Reports by:

• Del
• Brian
• Ed
• Keith Jordan
• Richard
• Tim Bisson

Category: 5
Result: DNF

Teammates: Ed

Bah, what can I say? Another wicky-wicky d-d-d-d-d-d-dDNF.

Despite not jockying for position at the staging area, I was able to find a good spot at the start line, far left, no one behind, no one in front, turned out to be a great spot since Ed was able to get on my wheel as we picked our way towards the front. Semi-sprinted right away to position for the hill and made the first climb I think within the 1/3 of the pack. The hill wasn't too too bad, but just as Brian told me, it's after the top towards the right hander at the hedge where the gap is(was) made. I was having a hard time by the park just before the decent, to top it off I found myself braking into the corners (dunno why) and didn't figure that out until the 4th or 5th lap. I think by then I was between two packs and after a couple more laps found myself time trialing again. This time I was able to grab a wheel a couple of times on the back stretch by some stragglers. Lap eight came around fast as I heard it announced over the loudspeaker. I didn't feel strong by then but I wasn't exactly hurt either. Coming around the final bend before the start/finish and some person was putting up a road block. Funny, as I thought "hey, get out of the road i'm trying to race" and then saw the whistle around the neck. They didn't have to blow it, but by golly I saw it and the words came out "your race is finished". Bummer, I wasn't even cross-eyed yet. I totally thought I was going to finish!

I still had a great time. You'll all be happy to know that I started the race on time (with some cueing from Ed, hehe). I'm not sure what I could of done better except maybe trained some more. I was able to do eight of ten laps, i'm just bummed that I allowed myself to fall off the lead pack. I also learned that ANY gap just leads to an even BIGGER gap and never gets any smaller, especially when flying solo. Duh.

It was Great to see the team out in force and I had a great time while enjoying all of your races with my "Champion Nutrition". The cheering from the team/friends, Larry and his Juniors and even some words of encouragment from the track marshalls made everything all right. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

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Category: Masters 1/2/3
Result: DNF

Great showing by the FFBC race team today!!! It was great to see you all out there, supporting each other and racing the hell out of a great course. Big ups to Go Go Ed for making his first race! Serious props go to everyone. Way to go TEAM!

My race can be summed up in one word: OFF. I felt off all week. I felt off during warmup. I was off the back in the race. During training, I felt strong up the hill once I had warmed up. Today, my legs were jello from the gun. I planned to be "conservative", hoping to hold onto the big guns as they attacked each other. I was never even in the running for that. As soon as we turned onto the flat leading up to the hill, it felt as if I was pushing my biggest gear, but I was only in my 53X16. Uh oh. Dropped it into the small ring before the climb and tried to give it a little gas to move up and zilch...nada...nothin' in the legs. Uh oh number two. A small gap opened up across the top and I closed it near the park, but I had nothing for the downhill and homestretch. Coming into the climb for the second time, I was already alone. Crap.

My sensations in training were completely different than during the race. I didn't feel strong at all in the race. Time to adjust my training a bit in order to have any hopes of competing with the likes of Lar Nolan and the guys. They were flying.

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Category: 5
Result: DNF
Teammates: Del

I arrived early enough to get an hour warm up and found a nice steep hill to do a few repeats and got warm and toasty. I made sure Del was going to the staging area on time and not McDonalds to get a McGriddle.

In the staging area I lined up close to the front to get a good spot on the starting line. Del looks at me and mouths....."Game face" or was he saying, "Love you". I dunno. The official calls us up to the starting line. There was a mad rush to the line and I got a good spot. I was in the second row on the right.

They read us our last rites and they blow the whistle and we are off. Sort of. A rider cuts me off and decides that he is going to have a bad day in front of me (he couldn't clip in). Which makes me veer and have trouble clipping in. A rider behind me rides past and yells "Asshole" like it was my fault. I look up and now I have to chase to get back on the train. I noticed Del had a pretty good position.

We hit the hill the first time...everythings ok...I still have my faculties...down the hill to turn 6... I remember Richard saying that turn 6 is a fast corner.

.....I love fast corners.....

So I took that corner full speed, leaning, powering out and making my tires work for me. I moved up close to Del. Then we hit the hill again and down to turn 6. I pushed it everytime I hit turn 6, found the biggest guy to get behind to try to recover before the hill. I realized that the riders around me didn't take turn 6 as fast as I was. So I was passing them on the outside.

3rd time up the hill and it feels longer. After that everything was a blur. I was able to get to 5 laps before the official blew the whistle.

I loved every minute of it but I wish I could have done more. I learned that my recovery time sucks and my power to weight ratio sucks. I hope my next race I get better.

Thanks to the Champion crew for providing us a place to hang out.

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Category: 4
Result: 41st
Teammates:Tim,Oscar

Wow tuff course! Started in the back and basically was able to hang on in the back. The hill caught me off guard and I was in the wrong gear for the first 2 laps, by three was hitting it in super granny spinning up faster and using less energy. Laps 4-9 I was in the stay with the pack zone, and not finding many opportunities to advance.

Lap ten my legs were feeling the repeated efforts up the hill...when they said last lap I was happy because I knew only had to go up that #$#@$ hill one more time, it was actually the bump over the steep section that was kicking my ass. Finished with the pack or rather at the tail end of the pack =o) and i won a t-shirt (okay i had to pay for the shirt), I heard someone else won a bucket or something. Great day for racing and thanks for all the support...big thanks to the support =o)

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Category: E3 and M35+ 1/2/3
Result: DNF

The question in my mind going in to Cat's Hill was, "do I have the high intensity endurance required to hang on?" This question was answered twice with a resounding "No!"

I started both the E3 and M35+ 1/2/3 races.

Got off to a good start in the 3s, but the hill put me into the red zone and I didn't get out of it until lap 3 just before the hill, and then it was straight up the hill again which put me back into the red...

This was repeated on lap 4. And then, rounding the corner onto Belmont it happened - I threw up! It was only a mouthful, but it was a clear hoik to get stuff out of the stomach. I struggled round once more before retiring to let my insides recover. It took a good 30 minutes for the heartburn to subside.

I rode home for lunch and a short nap - nice to have a race so close to home.

The M35+ 1/2/3 race was just as short as the 3s, only this time I didn't throw up. :)

Oscar - you will bring the GB to the meeting for me???

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Category: 4
Result: DNF
Teammates: Keith,Oscar

Got in a good warm-up. While trying to get on the course, I played bumper-elbows with a third pillar dude to get through the barriers first . Like Richard said, the race starts there. I ended up starting 3-4 rows back.

Going up the hill the first two times, I made up several spots passing guys in too big of a gear (I used my 39x25 ;) ). I was also able to make up several spots going wide around turn 6, until others got smart and started to use the same line. Laps 3-5, I think I just held my position. Laps 5-6, I started to get tired on the second kick of the climb. Lap 7, I blew up, coasted around to the start/finish, and got the whistle.

Well, what can I say, this race has a big hill. Fortunately, the Memorial day crit (wheel sucker's paradise) is just around the corner.

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