Ohio Valley Spring Series - Goshen

What a difference a week makes! Can you say redeemed. The race had 68 riders eager to race in the warm sunshine with little wind on a flat course. The attacks as predicted began after a neutral 1/2 mile. In the first big break of the day Savage Hill's Mitch Tallons got away with 2 other riders. One more rider joined that break which was about to get swallowed by the peloton and they stayed away for almost an entire lap. On the 3rd lap apprx. 15 riders got away for what proved to be the winning break. We had myself and Jon Chleboun in the break. We quickly gained time as everyone worked well together. Every time I checked the speedometer it read 27,28,29 and sometimes 30 mph so we were definitely flying. Eventually the break diminished to 6 riders with no team having more than one rider. At the start of the last lap I began to notice the lactic acid build up and knew I would be in trouble soon. As I sat at the back (which did not make the other 5 riders too happy at all) I was wondering when or if I was going to get dropped. I decided that they were going to really have to do a hard surge to drop me as I did not ride 45 miles just to get dropped. Toward the end of the race I got my legs back and started taking my pulls again. I reassured the other riders that I did not want to contest the sprint under those circumstances. They seemed to respect that gesture and I feel gave Savage Hill a good representation.

Jay from Airborne won the sprint by 3 inches over Mario from Sobe. Dale Eades from Cycle Sport took 3rd and Pete from Breakaway Cycling was 4th. The 17 year old Tom Hanley and I came in 5th and 6th. Over all we averaged 24 mph which is fast anytime of year.

Well, I had a quite lengthy race report typed, right up until my daughter hit the power button on the computer. I'm not doing it again!

Damn difficult, as we expected. The big dogs up and left us to fend for ourselves, the course was pancake flat and the field was enormous (70+ starters). Breakaway opportunities were rare and we cooked Mitch and Jon "the kid" covering breaks.

I was able to work the front of the field for the first lap, but by lap two I was fading. I spent the rest of the race pretty much in the same pattern. I would work my way up the field when the pace let off, usually up the windward side of the pack, guard the front until someone got jumpy and then watched the field go by when they surged until I found myself near the back again. Learned that it is easy to get to the front if you don't mind fighting the wind. Conversly on the protected side of the field it is nearly impossible to advance.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Must have put ass to pedals, cause my ass hurt.