Minuteman Road Club

Several of us showed up for the race around City Hall this afternoon, sporting our new dark road skinsuits. Six MRC racers in the field, but I'll let them tell their stories. I barely saw them the whole race anyway. In fact, I never saw PJ, Len or John Smith at all. For me, my goals were simple: get a good workout and don't bleed all over the streets of Boston. I accomplished both, but only marginally. I had an excellent 40 minute warmup in the parking garage, sweating profusely by the time I rolled over to the start line. I turned a few laps on course to get a feel for it, then found that everyone else was already on the start line. It took me 5 laps to get near the front, and I tried really hard to stay in the top 25-40 of the 100 man field. Chris Pare has exceptional skill in this area, where for me, it's totally amateur hour. I did find that riding the outside barriers was far smoother for me, and I could stay off the brakes and even out my effort a lot more.

About 15 minutes in, there was a distinct break with 5 guys way out front, 10 guys in the gap and then the rest of us. I found myself near the front of this big group, and took what turned out to be a monster pull to help bring it all back together. For the next 5 minutes, I was going backwards and sucking air trying to recover. Not smart. But, it did come back together somewhere in there.

Fast forward to the last few laps. I was sitting pretty with 9 to go, then someone pinched me into the fencing on the climb and I lost a few dozen spots. I worked my way back up, I could see Chris in front of me. I wanted badly to get up to the front to help him get a good result, but I had just burned another match and didn't much of anything left to give. By the final 3-4 laps, I was literally holding on for dear life in about 30th or 40th, as the pace picked up. When I heard the bell and the announcer say "one to go", I was totally relieved; four more turns and it's over. I held my position around the back straight, then entertained the idea of shooting up the outside on the climb and trying to improve my finish position a bit. Two guys about 10 feet in front of me got tangled up and went right into the metal fencing. I touched the brakes, my back wheel went out and I hit the deck sliding into them. I jumped up, mainly to defend myself from the rest of the peleton, then soft pedaled across the line for virtually DFL.

My bike is okay, and I have nothing but a few scratches and some scuffs on my brand new skinsuit. I might be a bit stiff in the morning, but otherwise unscathed. One of the crashers in front of me got a ride off the course a Gator/Quad. His fork was broken in half. Bummer for him. I don't really care about my result, and was happy to have a hard workout and all my body parts intact. Afterall, it's CROSS season!

I went to watch and saw the Masters 40+ race, Women's 2/3 (I think), and then the 2/3 race which Doug & all were in. Great race, great venue, lots of fun to watch. From my perspective, it looked like a pretty safe course with plenty of room on the turns. Our MRC contingent showed well, although we had some bad luck which the guys can explain themselves. Doug's monster pull to get the field back together was definitely a big move. I would like to have this on my calendar next year... we will see, but definitely a cool race. My only regret going down was not being able to stay later for the pro race as they had a Harpoon tent right on the finish line to spectate & beer drink. I saw a few of the guys after the race and had a Boloco Burrito with PJ & his wife & Nolan before taking off.

I think I started this idea of racing the Mayors Cup back in the spring as a end of season goal for the Cat 3 team. I had expectations of being in great shape with it syncing well with the start of cross season but in reality my fitness is a paper masquerade at the moment and my revised goal was to finish in the pack and if I could, move up and help a little with 6 to go.

Lined up early with Chris PJ and Jeremy in the 2nd and 3rd row. Did not want to be at the back like Doug and Len. Started well but within 3 laps I was at the back where I didn't want to be. Way too much breaking going into the corners from me in these early laps and having to sprint and loose spots on every straight. My revised, revised goal was now to hang on and not get dropped. Started to ride a lot smoother and realized that just riding the wheels on the back straight was the smart move then make up what I could on the climb by carrying speed through the uphill corner was the way to go. Meant I started to get more comfortable about not getting dropped but was still at the arse end of 100 riders. managed to pull up close to Doug and Jeremy's wheels on a couple of laps but dropped back again. With 3 to go I saw Jeremy free falling back through the Peleton after he had killed himself on the front. I passed with 2 to go. Was working through cooked riders on the last lap and came into the 2nd last corner just after the crash that took Doug out. Didn't notice he was down. I half sat up cause the race was basically over and then Jeremy came gunning through the crowd of riders determined to get something for all the effort he put in up front. I jumped on behind and did a total ahole move of sprinting past him on the last corner to take 39th. All I can say in my defense was that I was oxygen starved and not thinking straight.

