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Purgatory Road Race (MA state championship)

39 comments · 641 views
Adam
May 19, 2013 at 06:08 PM
I did this in 2012-great race.  Doing it again this year (9th June 2013)

It is a circuit race around an 11 mile loop.  It's a really fantastic course.  Not only is it beautiful racing but it is technical and challenging.  There is a climb at the end of each lap (it hits 12% and is ~600m long) so, although this race often comes to the end in a group, this is not a sprinter's paradise.  Think kind if Mur de Huuy finish; the line is about 500m after the top of the climb.  

One note of caution: there is a very, very, very fast descent each lap.  You will hit 50+ mph.  The thing with this is that the corners are blind on this descent.  You can't really see round them.  Also, the roads are narrow, adding to the 'experience'  The course is not closed, except this section.  So, there should be no traffic..., It's a manly descent.  Will put hairs on your chest.  I would strongly recommend that if you do the race, you pre-ride the course.  As it's an 11 mile loop, that only takes 30-40 minutes: so could do it the night before if you stay overnight.  If you are not happy descending fast, in a group in a race situation.  Well, erm....

https://www.bikereg.com/Net/19459
Adam
Jun 04, 2013 at 05:37 PM
Just signed up.  

$35 for a 55 mile non-park race.  Yes please!
alyoshas
Jun 06, 2013 at 04:50 PM
8:10am start in the cat4s...kinda hard to achieve if traveling day of.
Adam
Jun 07, 2013 at 01:18 PM
Ha.  A little schadenfreude perhaps??  Just got this email about Purgatory this Sunday:

FROM: Purgatory Road Race hosts the Massachusetts State Road Race Championships
-------------------------------------------------

Great news everyone! Purgatory will NOT be a gran fondo!

Ok, sorry. Jokes aside, you really only have today until 6pm to pre-reg for Purgatory. Day-of fee is $10, so pre-reg, save that $10 and put it towards a sweet Purgatory Road Race event t-shirt! (only $15). I would like to post a pic of it here, but I can't. This is the way Bikereg works. Thanks Colin.

But wait! That's not all! We will also offer some spectacular weather. It should be partly cloudy (mostly sunny?) and highs in the 70's. Izze Sparking Juice will be there to keep you hydrated, SRAM to keep you rolling and CMPSA to keep you safe.

So pre-reg before 6pm to avoid the day-of reg fecal spectacle. Also, Masters racers, we bet the ladies will out-reg you. What are you going to do about that?

Still on the fence? Call me and I can talk you through it. Come out and play bicycles with your friends. Hope to see you all on Sunday!

Cheers,

Kyle Butler
Race Director
973.271.7656
tito
Jun 07, 2013 at 02:44 PM

Wow - such a laid-back, light attitude from a race director would be worth the price of admission alone.

"play bicycles with your friends"
Ryan J
Jun 09, 2013 at 04:32 PM
Adam and I are cutting it close!
image.jpg
Jules
Jun 10, 2013 at 12:21 AM
Results/Report...?

http://www.road-results.com/race/3145
Ryan J
Jun 10, 2013 at 12:32 AM
We almost missed our start because of a flat on the rental car followed by a traffic jam due to an accident.

The race was hard as nails. It was balls out from the gun and it really never let up. 

I never felt good. I wasn't going to get dropped, but I just didn't have any explosiveness.

Adam raced very smoothly in his first 3 race.

The end of each lap was a steep 1km kicker after a hard right, and then 500m flat to the finish over the top. The plan for the finale was for me to attack hard at the base of the hill, and then Adam would tuck in a few wheels back and hopefully get drug up to the top. Either I'd get away or he'd be set up for the sprint.

I was a little too far back starting the final climb and I took a hard outside line in the right turn trying to come up the left side with my attack. Nearly crashed in doing that, not sure what happened but I barely stayed up, and lost about 10 spots. Too much ground to make up on the short climb. That was it for me.

So tough day, but overall - AWESOME RACE. Everyone should do it.

eragot
Jun 10, 2013 at 12:48 AM
Everyone? Owens and I have huge power but also huge asses...
normanzo
Jun 10, 2013 at 04:53 AM
Glad you guys had fun racing hard and gave it a gutsy try at the end. Well done!
Adam
Jun 10, 2013 at 02:29 PM
Wicked fun time.  

I raced my little heart out.  Attacked a few times in the race.  Got in a break of 5 but we were caught after 5 miles or so.

