Green Mountain Stage Race 2016

[djming]

The official GMSR race reports/daily blog will start today with the just posted Friday ITT start times (http://www.gmsr.info/tt_start_times.php)

Mingori - 10:05:30 (M's 3)
Collins - 10:39:00 (M's 2)
Benedict - 11:16:00 (W's 3/4)
Bradford - 11:51:00 (M's P/1)
Gibson - 1:22:00 (M's 4/5 open)
Leger - 1:23:00 (M's 4/5 open)
Chadwick - 2:00:30 (M's 4/5 masters)
Jewett - 2:12:30 (M's 4/5 masters)

Let the games begin!

[JeremyC]

Nice Dave, looking forward to living vicariously through everyone. Good luck to the MRC crew.

[djming]

Stage 1 in the books.
Bottom line is wanted a higher place but happy with my effort.
Got a good warmup in with a very noticeable wind (out of north, so a headwind for final almost 4 miles).
Plan was to go out hard on the climb and see how much I could hold for the finish drag.
Felt good on the climb, working hard but felt like I'd have some to fall back on for the finish.
Hit Roxbury Gap Rd intersection and went into more traditional TT mode as the wind became more of an issue. Felt like I was gaining on my 30sec man but then in a few spots I had a couple mental lapses letting my cadence drop too much.
Finished in a slower time than last year but with the wind can't really compare.
Results had me at 16:15 for 24th out of I think 75 starters. Top 3-5 had a good separation from everyone else, with places maybe 12 on all separated by seconds to each spot. A bit disappointed with the placing but it is a very strong field and I beat a few people that I wanted.
Matched my 5min max power on the climb and my overall average was almost 110% of my best ever 20min power effort. So in looking back at the numbers felt like I put out a very solid effort.

[KTeves]

Nice job Dave. It's tough enough without a headwind.

[Mkidd3]

NICE!

[Smudger]

110% of my best ever 20min power effort.

That's pretty solid in my books. Great job.

[Mkidd3]

I took a quick look at the results so far...
Todd Jewett 3rd
Sharon Benedict 4th be a 10th of a second!

I'll post the rest when I'm home

[djming]

I moved up one spot on GC when a guy who beat me by 3sec got a 1min penalty.
Will take it any way I can!

[PJ McQuade]

Nothing to be be disappointed about there, Dave. Give it hell today.

[JeremyC]

Dave that's a solid result.

[Mkidd3]

Results from yesterdays TT

Men Cat 4/5 Master 35+
Todd Jewett places 3rd/49
Ken Chadwick places 36th/49

Women Cat 3/4
Sharon Benedict places 4th/41

Men Cat 4/5
Christopher Gibson places 50th/69
Nick Leger places 53rd/69

Men Cat 3
Dave Mingori places 24th/70

Men Cat 2
Patrick Collins places 25th/80

Men Pro/1
Brad Bradford 72nd/106

[djming]

Day 2 was not exactly what I had in mind. Spoiler - crash.