Pretty disappointed that I didn't even manage to show myself near the front or help out but all in this was a great race, great course, great atmosphere and great way to finish out the season. I'll be back hopefully a bit smarter and faster.

My main goal was to come in 39th place. I had made sure my training was just above mediocre leading into the race. Everything worked according to plan as I faded from the front with 5 to go. Moved up on the last hill due to a perfectly timed crash (sorry Doug) and with 20 meters to go my dream was a reality as I coasted in for a sure 39th place. All of a sudden I get a slap on the ass as Smudger sprints by for the highly coveted spot and I settle in for 40th. Luckily my daughter redeemed the family name by coming on strong for 10th place in the 7-9 race. I did win the sprint for the beer tent so all was right in the world...

I thought I'd wait and let Diane Fortini summarize for me....

Dear Christopher Pare,

The following request to change your Road category has been approved and processed by USA Cycling:
pace21 - 2013-09-21 19:36
Member: Christopher Pare
License: Road Racer
Request to change category from Cat 3 to Cat 2

Member Explanation/Resume:
Requesting road upgrade from 3 to 2:



2013 Results:

Tour of the Battenkill, Cat 3A -- 3rd/133

Longjo Leominster Crit Cat 3 -- 9th/71

Norwell Circuit Race Masters 35+ -- 5th/50

Witches Cup Cat 3 -- 1st/82

Mayor's Cup Cat 2/3 -- 9th/100 (3rd place Cat 3)

Several pack finishes in P/1/2/3 races throughout the year.







Request was approved on 2013-09-24 9:07 by Diane Fortini


Response from Diane Fortini:
Chris,
I have approved your upgrade to category 2. You may use a smart phone or print your authorization to ride from your account page to use as confirmation of your upgrade and category status for the remainder of the season. Be sure to update your category if you have a profile established on Bikereg.com or any other online registration service.

See you at the races,
Diane Fortini
91 Hillcrest Rd.
Hanson, MA 02341
diane@nebra.us
www.NEBRA.US



You may review this support ticket by clicking on the following link:

https://www.usacycling.org/myusac/index ... tid=517703

NOTE: You must be logged into the USA Cycling web site using your personal username and password to view this information.
Some approved category changes will be mailed a category sticker to place on your license to indicate your new category depending on your Local Association's procedure. You should get this sticker within the next week unless your Local Association does not mail stickers. Please contact your Local Association for additional questions on if they utilize stickers. You can print out a copy of your authorization to ride from your account page to prove your upgrade.

Thank you for supporting USA Cycling.

--USA Cycling Membership Department

The race itself was pretty uneventful for me until the last 4 laps or so. Surfed near the front all day, tried (and failed) to bridge to the ominous looking break. Attached myself to Jeremy's wheel with 5 or so to go, made a couple all in digs to get up to 8th wheel at the bell. Railed the downhill corner with half a lap to go, saw the GLV train pulling out of the station on the back straight. Another dig to close that gap, 4th wheel at the start of the "climb". Got gapped at the top of the climb and the wheels kinda fell off in literally the last 20-30 meters where I managed to go from 4th to 9th in what seemed like a millisecond. Set a season high for peak HR though so I know I couldn't have given much more at the end. I think closing the gap on the back stretch cost me a little at the end, but I certainly can't say I'm disappointed. Looking forward to a mix of P/1/2/3 and masters 40+ races next season.

YEAH!!! Congrats on the upgrade!!

Congratulations Chris!

Wow, very much congrats Chris. Cat 2 is big time and you deserve it.

Wicked cool!

Congrats Chris! An impressive year of results!

Nice job to all who raced. It was a pretty awesome. For my part I made a good showing for the club at the Harpoon beer tent.

Well-deserved, Chris, and an appropriate finish to a very strong road season. I'd like to think I'd be joining you soon in the 2s but w/o a masters field to fall back on I'd be shark chum.