I'm going to sacrifice detail for timeliness for two reasons: 1) I'm pretty beat; and 2) I don't want to steal any thunder from what I hope will be a very detailed account by SDC about today's race. Oh, and another reason: I wanna post the few pics Mrs. SOC was able to get ASAP along with a GREAT finishline video.
The two main highlights of today's race: 1) LARGE team presence - 8 guys total, including 2 racing with us for the first time (one in his first Cat 3 race in a long time, one in his first Cat 3 race ever); and 2) BIG team win - SDC pulled out an awesome sprint to be the first over the line.
It was probably the coldest race so far in this series - even colder and more raw than the rainy races a couple weeks ago. But our turnout shows that EXPO doesn't mind the cold - (L to R) Paul, SOC, Drew, Dennis, Mike, Steve, and Lance. True to form, SDC was finishing up promoter duties and hadn't arrived yet - this time not even getting his usual 19 second warmup, since he walked his bike over.
This race was the team's biggest opportunity so far to move SDC up the standings, the race leader racing elsewhere today. IRS/Medic was well-represented to help their 2nd place GC and, like EXPO, preferred to keep things together for a sprint finish.
SDC made up for his lack of warmup by going almost from the gun. After that leg-opener, the attacks kept coming fairly regularly, but nothing stuck. IRS/M and Expo were doing their job chasing stuff down - probably frustrating to guys not having a team helping them.
With lingering fatigue the past week, I'd only ridden 20 miles all week (Saturday) and my stomach was giving me trouble this morning. So I had no illusions of being able to help out as much as I wanted. Thankfully, having more teammates took a lot of pressure off. I was still able to do a little though - photographic evidence above. I launched at the top of the hill, bridged to a break, and led for a lap.
And promptly cooked.
I spent the next bunch of laps trying to recover. Fortunately, the rest of EXPO worked hard to keep it together.
I saw every one of them doing their part, though unfortunately Mrs. SOC was only able to get this shot of Lance all-too-typically off the front, keeping the pace high. I often found myself near Mike in the pack, and was impressed he was able to keep pace in a Cat 3 race. As a Cat 4. On junior gearing(?!). (Mrs. SOC regrets that it was just too blasted cold today to get as many shots of the team as she usually does and promies to do better as it gets warmer!).
After 29 laps of chasing, bridging, slowing down, speeding up, and one close call with a guy in the final couple laps where his right hand, forearm, thigh and hip rubbed my left bar as he went by (notwithstanding that, today's race was a lot better than last week's squirrel fest), everybody was all together and the pace kicked up to its highest for the final lap.
It all came down to this:
Be sure to stay tuned to his blog for what I'm sure will be a much more exciting description from the FRONT end of the race.
Next weekend is Easter, so the Bethel series is on hiatus until April 11. There are only two races left - two more chances to move SDC up the GC for the win!
This is the story of four intrepid mostly-Cat3 racers trying against the odds to hold on to a GC position in race #3 of the Bethel Spring Series: The Tour de Kirche.
After last week's cold & wet conditions, the weather was record warm, dry and sunny. The great weather wasn't enough to persuade a bunch of our teammates to forego a planned pre-ride of the Tour of Battenkill course, so there was just me and Drew to help SDC move up the GC or at least not lose ground. Fortunately, Dennis answered my plea, deciding to give our race a try and provide some much-needed help too.
It was actually a little funny lining up at the start in a sea of Bethel guys (they hold the yellow jersey) and a million other hungry racers. I'm not sure how many IRS/Medic guys there were supporting the #2 GC guy, but I think we were the smallest team there with podium dreams. SDC can hold his own in a sprint, but there has to be a sprint for him to have a chance. I didn't know how we'd fare against such a large field. So we kept our expectations low - if we held our ground against these odds we'd consider the race a success.
SDC saving his matches for end-of-race fireworks (as always, click to enlarge)
The race started out fast with multiple attacks right out of the gate. Even with the hill, the average speed for the 30 laps (1 hour) was between 25 & 26mph and the field was often strung out, either chasing down a split or break or reacting to a few bored eager riders going off the front. The speed is - for me - one of the joys of racing. And racing at such speeds in a close-knit pack is especially great, when it's safe.
