Hasta La Vista 2011 Road Season

Finished the 2011 road campaign at the inaugural Tour of the Adirondacks in Lake Luzurne, NY last Saturday. This turned out to be a really nice course, too bad more riders did not attend. Great venue.
It consisted of two laps of a 31 mile loop, each lap containing two climbs, one moderate, less than a mile, the main climb 5 miles from the finish, very steep and maybe 1.5-2 miles long.
First lap we started with maybe 20(smallest field of the year, but the top riders were good) 40/50's combined, and the 40's set lots of steady tempo early. First time up the small climb, easy, then the big climb came and it got rough. A lead group of 6 split off with me #6 and hanging to my ass. With 1KM to go to the top, we were all strung out, maybe 10 meters between riders. 500 M to go and I was completely buried and desperately trying to keep in contact as I knew if I lost the 5 guys ahead of me that was the bike race and I would never see them again. Huge effort in the last 100 meters left me close enough to get a wheel and safety. Whew. Sometimes bike racing is so f-ing hard. Took me several miles to uncross my eyes after that. Lap 2 started and the 6 of us rotated for the next 20 miles pretty much until about 10 miles to go. The group now comprised three(one 40+ flatted on lap 2 and was out) 40+ guys and only one other 50+(Kevin uber-Mosher)and myself, so the worst I can do at this point is 2nd. But I wanted to try and win. Knowing Kevin would probably drop me on the big climb I figured my only chance was to try and get there before he did. So I repeatedly attacked, using every tactic in the arsenal. To no avail, he chased me down every time, but I tell you it felt good to actually be racing my bike instead of following for a change. We hit the final climb and I figured what the hell, I am going again and we gapped the 3 40's. Now just the two of us and I am grinding away trying to hold his wheel. Shortly he starts to distance me, I stand and push hard, suddenly POW!! and down I go hitting the deck and wondering what the hell. Look back and see my chain splayed all around and know my race is over. Broken chain=DNF. Luckily the wheel truck was right behind us so he picked me up and I had a silent ride pretzeled in the back with 10 sets of wheels. That was pleasant. Oh,and about a mile from the parking lot, my right inner quad cramped and I almost destroyed some nice wheels as my leg shot out like a rifle bolt. 
Bottom line, I raced my bike hard, and had my best result of the season(abeit small field)in the bag, till shit happened. Oh well. No worries. It can always be worse. The season really did end with a bang, or a thud!

The Second Half-Ups and Downs

Green Mountain Crit

Too long since my last post. Sometimes I feel like writing, sometimes I don't. Last couple of months, just not in the mood. So, a bit of catch up is in order.
After finishing up the first part of the season at Housatonic, I got some long term chest congestion crap that lingered for about 6 weeks. Hacking and spitting up globs of shit for a long time. Not sure what the deal was, but it did put a damper on my mid season block of training. Just took forever to get rid of.
The real season, my favorite part of the year when all the hard 'hot' races happen beckoned me, and I was read to rock and roll. Or so I thought.

July 23- Tour of the Hilltowns
Hot and  muggy, just my kind of day, this is one of my favorite races and one I was aiming for the podium.
That little dream was dashed early in the race when I flatted on the rut-strewn downhill about 12 miles after the start. Chase chase chase for about an hour, sweat literally pouring off me, dehydration and ride in with the laughing group, little or no motivation, sitting on the back of a 10 man group, I crawled in finishing 31st, 17 minutes back. Good lord, not the way I envisioned my second season starting.

Aug 5-7 Tour of the Catskills
One of my major goals for the season, I was again, looking to finish in the top 3.
TT- Felt OK, but it seemed slow and I really figured that out when Dan Fitch, the rider who started 1 minute behind me, caught me with about 4 miles to go. Like someone whacking you with the reality pan over the head. The 'you suck' pan. Ouch. 19th, 3 minutes down on winner Buben. This was going to be bad. Not sure what the problem was, but my system was shut down and the legs not firing at all.
Stage 2- Devils Kitchen RR-Hit the Kitchen and it hit me. perhaps I could have walked up faster, then, on the 7 mile downhill run to the finish, I had nothing. barely pushed the pedals. Another misfire day. legs empty.
19th, 4 minutes down on winner Mosher. Completely pathetic.
Stage 3- A bit better form, but still just awful. This is probably the hardest road course I have ever ridden. Brutal. Ordinarily I would have liked it. I lost major brain cells in the last 10 miles trying to stay with group 2. Some of the hardest shit I have ever done, and this was to just stay on a wheel!. Holy crap, pathetic.
12th 2 minutes down on lead group.
Overall-11th, 9 minutes down on winner Mosher. I was not a player, barely a rider. WTF.

