Race at the Lake #3

If I whine about getting a "virus", will that make me sound like a pro? Probably not. So we'll just talk about the race and whine a little.

RATL3. It's about 55 degrees and sunny. I've been feeling like garbage this week, and I still show up to the race... I guess I hope that my feelings are lying, or I like to be punished. I've got no expectations for today, maybe I'll learn to sit in and conserve for the finish.

SnakeBite has only our standard 5. Jason has won the last two editions, Mehul and Brian have been in the field, and Don is still working on staying with the field as he's breaking into the Cat 4 fields. Brett's got his upgrade so he'll be racing the 3 race today, with Todd and Tom.

We suited up and did our normal warm up routine. Though I did not feel like pushing it much, just go through the motions. On the line, we didn't even talk about team strategy. The only plan we had was that Jason would try something around the 7th lap, and work on going for the finish.

My plan was to sit in and see how I felt. I'd like to get into a prime position, and I was going to work on positioning for the finish. I wanted to work my way up the outside on the climb to get to the front with two to go, then use the outside again on the final lap to get into the front end.

Racing!

42 line up for the cat 4 race. Big numbers from StarkVelo, Orrville and Summit. Matt Weeks from October Lake Effect has joined his buddy this week, so we've got another wheel to watch. COBC also has about 5 there.

I ended up sitting in the middle of the StarkVelo guys at the start, about third line back. Whistle blows, and we're moving. I think I'm going to try to line up at the front from now on, as sitting in a large field it takes forever for everyone to get clipped in and moving. It took long enough for 7-8 guys to roll off the front before we were around to the back side of the course. Interesting start.

Not super concerned about the gap, but it sticks for a long time. I'm starting to get concerned as I see a lot of teams up front including Summit, October Lake Effect, and maybe a StarkVelo and an Orrville. None of our guys though... I'm not sure how Jason missed that move, as he starts right on the front line. So no one up the road, I start to move to the front. I don't think we can contribute much, but I'd like to be closer to the front in case something happens.

On the hill on the third lap we make some progress on bringing the move back, and it looks like Summit is doing most of the work. Once we reconnect, I move into my normal position about 10 back. Every lap, I'm trying to stay on the outside on the climb so I'm not boxed in like last week, and it's working pretty well.

Today was interesting because so many guys were attacking. At about Lap 5 Chris from Orrville attacks on hill. As we come through the line, they ring the prime bell. He's got a good gap, but has to hold on alone for the entire lap. Over the hill we accelerate, and I just sit in mostly looking for a move to go after the prime. Matt Weeks takes the prime, catching Chris before we hit the turns leading to the finish. Nothing materializes at the front and we slow for a minute or two.

Seems like there is someone off the front at all times. As soon as we catch the guy, another guy goes. Lap 7 comes and Jason goes hard up the hill causing a gap. Again the prime bell rings as he goes through... the move gets neutralized and Matt Weeks picks up another prime. I'm still sitting in and I feel all right. Though I still have little confidence in getting where I need to be.

A few more attacks, but it's all together as we come through for the last prime bell. As we hit the hill and unattached rider attacks the hill hard. I'm a little bit back, and figure I'll move up on the outside. It works great. As I get near the front, the Pista-Elite rider takes off after the unattached guy. Then I dig as we crest, at the same time that Wes (I think) from Orrville is coming out from the inside. I'm committed now, so I jump on Wes's wheel. We're gaining on the Pista guy and we've got a nice gap. So the prime should be between the 4 of us. We catch the Pista guy coming before the turns, and I pull up to the turns, but don't dig to deep. Unfortunately, neither do the other two. We come out of the turns, and start the sprint, but it's pretty obvious we aren't going to catch the unattached guy. We needed to work together a bit more on the chase.

Through the line, and Wes is calling that we've got a pretty nice gap, as are some of the guys on the side. OK, I'll kill myself if I need to. Wes tries to get us organized and pulls, I'm on his wheel and the unattached guy is on mine. Wes pulls off and I give a short pull, and try to pull off, but the unattached guy won't pull through.... that was pretty much it, we were caught on the hill then.

