Battenkill Cat 4 40+

Date: 04/13/2013
Race: Battenkill is an Epic Race, something that should go on everyone's bucket list. It has been around for a number of years, This was my 3rd ass kicking and I only entered it this year because my Son wanted to do it and he couldn't because of recent surgery.  The race attracts over 3500 riders and is the biggest road race in the US. 
Course: Nothing youget here in Southeastern New England......over 4900ft of climbing in 65 miles with 1/3 of that dirt roads, like I said......EPIC! Did I mention Í haven't considered myself a climber since I was a 140lb Junior Racer?

Over 4900 ft of Climbing

 

Weather: 43 degrees cloudy with the possibility of rain showers!!
TSR Players: Andy, Chris, Kevin, (Cat 5) Duane Cat 4 40+

The Travel: Since it was far away we got a hotel in near by Saratoga Springs.  Nothing better than cramming 5 guys and 5 bikes in a room meant for 4.  Bikes were everywhere including replacing the kitchen sink. 

 

 

 

 

The Race: My race started at 1030 am, I typically like to get there an hour early to prep and warm up if needed.  You don't really need to warm up for a long road race unless there are climbs close to the start.  This race usually heats up about 6 mile out as you take a left turn and have to go through a covered bridge.  This will really speed things up and go from a pack of about 10 wide to 1 or two wide.  The key to going through the bridge is to be in the front so not to get into a traffic jam.  I stayed in the top 15 from the start so it was not a problem.  We approached the bridge going about 28mph.  I heard that ill fated scrape of metal on pavement and out of the corner of my eye I saw a guy on the outside do a faceplant, not a good day for him.   I made it through the bridge with out any issues as again it is important to stay in th front.  After the bridge you hit a dirt section for about 3 miles, it is typically compact dirt so no real worries, the pace does not let up on the dirt.  My realistic goal was to make it in the pack over the first two climbs,   This is where I've had trouble in the past (again I''m a 180lb sprinter). The first is a 2.4% gradual climb for 2.7 miles the second is a real ass kicker, the second is only .2 mi but averages out at 13.8% ......on dirt!  Going into the first climb I stayed in the top 10 so if I lost any position I would still be in the pack, we gunned it and I was happy that I managed to hold my ground, leaving me in the front the next climb.  I again suprised myself, I did lose some positioning on the climb but managed to still be in contact cresting the top.  The 10lbs I lost since January was paying off.  We doddled along through some false flat areas, never really picking up the pace that much with nobody really wanting to put a heavy attack on.  (good recovery time after the hills).  The next kicker was coming up at 26miles (Joe Bean rd), this is a 1.2 mile climb which averages 6.4%, this could be the death of me in this race.  I started the climb at the front of the pack and gradually made my way back......ouch this one was killing me.  There is nothing worse than being 20 meters behind the main group and not being able to do anything about it.  Luckily the right after the climb there is 3 miles of 6 -9% decents the first mile being on dirt.  This is where what my son calls my downhill fat comes in handy.  I started to ramp it up passing people at 40mph on hard pack dirt.  The cyclocross comes in real handy.  I linked up with a group that was chasing hard to catch back on, we all worked together and caught the group after 2 miles of chasing, just in time to attempt to recover for the next climb, Cassidy Rd.  While it is listed as a 2.4% climb for two miles it seemed like stairs goin up and up until the top.  This is where I popped, the climbing, the chasing, I didn't have it ti stay with the group, I was not the only one, there were guys stretched out.  I was pretty happy that I had made it 35 miles with the group. Basically I just started riding at a good tempo pace for the rest of the race linking up and working with guys here and there.  I finally finished with a tiem of 3:31, averging 18.5 mph with a max speed of 49mph.  My time was 10 minutes faster than last year with an added 3 miles and extra climbing.  Everytime I finish Battenkill I typically saw never again, it's just not my style of riding, suffering on climbs etc.....I'm sure I'll be back next year as I have now recovered!



Date: 04/07/2013
Race: Grand Prix de Bethel, Bethel CT, Cat 4, 5
Course: .8 mile circuit with gently turns that ends each lap with a 8% short climb
Weather: 45 degrees 8-10 mph wind (com[pared to what we have been racing in it was quite balmy)
TSR Players: Andy, Chris Cat 5, Duane Cat 4

The race:   We arrived early as the cat 5 start was at 0745, this meant leaving at 0430.....not much sleep.  I'll leave Andy and Chris to describe their race.  My race started with the usual pre race safety brief.  Prior to the race I noticed that the "Series Leader" was there (Bethel is a 6 week series with the overall leader wearing the "Verge" yellow jersey).  He was riding from Pawling, a team from western CT or NY (can't recall which), he had about 5 teammates.  With myself being the lone TSR rider and strongest at sprinting I typically stay in the front of the race, out of trouble and let others attack and chase.  The race was pretty uneventfull until 1 guy took off, I think about 1/4 way into the race. 