Since I've started racing at Bethel, I've been impressed with how safe the racing is - even though it tends to be very fast and competitive. Unfortunately, whether because of the record-size field (80-ish?), a few bad apples, or just the general giddyness of May-like weather in March, this race was - to quote the Swedish Chef: "Squirrely, squirrely, squirrely." There was a lot of bumping, overlapped wheels and general sketchiness. Most laps, going up the hill, riders would blow up and/or sit up inexplicably. You come to expect some of that, especially on the faster laps, since that hill is a real menace after being flat out - it's hard to keep momentum up. But yesterday, instead of ones and twos it was whole large groups of guys slowing WAY down, all across the road. It made for some crazy lines. And once I swear about 20 guys came to an almost complete stop - I thought they'd fall over if they didn't clip out - but they somehow stayed upright.
Another minor miracle: Somebody must've gotten too close and put a pedal in a guy's rear wheel. The machinegun sound and flying spoke accompanied the scene of riders trying to avoid running into each other and keep from crashing. Fortunately, the guy veered off to the side of the road, rear wheel wobbling, his race over.
My closest call came when I got a little too close to the guy I was marking. I'd let my front wheel overlap his for a split-second at just the same time he needed to move right to react to a shift in the field. Our wheels rubbed, I wobbled a bit and folks gave a little extra space, punctuated by their shouts of "whoa!" Considering all the argy bargy, it's amazing that there wasn't a single crash the entire race (which is more than can be said about the Pro1/2/3 races this year, unfortunately).
Given our reduced numbers, marking was just about all we could do - go with whatever split occurs in the field; make sure SDC stays near the yellow jersey and any other GC threats. One good thing about having fewer teammates in a race is that it makes your strategy much more focused - you don't have to discuss much beforehand, and during the race things become automatic a little more easily. One of the coolest things about this race was how the three of us were able to keep our marks in sight, in order to let SDC concentrate on the end of the race. It seemed just as one of us would tire, it "just so happened" that another of us would be there - ready to take up the mark.
I was especially proud of Dennis - that's him up there taking over marking the leader as I fade a bit. He is - by his own admission - more of a road racer than a crit guy and I think he may even be a recently-minted Cat4 (he coordinates our Cat5 team). Point is, he stepped way outside of his comfort zone to help us in the Cat3/4 race. Due to what I later discovered must have been sandbagging (something about not getting enough sleep, etc etc), I didn't have high expectations, figuring if he could at least keep things together early that would be a big help. But he went way above and beyond that, racing as a full partner and teammate during the entire race. Better yet, he's committed to doing the 3/4 race again next week (there, it's in print now so he has to do it!).
I've raced with Drew in all the races so far this season and, despite his claim that his fitness hasn't come around yet, he always seemed to be right where we needed him when we needed him there. It was due to these two guys that the yellow jersey had an EXPO guy on his wheel for most of the race.
The series leader did get away once though, in what I thought was a pretty dangerous move in the latter half of the race. We'd just come up the hill again (that's a typical shot of the climb above) and things got boxed in a bit. By the time we'd rounded corner 1 and started down the hill, there was a split up the road a little bit of about 6 or 7 guys. Next thing I know, I hear someone say "there goes yellow" and sure enough I see the series leader bridge up - and none of our guys were up there.
All I could think was "this is bad, they can't get away" and so I got outside the pack and started sprinting like it was the bell lap. I still don't know quite what I thought I would do if/when I got there. It would have been better to find SDC, get him on my wheel, and try and get him to the split. But in my addled state, I just put my head down and flew by the rest of the pack and latched onto the breakaway as they crested the hill. The rest of the peloton must've wondered whether that was part of EXPO's strategy - I know that was the reaction Mrs. Suitcase had when she saw my big effort. She asked me later - "What did you plan to do when you got there?" And, I'm embarrased to admit I wasn't quite sure. "Sit on the break" didn't make that much sense since there were certainly enough guys in it to do without me. If we had stayed away, there's no way I alone could have kept anyone else from getting to the line first. But - whether due to my kamikaze effort, lack of interest in the break, or (most likely) a motivated pack of chasers - it all came together again. Just the effect I wanted, even if the effect wasn't quite intended.
