Gloucester Day 1 or " You are the Weakest Link, Goodbye!"

Long Story Short: 33rd in the Masters 3/4 race. I broke my chain half way through the last lap while in the top 10. Bummer.

Lowdown: I drove east to Gloucester early Saturday morning w/ my personal soigneur Ronnie Steers. Ron was in the middle of a intensive training block, prepping for a late CX season run, so he did not race. I was glad to have his company on the hour plus ride out from Pepperell.

We arrived and I got my 2 pre-laps in. Having raced last year, I had a good feel for the course since it was nearly identical. For my tires, I decided to run the Grifo tubie up front and the Grifo XS (file tread) open tubular in the back since it was fast and dry course. I didn't get a chance last year to run this setup because the cat 4 race in the morning seemed to be too slick at 9am with dew or frost. Now with a B Master race an hour later it makes sense. Sucker Brook, being for the most part similar in terms of surfaces and speed with Gloucester, was my first go w/ this combo and it worked well for me there.

I had a prime front row spot for this race, as my entry was successful despite the Great Bikereg Gloucester Pre-Reg SNAFUBAR of 2008. I was about 5th wheel up the pavement and onto the grass. I was able to keep the leaders in sight for most of that first lap. They did not run the rototiller through the sandpit, so it was rideable provided the rider ahead didn't go down. We did 5 laps, and I was able to ride it 3 of the 5 times, I think it helped a bit, not a lot though.

Through the barriers (photo courtesy of Dave Loszewski)

The part of the course that I always find a bit challenging is the chicane near the ball field. You come out of a grassy straightaway to a short uphill followed by an easy left turn that leads to a short but choppy descent, followed by a sharp right turn and bumpy climb uphill. Lots of squeaky brakes, fork chattering and sometimes broken course tape can be found at this section. I made sure to take my time with it as a slip-up would be costly.

As the race progressed, friends yelled to me "8th", and "top ten", and I began to feel pretty good about my ride (as good as you can when you're redlining your heart, lungs, and legs for 40 minutes). I had a good race on day 1 of last year, but pinch flatted on day 2 back on the stone dust trail along the sea wall. When I got bell for one to go I was feeling secure in my placing at 8th. The immediate rider behind me was a good deal back and there didn't seem to be anyway I could catch up to the guy ahead of me. I thought to myself, " ride it clean / might as well save some legs for tomorrow / do NOT pinch flat on the sea wall". I came through clean on the sea wall, and up the broken pavement and rocky little uphill. I felt my legs spinning too easy, figured I must've dropped the chain, but when I looked down I saw my chain broken and dragging behind me.

For Reals? Like Sarah Palin could be our president, -- reals? No, really dude, seriously, right now w/ half a lap to go, that's it? SRAM 10 speed chain just gonna give in right then and say its had enough of this cyclocross crap? Oh well. It gave me a whole 6 races worth of hot 'cross action. Maybe 300 miles all in all. Weak IMO. Anne Robinson says to me "You ARE the Weakest Link, Goodbye" ... solid result at Gloucester.

I managed to make it to the pit and was hoping I could borrow a bike with Crank Bros. Candy or Egg beater pedals. I was all thinking I'd just drive-thru and order a #4 Extra Value Meal, w/ a 575 mm top tube, but what I got was a Happy Meal with no toy inside. The mechanic in the pit hooked me up with a small Cannondale w/ toe straps (I was truly grateful) and I was on my way to salvage what I could. All I could think about was how awful my CrossResults point total would be if I DNF'd. What followed was a comedy of errors between my lack of experience with SRAM, and the goofy toe straps interfering with my goofy toe spikes that have been in since Great Glen. I think I "rode" the rest of the race in 46x11. I figured that nifty double tap thing out after the race. Had I a pit bike I think I may have only lost 1 spot. Oh well, I'll get 'em tomorrow ... after I complain about my misfortune 17 times first. Also, I did not find my chain, but if I had I would've gave that little rascal the Godfather Don Corleone talking to [shouts] You can act like a man! [ slaps chain] ...

Circus comes to town / You play the lead clown - Metallica
Struggling to finish on the pit bike (photo courtesy Robert Hale)

Woulda Shoulda Coulda: see above

One to Grow On: "That's how SRAM doubletap works!"

Post-Race: I hung out for the rest of the day with friends, watched some good racing, got a lot of sun, and had a couple of beers, Long Trail IPA, and a St.Bernardus Tripel.

Big props to Bob Tyzsko for hooking me up w/ a brand new chain (I'll get you back at Canton), and the guys at the Mavic tent for putting it on my bike.

I got home and Gretchen had homemade meatballs, sauce and pasta all ready for me. Sweet. Just get a good nice sleep and give'r a go tomorrow...