Race started and just stupidly let myself be at the back. After wasting too much energy in spots that I shouldn't have had to and then on the first lap seeing 450+ watts at the bottom of a descent to maintain contact and I knew I had to make some adjustments. So coming into the sprint off lap 1 I went wide when the road opened, initially just sitting in but then after the sprint when most people sitting up or heading right to grab a bottle I kept the gas on and surfed right up to 4th/5th wheel heading into the lap 2 KOM climb.
Lap 2 was so much better! It was still a hard pace throughout and I realized that it was too much energy to stay near the front so settled in maybe around 20th. Few 2 or 3 person attempts to get off the front that the field let dangle but never any danger of a break going.
Nothing really exciting other than just a good, hard, steady pace. Much different course than last year's in more punchy type climbs in addition to the main KOM climb. The real excitement for laps 1 and 2 were the 3 near misses with dropped bottles (not mine..) and that massive hole with 3'" side crack after a bridge on Rt.17. Heard one guy hit it. Didn't sound pretty..
Kept contact with top 15 or so wheels for 3rd lap KOM. Kept contact in that 15-25 range until a surge with maybe 10K to go where I had to battle thru some cramps and dropped down another 10 spots or so. Regained contact, recovered and actually began to feel better.
Came thru the hard final left turn with 4K to go, put in a good HARD uphill effort to keep my position approaching 3K to go and just got ready for the finish.
1K to go the road opened up and I followed some wheels left. No intentions of mixing it up, but figured I'd follow the left line and see if guys began to falter in the nasty headwind finish.
500 to go and all hell broke loose in front of me. 3-5 guys colliding. Nowhere to go. Pretty obvious I'm going down. Right = tar. Left = grass. I'll take grass! Wait, there's a slight opening in the grass, maybe I can actually ride around this thing. Oh wait, what's the yell behind me? Okay, I'm being pushed into the grass. Now I'm tangled with another guy. Well, at least there's this nice looking area of grass. Down we go in what is my first ever crash. It actually didn't even feel like anything. Almost slow motion like and just kind of rolled off the bike into the grass. Other rider tells me he was braking to avoid me when he got slammed from behind getting pushed into me.

After laying on the ground for a bit making sure all body parts okay (not even a scrape or scratch) he helps me up, we find the official to give our numbers and slow roll together over the line. Handlebars a bit askew. After finishing I discover what looks like a crack on the front of the Madone (head tube area, above the front brake below the bars). Have SRAM check it out and they say nope, shouldn't be ridden. Well, at least I have the Giant with me!
Back at the condo inspect it more closely and there's a pretty obvious crack. Not large but now an obvious safety issue. I'm completely fine and was planning to ride my Giant for the climbing stage tomorrow anyway, so onto day 3.

Provisional results have me losing time. Need to make sure that gets corrected (which an official assured me of after the crash and in double checking with her after the finish).

[JeremyC]

Noooooooo the madone!!!! Who cares about the race after that?

[djming]

Noooooooo the madone!!!! Who cares about the race after that?

Had a couple in memoriam pours tonight. Hey, maybe I'll get lucky with a repair.

Official results up, no change for me on GC:
http://gmsr.info/results.php

Oh wait, guess there were a couple revisions, I'm up 2 spots (still same time gaps to leaders though). Well, at least there's that!

[djming]

Executive summary going into stage 3:

Sharon Benedict nabbed 6th in stage 2, W's 3/4
Chris Gibson 6th in the 4/5 open
Todd Jewett finished 7th in the 4/5 masters

GC standings:
Women 3/4:
Sharon Benedict: 5/41

4/5 Masters:
Todd Jewett: 3/48
Ken Chadwick: 31/48

4/5 Open:
Chris Gibson: 42/67
Nick Leger: 47/67

Cat 3:
Dave Mingori: 21/66

Cat 2:
Patrick Collins: 24/79

Pro/1:
Brad Bradford: 65/101

[Mkidd3]

Great work everyone!!! Sorry about the crash Dave... Trek should replace the frame right? I hope at least!

[djming]

