Minuteman Road Club

Day 1 was a wonderfully technical course with lots of turns, off-cambers, dismounts, a fly-over and mud. Overnight and morning rains provide for sloppy, but rideable conditions. Basically, it was a great course for Doug.

Lots of big guns in a big M35+ 1-3 field, but I have a 3rd row start cuz I have a handful of verge points. Great start, sitting in about 20th on the first 1/4 lap, on Frankie McCormack's wheel along the sea wall before the run up. Frankie blots out the sun...and my view of the trail. Bang! My front wheel bottoms out on a rock. Up the run up, back on the bike, zero PSI. Punctured the tubular.

I've got my SS in the pit and thinking that my day is about to become even more painful. As I looped past the pit, it saw the Shimamo guy and yelled "do you have a neutral front wheel?" Yep. 20 seconds later I roll in, he says "just hold the bike." And I'm quickly out the other side. Very pro.

I lost at least 30 or 40 places by this time though. I'm passing guys 5 or 6 per lap. Hard to draft when you're trying to work through the field. With 2 to go, I get back to Gary David just as we hit the finish stretch. Good wheel to suck! But he sits up and waves me around. Damn. back out into the wind.

I finished better than I thought I would, in 32nd. Frankie was 23rd, about where I could have been. It was surprisingly fun to work through the field though. Much more fun than fading and going backwards late in the race, which I've been doing lately.

Day 1

It was raining on and off and slicker than snot when the 4-35+'s raced. Due to an error with Crossresults, I ended up being staged near the back of the race, so I knew I had to make up a lot of ground just to get back to even. Several seconds after the whistle blew, we started moving and I found a few holes through the melee to move up. Gave back a few spots on the paved u-turn at the top, but consistently picked up spots once things spread out again. At almost every chokepoint, I just got off my bike and ran, and made up many, many place by doing this. By the end of lap 1, I was pretty sure I was well into mid pack. From there, I raced mostly well, but made some key handling errors that cost me places. The primary of these was an off camber turn that sent me over my handlebars two of the three times I rode it (the first time I ran it because of traffic). I made a point of watching how the fast masters and pros rode that turn later in the day.

On the final lap, I was tacked onto the wheel of a guy I'd been closing in on for a while. I stuck with him through the swoopy turns and into the sandpit, and was setting up to draft him as long as possible in the final sprint when a third guy I thought we'd dropped came around me. He gapped me with his attack, but I was pulling him in, and managed to do so by the time we crossed the yellow line (crosswalk) I thought was the finish. Too bad the real finish line was 10 ft. earlier... Finished 48/109, four spots above where the Race Predictor had me, so I managed to mitigate my near back row start.

Good: Patient and smart on the first lap, gained some turning confidence, felt strong
Needs work: that damn corner (and several others), cocked up the sprint.

Day 2

The staging problem was addressed, and I staged mid-pack. I might as well have started in the last row, though, as the guy in front of me was slower than death getting going and never even stood up to sprint up the hill, and the guy on my right was not much faster. On my left was the fence, so I basically just watched the field ride away until I forced through a small gap. I was probably 10th from last going into the grass, but managed to work up through a few spots in the turns until an NEBC guy took me down. I got up, remounted, and looked over my shoulder to see the last guy in the pack (aside from a few unfortunates who'd dropped chains) coming up. OK, I did this yesterday, I know what to do...

Unfortunately, the run-up came really early in the lap, and it was literally a slow walk up it. So by the time I got to the top, everything was well strung out - no picking up places though cagey dismounts today! The good news was that Day 2's course had lost of wide open straightaways, great for passing, and I put myself deep in the pain cave in all of them to make up spots. It wasn't too long before I was seeing numbers more to my liking. It helped immensely to have Chris and Doug yelling at me to close gaps and goading me to ride the beach section. This became crucial in the last lap, when I had a gap of 10-15m to the Canton Velo guy I'd been chasing all day. I caught him on the beach and beat him to the stairs off it, then let him come around me on the downhill power section right afterwards to draft him and recover. He drilled it through the false flats right afterwards, but I stayed with him, and stuck close on his wheel through the sweeping turns down the hill and around the volleyball pit. I got gapped by a bike length or two through the marshy, flat section by the pits as I was dropping my chain from big ring to small for the coming ride up. I almost threw up closing the gap and was on his wheel going into the the off camber turn that had given me fits all day yesterday - and cleaned it! (Take that suckah!) He gapped me again, and I came through the last rutted muddy off camber by the backstop with a bike length between me and Canton Velo, but I made it up and passed him on the high speed barrier (thanks Adam Myerson!). Clean friggin' remount and into the final hill, sprinted as hard as I could (with help from Todd and Anna Savage screaming at me), dropping Canton in the process. I briefly thought I might catch the next two guys in front of us, but ran out of real estate.