Intended or not though, the situation at the end gave our guy the best chance. That's him moving up the field toward the end of the race, getting into the best position he can without the benefit of fresh teammates to bring him up. One of the downsides of having only a few guys working for you is that you tend to have to use them up too soon. Guys that have been chasing attacks, bridging to breaks, and marking others all during the race can't (at least I can't) have enough energy at the end to do a solid leadout.
But as you'll see below, sometimes - if you're lucky - you can seize an opportunity and don't need a big leadout train:
I didn't see this happen since I was still coming up the hill. But fortunately, Mrs. Suitcase caught it. Good thing. As I rounded corner 1 after the finish, I saw SDC coming back up the track. I asked him how he did and he just shook his head. I wasn't too surprised - I knew it was a very very tough race and the odds were certainly stacked against us. But I soon learned the truth. SDC took third out of a HUGE, competitive, sketchy field. Being typically hard on himself, he noted that he got beat by the two guys ahead of him on GC. But I was very happy with how we did with what we had.
Sure, it would be nice to win - and if we have anything to do with it, we're going to continue to shred our legs to put ourselves in a position to win - but it's at least as important, and just as much fun, to work together as a team, strategize as a team, think as a team, and race as a team. When that's happening, you can take pride and satisfaction in your teammate's placing knowing that your work contributed to a team result. Knowing that we are each stretching ourselves for the good of our teammates makes the final results in the standings pretty incidental.
For many cyclists, spring riding usually brings to mind images of rain and mud-soaked flahutes hammering across the cobblestone byways of Northern Europe. The Spring Classics are such a large part of this time of year it's sometimes easy to forget how beautiful and peaceful spring riding can be.
I haven't had a typical "Why Cycle Wednesday" post in a while, but today's after-work ride provided the perfect opportunity. I rode one of my favorite loops - from Old Saybrook, through Essex,
along the Connecticut River up to Chester. This was the route the
Mrs. and I took on our picturesque River Village tour a couple autumns ago. It looks a lot different this time of year, but it's still beautiful.
Cove at Essex, CT
One of the best things about riding this time of year is the anticipation of warmer weather. The leafless trees make it look a lot like late fall. But the air doesn't have that autumn crispness, and it smells of moist earth rather than fallen leaves. The sun is just as golden as in October, but getting stronger - rather than weaker - every day. Of course, once Daylight Savings Time hits, you get to enjoy it even longer. After being cooped up all winter, your first few outdoor rides are especially sweet.
This is the view from River Road between Essex & Chester. It's still early enough in the season that trees haven't yet hidden the views. You can see a lot more during a spring ride.
You can hear a lot more too. When I stopped to take these pictures, I couldn't believe how quiet it was. I could almost hear the blood rushing through my veins. I didn't even want to breathe for fear that I'd break the silence. There wasn't even a rustle as the breeze blew through the naked trees. But I swear I could almost detect the faintest hint of the sound Nature makes as she starts to rouse herself from her slumber.
As the forecast for this past Sunday went from bad to worse last week, I knew that a baptism - literal as well as figurative - was inevitable. I'd never raced in the rain before, so I steeled myself for the Roubaix-like conditions the best way I knew how: I asked every racer I could for their tips on racing in the rain. What I learned will be the subject of a future post, but the gist was basically - "You're going to get soaked, so race hard and get dry and warm as soon as possible after the race." After psyching myself up with all my new-found knowledge and a liberal dose of photos from the Belgian classics, I almost got to the point where I was looking forward to racing in the rain.
Almost.
My resolve started to falter on Saturday when drenching rains and gale-force winds threatened to cut our power. I packed all my gear and bike into the truck anyway, thankful for an attached garage. Late Saturday, I got a glimmer of hope: SDC mentioned the possibility of canceling the race. As I tried to sleep that night through what had become hurricane-like conditions, I figured the race might not happen after all. And, admittedly, I was ok with that.
