| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
46.47 miles
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Altitude Gain:
557 ft
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Avg Speed:
23.27 mph
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Route:
Pendleton Road Race
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 163 bpm
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Avg HR: 146 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Flat
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Bike: Look Blade RS 795 Iconic Ltd Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Sunny 84 F NW wind @ 13 mph |
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Drove to Pendleton, NY near Buffalo for a forty-five-mile licensed road race. Didn't feel very much like racing but I had pre-registered, and it was a fairly flat though fast course. It was a four corner seven and one-half mile course with no hills and doubted there was more than a two percent grade to be found anywhere on the course. I entered the master's division that had riders of any category as long as they were at least forty-five. This race was part of a stage race or maybe omnium that had an ITT and a criterium yesterday. My teammate Bob and I just signed up for the road race. There were around forty riders and most looked to be in good shape. Bob and I had the same race strategy-hide out in the pack and hang on for as long as possible. Race started out fast and finished fast. Pace was around twenty-five miles an hour with frequent accelerations as riders tried to escape off the front and hammered out of the corners. First lap was a little rough but settled in and was able to surf the pack for three laps. On the last uphill grade of the third lap four riders opened a gap from the pack. I was near the front and hopped on the wheel of two other riders that tried to bridge to the break. They were closing the gap at a very high speed and I was hanging on well until it got my turn to take a pull. Wasn't able to do much but put out a maximum effort against my better judgement as we had opened up a gap on the pack and were suspended between the two groups. All three groups were reunited on the next downgrade so had spent quite a bit of energy for naught. Halfway through the fourth lap another breakaway was attempted, and it caused a big separation of the peloton. Unfortunately, Bob and I were in the wrong group. Bob went to the front of our group and tried to bridge and I got on his wheel. He took a strong pull and then I put out another big effort after Bob finished his strong effort. I pulled the group back up near to the lead group but when I tried to pull off no other riders would relieve me so I went seriously into the red trying to finish off the bridge. Made it back unto the tail end of the lead group at the third corner but was unable to keep up with the now reunited group as it accelerated out of the corner. I was unable to close the gap and after a couple miles I was passed by the chase car and my race was pretty much over. I did the last two laps riding alone and was only able to ride a little or twenty miles an hour and lost a big chunk of time from the pack that was traveling in excess of twenty-five. Ended up finishing in last place but did still finished ahead of the riders that DNF. Had felt and rode fairly well for three laps and might have done better if I had ridden more conservatively. Bob was able to hang on and finish still nestled in the pack. Can't say I had a good time but will try my luck again next year if I'm able.
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