A New England Masters Cycling Team

From a promoters point of view the race went really well. There were some problems, there always are, but overall I'm pleased. We had great weather for the first time in 3 years. The "epic" cross race may be the one with rain or snow and mud but the one with a nice cool sunny day will have more racers in attendance! And I won't be back at the Camp everyday for a month repairing the damage done by a bunch of bikes going 'round and 'round on the same tract of land. I spent some time there Tuesday and I'll have to go back again but the damage is minimal compared to last year. I'd like to thank my crew; Ted, Arlen aka Zane, Gary, Ed, Paul, Wayne, Matt, Amanda, Dave and of course Laura and Nathaniel. Can't forget the officials, Mike, Meg and Don. I asked a lot of them to try and score this year's event. Sure I said, 3 officials is plenty, we never have more than 125 riders for the day. Biggest field has been 35 riders. Been like that for 5 years. Well, 63 Beginner men and throw in a dozen cub juniors and 10 women and you've got yourself a mess. Master's field wasn't much better with about 50 riders. We'll be prepared in 2007.

I lined up front row in the Masters looking to keep my streak alive. I've never been lower than 5th in my own race. I had a bad start and got squeezed back to about 15th by the time we hit the hill. Because of traffic I had to dismount which cost me another few spots. I had to get by some slower riders which took some time and cost some time but I managed. For the next 2 laps I tried to latch onto the group just in front. I was alone a lot but also worked with Matt "I fly helicopters for a living" Domnarski. But I dropped him and then he dropped me then I dropped him. Finally I caught the group Mike Bedard (Gearworks) a very good rider who is coming back from a year off due to injury. I'm pretty sure Mike has been the 45+ Verge Champion. Also in the group were Todd Bowden (CVC), former MTB pro from Canada if I'm not mistaken, Jeff Kellogg (NAV Pedros) and Chris Adeletti (Cyclocnauts). Chasing solo just behind us was Jan Weijak (Verge). I'm sure people have heard of Jan. Former pro. Elite Cross Champion twice, at least one Masters Nat Championship. I yo'd yo'd a little but stayed with the group. Ted shouted from the sidelines that we were going for 4th. Groom, Hines and Davis were together up-front and pulling away. We lost Bowden to what I thought was a flat. I later learned he broke his freehub. The last time up the steep climb I charged to the front and got a gap. Before the race I tested out using the big ring on the hill. I was thinking about the start but it ended up being a factor in the last lap. By the end of the first beach, on the stairs, Mike and Chris had caught me back. As we went by the pit I pulled over and let them come through. I sat back and waited to attack. Through the 2nd beach OK. Held on through the twists and turns and the long false flat. Then down across the bmx track. I went through the drainage pit of despair first and made it out alive with a small gap. I rode well through the last sand pit with Mike right on my heels. I opened up my sprint on the road and held the gap. 4th place. 3rd rider from CT so I got the Bronze. I wonder if a better start would have changed the outcome. Could I have been with the 3 leaders? Part of me says, maybe. Part of me say, I lined up the 4th best rider that day.