| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
41.74 miles
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Altitude Gain:
2,359 ft
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Avg Speed:
21.67 mph
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Route:
LDA Classic
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Avg Grade: 141 %
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Max Grade: 169 %
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Max HR: 0 bpm
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Rolling
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Sunny 72 F N wind @ 4 mph |
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Thirty-six mile road race today with some moderate climbs in the second half of the race. Weather was cooperative today with temperatures in the low seventies at start time and a slight north wind blowing. Had eighty or so riders line up for the race and another fifty or so for the following tour which I believe is a new record for this young race. Had two teammates today and several other familiar legs. First ten miles of the race is generally flat with a couple of mild grades thrown in. Pace was a bit brisk on the way out, hovering in the mid twenties. Mighty Young Joe took a flyer a couple miles into the race and held it for a couple of miles before he was joined by another pair of riders. Sat near the front with IronDoug and watched his progress. The trio were hauled in and I tried my luck off the front but was a bit disappointed as the legs didn't feel very good while out in the wind. Had a nice spin but again seemed to lack any power. Didn't stay out long before I was joined by another rider. Tried swapping pulls with him but he was content to sit on my wheel and wouldn't pull through. We were soon joined by a third rider and I decided that I liked it better back in the pack and faded back on a slight grade since I didn't have the speed to gain any time on the peloton. Tucked back in as the pack came around me and we quickly reeled in the two other runners. First test came at the mild climb after the light in some small town. Got dropped here on both my previous attempts at this race due too poor position in the pack at the start of the climb but was able to stay with them this year without too much effort. Was relieved that I wouldn't have to chase back on this year and perhaps I would do better on the upcoming climbing section. Not much happened before the first real climb and we went into the climb with an average speed of over twenty-four miles an hour. Felt pretty good going in but soon found myself dropped as I had no power out of the saddle and watched the race pull away as usually. Found myself with my regular crew of not so great climbers as we rode together and watched as the pack disappeared up the rise. Once I got over the steep section the legs fired back up and considered going it alone but wimped out and opted for the easier path of riding with a group so backed off a little as there were a couple of guys in the group I knew would work rather than set in. We worked fairly well together and soon started pulling riders that were being shelled off the back as the climbing continued. We would gain a couple riders and drop some off the back but our pack always seemed to have either seven or eight riders which was nice. My climbing, while still dreadful, seems to be improving a little as was able to keep pace with Brian Beach who had beat up on me at Hamburg a couple of weeks ago. Made one fairly big error on one of the fast downhill and had to descend at the back. The group really strung out and I had to ride the brakes rather than make up time. Had to hustle to get back to the group as we started the second long climb. I went to the front and tried to set a strong pace on the climb as a couple of riders were visible on the hill and would be catchable on the downhill if we could get a little closer. Pace was a bit much for me though and found myself dropped as the grade got steeper near the top. Fortunately I wasn't alone as found myself with another rider as the pack of six walked away from us. Didn't look good for the home team as the pack crested ten or fifteen seconds ahead of us and started a long downhill. My partner had some hammer left though and we put in a good effort and caught back on before the next series of climbing rollers. Oddly enough my partner in the chase and myself quickly went by the other riders on the next small climb and soon found myself pushing the pace again. Over the top of the climb a rider attacked and I was able to stay on his wheel and go by when he slowed and hammered until I caught a lone rider up the road. Only had a few miles of the race left and I liked my chances in the sprint so I stayed at the front and pushed hard over a couple of risers then tucked in for the fast descent. My speed got up to fifty six on the downhill which I thought was pretty decent until I got passed. Tucked in behind the rider who was the same one who had attacked earlier and figured he and perhaps the guy I caught the pack with would be my completion for the fast approaching sprint. He had one more attack in him after we finished the downhill but I sat on his wheel and he slowed up. Our pack soon regrouped and the pace slowed way down as we sorted ourselves out for the sprint in the last two miles. Brian attacked with a mile to go and stretched things out and may have dropped a couple of guys. I held third position over the last mile and never looked back. Brian hit it again with a hundred yards to go and I rode the slipstream and accelerated past the two guys when their acceleration waned. Didn't really sprint as Brian did most of the work and I just held the speed over the line. Ended up 31st about eight minutes down from the leading trio. IronDoug finished in fifth and Mighty Young Joe finished two minutes ahead of me in a respectable eighteen. Finished the day off with some pizza. Really enjoyed the ride despite my poor climbing. Felt good to ride with some decent guys as we fruitlessly chased the big boys.
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