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Gloucester Cyclocross |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Sven Cole
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Monday, 15 October 2007 |
Gran Prix of Gloucester
Gloucester, MA
October 13-14, 2007
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What a great weekend of racing. I haven't been doing 'cross racing for very long, and have done very few big races - but it is safe to say that I am hooked. Of course being hooked now means I have to really work hard and learn how to do this racing thing- 'cuz I'm pretty slow!
The Gloucester GP takes place at the Stage Fort Park and is right on the ocean- it's beautiful. My wife and daughters go to a lot of my races, but this one takes the cake in terms of family friendly. The kids even managed to stay interested until half way through the men's elite race, which was impressive considering they had been at the venue for eight hours!
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My race (the 4's) started at 9am, I had gotten a decent starting position as Big Al had suggested I register early. The good starting position was both a blessing and a curse- I was good as I was already ahead of 2/3 of the field- but it was bad as I had 2/3 of the field that wanted my spot and were ready to move me out of the way (at least it felt that way!).
Day one I went hard out of the start but got nervous heading into the first set of turns and started to give up too many spots. I was using my brakes way too much and riding really nervous. I managed to stay upright and even avoided a couple good wrecks on the first lap, I had just mounted up the new Challenge Grifo clincher tires, and they seemed to hold so much better then the old Kenda something or others I had used for years. I was also running a 1x9 which I really liked, and the Salsa Crossing Guards kept the chain right where it was supposed to go.
Now back to the race, things settled down on the second lap but I was still trying to figure out where I had left my lungs and legs - as they certainly weren't with me. It blows my mind how hard you go in a cross race!
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I hung on for the next couple of laps and then began to feel a bit better and tried picking my way through the field. On my second to last lap a really fast looking guy went by me - so I assumed it was the leader and that he was finishing - so I kicked hard for a half lap thinking I was riding for the finish. I came up the finishing straight and could see the riders in front of me weren't sitting up after the line so I knew I had one more loop - Ouch! I dialed it back just a bit and in so doing gave up a few slots on the back side of the course, but as we rode the ball field and headed back to the pavement I saw a small group ahead of me and gassed it hard and won my "sprint" - yes I sprinted for 62nd place- and I'd do it again (literally).
Day two my buddy Ward came to watch (he races in the elite field so is used to getting to the venue much later in the day) he was giving me all sorts of advice and wanted me to go super sonic (or my lawn tractor speed version of that) at the start - it worked out well and I was in the top 30 after the first lap. I was pretty stoked. But upon starting the third lap I began going backwards pretty fast. Ward seemed to be everywhere on the course on every lap (damn fast people) and was really trying to motivate me. It was good as he would remind me to draft and with the wind that we had that made a huge difference - every straight I'd try to chase someone down and then sit in for a few seconds of recovery. My back sort of gave out for a couple laps and I just didn't have any power until the last lap and it seemed to loosen up and I tried to pick off a few more riders. I tried to get one more guy in the finish, but just didn¹t have the legs - and yes I sprinted for 62nd place - again.
I got to meet a number of other Team Bikeman.com riders, which was cool, and my daughters and I yelled "Go Bikeman" until I thought our voices would give out. It was a great weekend and I now I can't wait to get out on my bike this week and try learn to actually corner it fast on grass!
Sven
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