Postscript-The day after, I had virtually no leg fatigue and I should have been nearly wheelchair bound after my efforts. This told me something in my system was really not letting my legs work. Not working means sucking. I sucked so bad at Catskills it was embarrassing. The upside was I roomed with B Thompson and B Roldan, got to know those Keltic boys and had a great time.

Aug 14 Tokeneke Road Race
Made some adjustments to diet and hydration in the desperate hope to find out what was ailing me.
Hard day, cool and light rain and a killer field, but the legs were firing better, not great but better. The final climb saw me hanging on to Mosher, Clapper and Funk and that was the company I expect myself to be in.
So hard the last K, I was cross eyed.
5th 36 seconds behind solo winner Pfeifle. Plus I won the Men's 55 plus Regional Master Road Champion. Much better.

Aug 20 Capitol Region Road Race Albany
Hoped to see the upward form trend continue as this would be a really tough day, 50's and 40's riding together. I was going to use this race to decide whether I was even going to do Green Mt.
Warm and windy, and lots of hard pace, left me wallowing at the back on the climbs, keeping up and not much more. Held on, but never put my nose in the wind, not a particularly pleasurable way for me to race. It is called the 'I suck and can't do more than follow' strategy.
5th, 7 seconds behind winner Funk. Looked better in the box score than it was. Really hard day. At least my legs were tired the next day.

GMSR Sept 2-5
TT- The rocket K Mosher started 30 seconds behind me, so there was my motivation. If I could keep away from him, my time would be good.
It almost worked, he did catch me, but not until 500M to go. Effort was steady if unspectacular.
6th 36 sec behind winner Mosher.
Stage 2 Circuit Race- Road damage from Irene sent us onto the old circuit route used 3 years ago. Hot and muggy day, I used to do well in these conditions, but my body has changed a bit(my face, more than a bit!) and late in my career I am having cramping and hydration problems. Never cramped in my first 20 years of bike racing, now it is a factor. WTF.
First indication of form was on KOM 1, 4 of us went for it and I was clearly 4th, hell I had to sit down at 200 M to go, just did not have it. Not good. Did make a few forays off the front later on, and felt pretty strong though, to no avail. Group finish.
5th
Stage 3 App Gap
Ther are 2 stages, 2 moments in my cycling season that for me define success or failure. The final climb at Killington and App Gap. Killington went well. App Gap was a disaster. Waited and lurked for 2.5 hours before we hit the Gap and the legs felt like they did on Devils Kitchen. Someone could have said '10 million bucks for you at the top if you win!" and it would have made no difference. Had nothing. Plodded at 6MPH all the way up. Sad spectacle, and you should have seen it from the inside. Podium aspirations gone gone gone.
10th 3 minutes behind winner Mosher.
Stage 4 Crit.
This was my 11th GMSR and I have never had to race this tight technical course in the rain. Until now. Rainy and wet and off we went. Carnage on lap 2, race leader Mosher and KOM Sarci gapped and chasing. CCB guys off and pushing it, and no one in my group of 7 seemed all that interested in chasing. T Monroe won solo, too bad because he took the jersey from Kevin and I had the best legs of the race. I should not have deferred to my group companions and bridged up to the CCB boys and I reckon I could have won this one. Oh well. Stayed upright and felt good. Mosher lost race lead, no one wants to lose the jersey on the last day to a crash.
5th on the day
9th overall
This was a race I should have finished on the podium. App Gap blew me out of the box. That was 5K I would like to erase from the hard drive..

Second season sum up-
Really quite a disappointment. I was primed and ready to really get some good results, the weight was excellent, I like the courses and the hot weather, but not much went right. Mechanicals, flats,  flat legs, cramps and system failures doomed me.
Make no mistake. I don't like losing, but I can stomach being beaten by guys better than me. I can deal with losing to Funk, Mosher and Sarci to name a few. Those guys are younger and faster than I am and that is just the way it is.

What I have a really hard time with is not riding the best I can ride and beating guys I know I can beat, guys I have beaten and should beat. That is the tough pill to swallow. This off-season I face some real questions. how to get my body back on track and ride up to my current abilities. Puzzles abound this winter. We shall see.