So now I've got to recover for the finish. A few more digs are tried but nothing is getting away now. I somehow find myself near the back and make a move on the outside before we have 2 to go. Front 10 with 2 to go is all right, now I just need to stay here. Up the hill again, and the field stalls and then rolls over.... we hit the hill and everything slows down. So we're wall to wall, and no where to go. How did I get this far back? OK, We'll try again on the last lap.

Last lap, Mehul has a jump coming through the start finish! Nice! The team is going to work it a bit. Unfortunately, Mehul pretty much died getting off the front. Then just hung out there freewheeling around to the hill. The field stalled again going up the hill, so I couldn't get around again... and am forced to move up on the downhill. Well, so is everyone else!

I end up following a wheel up to the second row, which works fine, except we're going into the last two turns 5 across... and I'm on the inside of the first turn. I chicken out, and back off a bit, then I've got to chase back up... which is pretty much impossible. Out of the last turn and dig as deep as I can to get across the line.

I ended up 13th. Jason had the line in site, but also had to brake for someone and ended up second. Nice job Jason. Turns out I had the wheel of the guy that won, before it got wide going into the turn.

Overall, I'm pleased with my placing considering the way I felt during the week. I'd have liked to see some kind of lead out up the hill on the last lap to make it safer, but I know how everyone in the field wants to sprint for a place. Hopefully next week we can get the team organized to do something good. I think we need to organize our efforts a bit better toward a goal.

Post

Word from the Cat3 race. Brett followed a break after the second Prime in his first taste fo the cat 3 field. Turned into the winning move with most teams represented. He ended up with a 6th place out of the 6 man break. Nicely done Brett!

Looking at my HRM data, if it's at all an accurate measure. I did almost no real work today. The only time I got inot my zone 5 was during the prime and at the finish. The good news is I actually sat in, didn't panic too often and made it to the finish. I've often thought of how much energy is wasted during a race, or when I'm time trialing to make it to the ride on time. How much time am I really saving compared to the energy I'm using? Something else to think about, I guess.

Last race of the series next week, then on to road races.

Holding Your Line!

This is a first... all my other writings have been about races. But I think this really need to be communicated. What does it mean? Am I guilty? Well, beginning riders are almost certainly guilty, and experienced riders will also do silly things when the going gets rough.

I started racing on my mountain bike. I heard about a race, I had a bike. I signed up for everything. Cross country race, downhill and trials. I'd never done any of them, but it's a bike thing. I've been riding my bike since I was 5, how hard can it be? Training? None, I was riding to work about once a week for maybe 30 miles both ways. I'd ridden trails and had a blast, so let's try some competition.

Imagine my surprise when I saw the skills required to do trials. How fast guys were flying down that hill... and I got shellacked in the cross country race. I was definitely hooked and immediately knew I had a ton to learn. When I picked up road racing, I wanted to learn first. I started by looking at what other people were writing about their races. That's why I write, to give yet another view of what goes on in a race. I'm still learning, and I still do really stupid things. My goal is to only do stupid things that don't hurt anyone.... including me.

Riding in a race or with a group is an act of trust. Just like driving your car on the freeway, we trust everyone else on the road to not do anything stupid. That's why there are driving laws and test for getting your drivers license. We expect everyone on the road to drive "close" to the speed limit, to obey direction laws and to turn right from the right lane, and left from the left lane.

Sitting in a group of cyclists is no different. We expect the riders around us to be stable. If you ride next to someone that is a bit wobbly, you give them more space so they won't wobble into you. In a race, it's even worse because just about everyone is riding at a limit. So they aren't necessarily thinking clearly. If you can't think straight, then your instincts kick in and take over for you. The down side of this is tempers are really short... it's hard to be nice when you can't breath... and you want to tell someone something about their skills.... you tend to just yell "Hold your line!"

