Saturday, September 16, 2006
Bob Beal Day 1
Road Race – Because of the relatively low number of riders in the past, the 30-34 and 35-39 fields were scheduled to race together for separate rankings this year. That made for a pretty good field of about 50 racers. Amos Brumble and a couple of his CCB rider were in the field, so that almost guaranteed a break at some point in the race. I figured that I be watchful for a good break, but felt no need to kill myself if it was all 30+ riders.
Very nearly from the gun, two riders went off the front – a ccb rider and one other 30+ rider. I kept up towards the front of the pack, but avoided doing any real work since it wasn’t really my race up the road. The CCB rider was not Amos, as he had flatted very shortly after the start (shades of my Albany race). Unlike me, Amos was able to demonstrate why he usually rides with the pros by rejoining us sometime before ½ way through lap 1. I responded to a couple of attacks during the first lap, but no one seemed willing to really commit so, again, I felt no compulsion to put any work into these. By the time we were on RT 91, we had caught back up with the two man break.
Lap two saw some more 1 or 2 rider attacks heading down to US 1. The biggest threat came with a pretty sizable attack going up the road the 2nd time up the climb. Initially 8-10 riders went up the road. I jumped to follow, but found myself in no man’s land with a few riders that would not pull through. I eased up and some more bridging efforts went by up the road. Ultimately there were close to 20 riders about 10 –15 seconds up the road, but since they didn’t get well organized, the rest of us tacked back on by the time we hit the descent.
At some point during all this excitement, one 30+ rider did get off the front and managed to make time on us. Shortly after the end of the second lap, the long awaited attack came from Amos. He and one other 30+ rider went up the road on the last significant up hill before the mostly downhill run to US 1. Here things started to get a bit confusing for me. I was mid pack and couldn’t see all of what was going on in front, but before Brumble and friend went off the front, we had a police car in the lead. I had assumed that meant we pulled the solo break back. Sometime a bit after the two man break went, we again had an escort. So again, even though I didn’t see them come back, I assumed the break was back. It turns out spare police were parked at various places around the course to jump into the gaps when they got big enough. This was not a big deal for me since the three spots up the road didn’t change my finish, but confusing nonetheless.
By the third time up the hill, it looked as if everybody was resigned to leaving it up to a bunch sprint. No major attacks occurred and there were only a few surges in pace with people trying to shake things up. I began jockeying for position going into the descent and continued to move up through the pack once we hit RT 91. Here the pace kicked up a bit again, but there wasn’t really enough of any one team to drive the pace. I had one close call as I was coming up the right when Badger pulled out and hooked my front wheel. I kept things upright and decided that if he was going to pull out, I might as well use him. We were no more than 1k out at this point, so I stuck his wheel and followed him through some more traffic. We came through the right hander before the finish right up in the lead 6-7 riders. Then the “sprint” just got funny. Going down the little dip before the railroad bridge, we sped up a bit, but once we hit the little hill at the bridge, no one wanted to lead it out. I was standing and over geared and had to skip a few beats just to avoid rolling over Badger. We were also getting pinned in the lead phalanx and looked to be at risk of having the people behind surge past. Thankfully at maybe 100-150m out, someone decided to sprint! I got right on top of the pedals, but was still boxed in the middle of the lead group. The guy on my left bobbled into me and I decided that there was no way I was going to let that slow me down today. He slowed up when we bounced and opened up a window to daylight. I lit up and headed to the left side of the road. I managed to pick off Badger and a couple of other riders to finish ca. 5-6th in the bunch, which was good for 4th 35+ field.
Of course it also doesn’t hurt that the rider who won the 35+ race didn’t win it. A GS Mengoni rider had gotten out ahead of us to take first. However, he served as an example for why you should really take the public urination rule seriously. Word on the street (okay, straight from Sandy) was that during the race he had taken a leak while rolling through one of the lovely Charlestown RI residential neighborhoods. Maybe not so bad except the act was done flagrantly in front of one of the residents. It does suck that such a nice ride on his part was negated by a relagation, but you don’t want to get the locals up in arms with that sort of behavior.
Time Trial:
Not much to say. 3 rolling and over all slightly uphill miles. Thankfully what had been a headwind in the morning turned into a weak tailwind for the afternoon. We went off alphabetically, so I was 4th in the 35+ field with Badger as my 30 second man. I managed to catch my 30 sec man and came close to my minute and 1.5 minute man. I went all out dreading hearing the sound of Badger’s disc catching up. Thankfully he never did. No times were posted, but I cooled down long enough to get my unofficial placing from the time keeper. When all was said and done I placed 7th in the TT. GC will be an unknown until I show up for the Crit.