The Housatonic Blues

Housatonic Road Race
June 18 2011
Masters 50+
45 starters
80 degrees Humid
27 mile hilly loop X2-54 miles

Housatonic is one of the iconic races on the NE calendar.
I have never raced it, but always wanted to. This year, since the form is good, the weight is down, it was time.
It is a really hilly 27 mile loop, done twice that really sorts out the riders, or so I have heard.
The bad news is the start time was 9:15 and Southbury CT is 3:30 drive from my house, which meant the alarm went off at 4 and my groggy ass was out the door at 430.
Bike racing is grand sometimes, like at 430 in the morning, when everyone else is asleep, you wish you were, and yet there you are loading bike crap in the car, most everyone you know, that is not a rider, thinking what a nut job you are as you toil silently in the dark.
All was going according to schedule until I neared Chester, VT. Bridge closed. Detour. OK then, lost about 20 minutes. Like any veteran rider and traveler, I build a bit extra time into my planning, so not a big worry at this point.
 Down down south I go, into Mass where at least the radio stations are a lot better and there are more than 3 to choose from. Sun is up and I am waking up, so that is a good thing. The funny thing is this is considered a BIG drive by NE racing standards and yet this is about the same time and distance that I used to drive at least twice a month, Casper to Denver to race, back in the day. That seemed like not a big deal, this seems like a LONG way.
Into CT, getting closer and the legs are feeling really saucy, or not, then, round a corner about 10 miles from the start and oops, left lane closed on I-84 and a long line of traffic stretched in front of me barely moving. Not good. Tick tock, tick tock. Now I am watching the time slip by, as we slowly exit the interstate, then wind for a few miles in a long line through some Southington CT backroads. The guy in front of me is apparently really late as he is on his phone, waving his arms about and generally looking like he is about to orbit inside his car. Could be worse I suppose.
 Lose almost 30 minutes and now sweating it a bit, finally free and back on the highway and heading in. Arrive at the S/F and wow look at the line for registration! Perfect. Finally out of there, stick on number in hand, about 30 minutes till my start and man, I need the portables in a bad way. Wow, look at the line for those! Maybe 40 riders deep, 6 potties.Perfect. Standing, waiting, sweating. Hopping on one foot with all kinds of interior pressures mounting.
 Finally and I mean finally, in and out, quick to the car, dressed, pump up the tires, mix the drinks, stick on the number! no pins! wow, this is living.
On the bike about 10 minutes till the start, feeling not really in any kind of groove to bike race, but what the hell, time to go.
Line up, visit with some old friends at the start line and we are off. Up the big climb neutral then turn us loose. I had already decided I was going to race this one really aggressive as the field was really stacked and I hoped the John Funks of this race would watch each other and let me get up the road. Ah, what a plan!
Two miles into the race, we crest the neutral hill, start down a descent and OOPS,the chain throws to the outside. No worries, I have raced a long time, it ain't my first rodeo and it ain't my first chain throw. Pedal gently, shift to the small ring and get it back on. No problem eh? Except it did not go back on, it jammed, I could not pedal forward or back. No amount of shifting or pedaling could free the linked beast.
Fuck. Only word to describe it. Have to stop and fix it. Pull over, get off and quickly try and get it back on. Jammed chains can be a real bitch sometimes and this one looked like one of those rope tricks that has all those knots in it and it looks like no way they will come out. My chain actually had a couple of loops in it. How the hell does that happen? I mean really. WTF. I yanked and pulled and miraculously it was on and straight. That was the good news. The bad news is I had lost maybe 2 minutes. It seemed like more maybe an hour or so, but in reality was maybe 2 minutes. On the bike, full and I mean full gas and chasing. I can do this. I need some help from the field, some PIANO and I can do this. I see them on the top of a rise ahead, some hope there, but christ it took me forever to get up said hill and that would be the last time I saw them. I chased and chased and chased. No PIANO on this day, apparently.
Eventually, my lower back began to ache, a sign of nearly an hour in full TT mode, crunched low on the bike, to no avail. I reached the S/F area, turned to start lap 2 and asked the marshall how far ahead was the field. He said I did not want to know. OK then, my allergies were kicking up and this day has CALL IT written all over.
Back to the car. Kind of weird to be at the car when everyone else is still riding. Sort of an eerie quiet. Oh well, get the hell out of dodge and wait for next time. No worries, it could always have been worse, this time it was just not my day.