I started to write about this in my last report, and realized it's a hard concept. What do you mean "Hold your line"? I can easily say that my line runs wherever I draw it.... but that's not really right. You can't start a turn on the outside of the pack, and dive to the inside of the turn without getting other riders really upset... or taking some or all of them to the ground.

I'm no expert at racing, but I like to think I'm a smooth rider. I'm comfortable with my handling skills, and I've saved some pretty crazy situations that I'm sure would have put most people on the ground. I've also dropped my bike riding alone, when I hit a small rock because I wasn't paying attention, so it goes both ways.

So here's some tips on riding in the field.

"Holding your line" requires you to ride where others expect you to ride. So if you start to drift over to one side, and someone says "Hold your line", it's their way of saying "STOP, I'm over here and you're moving close to me faster than I think you should be." or "You just swerved and that's a bit dangerous when we're all so close and moving so fast."

Be aware of people close to you. Race situations have bikes within inches of each other, and often closer. You can't know if the guy behind you has overlapped wheels, but if my bars are next to your hips, you should know that I'm there. You need to maintain your direction and space, so we don't both go down. I regularly will put my hand out to let guys know I'm right there and they can't come over. It's effective. I've actually held riders there as they are coming over to me, so they didn't push me off the road. Is it good etiquette? I'm not sure, but it's worked often in my races.

Some people talk a lot during the race, as in "on your left" or "slowing", then they communicate to a drifting rider that they're there before it gets so close to require hand contact. I tend to use "outside" and "inside" because I can't figure out my left from right and where I am fast enough, and it takes time to translate that for the guy I'm talking to. Not that outside and inside are much better, but that's just me. I had a guy Saturday say "on your left", get his pedals even with my bars, then start moving over into me... just like a car, forgetting that I was there once I was out of "sight". Remember where you are.

Road obstacles present another problem. If you've picked a line, and you're headed for a hole, or a bed of nails.... you've got no choice but to go through it. You can't swerve around things in the field. Maintain your speed, and line... bunny hop if you can, take the hit if you can't.

If you're aware of riders around you, you'll have a feel for how close you can take corners. Corners are the biggest problem when holding a line, since you don't follow the painted line on the road. The field pinches in as it approaches the corner, and swings out as it exits. The idea is to give everyone the space they need to do this safely. Guys on the outside tend to press the field in, I've seen many guys run off the road in a gradual bend in the road because the guys on the outside want to shorten their line.

Holding your line in a tight corner is an interesting term. It usually means taking the same line as the guy in front of you, because that's what everyone expects. What if you are the front guy? Be aware, the front guy sets the line, but has to know that he truly is the front. The guy that dives inside the front guy, is the wrong party in that case. Even if it's for the win! Know that you can get by completely before making that move... or wait. Unexpected attack is one thing, unexpected stupid move is quite another.

There are different levels of guilt in not holding a line. For example, someone who drifts into you while racing in a non-strung out group is very guilty. Especially if the person sees you but does this in an attempt to get better position. That is unacceptable, and is sure to raise the ire of other racers... I've often fought for position. Even if the guy is a little ahead of me, see the example of holding the guy from pushing me off the road. I've also been pinched out between two guys.

I should also mention the other side of this. It is also your responsibility to protect your front wheel. There is no way the guy in front of you can know if your overlapping his rear wheel by three to six inches. When passing, you must be ready for the guy in front of you to move. Talking is a good way to prevent bad things from happening, though you may be giving up surprise in the process.

One other "unexpected" move is hitting the brakes in the field. Everyone expects smooth speed transitions. I read a story about a guy getting into the last corner of a race, close to the front, and hitting the brakes! Imagine doing that on the freeway... pile up waiting to happen. THe rule is don't use your brakes in the field. Either soft pedal, or smoothly move into the wind. If you're going to swing out, a quick check behind is a good idea.

How can you improve your handling? I've got two tips, both are taken from the net

First, if you've got rollers, ride them. When I train indoors, I try to do my warm up and cool down on rollers. I'll do the resistance on a stationary trainer, but I spin up and down on the rollers to work my pedal smoothness.

