| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
33.79 miles
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Altitude Gain:
2,656 ft
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Avg Speed:
20.03 mph
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Route:
Kinzua Dam
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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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: Cloudy Light Rain 75 F SW wind @ 5 mph |
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Stayed in Westfield last night and weather was much warmer and slept well in my tent. Still had over an hours drive to get to Kinzua Dam, PA for the race in the Allegheny National Park, but it was better than a three hour drive from Montour. Got to the race a little behind schedule as had a little trouble finding the starting location as I stopped at a couple of places along the river where I saw lots of cars congregated but they were boaters and kayakers putting in. Registration went well and couldn't remember which race I had entered but I knew it wasn't the elite sixty miler. There were two thirty milers and I was placed in the men over 46, women, junior field. Had reservations about riding today as wasn't sure that the legs had recovered from yesterday's windy century. Had also raced here two years ago and had had a rough day finishing twenty-one minutes down from winning rider on this hilly course. Course starts out with a long two and a half mile grade which kicks a little at the top. That is followed by five miles of flattish road, a two mile gradual decent, eight more miles of flat then ten miles of rollers on steroids and finally a two mile long hill top finish up a moderate grade. Warmed up on the first climb and it didn't seem too bad, though it hadn't felt too bad two years ago and I had been dropped in the first mile. Lined up for the start and saw a few familiar riders from the western zone, Brian from RUDD, who was back on the bike after crashing into a car at the Otisco race earlier in the year, Cleo from Hollyloft, and Bill from one of the Buffalo clubs. Usually end up riding with these guys toward the end of most races. We had forty-eight riders in our group with most being of the over forty-six variety. The elite riders had only seventeen riders this year with one being the PA road champ who went on to solo and finish several minutes up on the group. Ten minutes after they rode off the men's eighteen to forty-five group went off and they had thirty riders. Not really a very good turnout but then again it started off cool and rain was forecast. We got the green flag and started off immediately up the first climb. Sat in the front third and spun defensively and waited for the attacks to start. Legs felt pretty strong and was holding in well after the first mile and thought about going to the front and pushing the pace but held back and waited for the push to come. Started to get confident after two miles as I hadn't got dropped yet. Had one rider setting the pace and the rest of us just setting in. Thought the juniors would be pushing the pace with thier hummingbird hearts but only saw two of them still with the pack as we neared the top. Had about half of the forty roll over the top. Bill and Brian were still with us but Cleo had dropped off the pace somewhere on the climb. Felt great not getting dropped and went to the front and picked up the pace on one of the slight climbs. Kept working with a couple of others until we made the first turn onto the flat section. Had good speed going but started to have riders sit on my wheel rather then pull through so I quit pulling and went into the pack and rested. Next twelve miles was fairly slow riding with an occasional attack on the small climbs. Tried to get away with Bill and Brain on a couple occasions but ended up getting caught and towing the pack. Probably was wasted effort but after a failed attack I would ride settle back into the pack and would see many riders stretching thier backs, so I thought I was chipping away which was good as long as I could keep recovering. Ran out of flats and started the climbing section with me leading out the first climb. Hadn't planned on leading out the climb but had slammed hard through a corner and there it was. Got out of the saddle and pushed hard up the climb to try to maintain my momentum and was hoping it was a short one. Rounded a corner and the hill flattened out much to my relief. Let the others pull through and found that we only had a dozen riders left at this point as I went to the back. Sat in on a couple of the long hard rollers and planned on waiting until the last climb to make a move if I was still with the group. Brian tried to get away on one of the climbs but was quickly covered. One of the two remaining juniors made a move on the next climb and he did stay away over the top but got sucked back in on the following downhill. Found myself near the front on the next climb and looked around and noticed that there were only five of us left. Was riding next to the rider who had set the pace on the first climb at the start of the day and noted he was breathing hard. Decided it was a good time to hit him as I was spinning nicely and still on top of the gear. Accelerated up the climb and there was no reaction from the group. I continued alone over the top and felt great. Looked down at my odometer and came back to reality as it indicated I still had five miles to go. Hammered the next downhill and opened up a sweet gap as when I looked back I only could see two riders pursueing as well as a few of the riders from the earlir race I had passed. Decided to go all or nothing on the next climb and hit it in the big chainring thinking if I could get over it and out of sight I might get the time I needed to get my heavy body up the final climb. Got about halfway up the climb and legs gave out and had to shift down and try to survive until I could spin the legs out. Started to rain fairly hard but really was rather refreshing but not nearly refreshing enough. Got caught by the two riders as we neared the top of the climb. One older rider and one junior. Tried to stay with them as they went over the top but failed and lost around fifteen seconds on them. Grade flattened a little and I started to reel them in and almost had them as they made the turn and started the final mile as the grade again increased. Thought if I rode steady and stayed in range I might be able to bridge if they started to slow down to rest for the final sprint. Caught another rider from the first race and asked him how long the climb was and was disappointed when I found there was less than a half mile left. The junior dropped his chain and the older rider saw his opportunity and sped up. I caught and passed the junior but lost sight of the other rider around a corner. Junior got back on his bike and caught and passed me but I was able to keep contact. Turned a corner and saw the finish and we both started sprinting up the grade. Felt I had a shot at it but had to shut down as there was a guy directing traffic standing under an umbrella in my lane and didn't want to hit him if he failed to step back. Finished third overall and second in my class which exceeded my expectation which had been I would get dropped on the first hill. Got a nice laser engraved carving for a prize. Was also pleased with the time which would given me third in the men's under forty-five race. Good result and ride with tired legs.
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