Race Ave.

Saturday Shawn and I took the long trek (maybe a mile) to the Race Ave Crit. It was a very standard 4 corner, .7 mile rectangle course. Basically, you went 2 blocks, turned right for one block, turned right...

Shawn did pretty well in his race. He finished in the top 10 (6th if I counted correctly). He looked strong too. Getting late in the season that can be hard to do.

As for me, it was a struggle to hang on to the group. My legs just never felt powerful. I knew a sprint finish was a bad thing for me so with about three to go I put in the most feeble attempt at a breakaway (like I said I had no power). I made it to the front only to be immediately caught and spit out the back. I tried to hang on but I couldn't close the 10 feet of gap in front of me. Eventually I was all alone so I nailed it for the last two laps just trying to not get lapped. I even caught up to some other riders that fell off the back after me. The end result was still not very good. I didn't stick around to see the official results but I'm guessing between 15th-20th. It was hard to tell because so many riders were dropped earlier and I don't know how many were in the peloton when I fell out.

Ben was there lending support. He also snapped a few shots. Here's the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21124578@N08/.

Next weekend there are two races I'd like to do but there probably won't happen.

There's the Laurel Mountain Classic in Wellsboro and a new road race called the Cheyney Challenge in the West Chester area.

The grand finale for MASS is coming up. 9-21 at Bear Creek a double points XC race (they also hand out season awards which a few Allied Milk riders should get). This course is probably the hardest of any race in the series. One year it was a 4.5 miles lap that took about 40-50 minutes to go around (do that three times). Compare that with something like Sewell where we went 22 miles in about 1:30-1:45. I've heard they changed the course this year to take some of the abuse out of it but the singletrack there is about the hardest I've ever ridden. Should be fun...

Chad's version of events

Last Saturday was Sunbury bike race. It is a 26 mile races with all hills. Dan drove up from Lancaster to support me. The weather for the day was not bad at all, not in the 90's how it is every other year, but in the 80's. Dan and I decided to try and have me win this race, since the race is all hills and i am peaking for this race. The gun went off and Dan took the lead with me on his wheel, his plain was for the first 1 mile climb to weed out most of the weaker riders, which he did a great job of doing. We were climbing the hill at about 15-17 mph with no letting up any time soon. towards the top of the hill a rider from VisitPA flew past us. I grabbed his wheel and followed him. Dan I found out later blew a tire with in the 5 mile marker. Through the whole race we kept the pace high, dwindling down the field till we had a break away. With only one last climb to do, (a one mile climb with a ave. 18% grade and top at 20%) this is where the race is decided, It was down to me and Ray Adams (VisitPA) We worked together on the decent down to the finish, with one rider catching up to us to help build our lead. With the finish line in sight Adams started sprinting and i was right on his wheel. I started coming around him but did not have enough time to pass him be for the line. With the results in I got 2nd with less then a second between me and Adams. I was disappointed that i did not get first until Dan informed me that he is semi-pro in mountain and Cat. 2 in road. After the race i packed up to head to Kinzua for another race, this one was a 30 mile with lots of hills and a 1 mile up hill finish. The race started as any one does, staying in the front in the best place to be, so you can cover attacks and stay out of trouble. With us starting the climb to the finish we had a group of 5-6 riders. We were keeping the pace high, until we had a quarter mile to go. At that time i attacked with with no one responding except for one rider. I tried to shake him off my wheel, but he was glued to it. I knew at that time that he was saving all his energy and it would be very hard to beat him at the line. As I predicted he got me at the line. Another 2nd place in the same weekend with over 55 miles of racing. Next race for me is this weekend in Lewisburg. It is a Triathlon that i am only doing the biking for a 3 person relay (I don't do running or swimming) This will be the first time i will be using my TT bike, and hoping to be the best time. Pictures coming soon.

Last Saturday Chad and I were in Sunbury racing in the YMCA fundraiser. It's not a USACycling event but it still draws a good crowd like cat.2 (I think) roadie Ray Adams (he also happens to be a semi-pro mountain biker on VisitPA.com).

It was an interesting day for me since I had no bike but was still racing. I had a mishap with my Rivet so I had to get my 'cross bike into somewhat road gearing. I only run a single ring (instead of the double on a road bike) and it is normally a 42. I had a 46 laying around so I put that on but then I thought "those climbs are going to kill if I only have a 46" so I put a 27 on the rear. This gave me almost as low a gear as a 39x25 but my top end was way short. About 19 gear inches to be exact. I figured I'd pull Chad as long as I could keep up.

Just as we were about to start Chad's brother pulled in with his bike. A 52cm (50 is about my limit) but it had a big ring! Woo woo! I quickly put on my wheels, adjusted the seat and lined up.

Being an open category race I took the lead out of the blocks to weed out the pretenders. It worked pretty well since the first three miles were up hill. I pulled the whole way until about 3/4's of the way up when Ray took off. I guess I was going too slow for him. I saw Chad hang on his wheel so I dug deep to stick with them. Just as we were about to crest the first climb I heard a "hiss". Another flat for me. The wheel support was way back and it took them about 3-4 minutes to get to me so I just called it a day. There was no chance of getting back on now. I got a lift back to the start line and waited.

While I was waiting I checked my computer. Three miles, just over 10 minutes, and 1000 feet of elevation gain. Seems fast to me.

Tomorrow is Iron Hill MTB. It's #9 in MASS. Tom, Joel, Shawn, and I should be there. I haven't heard if Brooke will be there or not.

Next for the road is Race Ave. Crit on the 23rd in Lancaster city. It should be a blast.

The season is starting to wind down but 'cross is right around the corner. 'Cross is always fun, even if it's not.

Well, well, well...

If anyone had been paying attention to the Saturday Lancaster New Era they would've noticed Shawn and Joel on the front page of the sports section along with an article about Shawn and his Nationals experience. Unfortunately I'm not really sure how to (or if I can legally) put this on the blog but if you missed it and would like to see it, I can e-mail it to you.

Things have slowed down a little with the race series' winding down but Chad managed a 4th place at the Hammer Creek Road Race. He said he was going to do a report but it never came. Haha.

Anyway...it looks like this weekend it will be Chad and I (Joel is still undecided) up in Danville for a race that apparently has a one mile climb with grades up to 20%. That's pretty steep and it sounds painful but oh well.

8-16 is the Iron Hill mountain bike race. It's a short (4-5 mile) loop that is pretty fast. I believe we will be doing 4 laps. It's usually hot and muggy. Duh, it is mid-August but really it's hotter and muggier there.