Gloucester Day Two Report

Long Story Short: 6th place of 109 in the 3/4 Masters

Lowdown: Drove back to Gloucester w/ Gretchen and Esme. Beulah once again gets the shaft and had to lump out on the couch at home so we could get the stroller into the car.

I was glad to get some riding in on the course because it had changed in a few areas, most notably, the new run up, and then the turns before the sandpit too. When I got to the start, they called the 55+ Masters to the front, previously they started behind.

I was back a row from the previous day's start. I had Rich line up next to me and he kindly introduced himself. I'm glad he did, being that I had only known him as "Ass Man" ( shouted by of one of his fans at Bedford). It is nice to line up with friendly racers, and not some dudes giving you the Lance to Ulrich "look".

I didn't have as good of a jump on the start as I did Saturday, probably 10th onto the grass. Riding along the sea wall prior to the run up I had bad thoughts because I was further back than I wanted to be. The first lap run-up was the expected mosh pit of bodies and bikes banging for position. Not until after the barriers did it really sort out.

I can remember going down to the freshly imported dirt at the base of the run up on lap 3 because I did not unclip in time, which was caused by trying to gather some speed and coast up the run up a bit...Fail. Two riders passed me there, but I got back on and would make up some time on the long straight aways.. It was difficult to figure out what place I was in because the 55+ guys were out there ahead of us. Doug Aspinwall from Joe's Garage was ahead of me, and he posts some solid results.

By the fifth and final lap I had crept up to where I might have a shot at getting Doug. He would open up small gaps on the corners and I would try to close them on the power sections. Lucky for me I had that big stretch of flat on the seawall to make something happen. Around the corner by the big rock, I put her into the big ring and tried my "darndest" to make what is considered a move or an attack.

This is my 3rd season of cross, and I 've often a bit puzzled when reading race reports where they describe how so and so made his race winning move after the barriers, or Boom dropped the hammer and rode away, or Johnson attacked when they hit the hill, etc. Granted I'm using examples from some pro-racers.... but I when I am racing, by lap 3 after it has thinned out and positions start to be established, I usually feel that I'm riding a time trial on a cross course, making a pass here and there. I never feel like that I have that extra reserve to make an "attack", or a "move" since I'm usually past my threshold and in maintenance mode. I've got a lot to learn about pacing, and holding wheels (I'm often the dude soloing).

Despite the lack of "attacking" experience and that extra reserve (maybe it is there, and I'm not digging deep enough to get it), I did know that I had to make my move strategically on that long flat. I slowly built up speed and hit my top end to pass Doug about 2/3rds of the way through that stretch. Through the sand pit, and the last few technical sections I was able to hold my position, but now noticed another rider within striking distance. Coming out down the last stretch on the ball field I caught up to a MBRC/Bicycle Link rider and we hit the pavement together. Despite 30 cross races, I have only ended up in a sprint finish twice and I lost them both. I let the MBRC guy go and was able to hold his wheel for the first third of the uphill finish and then get to the outside and pass him by to grab 6th. The finish felt like it took forever, and I was all ready to fall off my bike and gather myself on the pavement. I managed to get onto the grass and get some oxygen. It was nice to get a "nice attack" compliment from Doug as he rode by.


I was happy with my result, and felt like I had redeemed myself after yesterday's disappointing placing caused by my mechanical. And despite my desire to be more of a "technical" rider, this "roadie" Gloucester course suits my abilities better. BUT... I still was off the podium by 3 spots and like 2 minutes! Those dudes were way ahead of me!

Post-Race Beer: I cracked open the St. Bernardus ABT 12, it was excellent.

On Tap: Mansfield Hollow, CT

Gloucester Day 2 vids

The Run Up at Gloucester

The finish on Day 2
(Thanks to R.Hale for catching these clips)

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...

Eco-Cross '08 Images

A few pics of Robert and myself (and our youngins) at the Eco-Cross in Falmouth.

Eco-Cross at Coonamessett Farms, Falmouth MA

Still waiting on results from this race, and work is busy this week, so this will be a shorter report. I did the Masters 1-3 race and am guessing I finished in the back third or hind quarter(s).

This race turned into another mud challenge, but nothing like the previous week in Bedford. It rained lightly most of the morning and after 2 or 3 races some of the sections started getting muddy, that greasy type where you need to get some weight back or the back wheel spins free, and on the tight 180 corners where you need to put some weight on the front tire to avoid it washing out.

One must have a strong starting position because there were limited areas to pass on this course. I took my place about 5th row from the start, though veteral superstar Frank McCormack was only one row ahead of me. He seemed like a laid back guy, just out there having some fun while brother Mark and the other Master Blasters like Jonny Bold, and Kevin Hines lined up in front.

Readers will be happy to know that there were no "F-Bombs" or "Bull in a China Shop" comments leveled my way. Earlier last week I did watch this VeloNews.tv clip where Brandon Dwight answers some questions about "Cross Etiquete".

I did have one fall in the back of the course on the singletrack between a tree and the fence. I wasn't able to get around the tree trunk in time and went down on my left side with my shoe still clipped in. Took a while to get myself out of that mess all wedged up on the course holding a racer up whom I had just worked hard to pass. Reminded me of that commercial "I've fallen and I can't get up". I mentally checked out for the next half a lap, telling myself just to get a solid workout in for Gloucester. But as soon as I came to the winding downhill before the pavillon and barriers I was racing again. Can't look like a total chump in front of the wife, baby girl and friends.

I do recall getting lapped by Mark McCormack, he said "perfect" when I gave him the line as he passed by me. That was my proudest moment of that race. I crossed the line thinking I still had one more lap to go, but I didn't, that's what happens when you get lapped. I didn't feel bad, I was still blushing from Mark's praise for getting out of his way.

On Tap: Gloustahh in the Master Bs. Last year I finished 9th and 21st (pinch flatted on that one) in the Cat 4s.