A New England Masters Cycling Team

Good race for me although less muddy conditions would have been better and a few more minutes of warm-up would have helped too. Ted!!, Matt, Thom and I lined up with guest rider Brian Cantele (gotta get him his clothes 'n helmet). A light rain had been falling all morning. I had a good start and was sitting in about 6th when we plowed through the ever growing puddle on the start-finish stretch and hit the first twists and turns - all starting to show signs of the rain and the previous race. Mud! I was behind Matt when he hit the deck for the 1st time on lap 1 - I was actually behind him for the 2nd one too a couple of laps latter. It is a fairly fast section, slightly downhill, slightly off camber, very wet. Matt was flying and then he sliding. Maybe I was too cautious but I only went down once on the Pittsfield signature off camber. It is been part of the race for years in one direction or the other. My rear wheel went right around and I went down. And like always when I crash in cross I hit my knee. A little painful but I could ride. I lost my place to Matt but since we were working together that was OK. Most of the race I was battling a guy from the Albany club. He was way faster in the technical bits but I would easily catch him on the riding sections or big run-up. With 2 to go, he got by me on "Matt's off-camber" and went flying down the big descent. I was like wow! he took that really fast - but then at the bottom he bit it big time. He looked down and out but he re-mounted. I pushed it to make sure he wouldn't catch. Matt and I were working pretty well and making up ground on two riders about 15 seconds ahead when he went down for the 3rd time. I thought I saw parts flying and it looked like he couldn't pedal any more and he went over. Seems he rolled one of the Tufo Clinchulars. I'll stick to the Tufo tubulars thank you. Although, he did crash twice before so that very well could have tweeked that front wheel and tire. So there I was alone in the world. I had Vollers coming back to me but the gap was a safe one. Brian Cantele is on a tear and won going away! Just wish I could get him those clothes. I was 5th (4th 35+ if that matters). No time for chit chat after the race as it really started to pour in the last lap. Thom and I were parked well away from everybody else - under the dry overhang of the school that is next to the race course. Hope they don't have video cameras in the lobby of that school pointing outside. Two bike racers droppin' trow and getting cleaned up after a cold wet muddy race. Yikes!