Minuteman Road Club

After pre-riding Day 1, I didn't think the course was well suited for me. It did have a lot of climbing, which is good, but virtually no tight turns or other technical features. A course for pure fitness; not good. My goal was simple, get 25th place (points!) or better. I was seeded 24th on crossresults, so a reasonable, but difficult task in the Masters. But with a power course and a stacked field, I realized that I'd have to cling to people's wheels for a good result. I lined up in the 3rd row, didn't have a great start, but mananged to slot into a comfortable pace. I was on Peter Sullivan's wheel less than half a lap in, as we descended toward a tight fast right-hander, then a bit of up to the barriers. I decided to let a bit of gap go and gave Sully about 8-10 feet into the turn. Very smart and fortuitous...for me. Sully had a Yard Sale in the corner and I had just enough room to get around him. (Sully went on to re-Pete on Sunday, and left in an ambulance...according to Smudger. ??) Unfortunately for me, I now had a big gap to the next racer. I chased for a lap or more, then "allowed" Mike Rowell (NEBC) and another guy to join me from behind. We were sitting 22nd-24th, with Cort Cramer dangling just behind us. I raced these 3 guys for the rest of the race, with guys trying to get away at differnet times, but mostly sticking together as a group. I accomplished 2 really good things on Day 1: I drafted off of everyone I could and spent very little time in the wind, AND I ultimately beat all 3 of these guys for 22nd. With half a lap to go, I dropped Cort, passed Mike Rowell and rode up along-side the other guy at the stairs. We ran up side-by-side, but on the remount I gapped him by 10 feet or more (Thanks Adam!!)...then just drilled it. Over the barriers, with approx 1K to go I was drilling it with Rowell giving chase. I came onto the finishing stretch of 150m with Rowell about 2 lengths behind me. I sprinted as hard as I could and held onto 22nd...then collapsed onto the grass...with POINTS!! yes.

Day 2 was a much more interesting course. More turns and features, and more suited to Doug's skills. I upgraded my expectations to a top 20 finish; with Jail Bait (<18) as a stretch goal. Third row and a great start into the teens. Many of the big guns had problems on the first half lap. Someone in the second row, missed his pedals on the start and nearly went down, holding up several others. Another pair of early crashes put 5 or 6 strong riders behind me. Most of them came back through. I came through after a lap or 2, and Smudger yells that I'm in 17th! Boo-yah! I'm on a wheel, but he can't hold a strong pace...so I pass him and chase 2 Bikeman riders up ahead...thinking they can pull me into a low teen finish. All of a sudden, the other guy passes me again. This scene played itself over & over in the next 2 laps. He'd slow; I'd pass. He didn't seem to like that, so he'd come back around almost immediately. With 2+ to go, I attacked him again and finally he couldn't respond. I had at least a 100m gap on him with 2 to go. I'm riding alone in 16th for a lap & half, John is yelling at me, and I'm feeling pretty good about myself. 1/2 lap to go, and I'm pedalling just a hard as I have all day...but slow-fast guy is coming back...with another guy. crap. I could see them coming...but I couldn't go any faster. They pass me with about 1K to go and I'm thinking "18th isn't so bad". Then I realized that there was another Bikeman rider 10m behind me. CRAP! My bike just won't go any faster. We came into the finishing stretch 1, 2, 3, 4...with me as the caboose. I was on the wheel and wound up my sprint...only to watch him gap me. I finished 19th, with a bit of disappointment. more points! but if I had stayed on slow-fast guy's wheel, perhaps a move on the bell lap would have been better. But I was trying to get to the group up front and better finish for 14th or 15th. Coulda, woulda, shoulda...

Great job Doug! Jailbait, funny.....