This race was rather intense.  I looked at my Garmin file it it was offensive to look at.  I did a lot during the race, hoping for the break to stick.  Alas, it did not.  At the end my legs were pooped for the finish.  All matches were gone.

I thought a visual representation of this race would serve better than a description.  It's the middle lap on the Garmin file (first one was neutral roll out, last one roll back from start to race HQ).  
PurgatoryRR copy.png
vlad
Jun 10, 2013 at 05:54 PM
If there's no power data, it didn't happen.
Adam
Jun 10, 2013 at 05:56 PM
Oh it happened Baby, it happened.

We had a roaming photographer scooter which I think was in the field at some points!  Should be some pics somewhere.
Ryan J
Jun 10, 2013 at 06:32 PM
Somewhat surprisingly, my own data shows that it was not particularly hard as compared to several other races this year. 

(Adam's files would be scarier looking, as he spent more time mixing it up whereas I, deciding I wasn't on a great day, decided I'd give myself the best chance by hiding out as much as possible until the finale. If a break got away without me, so be it.) 

I had normalized power of 238w for the 2.5 hours. But Tour of the Dragons Stage 3 was 242w for 3.5 hours. Ronde Van Millbrook was 249w for 3:25. My hardest races at Brancbrook were around 260w for two hours.

I did set a record for 2-minute power, but outside of that I did not do anything that was particularly notable for me this season.

And yet, it FELT hard. I never really suffered in that "oh God, I'm dying, please make it stop" way. But when I tried to go deep when it counted, I just didn't have the power. The legs felt weak.

Good thing there's always a next one...
Adam
Jun 16, 2013 at 12:52 AM
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=635796699781084&set=a.635783273115760.1073741826.205467212814037&type=3&theater
Adam
May 10, 2014 at 10:31 PM
This race is a must do, really is.  Great for those who want a bit of climbing, great for those who consider themselves flatlanders.  A fair course which doesn't tip the balance in the favour of either the skinny guys or bigger guys.  Is regularly won from either a decisive break when the rouleurs get organised and start dieseling, and is also regularly won by someone unleashing the beast on the sharp finishing climb.  Strongly recommend this one if you have never done it.  

https://www.bikereg.com/24740

Rumour has it that this is the race the Ryan is coming out of baby-enforced retirement for.

Jeff Apruzzese
May 10, 2014 at 10:41 PM
Sounds rad. Def in for this one
Brendan Rigby
May 11, 2014 at 12:20 AM
As a Massachusetts native, I should be there.  But I'll have to wait until next season because I committed to an L&C race the day before.  Frankly, I'm not pro enough to do two races in two states in two days.  In the long term, however, it's on my hit list.  Pencil me in for 2015.  Okay maybe pen me instead.
konrad
May 11, 2014 at 12:28 AM
Sounds good to me.

Anybody down to head up Saturday and split a place?
Jeff Apruzzese
May 11, 2014 at 03:28 AM
@konrad I'd be down to air b and b
Adam
May 25, 2014 at 11:48 PM
Bump.

Who's in?  I need another Cat3 to go with to split rental with or drive me :)

The Cat4 field starts in the morning so requires a stay overnight, the 3 field is the afternoon so is a drive up and back day of jobby.
Ryan J
May 26, 2014 at 01:25 AM
Guys lets rally for this one. Calling Konrad, Joe, Andy, Craig, Jules, Joaquin etc - a strong team can kick ass at this race.
Adam
May 26, 2014 at 01:43 AM
Yeah!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na8ThDftsKk
vlad
May 26, 2014 at 12:14 PM
Adam's theme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv43hKSzBws
Adam
May 28, 2014 at 09:19 PM
Reg'd
Andrew Da Silva
May 28, 2014 at 10:16 PM
Looks fun but ill be doing white plain
konrad
Jun 02, 2014 at 09:00 PM
Reg'd.
Ryan J
Jun 05, 2014 at 05:28 PM
Regd

Also FYI I got contacted by a woman from the Stans No Tubes team - Cynthia Lo - who is looking for a ride to the women's Pro123 race. If anyone has a spot for a non-Kissena let me know and I'll put you in touch.
Jeff Condon
Jun 06, 2014 at 05:14 PM
Just reg'd. Adam is very persuasive. 
Marc Bertucco
Jun 06, 2014 at 05:18 PM
Jeff Condon said:
Just reg'd. Adam is very persuasive. 
 
 
IF only he would use his powers for good. Ragot and I could use some help in the 35+ crit championships. ;-)
vlad
Jun 08, 2014 at 09:09 PM
Ahem...

Results, bros?