Orchard Beach Criterium - Forum Archive

May 05, 2013 at 10:07 PM

Very impressive Ragot. The masters was balls to the wall from lap 1, instigated by Jeff Kline and then picked up by Loener and a Champsys rider who ended up duking it out in 2 man break. The field shreaded. I was in the third group on the road of about 8. We got pulled after the leaders left us in the dust(for the second time). There were 35 prereged, but I think only 6 or 8 finished on the same lap. Ugh!

eragot

May 05, 2013 at 10:20 PM

Thanks Stokes. We had 69.
Neal Bezdek and Alan rego were two of the guys in front of me. I'll writer it up later but the short version is that an early break went almost lapped the field but the field pucbed back. When we got close four of us bridged. Break of 9 then stayed away.

JohnMalcolmson

May 05, 2013 at 11:50 PM

Nice results Brendan and Eric! Eric that's particularly impressive considering the company.

Brendan Rigby

May 06, 2013 at 12:04 AM

had a lot of fun today. in the time i took off of racing, i nearly forgot the joyous social pleasure of racing compared to the solo agony of park laps.

the tremendous glory of the day began with the lovely accommodations of mr. phillip maronilla, whose gloss black van represents the pinnacle of modern minivan engineering and team transport.

jeff indeed did pull away at one point. as proof that i have learned at least one thing since beginning to race, i did not chase after him! yes, that's right: i let my teammate have at it!

in the spirit of "hey, you're a cat5, just try things!" i decided to pull off the front at one point. did that, caught two guys who had broken away. at that time, i thought they'd dropped off the back. shows you what i know. they probably would have been caught anyway. not sure what i was doing that for. after about a half lap of trying to stay away, i realized that the idea was much easier in my head than it was in execution. i soon stopped giving it the requisite 110% because i thought i would likely be reeled in and didn't want to gas myself so much that i abandoned any chance of finishing. but i will always wonder if i could have stayed away. cue dream sequence.

in what seems to be a recurring trend when i race with kissena's cat4s (alyosha provided this advice in my first race) jeff saddled up to me and pointed out that i was taking too much wind. point taken.

loved jeff's description of The Last Turnbender. that non-Newtonian came up on the inside of me on the straight. he entered at an impossible angle. a 90 degree turn would have saved him from careening into the pack. maybe he's onto something we're not. but it didn't work for him this time. back to the drawing board, mr. stark.

after he destroyed everyone, i had a clear shot at the first ~4 people. i realized that i needed to bridge up to them in order to contest for places. doing so was taxing. i arrived at them with little in the tank. then one of them took off approaching the final bend. i chased, and likely provided a nice wheel for others. not exactly sure what happened--still not that great about observing what's going on (if i was i wouldn't have dragged a guy up to sprint around me). jeff's description is likely accurate. whatever occurred, i didn't have the juice to sprint all out to the line. might have gotten passed en route. oh well! live and learn.

my attempts to split the $30 four ways were rebuffed by all. our van ride back included no muffin stops.

jeff and i had the opportunity to suffer in diverse ways: not only did we race in a criterium, but we also experienced the five boro bike tour. we hopped out of the van to save phillip from navigating Kafka's traffic only to discover ourselves suddenly transported to Planet Fred, surrounded by a sea of what looked like bicycles but were not moving fast enough to fit that definition. confused, we rode among the creatures for some time before our path took us in a different direction.

and then, several blocks from home, i got a flat tire. put my shoes on and walked. when you're that close to home, the mini pump is just not worth the effort of looking like you're pleasuring yourself in public.

thanks phillip, jeff, and rick! the ride really made the experience much more enjoyable. i got considerably more sleep than i usually do before these races.

the real gratitude here goes to Irving Abbott, who gives me kudos on everything i do on strava. i have no idea who he is, nor does anyone on this forum, but his kudos really keeps my going. he didn't let me down today. sometimes it feels like the "finish" button my strava is also the "get kudos from mr. abbott" button. there can be no higher motivating force.

congratulations, @eragot. well done. 6th in p123 is no joke

eragot

May 06, 2013 at 12:39 AM

@Jeffrey white
.two crashes on bell laps pluck you out if contention? Who did you piss off to make then crash in front if you?

