Cleave

Hi,

Since EDR didn't post a roll call for this race, I will.

Another year in the Masters 45+. However, I hear that Thurlow and the rest of the 45+ "big boys" from SoCal are in Kentucky for Masters Nationals. That means I might have a chance --ha!

Chucklehead

I'm in for my last 4's race. Would like to make up for my little failure in San Pedro, but I haven't seen the course, so I may be fodder.

120 rider field should make things interesting. STAY NEAR THE FRONT!

Cleave

Hi Chuck,

Only 56 pre-registered for the 45+ so far. I know a lot of us old guy do race day registration but I have a hard time believing that we will have a full field.

Be careful out there. The 4s usually have some crashes that require ambulance support. Also, the last turn is tricky so you need to check it out from the front of the pack during the race if you want to be ready to take it at speed on the last lap. I can't tell you how many times I've seen Cat 4 or 5 guys lose it in the last corner on the last lap.

Chucklehead

Hey Cleave..

45+ looked like a pretty good sized field from where I was standing. How'd you do?

Well, I wish I had seen your message before I went to bed last night. Everything you said came true. Crashes, ambulance support, and even the part about the final corner. And it all happened on the last lap!
There was a huge accordian effect coming off the final turn to start the bell lap, and I guess it caught a lot of guys off guard. I knew it was coming, so I had just started moving to the left to roll around the front guys to avoid losing momentum to start the final lap. Next thing I know, I hear brakes and crunching carbon next to me, and the guy inside of me jerked to his left and slams into me, which sent me into the outside barrier. My knuckles got slammed pretty good, but I just kinda bounced off and kept going. Thank god for the Rock Racing signage covering the barriers or my hand/bars might have gotten jammed in there.
From that point on I was in the top 10 or so, and once we reached the top of the hill on the back side of the course, there was another, much worse sounding wreck. Luckily, that had no effect on the front portion of the pack, so I went into the final turn in 2nd spot. I had just finished telling the guy next to me that the kid in front of us was "really fking fast" when the kid bolted into the turn. I consider myself a pretty damned spiffy bike handler, but I took one look at that lean angle he had and just thought "Son, you are a braver man than I." I came off the turn, still in 2nd spot and ALMOST made up the gap he put on me in the corner. The finish data said .03 secs difference, but I know it was a little more than that.

I guess for a 120 rider field in what is supposedly the biggest race of the season, 2nd isn't too bad. But to be honest, I wanted San Pedro much more than this one.

Highlight of the day for me was seeing Liz Hatch. So close I could smell her

Dubbayoo

I forget about this race 2 out of every 3 years. Since I saw last year I'm sure i'll forget next year too. I saw Liz at the velodrome once; definitely good for the circulation.

ilvwhtgrls

mmm liz hatch. did you bottle the smell up?

Chucklehead

It's stuck to me. I'm still debating whether I should take a shower or not.

ilvwhtgrls

i wouldn't...

El Diablo Rojo

Chuck nice work! My teammate Kevin took third, who won?

Chucklehead

Hey, thanks!

That Corey kid(the one with the dreads and the killer sprint) won it. He took that final corner like one of the Bostrom brothers. That won him the race right there.

Funny note.. I was standing next to your teammates in the staging area and they were talking about you not wanting to race your LOOK. One of them said "As far as I'm concerned, if you buy a race bike you race it!"

So there's your answer

El Diablo Rojo

Hey I race it, just not in crits. I bought the LOOK in Austin we have a ton of RR's there so I would have raced the LOOK way more than the Orbea.

Yeah that Corey kid is fast, it's good that you saved your best for last. This is a big race and to get on the podium is no small feat.

You doing any cross this fall? I'm getting pretty geeked up for cross season.

Chucklehead

Yeah, I'd been getting top tens in every race over the last two months, and had targeted both San Pedro and today's races. I feel like I did alright, but I was really jones'n for a win at one or both.

FAIL

I'm thinking about 'cross. My club is more of a 'cross club than road(we have the multi-time defending state champ and two other highly regarded Cat2's), so naturally, everyone is trying to get me to give it a shot. Muckenthaler is in September, so i'll make a decision by then.

wattsup?

Chucklehead,

2nd!!! Nice job at a tough race, and great job avoiding the crashfest.

Chucklehead

Thanks, man. Wish it was a win, but I guess there's not much you can do when the guy who does win is just plain faster.
I've gotten lucky so many times with the crashes, or lack thereof. Even the big one I did get caught in last week was very minor for me when I went over the bars and was cushioned by another rider and a couple of bikes.

When are we going to see you out there again?

tbrown524

Have fun with that Cory kid. He's moving up to CatIII also. I beleive this was his last race as a CatIV

badfishgood

I was keeping my eye out for her all day... Didn't see her... Daaaaaaaaym.

2nd place... badass.

Chucklehead

Great. So he and the LaGrange guys will be out to smash my dreams everytime I race in the LA area. One second thought, I may just quit.

I'm thinking it might not have been her after all Her name isn't in the results(that I can see).
Could it be that I was whiffing the scent of another, equally stalkable VanderKitten rider? Possibly. I still took a shower, though, so it doesn't matter anymore.

El Diablo Rojo

Hate to break the news to you but you'll have several pretty good PAA guys to make your 3's experience that much more fun as well. Wes is one point away from catting up, and we've got some others that may not win but can make the difference for the guys who can.

badfishgood

You're not kidding, our 3 squad is stacked... Easter, Ford, Anderson are beasts. Easter took 2nd yesterday in his first 3 race. I might not even be worthy of leading those boys out... Lol.

Chucklehead

Wes doesn't do crits, though, does he? I thought he was strictly a road racer. I can't believe he doesn't already have the points to upgrade with the results he's had this season. Is he going for a mandatory upgrade or what?
And I know Jim is really strong. He always seems to be up near the front and finishing in the top ten.
I'm actually glad a lot of people are moving on. It just means there willl be some familiar faces.

*edit* Nevermind. I forgot Wes started the season as a 5.

within

First time at Manhattan for me. Raced 35+ race. Hopefully I'll be back next year as I had a blast soaking in the event. Nice job SBW!

Anyone know how the cat2 Helen's guy is doing?

Chucklehead

Don't worry.. If you've got a halfway decent sprint or can plow the wind on the front for a few seconds, you can lead out.

Chucklehead

It was her...