The other tip is to ride along painted lines on the road. Try to keep your tire close to the left edge of the line. Then look down the road, and see how far from the line you've gone. Practice riding without staring at the line, then adjusting slightly. Try looking over your shoulder... and staying close to the line.

I often will race in the drops. This protects my bars from getting hooked by other riders as they try to come past me, and it lowers my center of gravity... I think it makes me more stable, which is good for riding smooth lines. It certainly is good for cyclocross racing, when the bike want to bounce around a bit more than on a smooth road.

Practice riding smooth, and you'll ride smooth even when your at your limit. It will help you stay safer, as well as the rest of the people you ride with. You have a responsibility to the other riders in the group.

When I moved from the B races to the A races, I was immediately struck with how close the A racers ride. They ride close because they trust the riders in the field to rider smoother than the guys in the B race. So, similar to the saying "It never gets easier, you just go faster when suffering at that level" it's
the same for holding your line. I can always improve my handling, just as I can improve my fitness.

Ride Safe, everyone else is counting on it.

{moscomment}

Race at the Lake 2

April 29, 2006

Another nice Saturday morning. Temps are in the 50's and we're racing at the lake.

Don and I arrived at about 8:30 while the women and juniors were racing, and there were about 16+ women and about the same number of juniors, which are pretty large for what I've seen. So we're expecting a larger turn out than last week.

Snakebite has 1 in the 35 strong cat 5 field, and we're looking at 8 in the 4 field. Jason, Brett, Ryan B, Jeff C, Brian S, Mehul , Don and myself. Rick Adams also showed up for moral support.

The plan for the day is to have Ryan and I sit in for the finish. Jason would try a break and I was going to attempt at least one prime. Last week we did well, let's see if we can repeat with better results. I'm doing positive thinking this week. I will do well, and I will drive it all the way to the line. It's all about learning from last week.

Racing

45 or so line up the race. 15 laps of 2K each. They announce 3 primes and payout to 8 places. They will also announce they'll be pulling lapped riders since the field is so large. We're off and immediately lined out.

Either we're moving faster this week, or I'm a bit blocked cause this is work! Not much really going on, I'm just working on holding my position about 15-20 back which is pretty far down for me, but since it's mostly lined out I feel comfortable here. Every time we hit the hill, the field compresses, and I make up a few spots. I stay far enough up front to stay out of most of the mayhem.

On the second or third time coming down the hill, an unattached rider comes by and dives a bit tight into the corners. Out of the corner a couple of StarkVelo guys warn him to "hold his line", and he starts to get defensive. I supported the Stark guys on this one and tell the guy so.

Riding in the field is a crazy experience. You put 40 bikes in an extremely tight space moving an average of 25mph going up and down hills and through tight corners. For some reason, this race is about as bad as I've seen a field react. There are four 90 degree turns, and lots of sweeping turns. The field invariable will push guys off the road, and pinch guys out through turns. Crazy stuff. When you're in the field you have to think link an amoeba. Know where other riders are and ride smooth straight paths through the turns.

Laps are counting down, 10 to go, 9. When are they going to call the prime? Mehul is out with a mechanical on the side so we're down one! They've got to fit in 3 primes and the finish. Each prime will take 2 laps, so that's 6 plus two for the final. They better ring the first one soon! Finally, 7 to go they ring the bell. We catch and lap Don on the hill, so we're down to 6 in the field now.

I'm really far back. I've got to get to the front if I want this to work. Around the back, I push up and get into the top 10. Up the climb, I'm on the inside and I follow a Summit guy right to the front. Perfect. I'm second row at the top of the climb. The Summit guy looks at one of his teammates, who gives a nod, and the guy jumps. I'm on his wheel so I jump with him, as does a guy from Pista Elite. The Pista guy tries to pressure me off the wheel, but I'm not budging. Down the hill, and the summit guy is pulling both of us, then he falls off. I fall in behind Pista as we enter the first of two corners heading for the finish.

