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.