I woke up Sunday morning to a light rain and a tweet that the race was on! I started to (re)psyche myself up and went through my mental checklist to be sure I hadn't forgotten to pack anything. Remembering my cleat covers were still in the basement, I went downstairs - and promptly got a shock that almost killed the race for me right there.
The basement was flooded. Standing water in the unfinished part, soaked carpeting all around the perimeter of the finished part.
Despite being handed a perfect excuse to skip having to race in the rain, Mrs. Suitcase helped me get things in a decent holding state so we could still make it to Bethel. As we pulled out of the driveway, I got a call from Dave - our team president. He was on his way to the race with the rest of the gang - and a tent.
So even though it was raining when I got there, we were at least able to warm up with some shelter. Thanks very much to our sponsor who made it possible.
It was very cool to have a solid team of 8 guys in this race. The cameraderie was especially nice given the weather. Misery loves company sometimes.
Fortunately, by the time we lined up, the rain had stopped. The track was still really wet - and we'd certainly get our share of rooster tails and splatter - but other than some heavy sprinkling, there was no downpour or anything else like what had been going on the previous 48 hours.
It was VERY windy though - which was good for us since it made it harder for a break to get away. It also helped that our guys, learning a lot from last week's race, chased down everything that went. And when there was nothing up the road, one of us would usually get out front to drive the pace a bit.
Lance and Jon chasing down a Bethel rider.
Our strategy is really no big secret. It's pretty clear that the favorite in the race is Bethel Cycle - it's their home turf and they have a large squad of guys. I didn't actually count them Sunday, but if their efforts off the front were any indication, there must have been, oh I dunno, at least 40 or 50 of them.
Or maybe it just seemed that way. Every time we caught one, another went. I think they have a cloning machine somewhere on the back stretch in the woods.
Jon & Mike are in there - I can't make out the third EXPO guy though.
We managed to keep things together though, with some help from all the others that wanted things to come down to a sprint too. It was a fast race right from the start - and unlike last week, I started chasing things as soon as I was able instead of hanging back with our team leader. My heart rate was pegged pretty much from the get-go, making for a much harder race than last time.
Fortunately, the rain/wet wasn't a huge factor. Even the spray wasn't all that bad, and there's only one hard corner on this track, so we all managed to stay upright (which, strangely, is more than can be said about the Pro123 races so far this year).
By three laps to go, we'd done our job. Everything was still together and SDC was moving toward the front. (click here for a great description of the race from his perspective) But we were all pretty cooked and couldn't get much of a leadout set up. Fortunately, Sprinter Della Casa has the experience to notice opportunities that elude most of us (me anyway) and he was able to eek out a good result at the end.
Check it out:
He may have done his bike throw a little too early, but it was good for 3rd place - missing 2nd by a fraction of a wheel.
Unfortunately, the guy who took 2nd was the race leader - running incognito. Good thing for him, since it kept him from being marked as he most certainly would have been. And certainly will be. Next time.
Jon and Lance, hitting the line as all good teammates do - totally cooked, having done their job for the team.
And that's what makes this race - no matter what results we get - so much fun. We're racing as a team. We're getting better each week. And we get that cool satisfaction that comes from a job well done. The results are incidental. Of course, it's nice that our leader keeps moving up in the standings. But I know I speak for all our guys when I say that ultimately what matters most is that we're having a blast racing as a team.
That's in no small part due to Dave, who makes sure we have what we need, brings the tent, helps pin numbers, pump tires and gives us warm-up advice (not that we always take it, but he means well). Too bad he's a Cat 2. I know he'd have a lot more fun racing with us 3s.
After the race, I lined up for the Pro123 race. I was already registered, I was already wet, and I wanted to support Dave as much as I could. He shouldn't have told me that he was just using the race for training. My motivation disappeared with what little heat I had left in my body. I bailed after two laps.
Taking some of the great advice I'd gotten last week, I got dry and warm ASAP all the while enjoying the after-race team debriefing and banter. And Mrs. SOC and I were eager to get to what's become a Bethel Series tradition: after-race lunch and visit with Hobgoblin and Dorothy. We had our usual wonderful time, the only thing keeping it from being perfect was having to cut our visit short.