Yeah it was for a mediocre result (53/103), but that was the best 8 minutes I've ever had on a cross bike: driving well, fit enough to have passed a ton of people on the last lap, and cogent enough at the end to make good racing decisions. In all, I don't have fancy results to show for it, but I feel like I made a big leap as a cross racer this weekend.

onegeardoug wrote:Day 1 was a wonderfully technical course with lots of turns, off-cambers, dismounts, a fly-over and mud. Overnight and morning rains provide for sloppy, but rideable conditions. Basically, it was a great course for Doug.

Which by extension means great course for Chris. Unfortunately I only raced today. Boo for me since today was all about Watts and run ups. Staged second to last row in the 35+ 123 out 100ish guys. I actually moved back a row so I could start all the way right. The whistle went off but at the back of the pack we kind of just sat there for 5 seconds or so. Very helpless feeling. Up the start hill I found space on the right and then the center. I didn't stop pedaling until I was on the grass, and I passed a lot of guys who eased up anticipating the first turn. I guess I passed 30 or so guys judging by the guys I caught up to and knowing their start order. The first 2 laps went well, the next 2 saw me give up a few spots, but the last lap I caught a second wind and passed a handful back. Those run ups were the death of me.

Bring on Weasels and Providence, the turn-ier the better!

Day 2: The course is mostly dry, has long straights, gentle sweeping turns, the traditional Gloucester run-up (AGAIN!!), a 150 foot beach/sand section with 33 diabolical stairs followed by another 30 feet of unrideable steepness, a 5 stair dismount at the beer tent...a whole bunch of "OUCH". Not suited for me at all. And it's windy. Speed and power will do well today. Last time I checked, I didn't have any of that. I know I have to hide behind riders and suck wheel, or my result will suck.

Again, 3rd row start. Again, I line up behind William Shattuck who's behind Curtis Boivin. The first smart thing I did today. Whistle, sprint, up the hill...and I'm 15th or 16th onto the grass. Yeah! I'm feeling good, riding strong and railing the turns. Again, I'm sitting on Frankie McCormack's wheel, on the back of a group of 4 or so, on the rivet, but hanging in.

The crowds and noise in the beer tent were amazing! I went way faster up the stairs than I would have otherwise.

Occassionally, someone would come up from behind and join the group. They thought it important to be in front of me, and I had no problem with that, so I'd let them in. On lap 3 or so, our group was 7 or 8 strong, I was the caboose and happy to still be with them...cuz I was on the rivet. We crossed the line with 2 to go and the group exploded...for me at least for. Kurt Perham (Bikeman) came around, and I sat on his wheel for a while. Matt Mitchell (545) came around; I sat in...then fell off. Some unaffiliated rider with black shorts and some random jersey (yes...I'm now a skinsuit snob!) came around; I sat in...then fell off. I nearly got caught at the finish line, sprinted with everything I had left...which wasn't much, but managed 23rd by half a wheel over a surging Expo Wheelman rider.

My plan worked to perfection, and I gave a clinic (to myself anyway) about how to race smart. I was almost never in the wind and I was sitting in with guys who are way stronger than me. I was letting small gaps go at the end of the long straights...because I had no choice...but I was railing the turns and closing the gaps before the next straight. Russ was yelling at me to pass and move up...but that just wasn't an option. For the spectators, it must have looked like I had a great start and went backwards for the whole race...which probably looked lame. For me, it was a BIG victory.

