Trooper Brinkhoff Road Race Cat 3/4

Race: Trooper Brinkhoff Road Race is situated in Coxsackie NY, with rolling hills 12 mile circuit
Team Spark: Duane Young-Kershaw, (Cat 3/4) Chris Lake (Cat 4/5)

Weather: COLD!

Course: The course is a 12 mile circuit with rolling hills that are about 4% with some kickers going up to 6%.  The wind seemed to be all over the course with little room to hide.
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1806586


The Race: Chris an I arrived at about 0940 for an 1100 start so plenty of time to get our number and get ready.  I didn't anticipate needing a warm up as my race was 48 miles and it being biterly cold I was really not that intent on being outside too long before the race.  I did get on the bike to ensure that it was mechanically sound as I had just pur the whole bike together after my 2nd frame paint job this year.  The bike was working great with no apparent issues.  We started the race on time with a field of over 100 racers in the Cat 3/4 field.  I typically line up near the front because I feel that it is always the safest place.  the start was neutral fro about a mile so this really makes for an easy transition into riding in the cold.  We traveled down onto the course and ramped it up a little but nothing really happent until we took a right hand turn on a little rolling road, you gotta love when college kids come out and race, kicking it up to 30mpg from the get go, however youthful I feel in my spandex (feel not look), I still just sit back and watch the explosion as they blow up.  We then hit the first small climb, about 3/4 of a mile which we averaged probably about 22mph up this incline, I've done lots of bas miles this year but little intensity, I managed this without difficulty.  We then headed into a long downhill with speeds reaching the low 40's.  After the down hill there is a sharp right turn and another rolling road that begins with a short steep 5% hill which again I managed without difficulty.  This leads to the backstretch of rolling hills but lots of wind, the race from then on in was uneventful with some minor attackes that were quickly caught mostly because of the wind.  This was looking up for me as I am typically a sprinter and can manage myself pretty good in large fields. We continued on for another lap without event, I was feeling good until............lap 3 just nothing to say I just popped on the 3/4 3% climb, I was pissed!!! To be  honest I hadn't ridden on 4 days and hardly slept with my sons emergent surgery (thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it). I attempted to catch back on during the downhill working witha another guy but only got close at the base of the other hill. This was clearly not going to be my DAY! I rode the rest of the way in and decided to pack it in and focus towards the next day's two races I was registered for. 

Lessons: Don't get dropped on hills! Easier said than done!