Wilmington Whiteface Race Report

Wilmington Whiteface Road Race
June 11 2011
Wilmington NY
53 degrees light rain throughout-just special
Rolling Loop-3 laps 54.9 miles
Master 35-45 combined

Nothing like driving for 2.5 hours in the rain and knowing you are going to race 2.5 hours in the rain. Sigh. Oh well, bike racing ain't always 85 and sunny, that is for sure. I had resigned myself to 'go Belgian' on this day, ie, shuttup, put on the rain stuff, smear the legs with Vaseline and go bike race.
This is a hard little circuit with one major obstacle per lap, a climb of maybe 1 mile that can usually deal out some serious pain depending on the mood of the field. It starts with a 5 mile run to the circuit, then 3 laps, then exit the circuit to return to town and up the final steep 1.5 mile climb to the finish.
We started with a rain reduced(can't blame the no shows) field of maybe 40, 35 and 45's ride together but are scored separate. Riding with the 35's always adds a bit of extra speed to the occasion, no doubt.
Right out of town, a rider bolts the group, typical early suicide move it would seem. Another rider took off shortly before we hit the loop and now we had two out front maybe a minute gap. As the road spray began to really soak into every possible dry spot on the body, the field rode along at a steady pace as a Canadian team took up the front as one of the breakaways was their guy, and they were all about controlling things and they had the numbers to do it. That was going to be the way this race went all day. They rode hard enough to really discourage much action and went after any major break attempts. They did a fine job indeed. Kind of refreshing to see a team actually ride as a team and not just a bunch of guys in the same jersey but on different pages. They had a plan and they were executing it.
Wet roads make for nervous descents. Pucker factor goes up for sure. Lap 2 saw one guy go off and sit out front by 200 meters for quite awhile, then another guy got a gap and now we had two guys just sitting off the front for quite a few miles but not really going anywhere. That all changed as on one of the longer rollers someone really shot off hard, made the bridge to the second guy, they then caught the first guy, forming a group of 3 that began to work and move away from the field. So now we started lap 3 with 2 guys off by about 2 minutes, then 3 riders about a minute ahead, the field itself had been whittled down to about 20 riders through hill attrition and rain malaise I would suspect. I felt OK at this point, rain and cool temps are not my cup of tea however, my legs typically are not that good in these conditions, but hey, we are racing eh? So, I took a flyer and was quickly marked. Interesting. The field let 3 guys meander away without any reaction, I twitch and here they come. The good news is this seemed to ignite the pace a bit and a few other attacks and accelerations followed my attack. This set the stage for another attempt from me to go, this also was chased down in short order. The really good news is my recovery was really good, and I was ready for another go in short order. If you can stretch a field and put some fellows in distress, the odds for a chase get less and less. Off I went and this time I secured a bit of a gap. Into TT mode and off I go. Shortly a Keltic guy bridges to me and we set off together. I would love to get to the final climb ahead of the group, that was my thinking at any rate. To no avial, the Canadian boys reeled us back in shortly before hitting lap 3 hill for the last time. It got really hard pretty quickly. I was in the top 3 and holding on pretty well until one of the 35's really stomped on the gas and it went single file and hang on for your life. I was number 2 in a long line and I tell you, I was pushing the accelerator nearly through the firewall. His rear wheel bobbed in front of me, pulling a bit away, then coming back in some sort of slow motion death dance. I knew I had to hold his wheel and maybe we could get off in a small group. Finally the top came and he just kept going, he had forced a split, but just before we turned off the loop for the final 6 miles to the finish, some regrouping occurred, and the group was maybe 15 as we motored along, heading for the 'sting in the tail' on this day. This final climb is pretty nasty, maybe 10% for 1.5 miles. You either have the legs left or not. As we banked hard right and started up, my feeling was 'not'. My legs felt stiff and not up to the task. Maybe 12 of our group gapped me immediately and I went into head hanging mode of 'well, maybe 15th will be the box score for this day' mindset.
Then, two things happened. My legs came to life and the group started to split and slow. Yee ha, another chance. I just banged out the fastest tempo I could and began to catch guys one at a time, until finally the 200 meter sign came and I had only 2 left from the original field in front of me.
Stand and push push hard to the end, the line finally came and I weaved into the parking lot way over the red line.
I started to get chilled in no time, so I headed to the car, back down the hill, teeth now chattering. I went from a smoking hot overheated engine to and ice cube in about 10 minutes.
By the time I got to the parking lot, reality set in. I was dirty, soaked and stiff. Uggh. Hard day on the bike.
The Canadians rode a good race, but in the end their guy got second, they put all their eggs in one basket and came up a bit short.
Final box score-5th in the 45's.

Could have been worse.

Killington Stage Race Report

2011 Killington Stage Race

Killington Vermont

May 28 29 30

Masters 50+

60 Starters

Race Preview and Goals-

My form coming in is very good, not optimum, I have only 3 races under my belt and could indeed be a bit thinner, but I was looking for a top 5 GC finish and a top 3 in the queen stage on Monday.