Day 2 was a good time despite the early drizzle. Showed up and did one practice lap before the Cat 4 race. Got my number and did some aimless riding then cheered Ray and Russ in on the Cat 4 finish. The 9 am Cat 4 35+ folks were my people for the day and I started ok and got out pretty well (only a few seemed to squeeze by me right away), The wide race lane at the first grass section along with the relatively mellow turns made it easier to sprint out and settle in compared to the super tight sloping 180s at Sucker Brook. But the mud climb after the gravel straight away and the stairs after the beach rip had big backups in the first lap, if you were not in the front you were never going to see the leaders again. Some backup was still there in the second lap; but it was wide open at the third and last lap. I raced near Stefan for a bunch of the first lap and witnessed his travails but he then proceeded to disappear over the horizon never to be seen again.

For the first time I actually looked at the lap time on my computer to estimate how many laps the race would be. After figuring it would be 4 laps in 40 minutes (during my second lap) I heard the announcer say we were on the final lap. Fortunately I was paying some attention otherwise I could have missed that we were only going 3. My time at 68/100 was 38+ minutes so I don't know why we did not go more? Did the racekeeper screw up or were they just trying to save time and stay on schedule? In such a short race knowing if you are going 3 vs. 4 laps is huge. Personally I did not mind finishing early since I went hard at the end and passed some folks on the final lap but I felt like another lap would have let the race settle out a little more and may have seen some interesting changes in another lap of racing.

Later in the day the beer tent area at the wooden steps was a fun place to hang and yell at fellow MRC racers (and Gary and Todd in their foreign outfits). All in all it was most excellent - the venue was very sweet, I enjoyed the longer course, and it was my first bigger scale event with lots of vendors dealers etc. I spoke with a Zipp rep just for kicks and he showed me a wheelset that he said was the best and it was only $2,300. When I inquired about a more basic tubular option (cheaper) for beginner/intermediate level riders he told me there wasn't one. The entry level was the $2,300 set - ouch! Look forward to racing with and seeing many of you at Night Weasels. Going back to where it all began.

For the first time I actually looked at the lap time on my computer to estimate how many laps the race would be. After figuring it would be 4 laps in 40 minutes (during my second lap) I heard the announcer say we were on the final lap. Fortunately I was paying some attention otherwise I could have missed that we were only going 3. My time at 68/100 was 38+ minutes so I don't know why we did not go more? Did the racekeeper screw up or were they just trying to save time and stay on schedule? In such a short race knowing if you are going 3 vs. 4 laps is huge. Personally I did not mind finishing early since I went hard at the end and passed some folks on the final lap but I felt like another lap would have let the race settle out a little more and may have seen some interesting changes in another lap of racing.

It seemed short to me, too, which was confirmed by the leader's finishing time of 32 min and change. I'm not sure how they calculate these things, but it seems to happen often that the lower categories are shortened. I guess between the early start time, shortened race time, and the courses that are often not fully set up while we're pre-riding, they're trying to give us an incentive to move up to the next category.

I wish I'd had another lap today, as I seemed to be pulling back a bunch of riders on the last lap. I was, however, not thinking this for the first few minutes after finishing...

For both days, I was lined up 4th row, largely (I think) on the erroneous QuadCross result (showing me 11th and not 26th, which I was) so I knew I'd be once again trying to be a major pain in the ass to everyone bent on relegating me to my deserved place mid-pack. Course descriptions by previous posters about nailed the differences between the two days layout-wise.

My plan for both days was to race my race and keep an even pace.

Day 1 - Felt pretty good having only a handful of training sessions under my belt since I got over the pinched nerve in my hip. Two inspection laps and legs were ready to go.

Whistle blows, I clip in nicely and start pounding away with everyone else... for about 4 pedal strokes, when my right foot comes out of the pedal and the pedal SLAMS into, then SCRAPES my right shin HARD. I let out a choice selection of curses, lose a bunch of spots (inevitable of course, but earlier than expected) then clip in and have at it again. Early on, we had we grass which was very navigable but just one lap of 100 racers later, the wet mud became an ever increasing part of the race course.