I'm in good position, second wheel through the turns would be perfect. I'll jump into the sprint after the turn and take this. Through the first turn, and Brett jumps up the outside of the turn! OK, teammate has a dig, I sit on this guy and have him pull me around. If he catches Brett, then I'll jump. If not, Brett has the prime. Brett opens a nice gap as we come through the last turn. I'm through third, and I see Brett won't get caught, so I sit up. Brett takes the prime nicely.

At this point I must have fallen asleep, or the effort of the last lap caught up with me. Some how I'm back to 10-12 back, and a group goes off the front. The chase is on, and I get a bit further back. As we come through the final turn again, two guys go down, and the field is braking to get through a one lane turn with two guys on the ground! Once through, one of the guys is back up and on his bike. The other guy is down. Back to the chase! And they ring the bell for the next prime!

Lots of us are hollering "Rider Down" as we go through the line. This is nuts! There's a break of about 10 up the road, and the field is strung out behind because of the wreck. We're moving to get back together, but how? Coming through the turn again, the StarkVelo rider that went down is still down, so they slow riders down through the turn and call the race neutral, though it took another lap or so to figure that out.

7 laps later they've got the Stark guy in the ambulance. Sounds like a broken collarbone, and a pedal to the head as guys were going by. They stop the field and inform us of the plan. At the bell there was a break of 6 a chase of 3 and the field. They reset the break of 6 and give them 5-10 seconds. Then the group of three is given another 10, then they let the field go. Oh, and we're only doing two more laps.

2 very short laps! This is going to be a long sprint. I'm in the field. We've got 1 in the break of three. It's Jason who won last week, but it's still like putting 1 into the money. At first we contemplate pulling him back, then Brett says let's just let someone else bring the groups back, and we'll try to get to the front to get into the finish. I'm line up on the front line of the field for the restart.

At the whistle, I sprint for the corner and end up in third or fourth wheel. I'm sitting letting the other guys pull us back up. I can see Jason sitting on the chase group as they reattach to the break on the climb. We're closing also, so it looks like it all be back together. We regroup as we're coming through the start finish... gruppo compatico and we're set for the sprint.

I'm still about 12 back, which is not good. Jason is up ahead, and I'm pretty sure Brett and Ryan are close behind. I figure I'll move on the hill. Coming around. I come up on the inside. Not the best place to be, but it will have to do. I move into the second row or so, and then the field starts it's drift inside. I'm literally holding the next to me from running me off the road. I'm here, and I will not move. It's work fighting for position! And this race is all about position.

Down the hill, and I'm about 10th into the corners, as it's lined out. Pretty far back, but it's were I was last week, and hard as I try I'm not moving up on the approach. Out of the corner, I'm digging for the line. I see Jason take the sprint, but I'm not bringing much back. I end up coming through 9th, with Brett on my wheel for 10th, and Ryan right there for 11th.

Post Race

Overall a weird race. It would have been nice to have the prime laps spread out a bit, though I'm not sure if it would have been any safer. They paid out to 10th, since the skipped the two prime laps, so SnakeBite got the only prime, the win and 9th, 10th and 11th place. Pretty good results.

Two more weeks of this crazy race. I wonder if they'll get any saner?

RATL #1

Opening the '06 season in Monroe Falls.

I'm still on the bike, and now the "off season" is over. Off season for me is really more work than "on season". Now that the semester is winding down, I can concentrate on training, racing and the other hundred things I do to keep from getting bored.

SO... with the covered bridge races being canceled this year, the first races that are close enough for me to make are the Summit Freewheelers Race at the Lake. This is a 2 Kilometer closed course race. The course is OK, with the exception of the 2 90 degree turns about 200 meters before the finish. The turns make everyone nervous, so people take crazy chances on the rest of the course to get into position. The short course also makes it a little weird because you do so many laps. The cat 4 field did 15 laps, for 18 miles. So it's really a crit style race.

