Quabbin Road Race?

[reeegan]

Is the Quabbin Road Race a new event this year? I don't recall seeing it in the past. I wonder if this is replacing another event. I recall hearing Mike Norton had lost a venue for one of the road races he put on in the past.

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7455

[tsavage]

That looks awesome. Must be replacing Palmer and/or Sturbridge.

Returns to the "everyone does the same distance" that Palmer used to be.

Question is? 4/5 or 4?

[michaelcole]

When I was in school I rode that loop a million times and it ain't easy.
I think I've always gone in the other direction, but the hills would be about the same I think.
That would be a tough race.

[Bruce]

I think they used to have the district road race champs on that course.
There was a metric Kings Tour of the Quabbin

[RPerson]

Interesting... looking again it appears that Sturbridge/Palmer has been replaced by Monson/Quabbin. I knew there were issues in recent years, but I'm a little surprised Mike changed both locations in the same year (unless he had no choice).

[rmazzola]

In the past, this route has had several incarnations. It used to be a 1 lap road race, a 1 or 2 lap road race for the NE/District Championship, and even a 10 person team time trial (which I think we placed 3rd in). Coley is right - it's a tough course; epic in some ways if it's raining and your bombing down one of the descents or hitting what we used to call the "bottle graveyard". There would literally be a hundred water bottles across the road here.
Some of my memories from this course include:
- Mike Umbrell made it for the full 2 lap 1/2/3 race one year in the 2nd or 3rd chase group.
- Jorge was seen riding with the Women's field for half the race chatting up a storm and then forever became known as "Don Jorge"
- Watching Justin Spinnelli ride away from the Men's 3 race with about 10 miles to go and solo in for an impressive win.
- Howard Smith (MRC blast from the past) had his rear deraileur explode about 15 miles into the TTT - I've never seen so many parts come from that part of the bike.

Ultimately, one of the town's Police Chiefs kicked Norton out for failing to control the race properly. Though I think it had as much to do with riders being all over the road as anything else.

I like this course and would definitely try to race it again this year if it stays on the schedule.

[ahamilton]

This looks like fun, except for the fact that my limit seems to be about 40 miles - after that the engine starts losing power. But I'll probably show up anyway, since my affinity for racing is highly correlated with the love-hate relationship with self-induced pain.

[JoeH]

do we know for a fact that Palmer RR is no more? and Sturbridge too?

[reeegan]

I knew I had read something about this. Give this a read:

http://www.telegram.com/article/2008121 ... 008/NEWS02

[BTurner]

I'm glad they don't get that paper in Sterling.