Stage1 

Circuit Race 3 laps of an 18 mile loop.

Rolling, no real climbs-3 KOM sprints on a slight elevation grade hill.

Stage Preview- This stage typically features limited fireworks as it always ends up in a mad 40MPH field sprint. The good idea for GC riders is to not put your nose in the wind if possible all day, and that was my intention. The KOM jersey was not a goal as the KOM sprints in this stage are on such a slight hill anyone can get them, not really worth the effort to burn some matches here it seemed to me.

The race- We started in 62 degrees, light rain, wet roads. Sounds bad but we have had such a shit spring it was not really a big deal.

Lap 1 was steady, some small attacks but nothing really sticking, all the GC guys at the front keeping an eye on each other. First KOM was taken by a small break up the road.

Lap 2 the drizzle let off and the roads started to dry, the pace was again steady, small accelerations, nothing really to shout about.

I felt quite good but had not really done anything so it was hard to tell. That changed as we approached the second KOM and my friend Haluk Sarci pointed to his rear wheel seemingly saying hang on, I am going to lead you out. OK then, change of plans but here we go. He lit the lamp pretty hard in the last K and the field was pretty strung out as we approached the right turn and the 200 M to go sign. Just as we turned I jumped full gas and rode away from the group, snagging KOM 2. Thanks Haluk, that worked nicely. Not in the plan, but what the hell, you see an opportunity, you take it.

Lap 3 saw more of the same, we headed for KOM 3 and now I had to think about some strategy as I was in the hunt for the jersey. A two man break was just up the road and I waited and waited for someone to close the little gap to them before the KOM, figuring there were several other riders trying to get points as well, including Bob Roldan of Keltic who looked to me like the one who really wanted it. No one ever took up the chase though, and I jumped hard again at the 200 M sign, just edging Sarci for 3rd and 2 points. Roldan had scored 1st and second on the first two KOMs so he would have the jersey and I would be second. This battle would continue on stage 3 where the big KOM points were waiting.

Down the descent and out onto the final few miles to the fast finish we went. I thought about trying for the win, the legs were good so why not give it a go? I positioned myself in the top 5 most of the way until 1KM to go and at close to 35MPH it really started to get ragged, with a lot of guys fighting for the front. Eventually I got sandwiched hard and was left watching the sprint rather than participating. 14th. Oh well, no damage done and onto stage 2.

This was as close to a 'no-chain' day as I have had in a long time.

Stage 2

Time Trial -11 mile flat or false flat uphill.

Preview- This is not a stage I am going to win, so my goal was to not be more than 30 seconds out of 3rd. That would leave me in striking distance of the top 5 for the overall, I hoped.

Thanks to my good friend and super wrench Scott Harding, we had set up my old Specialized as a TT bike, with a low front end, aero bars and his Zipps. It looked fast. Now I needed to go fast.

Weather was better, in the 80's and sunny light tailwind on some sections a complete reversal from last years roaring headwind the whole way.

The Race- Warmed up on the trainer, it was hot and I was pouring sweat in no time. Warming up for TT's is a pain in the ass. Riding hard to nowhere and hoping it pays off. Tricky thing to do in the middle of a stage race, how much gas do you want to burn, as well as just getting it timed right in accordance to your start time.

It went well at any rate, legs seemed good, off the trainer onto the road, head to the start, check the clock, circle about a few times and then into the line for the countdown to my start. 

Finally, up to the line I roll, the holder takes my bike, I clip in, take some deep breaths, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and off we go. This TT is important. Blow it and the GC hopes go out the window.

Started quickly out of the saddle, then immediately down and start counting and breathing. Counting and breathing. This is a technique that can really make or break a TT, if I can stay in control and focused, I know I can go as fast as possible. Lose the focus, the breathing gets out of control, hit the redline and you are losing time.  Time trialing is an art, one I used to be really good at and I was searching for that old groove. I settled in pretty well, and was catching my 30 second man, always a good sign. Caught him and now gaining on my minute man. Fun to chase and catch people, but you have to be careful not to focus on that game because the rythym can go out the window that way. Breath, count and pedal and see what happens. I did and slowly gained on him, finally catching  about 4 miles from the finish, then my 2 minute man came up but my 1:30 guy was Sarci and he was out of sight. Kicked up a slight hill and now 1KM to the finish. Full gas now and getting ragged as I am searching for any and all speed I can conjour. Finally the 200 M sign and I am blasting for all I am worth. Across the line and done. Two minutes of serious gasping and eye squinting and then roll back to the car and wait for results.

