So close... Ken T cranks it up!

Whaling City Cyclone Crit

Cat 4/5 Open

This weekened was to be my time to bounce back after a couple of set backs over the last couple of races. I came into this race ready to show that comp racing is and will be a force to be dealt with on the road. This day did not dissappoint.

The town of New London, CT is a beautiful area on the water. As you drive threw town you pass the US Coast Guard Academy with its amazing campus. It is certainely awe-inspiring just like the race venue was. The course consisted 5 90 degree turns and 1 swipping left hand turn on a freshly paved road surface with some nice brick cross-walks scattered threwout. To be honest I could not imagine a better venue for a race.

I entered two races today, the Cat 4/5 open and Cat 4 race. My first race started at 8am and the weather was absolutely awfull. It was raining so hard that barely anyone decided to do the race. As I rolled up to the start line I think there was a total of 12-15 riders shivering in their racing kits.' from being drenched.

I knew that there was going to be an issue with control in these very wet conditions riding in a peleton. So I decided the best course of action was to attack right in the beginning and get to open road by myself with a clear line of site. This moved worked perfectly since almost no one followed. After 2 laps I was finally bridged up to by a BRC rider that joined me and we just worked together. You could tell that the rest of the field just was not comfortable in the conditions and I believed some people pulled out. Though me and the BRC rider just kept cranking to the point were we lapped the field. I was able to win a prime lap from him and he got one from me.

As the end of the race neared it was obvious that we were going to sprint it out together for the win. So we both started attacking and counter-attacking each other to see if any of us could get away from the other. Coming into the last lap he did a major attack on my right side that I was able to recover from. But we were carrying much more speed into the turny parts of the course. I saw the BRC riders right tire slide out a bit, but he recovered. I figured I will just give him some space for safety and try to recover on the final sprint. Well the very next turn he laid down his bike and hydroplaned on his side. I had time to see it and react but my soaking brakes basically were useless. I got pushed into the curb wear I bunny hopped over. Though in the process my rear wheel got destroyed.(the curbs were those granite sharp corner ones). Even though I didnt go down my race was over.

The BRC rider was able to actually get back up on his bike not injured and ride to the finish for the victory still 30secs over the 2nd place finisher. He was very apologetic and felt awful on the finish. Any other day it very well could have been a Comp Racing victory. But this is racing and @#%% happens.

Cat 4 Race:

I was very lucky to have a buddy of mine racing in the Cat 3 race in the afternoon who lent me a rear wheel for my next race at 10:30am. By the time this race started the sun was out and the course was bone dry. It was a complete contrast from the early conditions. I was feeling a little bit nervous for this race because the field was much bigger(50+) racers and I knew that it was going to get hairy going threw the turns with a large peleton. The good news is I had a solid line dialed in from the previous race that helped me stay towards the front when the pace was fast.

Mystic Velo had a large showing and they were determined to control the race. A couple of Cambridge cycle guys came out to and immediately you could see the organization of the teams. There plan was simple, attack and disrupt the peleton. The pace was fast for the first 10 miles but I was sitting in nicely and spending little energy. My legs actually felt pretty good considering I just finished racing an hour and half earlier.

I started to notice that the goal of the teams was to win every prime, control any attackers and then just soft pedal for the following lap and recover. I noticed this and decided to give them a taste of there own medicine. After each one of these attacks by the team I sat about 8-10 wheels back. Then I would counter-attack the crap out of these guys so they could recover the next lap. Usually most times the teams would just let me go and real me in. But there was enough solo racers out there that wanted to do well I was able to bring a some guys along with me.

This absolutely pissed some teams off. The course was to turny for traditional tatics to work. Luckly for me and some other guys this threat of counter-attack kept the Mystic guys in a much more defensive position. About 3 laps left the pace slowed again, everyone was trying to get a quick recovery in before the last sprint. I knew that if this race came down to a group sprint I would absolutely get blocked by some of the more organized teams. So my theory was simple. Attack as hard as I could coming into the last lap so I could go threw the turns solo and hopefully catch the teams off guard.

So I did that I sprinted as hard as I could and I just absolutely caught everyone off guard again. I made it threw the turns will ahead and it looked like a couple of riders were trying to make the bridge to me and digging extra hard. I thought if I could make it to the last turn I could hold of the chase group to the very end. As I turned the last corner in the lead I just had no gas left in my legs and I got caught with less than 25 meters to the finish in a very close race. I basically just stood up and coasted threw the finish for a 15th place I believe.

Summary:

I was very happy with both these races and my performance. Even though the results are mixed I could have easily ended up with two wins if I just had a little luck on my side.

Next week Ningret Crit. If I can get some wheels by then.