A New England Masters Cycling Team

I'll start with the 35+, then get to the meat of the matter later...

Okay, I guess I'l have to start by saying I stand guilty of not precisely executing according to plan during this race. Matt, Wade, and Zane were pretty aggressive towards the start of the race. Matt was up front early and in a small group off the front at least once that I saw. Other than the first couple of laps towards the front, I sat in for the majority of the race, so I really wasn't getting a full view of what was going on up front.

I started to get situated for the sprint at 5 or 6 to go. Funk (I think?) was still of the front, but coming back. I moved up behind Badger, then got on the inside line behind Big John Interlandi (another guy I can actually draft off of!). I was getting full on psyched for the finish, thinking positive thoughts and getting into an aggressive state of mind - perhaps too much so. Seeing who had moved up front, I thought there was the potential for a counter-attack.

I was so convinced, I launched one myself. I got a bit of a gap, but unfortunately was not joined by anyone else. I suppose at this point, I should have pulled the ripcord and gotten ready to sprint after all, but I was bit too stubborn. I figured there was a chance that either I could hold out the remaining laps or maybe have someone bridge up. At some point, my oxygen starved mind heard "...good gap..." over the radio, which egged me on. Someone finally did bridge up, but, unfortunately, too late. I could not hold the wheel going up the hill at the end of 2 to go, filtered through, and out the back of the pack. I came in well behind, so anything that happened during the sprint is a mystery to me and need to be commented on by those involved.

Category 4/5, juniors, etc....

I took a 1/2 lap coldown then rushed to the start of the 4/5 race. First few laps were spent getting the legs to come 'round again. The pace was relatively slow enough with the expected bunching at the turns (especially 2 and 3). I found that if I picked my line right, I could gain on the turns and minimize having to deal with the accordion effect. Seemed like a good plan until midway through 8 to go. All I hear ahead of me is "...blah, BLAH, LINES!!!!" CRASH, SCHHHHCHHHH! as a rider a few bike lengths ahead an to the inside of me felt it more prudent to yell and rub wheels than brake and stay upright. I had an out to the outside (albeit very close to the crash victim's wheel) and went to head around. Unfortunely, crash victim #2 hit his other wheel, throwing crash victim #1's other wheel in front of mine. I high sided it and slammed on my right hip and arm.

After figuring out that neither I nor the bike had any major broken bits, I got on and headed up the road bisecting the course to hit the pit. I got checked out and okayed for a free lap. Meanwhile, crash #1 and #2 came around the long way (with crash 1 still bitching about *expletive deleted* people and their lines - which earn admonishment from the official for bad language) And we were back in with 6 to go.

My hip and especially my right thumb were unhappy, so I was thinking twice about the sprint. I figured, what the heck, lets go for another flyer. The plan was to go in the second to last lap, but a good situation presented itself a bit earlier, so I attacked to catch two riders up the road. When I cought them, I figured their speed wouldn't cut it, so I went by on the left. One of the two attached and sucked wheel for a good part of a lap. When he pulled through, I realized I was paired with a strong junior from CCB who offered me no shelter from the wind. I figured next time I pulled around that I best go all or nothing and tow him in. Well, turns out it was nothing. Last time up the hill I was caught and swarmed. I had nothing in the tank, so I sat up and rode in.

I guess the positive note is I got a couple of anaerobic threshold workouts in and came away still able to walk and ride, sort of.