Day 1 - Got a great start and was 5th wheel going into the "holeshot" (was really just a long uphill stretch), which was good because it helped me avoid a guy yardsale-ing when his wheel lost traction in a rut. I was regretting the effort at the start a bit by halfway up the start hill, and lost several spots by the top. Managed to haul my carcass back to the front group by the high point of the course, but got gapped again by being too tentative on the downhill turns and was in the large second group by the end of lap 1. I really don't remember much from this race - it just hurt. I didn't even know how many laps we did (I thought it was three, but turns out it was 4). Having Doug and Smudger yelling at me through the barriers was a godsend. I got much more confident in my handling after lap one, and with the exception of one Blue Hills guy who crushed me like a rotten grape on one of the uphills, I don't think I got passed by anyone the rest of the race, and I picked off a few guys (it was really hard to tell who was in which race, as the Cat 4 (not 35+) guys were on course at the same time as us. I was pretty happy with my 13th place, particularly given that the amount of climbing on that course did not suit my strengths. Jerry De Zutter spanked us all, beating second place by more than a minute, and me by 4.

Day 2 - The climbs were much longer, but there was also a more substantial power section. I wasn't sure whether this would be a better or worse course for me. I got a lousy start (totally missed my pedal) and was mid pack by the holeshot. Going up the climb, I was pretty redlined - able to hold the wheel in front of me, but not pass. Unfortunately, this put me behind a guy who was HORRIBLE on the turny descent (yes, even by my low standards). When we got to the bottom, I went around him, but managed to drop my chain (under the chain catcher!) while shifting. So now I was DFL. This made me angry, so I started pedaling like a madman. It took me a lap or two, but I managed to claw back into mid-pack. Then, on the second-to-last lap, the same thing that happened at Quad happened again. Derailleur into rear wheel, many broken spokes, and general carnage. And another DNF.

The good news is that I have identified the problem. It is my fault. It is stupid, though no fewer than three solid pro wrenches have looked at it (it has been causing a separate ongoing problem) and did not catch the mistake either. I don't want to talk about it.

Despite the Groundhog Day-like mechanical (at least it happened on day 2), had a great time. Watching Doug claw his way to 22nd on day 1 was thrilling. Wish I could have stuck around for more of day 2.

Great efforts guys!

Peter Sullivan announced on twitter that he broke his collar bone.

swawersik wrote:The good news is that I have identified the problem. It is my fault. It is stupid, though no fewer than three solid pro wrenches have looked at it (it has been causing a separate ongoing problem) and did not catch the mistake either. I don't want to talk about it.

After your counselling sessions...when you're ready to talk...I'm curious what the problem is/was.

Also, when we were standing around inspecting your derailleur/rear-wheel explosion, I noticed that your chaincatcher is nowhere near close enough to your little ring to be effective. It should be closer than the width of the chain...

onegeardoug wrote:
Also, when we were standing around inspecting your derailleur/rear-wheel explosion, I noticed that your chaincatcher is nowhere near close enough to your little ring to be effective. It should be closer than the width of the chain...

That's cause I pushed it way off to get the chain back on faster. The fact that I could do that suggests it might not be on there tight enough. Maybe I'll add another lock washer?

Stefan, unfortunately I captured your lonely DNF walk. Hope it's not too painful to see

http://www.flickr.com/photos/67697313@N05/6164061426/

I have love/hate for this place. It's such a beautiful venue...but those hills...

Saturday: I sucked bad, guess being in Vegas all week didn't help my cause. I'm still adjusting to how much faster the cat 3 race is. Not just on the power sections or climbing, but on the descents. At Quad cross I struggled to maintain contact on the straight back stretch, and again, this was my downfall in VT. I guess those young kids are more comfortable turning at the speeds they like to travel. They say you wanna be a better bike racer, upgrade. They aren't kidding. Ended up something like 8 minutes off the finishing time. That punchy section after the steady climb really killed me. Though I had dead legs, I don't feel my bike handling was as bad as my result seemed. Ha.

Saturday night: Went out in Burlington to properly replace glycogen levels in my muscles.

