A New England Masters Cycling Team

I just read the race report on the Bethel site (http://www.carpediemracing.org/20060402_CriteriumDeBethelresults2006.html), and it's kind of, sort of accurate but I'll tell my version...

Arlen (I mean Wenzel Zane), Ed, Scott and I rode down from Exit 10. Or rather raced down. Wenzelarlenzane does not know what the word "easy" means. We got to the race at 12:50 which meant there was still 20 minutes before the end of the 3/4 race. So we all coughed up the extra dough and registered for both the 30+ and 1-2-3 races. Wade was already there (having smartly driven down) and signed up for both.

Only about 20 guys had signed up for the 30+ race and we got to the line only to be told the race was cancelled, and the 1-2-3 race would start at 1:50. Confusion ensued, and after much discussion we were off for 30 minutes + 5 laps. I can't remember the order or frequency of attacking but contrary to the way the race report above reads, Arlen was aggressive in getting free with Fernando, and they worked steadily to forge a huge gap. Ed bridged solo to a small counterattack group at one point, a smart move since he could sit in, waiting to attack if Arlen and Fernando were caught. Scott, Wade and I did a fine job of patrolling the "pack" and I pulled off with one to go to watch the sprint. Arlen looked a bit overgeared and his 2 bike length lead with 20 meters to the line became a one bike length deficit at the line. Ed took 5th, and we were $65 richer!

The 1-2-3 race was weird. It was very aggressive from the start and within 10 minutes, 5 or 6 guys were up the road and gone. They built over a minute lead, but Anthem didn't seem too worried until about halfway through. That's when it got really weird. They tried very hard to mount a chase, with Mike and Ron trying their best to coordinate via their radios. Problem is they would drill it up the hill (with a tailwind), stringing the field out enough that gaps would open and then it would bunch all together and slow down in the headwind. And we'd be back to square one. Coupled with random, seemingly pointless attacks by Unkert, the break just got farther and farther ahead until we got lapped with one to go.

The weirdest parts of the day were hearing the words "Come on! We have to save the jersey!" uttered in a race at BETHEL, and Unkert and some Tokeneke guy arguing after the race (for Tim's version see http://www.timunkert.com/diary.html).

The ride back to Exit 10 was painful but a Coke and $13 in my pocket got me through it. Back at at the car the tally was 2 races, 3:30 riding time and 115k. Not bad for early April.