In what can only be described as the strangest Wells Ave "C" race I have ever been in, our newest team member Ken T managed to stay with a lead group to grab the first top 10 placing for the Comp Racing / Salem Cycle road team! And now... the details...
With the weather a chilly 35ish degrees under cloudy skies, Ken and I lined up at the back of the full field of 50 racers. As the "riders, roll out" signaled the beginning of the race, Ken and I immediately set about working our way toward the front of the group. That was when all heck broke loose! With speeds for the first laps averaging between 24 and 27 MPH, the field was breaking into pieces and finding the right wheel was critical. This would ultimately end up being my demise... As the field entered turn one at about lap 7, I had what I thought was a solid wheel... As we rounded the turn, the rider in front of me sat up causing me to grab a handful of brakes and lose any momentum I had... WHO SITS UP in the middle of a group?!!!! I chased for the next 3 laps with a single file line of riders behind me trying to catch the lead group which was slowly pulling away. I finally got some help from a rider from BackBay for another lap or 2, but after coughing up the remnants of whatever flu was in my system, I sat up and pedaled with another guy for the last 4 laps, eventually getting lapped by the main field which had grown again picking up several lapped riders... In that mix though, Ken, even being forced into the wind way too early on the final straight managed to hold on for a solid Top 10!!! Awesome Job!!!
So what did we learn from this outing:
1) Wells Ave is a good early season fitness test...
2) Even though 50 people lined up on the start line, I'm pretty convinced only about 25 had ever even seen a bike race... I repeat, who sits up in the middle of a turn... IN A PACK!
3) In the "C", the concept of working together is very foreign for some people.
4) Riders that get lapped in a "C" race should not be anywhere near the front once they are picked up by the group again and definitely should not contest the sprint!
5) Ken T is fast!!!!!!!!!
Next up for the racing team... A return to Wells Ave and then to Marblehead!
Stay tuned for a race report from the Beverly 30K and the Salem Greens 5K!!!!
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