Two years ago I did two of these races. There was a pretty bad wreck right on my rear wheel at the last one, so I've been staying away. The course is tight, and not very selective. It seemed things get a bit crazy as people move around the field, and I had other races at this time of year I enjoyed more. This year, I'm jonesin' for some racing, and the covered bridge series isn't happening. So I figured I'd give RATL another go.

Don Frey and I drove together, and arrived way early for the cat 4 race. So we could ride around and be warmed up for our race. We got suited up and did a couple of laps to show Don around. This is his first experience at the Lake, and his first cat 4 race. So I was imparting my "vast" experience at this race.

Snakebite had 1 guy in the cat 5 field. We watched the cat 5, womens and juniors fields roll out, then hooked up with the other 4's. to get in some warm up.

In the cat 4 field we had Jason Rapp, Mehul Gala, Brian Schneider, Don and myself. Before the race, our plan was to attempt to get someone into any breaks that got away. Jason was planning on initiating a break on the second Prime, and may try at some other point, if the opportunity presented itself. The finish plan was to get everyone up front with 2 to go, so we could organize some lead out. I was supposed to be the guy to finish the job. If a break got away without us, we were supposed to get to work to bring it back. Normal stuff. Other than that... being the first race of the season for most of us, let's see how everyone is racing.

The four race had about 45 guys. Lots of red jerseys today. Obviously, Summit is well represented at their own race. Doug Williams and Brian Ramsey are in the field, and we expect to be watching them. Orrville also has a pretty big contingent. Other teams are there in the ones and twos. Lot's of people I don't recognize, but some I do. I plan on watching those I know, and learning about those I don't.

Racing!

I haven't raced since 'cross season, so I had no real idea how I'd be going. Being designated as the finisher, meant I was going to have to try to race smart, not something I'm used to doing. I'd like to mix up a prime, and wait for the finish. We lined up, and off we go.

Immediately off the line, a StarkVelo guy takes off on the first move of the day. With that move, we started the race at 24mph. Within about 500 meters, another guy has a blow out in the middle of the field. Thanks for your $20, have a nice day. I'm sitting about 10 guys back as the field ramps up and brings the Stark guy back. So the short lap merry-go-round begins and the 2006 season is open!

Jason and I like to stay near the front. I guess Brian likes to hang near the back. It was good to see Mehul and Don moving around the field pretty well.

We had a pretty good pace going, though I did feel like I was working a bit harder than I expected. I notice my heart rate is in the 170's and decide I don't need to see that anymore, and turn the monitor. I'll look at that after the race.

The first prime lap gets rung, and I figured I'd try to stay placed to see what my sprint is like. Right after the bell, there was a good bit of positioning taking place. I was close to Summit's Doug Williams as he's talking about staying safe. "It's just a prime lap". As we came around for the climb on the back, he's directing some other Summit guys to pull him around. "Watch that guy", "Got him?" In the past I haven't seen Summit work very well together, so it was nice to see the numbers actually working for them. Especially since I was sitting on Doug's wheel.

Up over the hill, and I'm pretty well placed for the prime. There was a bit of jostling as we approached the turns. I ended up coming out of the last turn around 6th position, and wound it up. Doug and a Stark guy got the jump, and I saw I was not going to get onto them, so I sat up and came across third or fourth. Pretty nice vantage point though to see Doug take it..

All back together after the prime. There was a spectator near the finish line with a cow bell that did a pretty good job of confusing some of the field. It did keep the pace high throughout the race. Jason had a dig or two, but nothing was getting away.

Second prime, and an official was calling out "Next lap will be the prime". Nice warning, so I start to move to closer to the front again. Bell rung on the next time through, and we get a bit of a surge along the flat back side. As we start up the climb, I was about 10 back when a couple of Summit guys come along on the right side. I jump on the wheel of Doug as he goes by, and they bring me up. On the left side, another Summit guy, Noah goes off the front. I'm not supper concerned, as I figure this guy will get chased back before long. He puts in a good attack and gets a nice gap.