I still had a basement to go home and deal with.
But thanks to Mrs. SOC for insisting I race, to my team for making it such a great race, and to our friends for continuing our fun Spring ritual, I didn't mind too much that I'd be pulling a late night with the wet vac. No matter how wet my basement, it couldn't dampen my spirits after such a great day.
Since the racing season has started here in southern New England, I thought a special edition of Why Cycle Wednesday was in order.
Why Race? There are a number of answers and they tend to be pretty subjective. But if you're anything like me when I was first considering bike racing, you had to actually SEE a race for the bug to really bite.
Sure, we've all seen footage of the Tour de France and probably some other bike races as well. But how can we possibly relate to those guys? And as wonderful as the perspective is, how often are we ever able to watch a bike race from a helicopter, anyway?
I find videos of amateur bike racing - provided they're well done - at least as exciting. I still remember the first time I found one of SDC's helmet cam videos (click here and check the right side column). I think it must've been a February, probably 2006. I'd started training for my first season of racing and somehow I'd come across it. As I was watching a video of a Bethel race for the first time, my heart literally began to beat faster and I felt that familiar surge of adrenaline. It was just as I imagined a race to be - and I was just sitting at the kitchen table!
Well, if you want an up-to-the-minute video of what it's like to race Bethel these days, you should check out this video by Slow Roadie. SDC couldn't get his helmet cam mounted before he raced this past Sunday and SR's helmet cam was working just fine. Of course, the beautiful weather didn't hurt.
Check it out (and pay particular attention to 3:23-3:49 SDC on the "other side of the camera" for a change)
I posted most of the preliminaries/background to this race in my last post. But suffice it to say that this past Sunday, March 7 was - for me - the first race of the year, the first race with my new team, and my first race with SDC flying the same colors. The spectacular weather - rare for a first Bethel - was an amazing bonus. And as the first race, there were a lot of folks we hadn't seen since last season - HOB and Dorothy (though admittedly we'd seen them a bit over the winter), John from Cafeterios, the inimitable Guido, Esteban, Kim from CVC. It was like a class reunion without the annoying one-upmanship, beer guts and comb-overs.
The Course
If you're anywhere near the greater NYC metro area, you've heard of the Bethel Spring Series produced by Carpe Diem Racing. For those of you who don't know, it can be described as an industrial park crit - because that's technically what it is - but that doesn't really do it justice.
First of all, "Bethel" (as it's commonly called) is a first-class production including finish-line camera, radio-equipped marshals all over the course, and - new for this year - indoor registration, complete with a bike-themed cafe. Ok, the cafe is just a small part of Navone Studios, but the owner is also a racer and his passion for bike racing is clearly evident.
Secondly, it's not your typical, flat 4 corner crit. The only true corner is shortly after the start/finish, but then it's downhill into a sweeping corner curve 2, a broad corner curve 3 and another, um, curve 4. Corners/curves 2-4 are along relatively flat terrain, but it's often windy - especially on the backstretch.
After "corner" 4, the real distinction of Bethel shows itself. You have to climb back up to the finish and the climb is a nasty nice S curve, first to the right, then left. Makes the finishes slower than a typical flat run-in, but also much safer. And - most importantly - the hill causes a true selection among the racers. Many Bethel races end up being races of attrition, especially in the higher categories. There's no mixing it up in the final sprint with folks who really have no business being there. Makes for a relatively safe crit.
If you've never done a Bethel, you really owe it to yourself to try it at least once. I bet it won't be your only time there. The race attracts high-level competitors from all over the region and is a great test of where you're at. It's not just a "training" series anymore. It runs to April 18 - every Sunday, except Easter. Sign up here.
First Race: Cat 3/4
Enough about the track. How was the race?
The race itself I'll rate as an "A" - any race that's safe and fast is an A in my book. Racing with great teammates makes it even better. I'll rate our team for the day as solid "B- needs improvement, but shows high potential."
Here we are at the starting line in our first race of 2010. Everyone's pictured (from L to R): SDC (fiddling with his helmet cam), Drew, TJ, Jon & yours truly.
