| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
32.47 miles
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Altitude Gain:
1,235 ft
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Avg Speed:
24.90 mph
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Route:
Smethport
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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: Flat
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Sunny 60 F W wind @ 5 mph |
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The drive to Smethport, PA took two hours and forty minutes but wasn't that bad of a drive as the race started at noon and didn't have to get up hours before daybreak to get to the start on time. Had planned on riding the Picture Rocks race but it had been cancelled. So traded a climbing road race for flat circuit race. It would be my third race in or near Allegheny National Forest this year. Hadn't been out here before for the race but i Believe they have been having it for several decades. Race was seven laps of a seven plus mile course and was fairly flat, though there was a couple of grades and a very short hill right before the sprint/finish straight. To keep things interesting there was a $50 to $75 prime each lap. Course had several turns including two quick turns that caused a bootleneck that caused me some grief as the race developed. Not sure how many riders lined up as both the fifty mile race and a shorter fifteen mile race lined up at the same time, but there appeared to have less than a hundred riders for both races. Thought there would be more riders for the event. Recognized a few riders but most were strangers. There were a couple of teams I hadn't seen before including some tough lucking Canadians with spider jerseys. Did meet Jeff Fruchey at the event and felt good to have a familiar face as had ridden with him several years ago when I rode for his Corning team. After riding part of the course during my warmup and checking out the competition determined that a good goal for me would be to hold on for three laps. Legs have been giving out after twenty miles so figured three laps would but me at the limit of my current fitness level. Race started out fast and dangerous as speed for the first lap was in the upper twenties. I hung off the back and just tried to stay out of trouble. Figured my first challenge of the day would be the small climb at the end of each lap. Took a hard effort to get over the top but was able to maintain contact and had to do some speed work to hold on the the back as the peloton as the group stayed together as the first sprint developed. Second lap was a little easier as several riders had been shed and there was not as much yoyoing as the first lap. Hanging off the back was a great way to save energy for a majority of the course but really hurt me as I went through the double ese turn. Every time I went through had to drop the speed way down for the bottleneck then accelerate back up into the upper twenties to keep up with the group. Second time up the hill was easier and began to think I might be able to hang on all the way. Third lap was a repeat of the second and reached my goal for the day. Legs gave out on the fourth lap coming out of the bottleneck as just couldn't do the acceleration to catch back on. Average speed up to when I got dropped was near twenty-five and a half but my average dropped very quickly once I lost my draft. Soft pedalled up the hill and pulled out of the race the fourth time through the gate. Had felt good right up to my collapse but found I was very tired and alittle dizzy when I got off the bike. Packed up the bike and went back to the gate to watch the race develop. Race stayed together until the last lap when three riders gapped the peloton and rode away to the finish. IronDoug and Jeff both stayed with the pack up to the end. jeff told me the pace actually dropped soon after I was shed but doubted I would have been able to hang on even if it did as my legs were drained. Stopped by the firehouse for the after race awards and meal. They had a blues band that was actually pretty good but was at a volume that was way too loud for the small area. Food was a little disappointing and had really been looking forward to the pulled pork sandwich. Turned out to be a pretty fun day overall. Enjoyed the part of the race I was able to keep up and would be a good race for my riding style if my health was a little better.
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