Game on tonight..... 3 laps around the course. First lap is for bonus points on the sprint. Finish line is same sign as springfield loop. Ride out and attack Loverin hill when done. I will not be able to make it tonight, but ride hard.

6PM start?

Careful at the bridge.

PJ

Have fun, I will not be there tonight. As PJ stated be careful crossing the bridge over Sugar River on Oak St. It wouldn't hurt to have someone like Julie there to watch for traffic.

Ryan

Any predictions? I say Greb gets the best time on the climb. I'm sure PJ would if he were there. I'm glad I won't have to sprint against him. Having not ridden in about 10 days, I'm sure I won't be up for tonight, but I will try.

-- Ken
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

I'll be there tonight too.

Are we going to do the ride in the rain? Who is going to make it?
Greg

Rain won't stop me from being there.

-- Ken
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

No rain projected now.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/hourbyhour/graph/03773?from=interactive_topnav_undeclared

Loren and I will be there

Plans with the kids tonight, no Voigts on the decent please.
 
[img:7c60f52a7e]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/120x90.png[/img:7c60f52a7e]

Started early, feeling faster when I am not looking at a disappearing pack. After the 2nd loop I was warmed up and by the 3rd was starting to enjoy the ride. Finished just ahead of the pack's 1st loop finish and then rode to Loverin for an uneventful climb (other than my tongue dragging on the ground)
Leaving the top of Loverin I had a close encounter with what appeared to be a flying bowling ball. It was a turkey flying accross the road. Had to duck my head to avoid hitting it.
The Oak St loop has too many stop signs/intersections and driveways.
 
"there is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about on bikes (sic)" Grahame Greene from Wind In The Willows

I think doing the loop first as a warm up was a good idea only it was not hard enough because I was not warm at the end. The first race lap was the hardest for me because I had to ride hard to catch up to the 3 breakaway guys. Mark and I caught them at the airport but then did a hard sprint and was wasted for another 10 min. Mark pulled me up the hill and we did the remainder of the race as a team doing a 42:30 I think. I agree with Mike's comment that this course is dangerous. I don't think we should use it again for this purpose. The Loverin Hill climb was not so special either only a 4:15 so I may be back for another stab at it. Also for others doing the course. The group did the section from the start to Oak st. corner as neutral at a slow pace so times for this event may be way off for everyone.

Did a good job of staying with lead group for the fist lap. Got to the sprint and Dan went flying by. As I started to sprint my foot clipped out. I clipped back in and started going again when my foot clipped out a second time. I stopped pedaling, clipped back in one last time and started to hammer. I managed to catch up to Dan and beat him to the line, but I paid dearly for it. I hit 185HR and was just not able to recover in time to match Greg, Tim, Dan or Mark. I spent the entire 2nd lap in a lot of pain. I recovered and was able to make it around the 3rd time a little faster.

I was feeling great until that max effort to catch Dan. Had I not clipped out and was just able to stay in Dan's slipstream, I may have been able to get the points and still stay with the lead pack. Ohh well. Better luck next time.

-- Ken
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

This was one of my better efforts, but not yet at last year's level. I started with the idea that I could get one the top six finishes for lap one. There were only eight of us in the race. I accomplished that by pushing myself enough on the hills to stay within striking distance of Adam (streak). He'd gap me up the hills and I'd catch up and sail by him on the down hills. When we turned onto Corbin Rd, I knew I had to be close enough to get by him on the last downhill before the covered bridge, which I did. I also expected him to attack before we got to the one lap finish line. He never came back. I coasted to Jiffy Mart corner where he caught me. As I cruised down Oak St behind him, I puked my guts out (of course my wife had been sick all week, so I'm sure she was responsible). We were close until the hill where he gapped me again. Of course Loren was lurking close behind, just couldn't seem to shake her. I closed on Adam down the hills, but just couldn't gain enough. On the third lap, I could see another yellow jersey at the top of Oak St hill, with Adam in the middle, and yes, Loren was always present. After going through the steel bridge and cresting the hill before the cemetary, I took one quick look back down the hill and there was Loren appearing closer than the last lap. I knew if I was going to hold her off, I had to drive hard to the finish. I ended up 25 seconds behind Adam and 44 seconds in front of Loren, who coincidently had beaten me time wise at our last MTB race in Putney. I wanted to go to the Loverin Hill climb, but at that point I was feeling sick to my stomach, so I went home instead.

Mike,

I noticed as of today, you've moved up to 5th place in the Overall Road standings. I only mention it, because I'm place ahead of you. :twisted:

Dana

If Dana carries his bike for the sprint I have a shot at making up the time on him. Beating Sandy is my more immediate goal.
Is that a group start or individually? Drafting allowed or not?
 
"there is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about on bikes (sic)" Grahame Greene from Wind In The Willows

We will set off 30 seconds apart. Drafting is not legal. Aerobars are.

PJ