I rode the first two laps nice and clean, despite people falling in front of me at various points along the course. Then, right after I navigated the dreaded mud field behind the backstop, I took that right that pointed you towards the barriers and went down flat on my chest, just missing the side of the backstop. Ground was nice and soft, so I popped back up again and continued.

The balance of the race consisted of managing the backslide by getting in people's way and working the bike skills. I pat myself on the back for little things like finding the remaining bits of grass to navigate turns better rather than the direct line through the mud.

I was very grateful when that bell was rung for the last lap. (I think we did 5)

Jeremy Katz (QuadCycles) and I met during a walk-through a week or so before QuadCross and he was a few rows behind me yesterday, we traded wishes of good luck and some friendly jabs before the race and by the end, he made it up to the next place behind me. I finished 56 of 101.

After the race, as some of you know, I headed home to clean myself and my bike, pack up the car and head to Newport, RI for an assignment Saturday night that lasted until 11pm. Client put me up in a hotel room and and blasted out of there at 4:30 this morning. A bit more than 4 hours of sleep. I hoped the lack of traffic on the way up would make it possible to drive in 'nap mode' to get a coupla extra hours of rest.

Day 2 - Tired and a little sore (right shin), I got my inspection laps in and knew today would not be one to expect any great successes (small as they might be). Once again, I was 4th row and Jeremy Katz was a couple behind me.

I focused on my start and stayed clipped in this time which was great but taking advantage of my caution, Jeremy wasted no time getting ahead of me before the top of the hill. I stayed with him as we entered new swooping turns at the beginning of the course - these were great, suited for my abilities. New goal, stay on his wheel.

This I was able to do partly from sheer determination and partly due to all the people crashing in front of us, slowing Jeremy down. Sadly, each time we got around them, Jeremy pulled a little further away. Somewhere near the turns before the dirt road straight, a guy dumped it right at Jeremy's feet, with no time to react he had to pretty much ride right over him - kudos to Jeremy for holding it together! Meanwhile, I passed him for the last time, throwing out a taunt and trying to get enough of a lead to make it harder for him to get by me again.

It only took until that first right hander at the end of the dirt road straight for him to go by me for the last time: the slight uphill there exposed my lack of power yesterday. In fact, any of the uphill grades on the course made me feel like my feet were connected to my hips by two long bags of pudding. Lucky for me, I installed a 39T chainring (I run just one up front) so I was able to keep moving without cramping up.

The last left before the descent to the seawall (and then the run up) nearly sent me down: I was pedaling through the turn and hit my left pedal on an exposed rock, jumping my rear wheel in the air and sending it rightward. Somehow, I stayed upright and kept going.

The rest of this race found me dodging people who passed me then crashed in front of me. In particular this one guy had to pass me like 4 or 5 times, each time he did, it was only a little while before he went down again, I'd go around and wait for him to pass me again. At least one time he fell behind me too.

At some point on lap 3 (of the 4 that we did), a guy in a Wheelworks kit goes blasting by me like a bat out of hell and disappeared out in front of me - where do these guys come from? Must have been a strong day-of reg who got clogged up in the Cat 4 cannon fodder, right?

Last lap, I was wiped out and just a zombie on a bike. The last time through the pre-backstop turns had my quads just beginning to cramp up. Still, I managed an out-of-saddle effort (I wouldn't exactly call it a sprint) up to the finish. 58th of 90 starters.

-- Many thanks to everyone who egged me on. I remember hearing Tom Gumbart, Todd Savage, Doug K calling out to me. I'm sure there were others. One time up the run up on Saturday, there was a woman on the side who seemed to know everyone in my group, cheering them on by name. As I went by, she was silent, so I told her, "Say, 'GO RUSS!'" and she obliged. Fun moment. Sunday, she was there again and remembered me. Later, I spotted her in the woman's race and got a photo of her, right as the kids next to me yelled, "Go Mommy!" - it was the same woman. I got her email from her husband and sent the photo right off.

My photos are here (all shot on the iPhone, I'm hoping to win the Gran Prix of Gloucester Instagram Contest.

Gloucester, Day 1:

The good: Rode the greasy off-camber like a boss.
The bad: Brain writing checks the legs couldn't cash.
The ugly: Overdraft fees.