As we crest the hill, the other Summit guys sit up on the front... and I pop off by about 5-10 feet. We're just over half a lap around... so I slow and watch the field a bit. A summit guy moves as if to wind up the sprint, and Doug calls him off. "Let Noah go...". They are going to let him go? I've already got 10 feet. Noah is about 100 meters away... I can catch him, then I just have to hold off the field.

No more thinking. I jumped hard. I heard someone say something about going now! If I hadn't gone, someone else would have. Might as well be me.

Turns out it was a really long way to go. I jumped before the back downhill parking lot and closed the gap to Noah before we passed the end of it. First into and out of the turns, and sprinted with whatever I had left to take the prime.... by quite a bit. My only thought on the last 200 meters was Don't let them close the gap at all, so they think they can catch me.

Oh, that hurt, and so much for Jason's plan to launch after the second prime. A pretty big effort to go from about 800 meters for the sprint, and it was pretty much an all out sprint for the whole distance. The field rolled up, and I just tried to sit in for a long time.

Jason was still up front, and I saw him make a move. I was still sitting about midpack and I tried to get back up to the front to block, but was too far back to get there before they pulled him back.

Third Prime, Chris Huck from Orrville and another guy got off the front to contest it. Fine with me, I need to conserve for the finish. Chris didn't quite make the prime.

I'm loosing confidence in my finish fast. That prime took a lot out of me, and I was not feeling very well recovered. So I asked Mehul if he though he could finish well. No go from him, so I'll get back near the front and take my chances.

This race is still pretty crazy. Lots of jockeying on the back flat. Fortunately, everyone was talking. I was still pushing some guys from running me off the road a bit as they come over to the outside. At one point, I was bumping bars with a guy on my right. We both managed all right, and I'm sure we weren't the only people in contact with each other.

Two to go, and I see a group of three off the front, including a Snakebite jersey. Did Jason get off the front? I make the move to do the block, and pass Mehul... then come along Jason. Shoot. Turns out Don cramped up and fell off the back. We were lapping him and a couple other guys that were working together to finish up.

Getting up near front then was not a bad move on my part. As we did the climb the front ten or twelve guys, echelon back and run a couple of guys into the grass on the inside. I was able to move up on the outside then and get about 10 back.

Jason is near me right behind Doug. Jason asks me how many more laps to go? One more after this, and we're where we need to be. As we come through the line. a couple of Summit guys get off the front. Not far, maybe 10 yards or so... and just hang there. This is the part that gets tough. You really have to work to hold position. Up over the hill and the summit guys are still out there.

I've been talking about these races since I first did them. General consensus is you need to be top 5 in order to win. top 10 to get into top 5. As we entered the first turn Jason was about 10th and I was near 12th, not including the Summit guys that were dying and coming back.

Around the last turn we weren't much better. Jason took the inside, and I took the outside (instead of trying to stay on his wheel.... stupid!) We both jumped on it then and started picking people off! I could see Jason on the inside just accelerate, I kept the gap to him about the same, as he just powered by everyone!

I was juiced to see him take the win by at least a bike length! I was pretty busy cheering, and stopped my sprint a bit early (stupid) and rolled across in 6th. I should have save that cheer for about 15 seconds more. Second through sixth were pretty close, I may have been able to pick up another place or two.

Good results for the team. 2 out of 5 in the money, and one of the three primes. Very nice results.

Always areas for improvement. After the race Brian said he felt blocked, maybe due to the first day where the temperature was above 50. Don felt good until the cramps, he'll be back for some redemption. I still race stupid... I feel like I talked myself out of a decent finish. I have to stop thinking during the races, just go when I should go.

Next weekend we'll try again. If I do all 4 of these races, I should get a top end sprint going. Looking at the HRM data, I put a hug effort into the prime, but my top speed was 2 laps to go trying to get position on the downhill. My final sprint only topped out at 31.8... and I was no where near my top HR.... so I should have been able to get more out of the legs.

After the race, I also noticed I was still carrying two bottles. Ballast? Who knows... first race of the season. I'm allowed to make mistakes, especially since I still got some nice results.