Box score-13th 1:06 down on the winner, 55 seconds out of 3rd. Not quite as good as I hoped, but still in the game.

I was satisfied with my effort. That was as fast as I could go.

Stage 3

The Queen Stage-63 mile loop RR

Preview- This is where the GC is decided. The course starts with a 3 mile climb then bolts downhill and across flat roads till about mile 26 just outside Bethel. A sharp right leads you immediately up and up. After a steep climb of a couple miles the road goes up and down until about mile 40. Then downhill and near the town of Woodstock another right and you are facing a dicey little dirt road climb of a mile or so. Out onto Rte 4 and heading back to Killington, we re-trace the TT route until you turn left and your race is decided. The next 3 miles are steep and unrelenting, then a couple ups and downs before you descend and then the final tough 1KM to the finish. A hard day no matter what.

Weather was awesome. 85 degrees and sunny, light winds.

The Race:

The big day loomed large as I packed the car and headed to the start. No place to hide today and much to ponder. Just a wicked way to finish a stage race. You either have it or you don't. On day 3, sitting at the start line, I suspect most riders were wondering which applied to them.

We hit the first climb and the action started right off, which surprised me with so far to go. Attacks and hard tempo. By halfway up we were actually shelling guys out of the field all in the first 5 miles! Hit the top and started the long downhill and flats. I surfed at the back. Ideally, if you are a climber you would not want to put your nose in the wind until the final climb. Oh, we can wish eh?

Numerous little fliers until we had 4 off the front, it looked to me like guys going for the sprint jersey points up ahead. Fine with me. All the GC guys were sitting put.

At about 1:30 into the stage we arrived at Bethel and made the right turn to the first big obstacle. This is a nasty little climb and guys started going backwards immediately. I moved into the top 15, trying to figure out what kind of legs I had on this day. Hank Pfeifle set some pretty good tempo, I made the split of 11 over the top but it was not easy and I did not come away with any particular confidence.  The group motored along steady and the first KOM approached. If I wanted the jersey I needed this one. All but one rider from the lead break had been caught so first place was gone, but still enough points for second to make it worth the effort. Bob Roldan attacked a couple of times, I marked him pretty close and each time he sat up. The last 500 meters till the KOM line saw me hit the front, accelerate and stay there, holding off Bob for the 8 second place points. Now, if I was ahead of him on the final climb, and at the finish, I would win the jersey. 

A group of maybe 6 chasers bridged back to us just before the dirt climb, swelling the group to 17. Pfeifle lit the dirt road up, I was wondering if I was hurting or we were hauling. We were hauling, so fast that the group split again, and now we had 6 up front, and the rest chasing. Onto the highway after a 'Bill Thompson bombed the dirt descent spectacle' and now just 18 miles to go to the finish. I felt OK at this point, actually I had not been in dire straights once all weekend, a good sign indeed.

The six of us rotated for about 10 miles then Mike Allaire and Roldan started skipping pulls. Mike looked like his train was starting to come off the tracks, and Bob was struggling as well, so it looked to me like the finale would be me, race leader Sarci, Pfeifle and Thompson for the stage win. Finally the left turn and up we go. All the marbles on the table. Hank accelerated right at the start of the climb, I could see how this was going to go. Ouch was how this was going to go. About 1/3 of the way up Hank gapped me and Thompson, then Sarci dropped Hank! As we neared the KOM, I started to feel pretty good and pulled Pfeifle back. So, with 2 miles to go, Sarci was about 30 sec ahead of Hank, Bill and I. It seemed they either couldn't or wouldn't try and get Sarci and were racing for second. Not sure we could have gotten him anyway, he was flying along pretty smooth. As we hit the final K, Hank accelerated on my left and he was motoring. He gapped me, I gapped Bill and that is the way it held to the finish. The final 200 meters was just pure out of the saddle all you had and finally, the line came and this race was over.

Finish:

1. Sarci

2. Pfeifle @31 sec

3. Sorenson @ 50 sec

4. Thompson @ 59 sec

5. Roldan @ 1:48

6. Allaire @ 4:20

This left me in 4th on the final GC and winning the KOM jersey to boot.

Sum up-

I rode about as good as I could and really that is all you can ask. I needed that 1% more to actually win, but Sarci was the best man and deserved it.