Day 3 done, and was a tough and frustrating day for me.
My personal goal going in was a top 20, given the field.
Woke up with seemingly no effects from the crash but by mile 20 something did feel a bit tweaked in my left lower back. Not serious, but a bit uncomfortable.
Uneventful race until Middlebury Gap (except for the unannounced additional 2+ miles of neutral on Rt.100 that had people getting antsy).
Once Middlebury really started to ramp up for the final 3K the expected front group developed. My first "oh sh@t" moment came on the first steep section when I couldn't initially shift into my small ring. Just needed some feathering but mentally that was not what I needed. I stayed in my rhythm but making sure I was with a 2nd splintered group. Over the top and Ameno from GLV comes bombing by me then a few more. Get on some wheels and we really start working to close the gap. A few glances at power numbers and I'm not overly excited about the output chasing. Oh well, gotta catch back on and I've got company. Takes longer than expected, but we do by the lower narrow bridge.
Onto 116 and pace moderates some allowing more to catch back on. Into Bristol Notch and a rough patch for me (I may not have eaten enough). Maintain contact, but on the gravel sections a couple guys really drilling it on the front and the entire field is completely strung out all the way to Main St/Bristol, and I'm way to far back.
Get some extra food and water, start the Baby Gap climb and begin to feel better. and pass quite a few riders. The main front group is away but I'm comfortably in a group of 8-12 (one of whom ended up 23rd so not a bad spot). Reach down for a drink and drop my f'n bottle. Last one, and I'm dry. I owe a huge shout out to #367 from B2C2 who gave me half a bottle.
About 2K to top of Baby Gap when I hit some rough pavement while shifting and drop my chain. Only had to slow/stop for 10-15 sec at most but my group is gone up the road and I'm in no-man's land. Only single guys behind me. Oh well, go into tempo mode and ride solo tempo all the way to the finish (all I could muster up App Gap). Solidly held off all guys that were behind except one who did pass me maybe 2/3 up the finish climb.
End up 34th, maybe 1 minute down from the back of that group I was with. Probably slipped a few on GC.
Highlights - big PR on Middlebury and Baby Gap (even with the chain issue and solo part). Riding hard when uncomfortable and ignoring power to make sure I stayed in contact.
More important highlights - having KT out of nowhere show up aside me running and yelling at me the final 200; Alice at the finish with pickles and M&M's.
Lowlights - everything else..

On the plus side, eligible next year for the 50+...


Stuck around to see Patrick nab 9th in the 2's and Todd Jewett I think 7th in the 4/5 masters. Todd wasn't much more than 25-30sec behind the winner so is solidly in the mix for a top 3 or even the overall.

[JeremyC]

Sounds awful. You've had some bad mechanical luck. I may have been tempted to throw mine in the woods. Todd is only 8 seconds back on GC. He has a chance on the Crit!! Patrick is 7th and Sharon 6th overall and could also move up some spots tomorrow. Nice work everyone.

[djming]

Sounds awful. You've had some bad mechanical luck.

Had a few moments making me want to go back to running..

Todd is only 8 seconds back on GC. He has a chance on the Crit!!

Talked to Ken about the time bonus sprints, and he'said willing to help as much as possible

Patrick is 7th and Sharon 6th overall and could also move up

Patrick's race was probably the most exciting as 9 or 10 guys came up "sprinting" together for 3rd. The announcer just kept repeating "you never see this here"

[djming]

Final day crit. Lousy sleep. Up a few times as back bothering me. Was ready to just drive home.
Nope, gonna finish this off. Up to Burlington. Did a warmup but really just going thru the motions.
Race started and Alice said the field of 62 starters obliterated in first couple laps. I was splintered immediately. Kept leapfrogging to different small groups. Pulled after only 11 of 30 laps. Had trouble initially straightening up getting off bike. Guess it's time for a PT and/or chiro checkup.
At least I held my solid mid-pack GC spot...
32 of 72 original starters
Final starters (59 full finishers).

In the 4/5 masters, Ken just missed a top 10 crit finish. Todd struggled a bit and slipped to 8th GC.
Sharon finished with her front group and held her GC position of 7th.
Patrick finished with the main field and moved up a GC spot to 6th in the 2's!

[jraguin]

Great job everyone! That is a seriously tough 4 days!

[kenchadwick]

Quick summary for me.
Day 1 TT, I did terrible even though I was maxed the whole time. Need to learn how to do this.. I think I ride faster training.
DAy 2 Circuit, did real good, stayed at the front, on the very front a bunch, worked to pull back a break. Never under real stress. Pulled up at the end to not take time bonus from Todd.
Day 3 Road Course, made it to the bottom of app gap with the field, helped along the way with breaks for Todd. Rode the climb hard as I could. I'll keep getting better at this, I was happy with the result.
Day 4 crit, very happy, stayed in the front group the whole way. I had gas left...lessons learned. It was real hard, a lot of doubts along the way. We slowed every time I really needed it though. Guess we all did.
Finish 18 in the GC
A lot of good to build on for next year.