Seriously, good riding to put yourself in the right place for the finishes. Luck doesn't always work out in bike races. Keep up the good positioning and the results will come. Being there at the end is the haardesy thing to do. Do it often enough and results flow.

Ryan J

May 06, 2013 at 02:16 AM

Nice work, Orchard Beachers, especially Ragot!

eragot

May 06, 2013 at 11:15 AM

Video:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/65526813

Including the bridge - 13 to go.

dstokes

May 06, 2013 at 11:39 AM

Greg Olsen was the Champsys rider who won the Masters race. Nice to see him driving the 123 break a few hours later.

Phil Maronilla

May 06, 2013 at 01:49 PM

No full results for Cat 4 field. Equipment malfunction.

"Sincere apologies for the complications with Men’s Cat 4 results – unfortunately due to an issue with the finish line camera we will not have full results for that field."

http://www.crca.net/2013/05/orchard-beach-crit-20130505/

eragot

May 06, 2013 at 05:05 PM

My report (and comment on racing for the win).

When I realized that the field was 69 riders and had Bezdek in it among others, I started to feel as if I was going to be lucky to survive. This was 1pm for a 3pm race. I asked my wife if she knew what it was like to realize a race you thought you'd do well in was going to be a slaughterfest? She said "no." She also added that she doesn't ride a bike!

I was nervous. Got there, introduced myself to Anthony Clark (wild kid from Mass. - google him and cyclocross). Registered and said hi to everyone - it was like CX but warmer. Nice to see my buddies.

I "warmed up" by riding around the parking lot a bit. I ran into Zeb Nelessen. I told him I have never felt less like warming up. So I didn't!

Lined up at the back with Bezdek and off we go. Sit there for a couple of laps and then try to follow Bezdek up. my legs felt good, but he made it to the front and was in the break of 7 in no time. I jumped across to a chase group which looked good, but it quicly faltered. We rode... <time passed>

I picked up a $50 preme. <time passed>

The break almost lapped us then the pack started to ride to save itself. I helped pull. Brian Breech said stay at the front. I told him I wasn't going anywhere. Eventually we get 30 laps to go. We're slowly closing the gap.

At 14 to go, on the backside, into the cross headwind, Breech and the JV guy jump. I go as well and chase (see the video) we quickly make contact.

Gotta go teach - more later...

Marc Bertucco

May 06, 2013 at 05:21 PM

Eric, Anthony Clark's ungainly riding style is unmistakeable. But so is the fact that he is nosing his way into the Elite cyclocross ranks. Now that you've ridden with him in a break, you have no excuses come this fall/winter when you bust out your knobbies!

kieranleahy

May 06, 2013 at 07:47 PM

Ragot and Brendan, congrats! Great riding. Ragot, I'd like to think you coming down to the track was the perfect warm up for your exploits later in the day - but I'd be wrong. You are gonna blow the field at T-Town away with riding like that (hint, hint).

eragot

May 06, 2013 at 08:40 PM

...Cont.

I was crosseyed when I got to the break, but I made it there. Damn it yeah! It quickly looked like the wind went out of the chase without Mengoni to help drive the chase. Now it was 9 in the break and I was excited - from being worried to being in the winning move.

I took turns rotating through early on and my back and ass were screaming at me. Well really my back. I tried using the hoods for a bit, but then felt so, upright!. I settled back down into the drops for the most part. With a few laps to go, I started sitting on the back figuring there were two Champ-Sys guys and two Foundation guys (Bezdek and teammate). Somehow, people left me alone back there. I'd cover moves here and there, but got to rest a bit. Fine by me.

So, my figuring is that Bezdek is a faster sprinter than I am and Breech can go for longer. I think my 1-2 lap power (under 5 min) might do the trick. So, I plan for a shot at victory.

With two to go, I jump from the back of the bunch on the left side of the road (where I made my first successful bridge of the day). I hit my top speed of the day at the end of the straight. I hoped I'd catch the group napping or unwilling to chase me. However, by the time I was out of turn two, everyone was back on me. Match burnt, but I wanted to go for the win. After the race, Greg Olsen complimented me on the move.

