Race Result

Racer:	Richard Gendron
Race:	Trade Zone Training Series #3
Date:	Friday, March 7, 2008
Location:	Upper Marlboro, MD
Race Type:	Bike - Other
Age Group:	Male 40 - 44
Overall Place:	20 / 75
Age Group Place:	12 / 50
Comment:	Survived a 3/4/5 race

Race Report:

C-Race
Weather: Beautiful Sun and 40s
Distance: 12 laps; 15+ miles
Field Size: 50 (5s only)
Finish: Field (12)

I got to the race really early (7:50) cutting through DC, by RFK and out Rt 50 saved much more time than I expected. The organizers didn't set up the tent till about 8:20. I ended up in a line for about 35 minutes. I didn't get set up till about 9:10 - so my warm up sucked.

My goal for the C race was to get comfortable in the pack, staying no more than 20 riders back. If I executed correctly, I would have tons of energy to find position in the last two laps and sprint for something. I got to the line early and started ON the line. There seemed to be tons of room in the front. I rarely felt like I couldn't find my way around to just about anywhere with some planning. I wasn't working much except to close the gaps back after turn 2. It took me a few turns to figure out how turn three was working. I was no more than 15 or 20 back for most of the race.

With 3 laps to go, I heard a really loud CRACK. Clearly the sound of Carbon fiber breaking. Then some yelling. At that point there were two off the front, and the pacemakers started pulling up asking what happened. One steady voice said "lets keep going guys". I said, "nothing we can do right now, lets chase down that break"

What had happened, was a guy had tried to gain position on the outside of the pack and used the left turn lane right before the start line. When he ran out of lane he inserted himself into the pack. I heard it was a domino effect that went all the way across to the inside. . Sucks. I saw the one of the bikes involved after the race as Super Dave was loading it into the car parked in front of me. The front wheel was taco'd, the handlebars were bent, and one side of the fork was splintered carbon while the other side was snapped clean off.

For the next two laps I jockeyed in the top 5-10 places trying to guess whose wheel I wanted for the final sprint and taking for granted that we would bring back in the break of two about 50 yards up the road. With one lap to go, there was a break of two and a chase of two. I was third in what I thought was the main field. I looked back and we had gapped the peleton by about 100 yards. So I was in chase 2.

This was not anywhere in my game plan, and I was working much harder than I thought I could maintain, going into turn #1. I hesitated for about 40 seconds and decided to let the chase go and drop back to the main field, catch my breath, let the peleton chase down the breaks and sprint for the finish. Getting back into the main group cost me more than I thought,

A teammate (Jonathan) came up beside me about 15 back and said, "lets go" I think. I dropped about one more bike length back, but then focused on J Muls wheel. I had to fight for it, but I got on it after the last turn. He pulled us up to about 20, I think, and I sprinted the last 100 yds to pick up about 8-10 places.

The break survived, but only by a few yards. The strongest guy in chase 2 almost nipped him. I can't help but feel that I should have stayed with Chase 2 and tried to make it to the line with them. I was not mentally prepared to be off the front with one lap to go. But I'm not really sure I wouldn't have dropped off of them anyway.

B-Race
Weather: Beautiful Sun and 40s
Distance: 18 laps; 24+ miles
Field Size: 75 (3, 4, 5)
Finish: Field (Top 25)

I was quite warm for this one from the prior race and the weather was turning glorious. I lined up on the line again. Mark L was my only teammate this time. The pace was a bit hotter in the B-Race, but the field was so big that it was almost easy. I spent most of the race in the front 30 - packed in pretty tight. Had to really hold my lines. I was happy with my handling except on one turn, where I can't decide if I drifted out or my neighbor drifted in. We bumped pretty hard and lost both lines. We then heard some nice polite and eloquent reminders from the riders behind us to "please hold your line".

I was just happy to be on for the ride in this race and really enjoyed the big pack thing - My heart rate was much more manageable as a result. I was a little frustrated that I could not find the space I wanted to move around. It was really tight. If I moved for position, I did it in the wind and had to fight a little to get back in after the work. (I guess that is a skill that comes with time) With about 8 to go B Vaugn broke off the front with a few riders I started to get annoyed. Isn't the peleton supposed to look like an arrow when they chase a break ? Going up the back stretch into the wind we looked more like a military parade - six or seven across.

So with 3 laps to go I was on the outside of turn #1. As I came out of the turn, I cranked a bit to close the gap. At the same time, a rider two in and a length in front of me moved out to the yellow line into the same space I was heading into. To keep from becoming a hood ornament for the oncoming car, I pulled a circus-monkey trick - dropped my weight, shoved my bike to the right and shot my left knee out to the side for balance. In the middle of the move, we all heard a loud POP. The back end of My
brand-spankin-new SPD-SL cleat sheared off in one piece. I stayed upright, and could push, but had no pull on the left leg.

With two to go I started moving up a bit. I got as far forward as about 10 and started looking for a wheel. On the last lap, on the back stretch a lot of riders moved up the outside. NCVC put together a nice little train that I was really trying to get onto, but I got pinched into the curb after the last turn. I was about 30 back and sprinted (If you can call it that with one cleat) up to about 20 in the main field.

Speed was about 24.0, but my HR was a good 10-15 BPM lower than the C race..

Good fun, didn't wreck, survived a 3/4/5 race and got two starts (5 down, 5 to go)