And here's our competition. Not sure yet how many were actually there. Pre-reg is no indication since I suspect there were MANY day-of registrations. As expected, Bethel Cycle had (I think) the largest team presence there. Natch - this is their turf.
The race was fast from the start, and our plan was pretty transparent - keep the race together and don't let a break get away. TJ, Jon & Drew covered attacks and breaks while I protectedtried to keep track of SDC. One of the first things I learned Sunday is that communication is key and it's hard to stay in close communication with your teammates during a race. There were a few times when I thought SDC had passed me, only to find out - after I'd fought to the front - that he was back. But what happened most often was that I would drift back to see where he was and discover that he had - somehow (miraculously I'd claim) - slipped past me and up through the pack.
Here's a typical shot of us covering - this time TJ doing the work. See how far back the pack is - hasn't even crested the hill yet. The whole race was like this - guys going off the front, being reeled back in, and going off the front again. The yo-yo-ing, along with the speed, took its toll over time.
Back in the pack, SDC and I tried to stay together - with some success. Though in this shot, the leadout guy is in the wrong position. I'll just claim I was covering his six.
Another shot of the pack. TJ is to my left, back 8 o'clock. SDC's in there somewhere.
An uneventful race tends to be a safe race, and this race was pretty uneventful until the end. Everyone must've been trying out their legs, assessing how far their training had brought them over the winter, getting used to racing in a pack again. One of the best things about racing is the excitement of being in a tightly packed group, going 25-30 mph. It's like you're one in a school of fish - everybody moving as one. It's pretty cool and can be exhilarating - as long as you don't lose your nerve and stiffen up. My "zone of comfort" has shrunk over time, but could probably still get a little smaller. But I knew I was doing OK about 2/3 through the race when we were going along, probably close to 30, when a guy came up my left and our handlebars brushed. In the 5s - or even Cat4s - that might have been disastrous. You tense up and before you know it, you wobble a little - and a little is all it takes to go down, taking a bunch of guys with you. But fortunately I was like "huh - that was a little snug - I guess rubbin's racin'" Hopefully I wasn't too smug - You've probably heard what Pride goeth before . . .
With maybe 3 laps to go , things really started to heat up. I was too far back to be sure, but I thought that we were still all together. I also saw SDC up ahead a bit, so used the downhill to gain position and get to the front. I then realized that a group of 3 guys was up the road, and none of our guys were up there. Fortunately, Guido - who often helps out when he can (and must enjoy doing long bridge efforts, because he does that a lot) - went to the front and started pulling. Yeah, it's cliche, but it was like riding behind a motorcycle - he just kept going for a good 1/2 lap. We traded pulls - not always an even trade, granted - and were still intact, and putting the field in difficulty leading into the final lap.
A blurry shot, but it shows the state of things at this point - probably start of two laps to go: Guido pulling, me struggling to stay on his wheel, and SDC 3rd wheel. On the downhill after the corner, SDC gave me a shove to get on the wheel. Yeah, you read that right - I had to be shoved DOWNhill. . .
When Guido pulled off, I took a pull as long as I could, somebody-other-than-SDC then took a pull (sorry - in my state I couldn't notice who it was), then Guido, then me again. At this point, TJ - despite all his work earlier in the race - made it back up to the front to lend a hand.
Fortunately, Mrs. Suitcase (who - for those of you new to the blog - takes ALL of the great race photos I post), got the proof of TJ's effort on - er - "film"
After recovering for a lap, I got back to the front and started pulling for all I was worth, stretching out the field, trying to lead SDC out, but the leadout started way too early. Well, way too early for me in that state anyway. Fortunately, as I was starting to fade, SDC was able to surf over to a better wheel as a surge came up the left side, shortly before the bottom of the hill leading to the line.
I had no clue what happened after that. It wasn't until later I found out the result. For the details of those final meters, go here for an account straight from SDC himself. But for the "videotape" check this out (also courtesy Mrs. Suitcase):
I had hoped our effort wouldn't be in vain, and it wasn't. We weren't able to reel in the break - they'd gotten too much of a gap and we started chasing too late - but SDC won the field sprint and got 4th. One step off the podium but still in the money.