BONUS: My finish line fan sign photobomb success.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/10/ ... day-one-35

It's always fun to read these. The thrill of small victories and the agony of de feet, and all that. But the most fun part was reading the new addition to the cycling lexicon, thanks to Russ "puddin' legs" Campbell.

But I do have one question: "Is it worse to have puddin' legs, or legs that feel like a bag full of spanners?"

No wonder she was cheering "Go MRC!", it was new-to-cyclocross racing and MRC member, Patty Carrel:

ahamilton wrote:Russ "puddin' legs" Campbell.

I hope to earn a better nickname than that!

Day 1: I was pumped up when I saw the course layout. Like Doug, I prefer the twisty, technical courses. Also for me, the more dismounts the better, since I like to run aggressively. I started 102 out 150 in the huge Cat 3 field. I was able to get a decent start, moving past a lot of folks up the pavement. I got stuck at the runup, which was a real mess by the time our field got to it, but was able to shoulder my way through the crowd at the top. I was very comfortable with the flyover, taking the stairs two at time, passing people who were 10 yards ahead of me each time through. I eventually made contact with my cross-clash foe Mark Bernard of HUP, and we fought back and forth for the rest of the race, along with young Ian Keough. With 2 to go, I took a beer feed without really thinking. I wasn't able to get much of it in my mouth, so I dumped the rest on my head, to the delight of the crowd. Of course that was a bad move for many reasons, two of which being that I couldn't see, and my helmet smelled like beer. In the final lap I was about 15 yards behind Mark and Ian when we hit the pavement, due to swinging a little too wide through the sand. I caught them both napping, with a good sprint, and by the time they saw me it was too late. I suspect that this is the only time I will ever be able to say I out sprinted a Keough, so what if he is 14. I finished 87th, which beat the cross predictor.

Day 2: I wasn't feeling very well, and spent most of my morning volunteering on the course. I missed out on my chance to preride the course by a few minutes, but could tell by looking around that I wasn't going to enjoy it much. I got in an okay warm up, but it was wasted due to the 30 min delay of our race. The whole time we were waiting, the cramping in my gut just kept getting worse, as I got colder. I kind of wrote this one off, after being shut out at the start. I still managed to latch onto PJ before we hit the ramp down to the beach, but then I quickly remembered the cardinal rule of last season. "Don't follow PJ's wheel!". He hit a really soft patch, pulling to one side, sending me under the tape, still clipped into both pedals. The stairway was kind of hilarious, making the traditional run up look roomy. Based on my handling performance, I am pretty sure I used up all my steering skills points on Saturday. Betweeen the wind, and my stomach I was miserable. The high light of the day was getting a dollar at the beer garden. I was laughing with the crowd because I didn't know where to put it in my skinsuit, it's just not one of those things I had ever really thought about. I lost several spots while I was laughing with the crowd, but I didn't really care at that point. I held off one guy in the finish straight, with a substandard sprint, finishing 102/147.

Day1
Very low expectations in the 45+. Hadn't even looked at the bike since Green Mountain and only decided to race last thing friday night. Turned up with hairy legs and more interest in watching the Pro races than my own race. Pre-rode 2 laps after the Cat4 35+ finished. I rode round the course but my brain was totally disengaged as will be come evident. Standing in staging with John P and fortunately he is listening cause I get a call up to the 3rd row which I never heard. Line up on the inside next to the guy from Canadian Cycling Mag who I finished behind at Green Mountain. Chat a bit and then start thinking about the race. Whistle goes and I surprizingly I slot right into race mode getting a great start up the inside and into the top 20. Loose a few on the pavement corners as I didn't want a face like that guy in the 4's (ouch). Get to the intestinal track and manage to run through a few places. Mount the bike and loose them all back cause I'm in totally the wrong gear. Slide, dismount, remount ...aghh. Continued to mess up my gear selection on pretty much every corner or remount for the next 2 laps. Heard John Plump coming as Paul D shouted for him to get on my wheel. He blows passed on the flat section down by the pits/before the sand. I jump to get on his wheel and proceed to lay the bike down on a wide open sweeping left turn. Pick myself up, get the chain back on, straighten the brake hoods and get back into it. Conflicted about racing or riding but keep John in sight and continue to get abuse from Jerry DZ at the stairs. I start to work out the lines on the corners a bit better and start making good gear selections and can see I'm pulling John back on the last lap. The one thing that was going well for me was the run-up so knew this was where I needed to make my move. I pulled up onto his wheel, shifted into my easiest gear so I could remount and ride smoothly and then nailed it up the mud slope. Worked a treat and made it past another rider at the same time. Pulled up onto a Cyclonaut riders wheel just before the sprint and thought I could hold it and jump for the line but he held me off. 38th out of 76 finishers. Not great but better than I expected. Along with watching some great racing in the pro field and Peter Gougen totally BOSS the Cat 3 / Junior race this got me motivated to race day 2.