I figured the "Pawling" team would chace but seems they could care less.  I got to the front a few times but to no avail, someone was calling out gap times and it was getting greater with one off the front, you have to give it to the guy there was a hefty headwind after the climb and he managed to lay it down.  I kept myself out of trouble and with a good reserve for the sprint.  With three laps to go I put myself in the top 10 and attempted to be aggressive about keeping that position.  What typically happens on this course is that it will whiden coming up the hill and get bunched up on the right after the hill, well this happend and I was now back to 20th with 1 lap to go.  I quickly moved to the outside of the pack and began my move up.  Sometimes you can hitch a ride up the side from someone with the same thought in mind, I did this.  I made it up to around 15th bu the bottom of the climb and chose the outside apex as this is the shortest on the gradual s turn going up.  I managed to pass a good number of people on the way up but had to stop peddling a few strokes becaus of a crash on the right. I managed 10th out of 44, OK but........

Andy of the Fun Climb

Chris on the Climb

Duane on the Climb

Final Sprint

Chris Hinds Mem Fuji Crit Cat 4 Race Report

Race: 11th Annual Chris Hinds Fuji Criterium Cat 4 0800 start
Location: Charlestown RI (Ninigrit)
Weather: 40 Degress Sunny with 20mph winds
Type: Very Flat Crit with turns running ounter clockwise in pic below. 
Results: http://www.road-results.com/race/2591


This course was one a navy Aux aifield and has been used for bike
racing for quite some tim now, I can recall racing on it over 20 years
and 35lbs ago.  



$20 Prime

The Race:  I had arrived early enough to get my number pinned on and take a few laps.  I've done this course probably clost to fifty times as there is a training race there every Wednesday that NBX runs.  We lined up in the usual fashion and received our normal run of the mill pre race briefing from the race official.  Looking around at the HUGE field (16 in all) there were at least 6 guys from other teams who I am on a first name basis with.  That's one of the things I love about cycling, showing up at the beginning of the season and linking up with guys you haven't seen in months and jumping off like it was yesterday.  To note as Aaron McCormack (Cyclelodge)  said the who's who of Cat 4 New England sprinters were there.  (Dannny Saccoccio; Bikeworks, Nick Tham Ming Qiang; MIT, and Nick Sousa; Cyclelodge).  This is good as typically there are no breakaways in this race as the headwind on the long straight section usually keeps riders in check.  The start of the race was routine for the pack as we usually just chill out on the first lap which we did.  There was a rider without a team jersey who decided that the first lap was the time for a solo break, the pack decided it was time to let him go also, he would accomplish nothing but burning his matches.  We decided to catch this guy after around 4 laps myself, Danny, James (COX) and Aaron put in a little power in the front and caught him with no great effort.  This was important as primes would start to come up and we could miss out on some cash or prizes.  We're not talking big bucks here but some gas & lunch money.  As we crossed the start/finish line the bell rings and a $20 prime is announced.  I was in about 5th position in the pack (Stayed there too when not chasing) right behing Danny, I asked him if he was going to go for it.  I did not want to waste energy early in the race, he said he was not and I wasn't going to either but I was in a good position so I dicided to give it a go.  I sometimes don't go for primes early as this lets other racers know you can sprint but with everyone knowing me anyway what did I have to lose.  (My other rule is only spritn for beer and cash).  I came around the last corner and started my sprint about 200m out with good results ($20 in the pocket).  After the prime comes a little recovery time in the mid field, just for a few laps.  Barry Eyre from Bonk decided it was a good time to go solo, the pack again let him go for a few laps until myself and Smith Anderson from Greenline decided to orgainze a good chase just taking 10 second pulls and rotating his break went from 35 seconds to being caught within 1.5 laps.  Organization works, it is rarely seen in cat 4 races or when we are basically riding solo with no team mates.  This was Aaron decided to give it a go and attack, a good move to counter attack after catching a break.  Barry attacked again and caught Aaron, looked they were going to work together but Barry attacked Aaron when he caught him, man was he going to wear himself out.  We let Barry stew again out there there was only about 10 laps left in the race, I was pretty confident we would catch him without difficulty which we did.  What we didn't see was the rider from Ride Studio attack with 8 laps to go, nobody responded, this proved to be our mistake.  We tried to get something organized but it wasn't happening, everyone starts thinking about the finish and how they are going to conserve energy for the sprint.  I hate sprinting for second but with 4 laps to go nobody wanted to work.  The same 6 guys did all the work fo rthe race, Wes and James from Cox, Barry from Bonk, Aaron and Nick from Cyclelodge, Smith from Green Line, and me.  With 2 laps to go it looked like we we're going to be sprinting ofr 2nd, things speed up, the last lap avg was 29mph.  Coming around the last turn I decided to take Nick(MIT) wheel, he is a decent sprinter and with the headwind I wanted to come up and out only in hte last 100m but plans change.  James from Cox had surged ahead with another guy in the filed and Wes (Cox) was in front of Nick slowley letting a gap open with a half lap to go, I saw this and told Nick to go around, he didn't so I had to. I quickly closed they gap but found myself with 200m to go.  I had to start  my sprint or I thought I would get enveloped by the field.  I was feeling good but once I was in the headwind I had chosen the wrong gear, I like to srint at aroung 115rpm but man was I dragging and I felt like I couldn't move the bike forward.  I noticed Nick (MIT) and Danny on my left (Both good Sprinters), they both got me so I ended up 4th. (BALLS).  Props to the Ride Studio rider who stayed away!

 

Oh well 4th place = $16 + $20 Prime = $36 Racing = Priceless