Marblehead: Almost didn't toe the line between the cold and my balky knee I considered not starting at all. Made it through 3 of the 5 laps before the knee said no.
Quabbin: Not much. I don't go up hills well. I did however try to keep the beginning of the race fast; mission accomplished. I rode the next 40 miles mostly by myself trying to make it over the hills and valiantly keeping from buying cider donuts. 118/155
Wayne Elliot: Course looked like it should have been a good one for me. However I could not match the acceleration after the dog ran back off the course. I did find this sweet picture of me at the front though. DNF
Blue Hills: Burned myself up trying to cover the Matts (Miller and Aumiller) move after the poorly parked car. Spent a lot of time trying to chase back on and almost made it right before we started back up Unquity again. Up hill fail. 58/62
Lake Sunapee: Wanted to just ride in the group and not do anything stupid until after the 45+ race passed us. Spent to much time in the wind trying to stay towards the front third of the race, and was knocked loose on the second hill. made it back onto the filed just after they were neutralized, but fell off again on the grinding climb. Good news is I missed all the argy bargy near the traffic circle. 63/86
In summary my early season has included some not so sweet results, but lots of fun, and lots of riding by myself with a number pinned on. Looks like I have some chances for redemption coming; Purgatory, Housatonic Hills, Fitchburg, Attleboro, and the Mt. Agamenticus TT are up next.
being the guy matching breakaways, setting tempo, making the bridge moves is fucking hard, but it pays off to finish last if you get a teammate on the podium
ReplyDeletegorgeous gary speaks the truth.
ReplyDeleteWhat they said. You're with a great group working well together. That's huge.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem working to help someone else win. I feel really good about the role I played at Blue Hills, and feel OK with my contributions at Quabbin.
ReplyDeleteThis wasn't supposed to be some kind of woe is me rant, more of a "Hey there are other people doing races, but not finishing well" kind of post.
I really like my team mates a lot, and would like to help each and everyone of them in whatever way I can.
Some day I hope to be at the "pointy" end of the race for longer than the first 20 miles.
I agree with your original statement: it takes years of incremental progress to become a good bike racer. Fret not. Keep racing and the results will come.
ReplyDelete