The video shows the end. I wanted to go but also be patient. My legs were still a bit toasty from the attack the prior lap, so I waited - too long it turned out. I should have gone much earlier on the bell lap to go for the win. The guys who won were already on teh inside, so even if I was diving over the top, they had an advantage to the line.

It was a fast race - I'll look at numbers later, but coming out of turn 4 at over 28mps on multiple occasions was fun.

Great day. I did say I was going there with the intent of winning. I wasn't far off.

vlad

May 06, 2013 at 08:48 PM

eragot said:

...Cont.
So, my figuring is that Bezdek is a faster sprinter than I am and Breech can go for longer. I think my 1-2 lap power (under 5 min) might do the trick. So, I plan for a shot at victory.
With two to go, I jump from the back of the bunch on the left side of the road (where I made my first successful bridge of the day). I hit my top speed of the day at the end of the straight. I hoped I'd catch the group napping or unwilling to chase me. However, by the time I was out of turn two, everyone was back on me. Match burnt, but I wanted to go for the win...

Breach calls those moves "Hail Mary's"

eragot

May 06, 2013 at 09:16 PM

In my case, given how I develop my power and how everyone seemed to forget about me, its called strategy. I guess a Hail Mary is a type of strategy

Jeffrey White

May 06, 2013 at 09:20 PM

Are those what allow him to ride in solo from time to time out of a break?

vlad

May 06, 2013 at 09:29 PM

That and he eats Flutie Flakes

Jules

May 06, 2013 at 09:33 PM

@Ragot very impressive; you're bumping elbows with the Big Kids and giving them a run for their money (literally)

Adam

May 06, 2013 at 09:43 PM

Jules, why you not race bikes anymore?

vlad

May 06, 2013 at 09:46 PM

His knee's blown out from old kayaking injuries

Adam

May 06, 2013 at 09:56 PM

Whatevs.

I once did a boxing match with one hand. Well, I had the hand still but it was broken. Tried to use it but couldn't. Did last 2 rounds punching with only my left arm.

Just saying. You've got two knees for a reason.

BTW: lost fight on points. BS, should have got point for broken hand.

Jules

May 06, 2013 at 10:14 PM

Adam: turned the pedals in anger today for the first time. Hopefully I'm on the road to a comeback. I've got the beard going...

http://youtu.be/bu00RiPjaa4

eragot

Mar 28, 2014 at 02:07 PM

Its coming again in May. But the fees go up (tice, but the first time is April 15)

I'll do the 2/3 and 1/2/3.

https://www.bikereg.com/crca-orchard-beach-crit-2014

vlad

Mar 28, 2014 at 02:15 PM

I'm going to hit up the 2/3

Andrew Da Silva

Mar 28, 2014 at 03:00 PM

I'll do the 2/3

Jeffrey White

Mar 28, 2014 at 03:07 PM

I'm reg'd for the 4 and the 3/4 races.

Wes Tillman

Mar 28, 2014 at 03:47 PM

Jeffrey White said:

I'm reg'd for the 4 and the 3/4 races.

I'll probably do the same.

Andrew Da Silva

Mar 28, 2014 at 04:26 PM

Ooo there is a 3/4?

eragot

Apr 06, 2014 at 08:52 AM

bumpp... fees go up on April 15.

any thoughts on

A. who is going for 1/2/3 or 2/3 races?

B. which race people would like to concentrate on?

I have some history of doing well here and am torn between the two races. I do not fear the 1/2/3 race at all and think I can do very well in it. OTOH, if I can do that, the 2/3 race should be easier. However, I think that the tactics may not be as good in the 2/3.

Choices...

Input?

mugwump

Apr 06, 2014 at 03:40 PM

All,

This is a good, tight crit course. Lots of turning, but it takes being on the gas for much of hte time to succeed. If you like hammering, this is a good course for that kind of riding. Aggression can pay off here.

Eric,

I like this course, and would love to make it an objective, but...

Oscar and I are slated to ride the five boro bike tour that day. (didn't they used to run this on Saturday?)

If Oscar gets significantly stronger between now and then (he'll be pedaling on a trail-a-bike), I could possibly make it, but that would take lots from Oscar. Come to think of it, we need to start doing some training rides together.