Dave. He wanted me to let the MRC guys who were asking about him after the race that he wound up with 3 broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung.

[cbusick]

Ahh, Sharon, they were team EPS then. https://katiebusick.smugmug.com/Quabbin ... /i-jkvPJ7w

[mfwestbe]

And Sharon still leaves out the final part of her report which should say "Oh, and I got on the podium...)

Cat 4- John sums up what I remember fairly well. I apparently came down with something starting Friday, which I'm still trying to kick. Cold? allgergy? Not sure. Anyway, my body hadn't absorbed much I ate on Friday, and then I start warming up and notice my HR is about 20 clicks higher than it ought to be for my effort, though my legs felt fine. So, basically I was primed for a bonk.

On the neutral start, my pro4 tire decided it was done, so I took a neutral wheel and was able to get back on before Rt.9. Once we did get going, most the hills sent me way over threshold, though my legs were fine. Once we got to the feed zone, I knew I had a limited time left to do anything, so tried to get to the front. It really felt like no one wanted to do any work unless it was on a hill, and it made it very hard to maneuver up (more than once I saw a guy close to the front fully sit up and stretch). There were about 3 guys that did get off the front and gain about 30 seconds. As John said, I did make it to the front and erased a good bit of that. Only problem then was that we went directly into one of the steeper hills. I saw Robby come by and out of the saddle crushing it up this thing. I knew that was it for me staying with the peloton and slid back.

Thankfully did find 6-7 guys to work with to keep it quick and fun until Rt. 9 when I went full bonk and enjoyed the rest of a nice April ride.

[Thomas Coleman]

So with 2 laps a head of me in the P1/2 i knew i was going to have a hard race on my hands, concerning that in my head all I could think of that it was going to be in the region of 10k ft of climbing . But with the word that there would be neutral water on course one stress was releaved. As we are coming out of the park in the neutral roll out a guy looks out over the quabbin and goes "we're riding around that?!? Twice?!?" Yep twice...... the first laps was somewhat calm ish.... still firing it up some of the climbs but not all of them, but enough to shed some people. Then as we came back around for lap 2 5 guys on the front turned into the park as all of us yelled at them to go straight. I found humor in the wishful thinking. Lap 2 got real on 202 the "middle " climb the CCB team and all the 120lbs climbers lit it up and destroyed the bunch. They ended up breaking away in a group of about 12 guys. The rest of us formed a small peloton and just focused on finishing. Everyone in the pack was on the brink of being shelled a few attacks went from he group but they all ended up being caught up the road by pure exhaustion. As we came into the park i just set my self up to respond. I ended up getting 3rd in the feild sprint. Which was good enough for 14th overall. And it payed 14 deep so I lucked out. Afterward Chris saved my life with a king sized Snickers bar and i will be eternally greatful lol. That was a hard race..... mentality and physically

[cbusick]

Tom,
Make sure you thank Katie for that snickers next time you see her. It was her idea to buy and freeze a couple for the race.




-Chris

[rraymond]

The Cat 4 race was pretty slow getting going with no one trying anything during the first half other than one Downeast rider going solo for a while. Its pretty frustrating when you have to use your brakes repeatedly on an uphill. With such a big field I found it hard to move up to try to get anything going.

After Mike brought back some riders at mile 40ish with Tim Johnson from NHCC still up the hill I attacked up the stupid steep hill and managed to make it to Tim with a gap. Then the strongest climbers followed up to join us and it looked like this group could stay away. At least until we hit another flat section and the pace slowed allowing the rest of the field to join back on. I still had limited control of my left hand from my crash at Monson and couldn't feel it for the last 30 minutes.

On route 9, John and Chris Gibson come flying to the front and helps spread out the field a little. I got stuck out to the side and couldn't slot in anywhere until we got to the park. At that point, the field starts swarming. Dave and I were both in the lead group of 30-40 riders going into the last uphill section when a KMS kid decides it would be a good idea to try attacking right into me and pushed me off the road slowing my momentum and the lead group slipped away. I managed to pass a few riders to dropped off

Lessons learned: listen to your teammates when they say to bring a third bottle, be more patient towards the end, and check out the finish before the race. Not the race I was hoping for but had fun meeting more teammates and glad that Dave D got in the top 10!

[djming]

Larry Alford (545) crashed pretty hard in the 50+ race. I wonder if he's the one who went down next to you Dave. He wanted me to let the MRC guys who were asking about him after the race that he wound up with 3 broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung.

Thanks Chris. Larry was still astute enough to post up his Strava ride and based on where it ended, I'd say yes he was the one the went down by me. I think someone tried to squeeze by on his right and touched Larry's wheel, but can't say for sure. It looked like he went down right on his left side and never had a chance to brace himself. I'm just glad I was able to slow and squeeze by on his left without adding to his injuries.

[Fintan]

Larry Alford (545) crashed pretty hard in the 50+ race. I wonder if he's the one who went down next to you Dave. He wanted me to let the MRC guys who were asking about him after the race that he wound up with 3 broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung.

Crap, those are bad injuries. I saw him go down way to my right. Someone said that the person in front of mim mis-shifted on the hill.

[jmorrissey]

Lessons learned: listen to your teammates when they say to bring a third bottle,

Robbie,
Also talk to your teammates as I had plenty left to drink and would have been more than happy to give it to you.