[djming]

Dropped the bike off at Landry's and got a crash replacement offer from Trek. Trek wants nothing to do with a possible repair.
Found a couple places that will do repairs (Calfee out in CA and Drummond Custom Cycles in Enfield, NH). I've been on the phone with Drummond and sent them photos. They said based on my description, it was 50/50 as to if they'd consider it repairable.
If anyone has any experience or opinions as to my thought process, I'd welcome that.

And as an added bonus to a crash and mechanicals, I now have a nice little case of poison ivy on my forearms & knees from my rolling around in the grass (still better than road rash or broken bones!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqClWdOcWog

[Smudger]

Give Toby Stanton at Hot Tubes in Shirley MA a call (978) 425-9033 he fixed Busick's Pinarello

I used him on a steel bike restoration a few years back. Did some great work, is easy to work with and best of all is local so you can go talk to him

[slisab72]

This was a write-up that I posted to another list when asked about the race. Hope you enjoy --

Somewhat disappointed with my performance, I somehow managed to hold on @ the GMSR, despite technical issues and a number of jittery moments. Here's my race report/what I learned:

Stage racing is fun, but *whoa* it is hard!
4 disciplines of bike racing in 1 weekend is pretty crazy cool.
The age range in the Women's Cat 3/4 field is deceiving. (Juniors took the podium.)
I am old enough to be half my competitors' mother.
Post/between-race recovery at my age is another stage of stage racing.
There are a lot of very talented women cyclists out there.
Racing with a 51 yo New Yorker spitfire makes you tougher.
Racing with the same people can be fun.
Never forget to clip into your pedals while being held at the start of a TT because you are nervous.
Never forget to check in before your race.
When the marshall tells you that your relationship with the yellow line is unhealthy, he's onto something.
Be friendly and safe, but there is no room for nice.
Saying thank you to volunteers during the race helps you to relax. Smiling works, too.
It is possible to move up the white line when you're on the perfect wheel (thx Christin.)
It is also possible to thread the needle during a sprint (even when, looking back, you wonder how you didn't end up becoming road kill.)
2 miles of scarified pavement can make for some interesting commentary from your lady competitors.
If you're going to flat, it's best to get it over with during the first few miles of the race when the field is still neutralized and neutral support is fresh off his second cup of coffee and a full workingman's breakfast plate from the local deli.
Teams definitely make a difference.
Getting neutralized more than once during a race is a drag. (Everyone ends up chatting - and not just me!)
Getting neutralized on the Baby App Gap QOM is even more of a drag.
Going airborne can be fun but preferably not during a crit.
When your teammate is running next to you up App Gap screaming at you to keep going and you can't acknowledge him because you might tip over, you're tired.
Fencing at the top of App Gap works well for clinging onto and staying upright when you are stuck in your Speedplay pedals waiting for rescue. Good thing the camera man who propped you up was compassionate and didn't nab an embarrassing photo!
A wet-nosed nuzzle from a 2-month-old puppy at the top of App Gap is just perfect.
[/list][/list]
At the end of a long weekend of racing, my favorite ride was last night's - back up to the top of Baby App Gap with the woman who took me on my first (adult) bike ride about 12 years ago. She reminded me that that was the day we rode to the top of that hill and I cried because I was afraid to go down the other side. It took me until a few years ago to get back on a bike! (Credit: Monsters.)

Extraordinary friends, family, teammates, supporters, organizers, and competitors give a lot to this sport and to the people who participate in it. They inspire me to show up on the line again (even if I might have said otherwise over the weekend.) In the meantime, I'm looking forward to simply riding my bike with friends.

And with everything that's happening on our roads and on our planet, whatever expression of bicycle riding each of us prefers, I hope we can continue to look for and find safe, symbiotic ways to keep it in our lives, support our communities and our kids to keep pedaling forward, and to co-exist with all who share the roads, trails and other places.

Sappily yours,
Sharon

Thanks so much to those of you who sent me many encouraging words and came to cheer me on!!!