Mike's Bike Blog

Saturday

The stage was set for an epic race and for some it probably was. You see the temperature at the 8am start was right around freezing and the clouds looked threatening. The start of the 35+ 4/5 race was with dry roads except for one puddle but that soon changed after lap 1 when the heavens opened and it started to rain. Our pace wasn't going to set any records before but once it started to rain everybody shut down. Then at the end of lap 1 it started to hail.

Now the weather was perfect for me. Even Joe Doyle, Team Lifesize, thought so as he mentioned it as we started on the long hill section. The problem was I was riding with 30 guys who don't spend much time in inclimate weather and it showed. When the course is run clockwise, like the Saturday race the hills aren't too much of a factor. However several riders had mechanicals of dropping their chains. I saw at least 4 guys drop their chains in different sections. Anyway, I didn't want to attack too much and not have enough for the finish in the event nothing stuck, so I rode near the front waiting for another team or someone else to attack. That never happened, we rode at such a mellow pace my ending average speed was 19.6 mph! We got lapped by the 40+ lead group that started 5 minutes before us and we even got passed by the lead 4/5 group that started 5 minutes after us.

Later in the race when I was about to attack we were neutralized when the 4/5s first came around us. I missed my opportunity when I hesitated, I should have went right after the neutralization and I might have gotten lucky when the second wave of 4/5ers came through and neutralized the field again. It was a missed opportunity.

As we came to the start/finish on our last lap the 40+ race was just crossing the line and finishing up their race. I saw that the 40+ guys were still on the road soft pedaling and their wheel truck was still on the road. I ceased the opportunity and attacked. I was hopping in the chaos of the 40+ field I would be able to zig zag through them and get away. It was good on paper but in the end everybody was way to fresh still from the mellow pace and at the start of the long hill everybody was right there with me. The gap I had hoped for was not there so I just readied for the inevitable sprint finish.

Once again I lost too much ground on the final decent for the final 200 meters and had to come from like 20th place but I finished 13th.

Break away attempt on the last lap

Sunday

For Sunday's race the course was run counterclockwise, so it's the same elevation but instead of a long steady climb the elevation is packed into shorter and steeper hills. The start temperature was right at freezing so that had a few guys staying in their cars and going home. The steeper hills bit quite a few people not in the right gear and they would just stop or drop their chain in an attempt to shift too much. The surprising thing was that even on lap 2 and 3 guys would be dropping chains or be in the wrong gear for the steep ascents as if they were surprised by the hills. Each time through the hills we'd lose a few guys. On lap 3 or 4 I'm in the middle of the pack on the right side when I notice that I'm boxed in. I'm right against the curb to my right a guy right in front of me, one right on my left and guys all around breathing very heavy. This worried me and no more did I get the thought materialized when a gap started to form and there was nothing I could do. The field splintered into 2, it took 15 seconds or more for me to get through the blockage. A couple guys attempted to go with me as I tried to bridge the gap but at the top of the hill I think I was all alone and I caught back to the main group as they were making the hard left turn and starting the long downhill. I made it but pretty much fired all my bullets in the process.

I surveyed the competitors in the field and saw that Jason Newman of Team Concept was talking with Oktay Demirdal of Violet Crown. This seemed to be a little more than idle chit chat. I didn't have to wait long as Jason and Oktay attacked. The first attack didn't go anywhere but Jason attacked again and got a little gap. I got on Reed Frank's (Team Concept) wheel as I figured Jason was setting Reed up for a counterattack.

On the second to last lap I was really feeling it and I wasn't able to meet the surge up the hill at the start finish that the field put out. This was the beginning of the end for me. I caught back on on the steep section momentarily but it was a fight to stay in contact. The rest of the race was the slow dismantling of me. Not only was I shelled but my Garmin had enough too and froze up and upon later inspection corrupted my ride file. I did pass some 4/5s that were still on the course and pulled them around for a bit. I didn't jump into their rotation as I didn't want to get dinged for working with a different race. As we came to the finish I let them sprint amongst themselves as the last thing I wanted to do was get taken out sprinting for no reason as we were all out of contention for anything but a high five for finishing.

The end result was 16th place, 2:53 behind the winner Reed. Once again I called the race winner. The next guy to finish after me was over 3 minutes behind me.