Sunday: My legs felt horrible and hurt quite a bit from Saturday's effort. I broke a crank 20 minutes before start of race, but luckily there's a lot of bikes around for me to scrape parts from. New crankset installed, and to the start line in a panic while they were doing callups. Nothing like an elevated HR to get you ready to race. I like the Sunday course a lot better. I don't mind the climbing when it's steady like it was. I raced well, and picked better and better lines in the descents each time. I battled hard and made some good moves. I saw PJ on the side of the trail walking his bike with about 2 to go. That sucked. I imagine the course suited him well. Ended up finishing 61st out of 93 starters, and more importantly only 6 minutes off the winner. (This is how I'll be measuring progress my first year in the 3s). I feel pretty good about this result. I rode well, and my fitness is coming around. My favorite thing about the 3s (except for Saturday) is the intensity of the battles. Even back third of the pack where I'm at, there's a lot of back-and-forth fighting for positions and breaking of each other.

Positive: I start fairly well. I must have some running back instincts because for three races in a row, I'm snaked my way up at least three rows during the initial start. If only I keep maintain that position without going backwards!
Cons: Descending. Not sure I'm ever going to be comfortable in the big ring at full throttle, railing blind corners. Also, I no longer suffer from the problem of riding into the backs of people in the turns.

Was good to see Smudger stay in for a whole race on Sunday. No crashed and no mechanicals! Congrats.
Congrats to Doug for getting points TWO days in a row!

Smudger wrote:Stefan, unfortunately I captured your lonely DNF walk. Hope it's not too painful to see

http://www.flickr.com/photos/67697313@N05/6164061426/

Good thing I have friends to capture my humiliations for posterity

Day 1 - Damn Mechanic

Wasn't expecting too much with this being the 1st race of the year and getting back from a business trip in Thailand thursday night but thought I should be able to better the race prediction of 46th with a stretch goal to get a Verge point by finishing in the top 25. Started well from the 6th row and moved up at least 10 to 15 places before the climb and picked off a few more by the steps putting me in the top 30. Settled into the back of a large group of 20 or so chasing the fast front 10 or so that. Like some others commented the aspect of the race that was killing me was the fast descents. I was able to pull back on the climbs but then let the gap grow again. A couple of other guys were falling off the large group and I started riding in a small group of 5 trying to get back. On the 3rd lap Jerry De Zutter who had killed it in the Cat 4 35+ rode up beside. This got me motivated. We swapped back and forward for a bit but more attacking than sharing the work. Coming into the final climb I decide it's time to attack the group and try and get a gap for the descent to the barriers and finish loop. This climb has a well defined/grooved single track trail that is much faster to climb on than the grass on the side. I pull out the grove and stamp on the pedals to attack and my bike stops DEAD. Total confusion, think might have pulled my rear wheel out the dropout so loosen off the skewer and reseat the wheel. Jump on and try again still not moving. take a step back and look at the bike and see that my front tubular has rolled off and wedged in my break caliper. Roll it back on but the race is over. I start up the hill and get passed by Paul Curley who is leading the 55+ and started a minute behind. Thought about jumping on his wheel but with the descent and loose tyre I just spin it in to the finish. Unfortunately Helen and the kids who had spent the day watching and cheering managed to see my frustration at the finish. So who was the mechanic I was frustrated with? Yes I glued them myself.

Surprisingly I came in 42nd so still managed to beat the race predictor. Looking at the result my best result would have been 27th if my attack had worked.

Day 2 - What's the point

Bit more technical and less climbing would not on the surface appear to suit me but I liked it much better. Another good start put me in a similar top 30 position. Race was more strung out than the saturday. I rode a little smarter and followed the wheels of a couple of guys that pulled through strong. Still slower in the descent but kept closer so I could draft onto the flat section. Used this to my advantage on the last 2 laps bridging from the wheel I was on to the couple of guys in front on both occasions, Was very happy with this part of my race. The up hill barriers were brutal and on the last lap my quads were really cramping . Thought I could catch the Canadian Cycling mag journo in front of me and pushed as much as I could to get onto his wheel for the sprint but he kept his gap. Had no idea where I finished but was happy with my race. The text from Doug later in the day telling me I got a point made the weekend.