Second Race: Pro1/2/3
After limping up the hill, and taking a cool-down lap (I dunno why, considering what I was about to do), I had Mrs. Suitcase remove my Cat 3/4 race number and reveal my PRO 1/2/3 number for the next race.
This clearly gives me superhero status.
Ok - "clearly" Bethel issues numbers alphabetically. It'd be nice if an "Aaron" shows up next week. Not that anybody bothered to mark me.
This was only my second Pro1/2/3 race. Last time, I was only able to hang on to 8 laps to go. This time, I determined to finish. I lined up with SDC and TJ - the three of us curious to see how long we'd be able to hang in. I saw some more familiar faces in the bunch, but I was looking for one in particular. Max - a former teammate - had broken his leg in last year's Hartford Crit and this would be his first race since then. I found him at the front and yelled. Dunno if he recognized me, but I was just glad to see he'd made it - despite what his doctors told him mere months ago.
In a bit of unrecognized foreshadowing, I started to shiver while waiting on the line. Teammate TJ suggested I drink something, but I noticed my water was low. "No worries - I'm not going to be around that long." After we started, I was surprised I had much left after the previous race. My legs were tired, but I was able to hang in.
Unfortunately, I ran out of water with 23 laps left to go (the pro race is 35 laps). I figured I'd see how long I could last. Each time I hit the hill, it hurt more, but I did my best to recover on the descent and would gain back the positions I'd lost.
Mostly. At 10 to go, I noticed that I was going back further on the hill and gaining less on the descent. I was toothpaste, gradually being squeezed out. I figured - like last time - I'd eventually lose contact with the bunch and then it'd be Game Over.
Nobody was as surprised as me when I passed my previous record of "8 laps to go" and got into the last 5 laps. "Now I won't be squeezed out - any minute now I'll be shot out like rocket." But it was a strange race. I heard a break had gone up the road, so maybe the pace was down (though we still averaged over 26mph - one of my fastest race averages, and during the first race of the year). At 2 to go, I knew I would finish and get a PR during my first day of 2010 racing.
Unfortunately, on the back stretch leading into the Bell Lap, somebody swerved and allofasudden bikes and bodies started going down. I was about 15 or so guys behind the crash, close enough to smell the burnt rubber and carbon and have to lock my rear wheel and swerve around folks, but far enough away to not be in any real danger. I immediately looked for SDC - in only his 2nd day of racing since his big crash last year - and saw him on my right, up ahead about 5 guys. He was fine.
But I heard that Max had gone down and after letting them know at the start/finish that there'd been a crash (I'd given up on the race at that point), and seeing the 2 man break finish, I went back to the crash. I didn't see Max, but heard he was ok. Guido - who'd also raced the P123 with us - had been in the crash. His body was ok, but not his bike. Cracked the top tube - hopefully it can be fixed.
That was an unfortunate end to what was otherwise a great day of racing. Our team's spirit was still pretty high though - mine especially since it was only then that I found out SDC had won the field sprint and took 4th. And I got a share of the prize money - ka-ching! Very cool. I'd been too distracted ending the 3/4 and starting the P123 that I hadn't checked the results. It was nice to have some good news after the crash.
The Mrs. and I hung around for a bit, trying to help clean up where we could. It was nice to spend some time catching up with some folks. And it was especially great to go out for a bite with them at the Sycamore. I told myself that I'd earned the two double cheeseburgers, but I think all I really accomplished was to add back all the calories I'd burned - and probably more.
I'll post a regular race report soon, but for those of you who may be curious - or just for my own record . . . This weekend of racing at Bethel was notable for a number of reasons.
First of all: The AMAZING weather! Does anybody else remember a first Bethel so beautiful?! Sunny and around 50. Last year's first race was canceled due to snow and ice.
Yesterday's post-sweep recon/training laps marked the first time I've had my road bike outdoors since December 2 - and it was the first time on my Williams wheels since the Jamestown Road Race last Columbus Day.
