Lowell Smack DOWN... Rider down, Rider down BRC/Shedd Park Cyclocross Lowell, MA November 18, 2007
Big Al in the Masters lead group
This week’s race was down in Lowell, Massachusetts... Not too far from home, so some more Bikeman racers came out. Matt, Anders, and Big Al raced the elite masters. The course was fun, lots of corners, lots of fast flowing elevation changes, and maybe 1 make or break technical section.
Chatting it up with the legendary Dick Ring
After the Master’s race start shake down, Matt was sitting in the top 10 for a few laps, but the pain on his face was overwhelming and he backed off. Anders was chasing Matt, getting pretty close before a final lap flat took him out and Big Al was on the front with 3 other guys. This group stayed together with Al leading the charge for the first 3 laps before another master threw down a wicked attack shattering the group. Eventually Al had a partner in pursuit, but they could not reel in the leader. Al had a chance for 2nd place, but a final lap bobble put him in a position to chase to the line. Finishing 3rd in the elite masters, not too shabby!
Matt Hersey back in New England
My race was a little later so I had my chances to get this course dialed. The start was nice since we had a huge area to line up, it was a pretty big group of 40 or 50 guys. I had a good start going into the first barrier in the top 10. Going into the only real technical element I blew by 5 guys that stacked it up on the steep climb and then I had the leaders wheel and we were way off the front. Rider down... Going fast, speed way up... and I took a digger cornering onto the icy track. Going from leader to chaser in an instant.
Ryan was using skills to pass all the runners
During the crash I kicked my valve stem, it broke so I had to take the Big Al pit bike, limiting my losses. I was sitting in 7th place and moving up, while Al was on a mission to get me back on my bike, running up the hill to get a new front wheel on my bike. After another bike change I had my chances to get back on, but had burned a few too many candles chasing. I settled into no mans land, just off the leaders and out ahead of everyone else. I had a lot left at the end since the race was only 38 minutes long, which is absolutely unacceptable! Pathetic time keeping taking away from the training. In the end I finished 8th, with some road rash on my hip, arm, and knee. Never had road rash before, and I don't have that much, but man it hurts. A constant reminder of what could have been had I not crashed myself out of the lead.
; "Big Al in the Masters lead group")
; "Chatting it up with the legendary Dick Ring")
; "Matt Hersey back in New England")
; "Ryan was using skills to pass all the runners")