Very nearly from the gun, two riders went off the front – a ccb rider and one other 30+ rider. I kept up towards the front of the pack, but avoided doing any real work since it wasn’t really my race up the road. The CCB rider was not Amos, as he had flatted very shortly after the start (shades of my Albany race). Unlike me, Amos was able to demonstrate why he usually rides with the pros by rejoining us sometime before ½ way through lap 1. I responded to a couple of attacks during the first lap, but no one seemed willing to really commit so, again, I felt no compulsion to put any work into these. By the time we were on RT 91, we had caught back up with the two man break.
Lap two saw some more 1 or 2 rider attacks heading down to US 1. The biggest threat came with a pretty sizable attack going up the road the 2nd time up the climb. Initially 8-10 riders went up the road. I jumped to follow, but found myself in no man’s land with a few riders that would not pull through. I eased up and some more bridging efforts went by up the road. Ultimately there were close to 20 riders about 10 –15 seconds up the road, but since they didn’t get well organized, the rest of us tacked back on by the time we hit the descent.
At some point during all this excitement, one 30+ rider did get off the front and managed to make time on us. Shortly after the end of the second lap, the long awaited attack came from Amos. He and one other 30+ rider went up the road on the last significant up hill before the mostly downhill run to US 1. Here things started to get a bit confusing for me. I was mid pack and couldn’t see all of what was going on in front, but before Brumble and friend went off the front, we had a police car in the lead. I had assumed that meant we pulled the solo break back. Sometime a bit after the two man break went, we again had an escort. So again, even though I didn’t see them come back, I assumed the break was back. It turns out spare police were parked at various places around the course to jump into the gaps when they got big enough. This was not a big deal for me since the three spots up the road didn’t change my finish, but confusing nonetheless.
By the third time up the hill, it looked as if everybody was resigned to leaving it up to a bunch sprint. No major attacks occurred and there were only a few surges in pace with people trying to shake things up. I began jockeying for position going into the descent and continued to move up through the pack once we hit RT 91. Here the pace kicked up a bit again, but there wasn’t really enough of any one team to drive the pace. I had one close call as I was coming up the right when Badger pulled out and hooked my front wheel. I kept things upright and decided that if he was going to pull out, I might as well use him. We were no more than 1k out at this point, so I stuck his wheel and followed him through some more traffic. We came through the right hander before the finish right up in the lead 6-7 riders. Then the “sprint” just got funny. Going down the little dip before the railroad bridge, we sped up a bit, but once we hit the little hill at the bridge, no one wanted to lead it out. I was standing and over geared and had to skip a few beats just to avoid rolling over Badger. We were also getting pinned in the lead phalanx and looked to be at risk of having the people behind surge past. Thankfully at maybe 100-150m out, someone decided to sprint! I got right on top of the pedals, but was still boxed in the middle of the lead group. The guy on my left bobbled into me and I decided that there was no way I was going to let that slow me down today. He slowed up when we bounced and opened up a window to daylight. I lit up and headed to the left side of the road. I managed to pick off Badger and a couple of other riders to finish ca. 5-6th in the bunch, which was good for 4th 35+ field.
Of course it also doesn’t hurt that the rider who won the 35+ race didn’t win it. A GS Mengoni rider had gotten out ahead of us to take first. However, he served as an example for why you should really take the public urination rule seriously. Word on the street (okay, straight from Sandy) was that during the race he had taken a leak while rolling through one of the lovely Charlestown RI residential neighborhoods. Maybe not so bad except the act was done flagrantly in front of one of the residents. It does suck that such a nice ride on his part was negated by a relagation, but you don’t want to get the locals up in arms with that sort of behavior.
Time Trial:
Not much to say. 3 rolling and over all slightly uphill miles. Thankfully what had been a headwind in the morning turned into a weak tailwind for the afternoon. We went off alphabetically, so I was 4th in the 35+ field with Badger as my 30 second man. I managed to catch my 30 sec man and came close to my minute and 1.5 minute man. I went all out dreading hearing the sound of Badger’s disc catching up. Thankfully he never did. No times were posted, but I cooled down long enough to get my unofficial placing from the time keeper. When all was said and done I placed 7th in the TT. GC will be an unknown until I show up for the Crit.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]