The Berry Peddler tale

Well, it's been a while since my last post.  Today we'll discuss bike racing.  I did my first road race in a while on May 11, the Berry Peddler, in Dayton, TN.  Dayton is where the Scopes Monkey Trial took place way back when. 

Here's the course description:  7 miles of flat, BIG climb, 10 miles rolling, Big climb, 13 miles rolling, finish.  Total of 47 miles. 

Here's what happened to me:  Noticed the SVMIC gang lurking at the front on the lead in to the first climb and stayed nearby.  Made the break on the climb.  It was a bit steeper and longer than I expected.  I got dropped from the break on the climb and stuck in the middle.  Fortunately, I was soon joined by 3 other HUBsters, Amy, Elizabeth and James.  So it was 4 chasing versus 7 up front. We started working together to chase down the break.  We worked and worked across the top of the mountain to catch on.  I was the weak link but did my best to help.  I nearly let go just before the beginning of the descent but managed to make it there.  With few folks in our group we were able to zoom down the mountain wide open.  I went a little too wide at one point and went off into the gravel on a turn.  I kept it upright, got back on the pavement and kept chasing.  When we hit the bottom we latched back on to the break.  They were a bit surprised.  To be honest, I was too.  My descending skills aren't the best and I've never made up ground going downhill.

Now ten miles through the valley was nice.  11 folks in a rolling paceline working to expand what had become a 2 minute gap to the chase group.  We rolled smoothly thanks to some diplomacy and coaching from James Avery of the Weigel team.  Beautiful rolling terrain, perfect for a smooth, glitch free paceline.  This led us to the second and last climb.

The second climb was not as nasty as the first and we all agreed to ride tempo.  It was nice and steady until we got about 1.5 miles from the top.  At that point SVMIC upped the pace a bit and I started to feel like I was riding behind the SKY train.  The legs started cramping a touch  and it was hard to hang on.  Then I popped.  I kept riding my tempo but lost touch with the break again.  I wasn't happy to watch my teammates and the others roll away but there was nothing I could do.  At this point I knew I wasn't going to get back on so I had to modify my goals.  I decided on holding off the chase group.

Once I topped out, I went into my TT mode as best I could.  As noted earlier, the last 13 miles were rolling.  I was shifting gears regularly going up and down the hills trying to save the legs.  The cramps were coming more frequently and stronger but I kept chugging away.  Fortunately, I had Merckx TT practice last weekend so that helped me in this little struggle.  I did not look back because I didn't want to know if the chasers were breathing down my neck.  It was pretty country up there I think, but I couldn't see too well because I was about crosseyed.  When I hit the 10k to go mark, I started to wonder where the chasers were.  I was sure I must have been going backwards since I got dropped.  Maybe I should put electronics on my Argon.  At 5k I was still alone and intensified my effort a little more.  I had gotten this far and really did not want to get caught before the finish.  The legs were still talking to me when I hit 500m.  I was on the rivet and the limit and still alone.  200m came and still solo.  Finally the line was in sight and I knew I'd made it but kept pushing, just in case.  As I sat up across the line, my right leg totally seized up and ellicited a yelp from me.

All in all, I'm pleased with how I did.  It's been more than a few years since I last felt I was actively involved in a road race.  Making the break and then chasing down the break makes me think my mojo is coming back.  If I had done the smart thing and rented some fancy Zipp wheels from the HUB Endurance gang I imagine I might have done a fair bit better. Good thing for the hardcore roadies out there that my road schedule is limited due to my new love for that "pure, sweet hell" known as 'cross.  Til next time, cheers.
Pedro 

 How'd we do? See results here.