Originally Posted by
agoodale
Nice video. Thanks for taking the time to edit and post....
I'm #517 passing from the right @ 9:11 in the video. Bad position for me to be in on the last lap. I think the stronger than usual headwind kept the group together. Normally the pace would really pickup on the 2nd to last lap, string out the group on the hill, and not let up until the finish. Just like you I was going to let this one go but when I saw the field was still together I decided to take a shot. Then I saw that idiot take the suicide line and I let up instead of hammering for the last corner. You can barely see me cruising up the hill at the end of the video.
Just for comparison...
Here's a short clip of SoCal 35+ Masters Racing. Same day, same course. Notice any difference?:
Yeah, they're all on motorcycles.
Seriously though that's a crazy stacked field. We watched a bit of it and then left (my friend needed to get back home). Top level riders who happen to be older than, oh, 35. I actually asked Thurlow Rogers for a picture. Hah. He must have been like, "Dude, I race 3x a day each weekend day and do all the training races in SoCal. You must be from out of town." Apparently he was sick. I say "apparently" because he soloed for the one race we watched (45+?). Maybe he didn't want everyone else to catch his cold.
My friend Rich and I were watching and talking. We were like, "oh, man, that one Amgen dude has no stripes on his sleeve. What do you do to get on Amgen if you aren't a former National or World Champion? He must always get second or something." Racing there would be like racing against retired Cipollinis or Museeuws or Voights. "Yeah, I attacked at 2 to go and Cipollini jumped on my wheel and yelled at me." Or "I had a decent gap, like 30 seconds, and I turned around and almost fell over because Voight had bridged up." Crazy crazy.
I'm glad I live in CT. We have normal guys here, they just win a few Nationals. No one much stronger than that. A few domestic ex-pros. No sledge hammers.
I'm also glad you mentioned the wind was stronger than normal. It was a bit hard - I'd call it a windy race. For sure I wouldn't have been pulling. And, yeah, the guys on the inside, I didn't like the looks of that. But I was already way out of it by then. I realized something while I was editing - I stood up very little. Usually there's a rhythmic bobble when I stand, and I rarely stood. My legs must have been bad because I usually stand when making efforts, esp near the end of a race. I didn't warm up, that didn't help - just the recon lap, then I was racing.
cdr