A Plymouth Weekend

The Refunds Now team was well represented this weekend, esp on Saturday. We had a bunch of guys out there. Three of us in the Masters open races, one in the 3/4 race and at least one (or two) in the 4 race. And out of that we got a 3rd place in the 35+ and a 1st in the 3/4 race. And while I didn't have a spectacular race, I had fun. It felt like a pretty small field of riders. Well strung out as it gets there at Plymouth North HS. Small groups form or you get stuck out in no mans land in the wind on the power sucking grass or the lonely sidewalk climb. They put the "run up" back in (so totally ridable) and I was stoked for that. It was fun. I managed to hang on to Marvin and Chris's wheel for a while, then at some point I cracked just a touch and couldn't get back on. The closest guys behind be in the 35 race were Ken Scott and CTodd. And they were pretty far back (too far to sit up and let them get me). And sooner than later a few of the just off the front 45s came through. I could watch them work through Ken and Ctodd. Then they got up to me and when Paul and who ever else was with him caught me I yielded the racing line and jumped on their wheels. And I held on as long as I could. Gap, repeat. And that helped me "race" through the middle part of the race. Chris and Marvin were long gone. Sadly putting almost 3 minutes on me. But the end result was that I managed to hang on to that spot behind Marvin. And while painful. It was fun. Loads of fun. Curtis managed to snag the hole shot prime and then went on to beat Frank and Bill and company while Mark toyed a bit with Dan Coady pimping the Love Bike man for the win.

The corners were a bit greasy, the single track up top was pretty slick and the downhill was wash boarded to hell. But it was fun. Way more fun than last year. IIRC I might have actually finished 11th or something. Out of maybe 19 finishers? I forgot to take the snapshot of the results sheet so i'd remember. It wasn't nearly as cold. And I was once again overheating, short sleeve skinsuit unzipped a touch even. But despite getting caught by a handful of old guys who started 2 minutes behind me, it was a great day. And I was really looking forward to Day 2.

As an aside. I finally (kind of a shocker) put a name to that Ryan Kelly dude. But that was after the race. As we were lining up for the start I looked around. There were WAY more people at the race than on the pre-reg list. Man. Is that a sign that you are in an elite race? Pros and Ex Pros are the ones who often don't bother with the pre-reg. They don't have much cash and prefer shell out the dough as close to the moment they need it, as opposed to say registering for Gloucester over a month in advance. The smaller the race, the more likely it is to happen.

So I look around. Mark M at one end of the line (inside). Frank M at the far end. Dan Coady next to Mark M (i think) Curtis, then me. CTodd picked a spot next to me, Ken Scott was about middle of the line. And all i could think about was Ryan's column. Great. Ah well. Of course on saturday I did the day of registration too.

Sunday. Ah sunday. It was made a touch more complicated with the addition of my 3.5yo daughter to the traveling mix. And seeing as the winner of the 3/4 on saturday needed a ride and was doing the race right before mine, the plan was hatched so that Mark N would hang out with my girl while i raced. It was fantastic. Only downside? I didn't get to pre-ride. But seeing as I was lining up against more or less semi-pro/pro CX racers in the masters open, well... No way in HELL would it be a smart race to go out at Mark M's speed, or Shattuck's or... who ever else showed up. Ken Scott gave me the cliff note versions from the pre-ride. Mark N mentioned a few spots to watch (most the concrete square water bars on the downhills). And so I just did the warm up on the trainer hanging out at the car with my little one. We hit the bouncy house a few times and the potty a few times but still some how I managed to get a good 20-30 minutes on the trainer and the legs warm and some efforts in. Feeling not so bad. Mark N gets back from his slightly truncated cool down, announces "Second place!" I guess 1-2 at Plymouth North switched to 2-1 at South. He scored a sweet trophy on saturday and a cool spinner medal on sunday. Then it was time to line up.