Sunapee Race Report

Sunapee Road Race

May 21 Mt. Sunapee Ski Resort NH

Men Pro 123

62 Starters

62 Degrees Cloudy Showers

23 Mile loop X3-68 miles Rolling

Preview-I was racing the P123 field for training as the upcoming KSR is next week. Time to take some lumps and get some fast miles. Condition is good and I hope to get a top 20 but the work is the main goal.

Lap 1- Right at the start one guy rolls off, I am surfing at the back, it seems a small enough group the front is not so far away to be in real danger of not getting there if need be. 

We cruised about 35MPH through the first 5 mile downhill section then turned onto the highway for the first obstacles of the day, a series of rolling climbs, none more than 1KM long.

I really had no idea how I was going to fit in with this group so at this point it was keep up and see how it goes. The speed was steady fast with lots of small attacks, but it seemed doable. At about the 10 mile mark the front break had swelled from one to about 8 and they were rolling. This triggered a panic in the main field that lasted for the next 30 miles. Everyone it seemed felt left out and wanted to bridge to the break. Attack after attack. The field would string out and break up on the climbs, then come back together, but always at speed. Despite the fact that the first lap was covered at about 26 MPH average, the front group had actually pulled out to more than a minute ahead. Incredible. They were flying, the field was flying and the gap was still growing. Attack, counter, attack, counter it just went on and on. This was the most aggressive race I had been in in years. Through the fireworks, I was stretched, but OK> Make no mistake, I was not comfortable, but not getting dropped either. At one point the field had separated into 3 groups and I was in group 3, and vowed to not let that happen again I decided it was time to really race bikes. I was not going to settle for less than group 2 and would do what it took to make sure that happened.

At about 35 miles, the leaders were now at about 2 minutes up, despite unrelenting pressure from the main field, which at this point had dropped about 20 guys. So maybe 30 in the main group and 8 or so ahead. Now in aggressive mode all the way, I sensed the guy in front of me was going, as 4 guys had established a gap to form group 2, and I was going to get there as well. He went, I followed but he jumped so hard he gapped me by about 4 bike lengths and it took me full gas for maybe a minute at 32MPH to get firmly on his wheel, holy christ that was hard. Fully redlined, we finally made contact with the chase group. That was the good news. The bad news was it happened just as we hit the major hill on the backside of the course. This was not good. I was way over the red line and had no reserve to call on at this point. The group pulled away from me, then, oh crap, the field catches me, and guys are attacking out of it up the hill as well. Really not good. No one is going even steady, it is just a full on shoot out and I am getting shot full of holes.

I had to keep contact before we crested the hill. Had to or game over. Rider after rider went by me as I labored out of the saddle praying for the top to get there before the last guy passed me. 50 meters to go, and the back of the train goes by and now a gap is forming. What can I do? Not a damn thing, I am just so blown at this point, but know down deep that unless the field slows down, which has not happened all day, I will never see them again and still have lap 3 to go. There is one straggler with me and we both put our heads down and chase for our very lives, but the field in front of us is strung out and shows no sign of any slowing. Crap crap crap. We soldier on for about 5 miles and pass the line for one lap to go and the field is now out of sight. Well, I could turn left and head to the parking lot, I have 2 tremendous hours of training under my belt for the day, but what the hell, I don't DNF unless I have a broken bone. I mention to my co-hort, at least it isn't raining. 5 minutes later, it starts raining and he is gone. OK then, 23 miles in the rain solo. What the hell, are we a bike racer or not? I guess we are, for better, or worse. 

I settle into a steady tempo and ride it out to the finish. Once I got some recovery, I was actually OK, legs tired but not shelled. I picked up and passed a few blown souls from my race, they never even twitched to stay with me. Smarter than me, they were done I suppose.

Finally hit the finish, the box score showed me 41st out of 42 official finishers. 14 minutes behind the winner. Wow. That is my worst finish maybe EVER. Bottom line, my 30 year old race brain wrote a check that my 56 year old race legs could not cash and a perfect storm of events at that time blew me out of the box. Oh yeah, training was the goal. Well, I did get that.

Onward. Killington stage race up next weekend and against all old men like me!

