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Ninigret Criterium |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Steve Morse
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Friday, 23 June 2006 |
Caster's Majik Coffee Ninigret Criterium
Charlestown, RI
It was another rainy day down in southern RI for another lackluster criterium. Since this is the week before Fitchburg Stage Race, I didn't really care what happened. I was just looking to put some last minute rolling speed into my legs before the big one.
So, the cat 4's go off, with a pretty light turn out due to the lousy conditions in the light drizzle. Only about 30 riders or so. I jumped right onto the front, and we went out really hard from the gun. It was strung out single file for the first 2-3 laps, so I knew we were making people suffer early, which is good. After about the 3rd lap, the rain picked up considerably and it started to thunder. Immediately the race slowed down into the typical pack, but I stayed near the front to avoid the spray.
In a few minutes, we saw lightning bolts hitting the side of the field, and knew that the officals would probably call the race. And, they did...well, not exactly. The referee Sandy came out waving her arms, calling us all in to wait it out under the gazebo (where, incidentally, the race reg table was - and the race "cook-out"). So we all huddled there, and watched some pretty unbelieveable downpour make a literal river out of the course and parking areas. There was plenty of gossiping and bench racing to pass the time.
After about 30 teeth-chattering minutes, I decided to give up and go home. But first, my hunger overcame me and I decided to hit up the cookout that had been going nearby. Like a starved animal, I ate a delicious cheeseburger in about 10 seconds flat, much to the horror of some of the "vegan" racers that were sitting nearby. I proceeded to take my bike apart and put everything in the car. As soon as I was ready to leave, the rain suddenly stopped, as if on cue. Then Sandy annouced that Cat 4's had 5 minutes and the race would restart.
I changed my mind and decided to finish the race. I threw my bike together (realizing that my front race tire had gone flat!). I threw my spare wheel on and headed back out.
On restart, the field moved along pretty slowly at first, because there was 2" of standing water in some places. The start/finish straight was completely flooded out. It was one of those situations that was so bad that it was kind of funny and I wanted to get all the way through it.
I realized that since I flatted, I now only had a training tire on the front (Panaracer Extreme Duro) it wasn't handling the high speed turns through deep water very well, so the front kept skidding around and hydroplaning. Not to knock the tire at all, it is a great training tire that lasts a very long time. It's just not made for what I was doing with it at the moment.
Anyways, I managed to hang on to the finish, and I rolled it in with the field. Didn't have too much in me for the field sprint, so I sat up and ended up 16th or something. To add insult to injury, on the last few laps I was burping up hamburger! Nice!
Steve
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