Everyone at the line had dirty bikes except me. Meaning everyone had a chance to pre-ride. Not me. Then Mark M shows up. just after the 2 minute warning. Clean bike. He hasn't pre-ridden the course either. Cool. I chill back in second row. And have a nice relaxed start. Roll around to the bottle neck, and sit in on Ken's wheel. Marvin takes off running around that first hairpin as the pack bunches up. But gains only one or two spots. And I chill behind Ken. He's pre-ridden. And I encourage him not to let a gap open. To stick on that wheel. And more or less the first lap everyone is kind of together. Strung out. But not that separated. Ken bobbles on the little u-turn with the tires around it and I head past. Grab the wheel in front and keep going. And I just sit on wheels. Mostly targeting Chris White. In the first couple laps I towed a few folks around chasing down the gap to Chris. We reeled in a few riders, I don't know how many but it must have been more than I thought because I was pretty damn sure I was near to last place on that first lap. Chasing gaps, sitting in. And I raced. I made people pull me around. I didn't MAKE them. But I knew they were all stronger than me. And gap me they did a few times. Chris (and I) caught the IF rider and Rob Kramer (Ridley Factory Team) as we went by Rob he muttered wrong tire choice. I couldn't help but offer an upbeat and happy comment (tone of voice) that Page would still be kicking our asses on this course riding around on road tires. But tire choice was a big deal in some spots. As was line choice. Chris and I snapped the elastic on IF and Rob for a lap maybe. Then Chris snapped me and IF guy was gaining on me. And before long it was 2 to go. Woa. Holy crap. Only 2 to go? Where are the 45s? Soon Mark G (45 leader riding for Team Fuji) catches us as we head back around the chainlink fence. He goes buy and IF guy goes around me with him. Chris is up a head a bit and they hit the woods and the chute with the water bars. IF guy jumps around Mark, so it was Chris, IF, Mark G, then me a bit back. I was calm. I knew i had more power and speed through the up hill behind the bleachers than the IF guy. And sure enough. We hit the mud and I discover that the middle line through the mud is the fastest and I'm back on IF's wheel. Mark G has already passed Chris and we're off headed back to take the bell lap. One crazy thing was the barriers. It was slightly up hill and into a ferocious headwind. Getting off the bike the wind almost blew you to a complete stop. It was crazy. But it was a quick remount after the hairpin with a downhill tail wind. Big ring all the way around. So bell lap. I'm still behind IF. He's got more power in sections than me, but I seem to be climbing better than he is. Last lap I just sit there. Not going to let go. I'm cooked. I make sure my normally loud breathing is as loud as can be to let him know i'm just barely hanging on. He gaps me a touch going past the Pits the first time. But I dig and find something to hang on. I'm thinking where the hell are the rest of the 45s, then we see a few of them as we head back to the chainlink. Wow. We might be able to hold them off. Wash rinse repeat. I relax on the downhill, catch him on the up hill. Hit the barriers and then he gaps me as we power back past the pits. Oh no he's not. Up ahead just before you hit the single track around the backstop. Total one line. No passing. There is a lapped rider. F*CK. I gotta get around him to have a chance to be on IF's wheel. And I jump, dig down, stand up and power power power, shouting ON YOUR RIGHT and I dove past him, just in front of him and make the line before he gets there. I even think he didn't really have to slow down much as i went past. And I'm back on IF's wheel on the final climb up towards the paved finishing straight. We hit it. He starts down shifting and sprinting. He's got a single ring. I drop it down from the 46-27, two clicks down and sprint. And win the sprint for 14th place (out of 22 iirc). Totally gassed. Spent. And elated. It was fun.

That and I was very confused. They must have started the 45s more than 2 minutes behind us. Nope. As it turned out. It was exactly 2 minutes by Steamboat's watch. Holy crap. It was amazing. Sure. It was only 14th place. Mark M finished (with a win of course) at either 39 or 41 (i can't remember). But I do remember that Chris White came in only 10 seconds ahead of me at 43:33, and I ticked the line at 43:43.

I was pumped, super stoked. I beat a handful of guys I haven't even been close to all year. SO MUCH FUN.

Damn this cross racing stuff is just amazing.

And seeing all the regular folks there. The other FREAK. Gary the tri guy who can't start to save his butt. Sweeny, C-burke, Ken Scott, Mike and Cathy, Skinny White Dude's Wife (Oh and I'd wager Skinny's take on the race was about as polar opposite as mine). Wild Bill, ROB BAUER. James H and the rest of the NBX crew, Marc T, Steamboat Stevens. Hannah and man I gotta be missing someone. If so, i apologize. It was just an awesome day. I do actually like that course alot. Total big ring 100% of the way around. Didn't need the little ring once. Didn't use it once. Or wait. No I did use it on the first lap a few times, I wasn't sure what was coming.

That and I realized. As much as you pre-ride a course, it is hard to pre-ride at race pace. And the lines change a little at that speed. If you want to be off the front on the first lap, yes. Getting a pre-ride lap in is critical. If you are content to follow a wheel or two and not get overzealous (*cough* skinny *cough*) on the first lap it is something less important to cut out than say a good warm up. Obviously good to get both but. Anyway.

What a great weekend racing.

So... Much... Fun....

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