Today I did two races - the Cat 3/4 and the Pro1/2/3 - for only the second time ever. And I hung in with the Pro123 until the bell lap. There was a big crash coming into that lap that I got around ok, but having to avoid it (locked up my rear tire) took out of me whatever I had left. Last Pro123 race I did, I bailed with 8 to go, IIRC. So I count this as an accomplishment.
This morning I noticed I dropped below 175 pounds for the first time since last summer. And I burned over 2200 calories during the course of the day
As of today I've logged a total of 1,018 miles since I started my 2010 training on Dec. 1. And today was my longest day since October 3 (56 miles) and ended my longest week since last season (113 miles).
(this post posted prematurely, so some may have seen an earlier version - see my comment in the comments section below...)
Only about 36 34 hours until I load the truck with bike and gear and head off to the first race of the season. I don't know that I've ever been so excited for the racing season to start.
I can't believe that this will be my FIFTH year racing! I started 2006 with the trepidation typical of starting something so new. I upgraded to Cat4 by the end of that season and started 2007 with the apprehension of racing in a new category. 2007 and most of 2008 saw me fairly languishing in the 4s, with a major move in 2007 and then a broken collarbone early in 2008. But everything came together later that season, and I was a Cat3 by the end of the year. And I started 2009 with the same upgrade apprehension I had two years before.
However, the start of the 2010 racing season has none of the trepidation or apprehension of the past - it's pure excitement and anticipation. I've been training since Dec. 1. I'm on a new team - the same as one of my best friends, and many new friends. I have no ambitions, pressure or plan to upgrade. And - perhaps most importantly - I'm part of a team that's deep with folks that are at around the same level as I am. So often in the past I've either had pressure to perform as the strongest member (admittedly, a rare occurrence), or pressure to keep up with much stronger racers. Now, I can finally race as part of a cohesive team. We'll succeed or fail together, but we plan to have an absolute blast either way. I can just enjoy racing for the fun of it. Yeah, racing bikes CAN be fun - or so I've heard. I'm looking forward to finding out just how much.
So I'm excited. Of course, getting the bike all spruced up and my equipment together and prepared gets the racing juices flowing too:
As I mentioned, I'm racing for a new team this year, but I don't think I've shown the new team kit before. This is the jacket - jersey's the same, except short sleeve. Bike is the same weapon as last year (shot with the chain on the wrong ring - thanks HOB for reminding me... :^). The red tires and red Hudz are a little scuffed, and the bartape has a tear in it from when I broke my shoulder blade last October, but those aren't excuses. If I don't race well, it won't be the bike's fault.
So if you see this bike and kit combo around the Cat 3/4 or Pro123 races at Bethel this Sunday, be sure to say "Hi!" I may not post a decent result that day - I may even be dropped - but getting to see old friends, and meet new ones, is one of the best ways of having fun in this sport. And no matter WHAT you've heard, racing is fun if for no other reason than that.
In case I didn't mention it, the Bethel Spring Series starts this weekend and my first race is this Sunday. I've done some training, my weight is down a bit (though not yet to my goal), and I'm as ready as I think I can be.
Even better, the forecast looks good - sunny and in the 40s. Not exactly "flahute" weather, but I'll certainly take it! I tend to err on the side of overdressing during early-season races. I once did a New Year's ride with not one, but TWO pairs of tights on - while a buddy of mine rode in knickers. My typical "Bethel kit" consists of a lined long sleeve base layer under my short sleeve jersey and a pair of lined, full-length tights under my bibshorts. Wool socks (with toes tucked in cut-off ziploc bags), thick full-fingered gloves, and skullcap round out my winter racing ensemble.
But this weekend's forecast has me considering embrocation for the first time. I've never used it before, and am curious to try and see what all the hype and fuss is about. Of course, exposing my vanilla-white legs to the sun so early in the season is bound to give them a better chance of being less blinding come summer.
Maybe 40 degree sunny weather will actually be too warm for embrocation? What brand do you use/recommend? Any tips? I know at least to apply it AFTER putting my shorts on (I've read accounts of those that forgot). Do you cover your feet or just use the usual wool socks? You can contact me off-blog if you have any suggestions on, um, the height to which you cover.
So what do you think?
To Embrocate or Not Embrocate, That is the Question . . .