Back To Work

The off-season is over, thankfully. Brutal, long winter here in VT led to many, many months of tedium on the trainer. It started snowing in Nov and just never stopped. Uggh.
The streets did not clear until mid March, putting us about a month behind in road miles.
The good news is my winter program went well, I had some new weight goals and came in about 151 pounds on March 1 vs 167 pounds at the same time last year. Pretty happy with that I tell you. I learned the diet secret. Don't eat.
I was not planning on starting my race season until the new Bennington SR on May 1 but a window of opportunity arose and I snuck into the Battenkill-Roubaix road race on April 10. Knowing I was so far behind the mileage curve of the other riders, this would be an advanced training ride for me, ie, hang on to your ass and never put your nose in the wind.
B-R is a really tough race though, huge fields and lots of hard dirt sections, not really a 'ease into your season type of first race'. Oh well. Saddle up and get on it with.
Sunday headed to Cambridge NY for the biggest one day race in the US. 2500 or so riders. Holy crap, cars and bikes take over this little town on race day. Just a massive production. Kudos to Dieter Drake and his staff for being able to corral and control this monster. It all went pretty smooth from my vantage point.
Race day forecast was for 50's and showers but we lucked out. It was low 60's and mostly sunny, so no worries about mud. This course can be sketchy enough without slick dirt sections to deal with.
65 miles on tap, I was in the Master 50 plus. We started with 150 guys, just a massive group, so I went to the front 20 and stayed there.
First 10 miles, steady.
Onto the first dirt section, some chaos, bottles skidding this way and that, but no real carnage. Field thinned a bit.
 OK to this point but I really had no idea how I was going to go on this day. I was lighter, but that ain't all there is to racing bikes, so it was with a bit of trepidation I approached the first real obstacle of the day, Juniper Swamp Road, a nasty little climb. I seem to remember John Funk taking off so the speed went up and I settled in pretty comforatbly at the back of a 15 man group. Over the top, no worries! I felt smooth and in control. hey, this lighter thing might work. The damage to the field though, was massive. I looked back and the 15 guys I was with was it. Holy crap. 120 or so guys just sawed off like that. Wow.
A group of 20-30 did bridge back, but the succeeding climbs would see them fall off again, then fight back, then get dropped until by mid-race, 35 miles or so, we were left with 15 guys in the front and that was the bike race. Everyone else was off in dribs and drabs and chasing. This course has a way of doing that.
Up and down, right and left, pavement and dirt, it just keeps coming and it wears on you.
My biggest worry was the 3rd hour. I thought I could handle the first two, and I did in good fashion. Legs were good, climbs were no problem. It was just not hard, and that was a good feeling.
However, the final 15 miles would be the bike race and it was. Little attacks and accelerations, cross winds, dirt climbs, soft sandy sections, guys careening this way and that, many, many guys standing by the road with forlorn looks holding wheels with flats, waiting waiting for the salvation of the obviously overworked support cars.
At about the 2:30 mark we were down to 12 and I could feel the deep dark pain starting to take over my legs. I knew it was time to really dig in and start racing bikes, shut it out and do what had to be done to keep up.
We careened across a long up and down section called Meeting House road and it got really hard. Strung out, gaps all over, trying to find a line through the dirt. I picked the guy with the biggest, most tan legs, locked on his wheel, squinted my eyes and held on. This was some hard shit. We were flying along at 30mph through the dirt, now 8 miles or so to go to the finish. I was hurting but holding on.
I knew if I could keep contact though the final set of dirt climbs, it was a 4-5 mile downhill/false flat pavement run-in to the finish, and I could cruise in from there.
Up we went for the last obstacles of the day. Ouch is all I can say. I was really hurting and really digging deep. OK on the first ramp, still here. OK on the second ramp, still here. Crap, another one, now gapped. I remember looking up and the sky seemed almost white and I could see sparkles. That is not good. That means you are getting dropped. CRAP!. So close and I am falling off! I dig for my life and keep the wheel in front of me maybe 10 meters. Still possible. Over and then, another ramp. I know my shoulders sagged, my spirit pretty much sagged as well. I knew there was no way I could hold it to the top. 8 guys were now pulling away, 5 miles to go. Damn.
Over the top, onto the pavement another rider catches me and we start working together. A chance? Maybe. We traded pulls and pushed hard. When you have been racing nearly 3 hours and are now in a flat out 30MPH chase in a two man rotation, legs screaming with each turn of the pedals, well, this is what bike racing is all about. Hard. Really hard. Flat out all you can do. We could see the leaders in front of us, but with a mile to go, they started ramping it up for the finish and disappeared from sight.
Finally the end appeared, the final 2 blocks in downtown Cambridge completely barracaded, people lining each side of the road cheering, I guess they were, my ears had nearly shut down from loss of fuel to run any system except the legs.
 Crossed the line, 10th, a minute behind the front 8.
All in all quite a grand day for a guy with 7 days outside and less total road miles than I raced on this day.
No flats and all my skin.

Meeting House Road

On to Bennington.