Day 2
Got to the course an hour earlier so I had 2 chances to pre-ride. Wasn't going to make the same mistake again. Doug and Chris told me it was my type of course. I jumped straight on after the 4s and got 2 good laps in. Loved it. Conditions were great plenty grip and focused on gear selection for each corner. Watched the Cat 4 35+ a little with Doug and Chris. The 1st time across the sand and up the stairs for the main pack was a scream. Looked like it was an invitation only, tickets please protocol on the stairs. Can't imagine what it must have been like for the 150 racers in the 3s. Jumped back on the course for another pre-ride after the race finished. found myself following Kevin Hines so stuck to his wheel the whole way for 2 laps this was great. Confirmed I had the lines worked out and gearing sorted to race well. Call up to the 4th row today but still managed to get an inside row. Whistle goes, gap to the left, wheel in front accelerating, great he'll pull me to the the front, PING, left foot out the pedal. I had a little trouble un-clipping my right foot coming into the barriers on the pre-ride so I doused both pedals in T9 before the race. Not a good plan. Clip back in but have slipped back a good way. Get on the Orcahrd section heading down to the seawall and am railing the turns passing people at every opportunity. Get onto the sea wall with Doug Aspinwall and think this is a good spot to be. Run up goes good like yesterday and I'm in the right gear from the start. Holding my position nicely. Focus on getting a wheel for every long section into the wind. Clean ride across the beach, smooth ride round the intestines. Loose Doug's wheel but keep riding smooth and just trading places back on forth with a couple of guys for the next couple of laps. Make a push again on the run-up on the last lap but don't get clear. Still feel I'm racing though. Get to the sand and feel the pressure. I take 1 pedal stroke too many front wheel goes a little sideways and I end up with both feet in the sand straddling the bike rather than dismounting. I swing the leg over and start on the stairs but the guy behind me manages to get to the 1st granite step just in front. I run hard to try and get on his wheel but he gaps me on the straight down wind section and then 3 others go past as well. My matches are burning fast. I manage to ride back onto their wheels through the turns. Feels good to be handling better than them. I'm right there as we go into the lower intestine. The wheel in front goes for the inside corner and goes down right in front of me, off the bike I can run round, he gets up quick and closes the door on me (I should have ran over the top of him). Plan to get him with a fast barrier but I just hold pace with him. It's now down to the sprint. I compose myself for a big effort but like yesterday I can't get on his wheel I should have pushed to get there before the pavement. Just to pour salt into the wounds I hear someone coming out of nowhere and he jumps past both of us. Finished 32nd, annoyed at loosing 5 places in the last 3rd of the last lap but having enjoyed every moment of it and knowing it was just the lack of fitness from the last 2 weeks. Hopefully I will get some work in this week and be better for Providence. (not going to be able to make it to Night Weasles though)

Who's this getting tangled up on the beach (wearing #713): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 133&type=3

rusto wrote:Who's this getting tangled up on the beach (wearing #713): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 133&type=3

That was me on the third lap of the Cat 3 race on Day 2. I really hated that beach.

We only did four laps in the 3's with our race shortened to 40 minutes due to the sewage backup on the course. Each lap I had a problem on the beach. Twice crashing into people that went down in front of me and once each of either getting my bike stuck in the bike ahead of or behind me on the steep stairs exiting the beach.