The sun continued to shine as did Team Wheaton.
I am starting to feel it. This is where I was hoping to be two months ago. Since it is late coming, I have decided to try and peak during Superweek and maybe even throw my hat in the Alpine Valley race. This past week I got my fire back, and laid out my training leading up to S-W. It is funning, after the Backyard TT, I remember sitting on the curb contemplating scrapping the rest of the season and not racing anymore. Then Grafton and the flame was back on high. It has been a roller coaster year on many fronts, but you gotta love the highs.
Part of my plan in leading up to S-W is to double up in the 45+ and Master 4/5 when possible. Saturday’s Whitewater Crit was my first chance. And it couldn’t come on a crazier course. The course included a 180 degree turn 50 meters from the finish, narrow park path or road (not sure which), and a nasty right turn out of the park going down hill onto a driveway. After two races and maybe 30 some laps, I finally figured that turn out with 3 laps to go. Both races were decided on the first turn, 50 meters from the start line with breaks off the front and never to be seen again. The fields were strung out pretty far, and I basically TT it with one or two guys for the entire race. I took the 180 turn slow enough for it not to be a problem, but I did scrape the peddle a couple of time. Sap, Chevy, and Dr B all went down in the race, Sap enjoyed it so much he went down twice, once was coming around to the finish and it cost him the 3rd spot. T-dog was my sidekick and yelled encouragement on each lap. My results weren’t the best, 45+: 14 out of 20, (top Cat 4), Master 4/5 25 out of around 35, (2nd in my age group). I guess I can blame the course, although my cornering is much better this year, it did show I still have some improving to do.
On Sunday the road race was heading in the opposite direction this year. My initial reaction was that I wasn’t sure I like it. I guess it is the unknown factor that worried me. Last year I was dropped on lap 3 or 4, so you would think I would have been happy for any kind of change. The weather was sunny and low 80’s; hydration was a bit of a concern with a high noon start time. I was half tempted to take 3 bottles, but decided to guzzle one before the start. We had a full team again, HP (first race in his new 50+ age group), Sap, Chevy, 13 Pin, Engine, and Huley. T-dog was telling me to forget the drafting and stay ahead of everyone. He wanted his Dad to win. I wanted to survive.
Away we went, with an on time start and 7 laps of 6 miles each to cover. I settled into the top 15, with a rider total that seemed close to 50. My plan was to sit in, stay off the front, and try and stay with the main group. I had some worries that if I went to the front at the wrong time I could get shelled off the back. This was not a day that I wanted to ride alone. Lap one was going along pretty uneventful, when about 3 miles in, Chevy blasted off the front. Everyone gives chase, and my legs felt heavy from the two races the previous day. I held my spot, but it hurt. When we caught Chevy, two other riders tried to break away, more sprinting to catch them. My heart rate was quickly in the upper 170’s, which is definitely anaerobic for me. As we came around to the start / finish we were all together. Lap 1 completed. After the climb to the finish I found myself towards the back, so I moved back up as there seemed to be too much slowing down in the back. Psych moved to the front before the big decent, and pulled us down the hill at a pretty fast speed. We took the right turn with Psych still sitting in front, and then I hear him yelling and see he has a flat. I am actually surprised he is even racing, since he broke his collar bone last weekend at Grafton. This is his 3rd race in three days. Cyclist do seem to either have a high tolerance for pain or a stupid stubbornness, I guess it depends on who you ask. Lap two is about done and I find myself in 2nd spot as we make the turn to the finish. I try to hold the position up the hill, then hear Scoots say in a low voice, ‘Andy, get off the front’. Ok, who do I listen to, Scoots or T-dog? Scoots for sure, and I slide back, but not because of his comment. I am trying to recover and again find myself towards the back. It is evident I don’t have it for that final push up the hill. On lap four 13 Pin moves into the top 5, Sap has been up there along with Engine and Chevy. HP has been in the middle of the pack, and seems to be riding smoothly. Engine has been on the front a few times and even sprinted after a break. I am amazed at how strong and smart our team races. We consistently have most of our guys towards the front, usually sharing the spots with the Crono boys. There are times when I think we aren’t going very fast and then others where I am on the rivet giving it all I have. At one point someone jumped at the front and about 15 of us get a nice little gap. But it was short lived as the rest closed it before we had a chance to organize. I was really feeling good at that point and would have loved to be in a smaller group. However, I think we did drop a few riders on that move. I think with 3 laps to go, A-train and another rider go off on a breakaway and seem to have a good gap. I think this is the winning move. But we don’t panic and pull them back. Moments later, two more go off the front, one is Rusty from LAPT and the other is a Crono guy. Rusty has a climbers build, and this could be a good move. They build a quick lead as no one seems interested in chasing and Crono does a good job blocking. I think I hear some yell a time split of 30 seconds. We also get stuck behind a lady in a SUV, and have to slow up. It is working to the breakaway’s advantage. As we pass the SUV, I think I saw her wearing a Crono jersey. A-train makes a move with another to chase down the two man break. It is decisive and will prove to be the winning move. They hook up with Rusty but will eventually leave them, and the pack will swallow Rusty and company up soon after. Looks like we are racing for 3rd. The Wheaton boys have remained at the front. We are down to the last couple of miles. I know I won’t be a factor at the finish line so I plan on going to the front as we make the final left turn with about a half mile to go. I will pull hard and see how long I can last setting up Wheaton for the sprint. As I go to the front I tell Sap and 13 Pin to hang on as I am going to pull as hard as I can. I blast it like I did at Grafton, but it is a slight upgrade from the turn, and I am just hanging on at my max. If I can make it a little further it is all down hill to the final turn to the finish line. At some point, I start getting passed on my left. I try to look for a spot to hop in, but I don’t want to cut anyone off, plus my legs are now toast.
I finish at the back and figure I am in the top 25, which actually ends up being 19th overall. We must have shelled a lot of riders and I am happy that I finished with the main group. The Wheaton boys do it again with 4 in the top 10, with Chevy takes the field sprint for 3rd, Sap was 5th, 13 Pin was 6th, and HP came in 9th (top 50+ guy). T-dog wants to know why I didn’t win, and tells me I crossed the finish line going slower than 15 mph, and said I looked like a Mary. Then he demonstrates how slow I was on his bike. What has this come to, I am getting harassed by a nine year old with a mohawk.
Well next week is the Elm Grove Crit, and a planned double day again. Until then…….