Grumpy McTrumpy

that was beastly.

Greg180

Glad that everyone enjoyed the race. We had a great day with the only crash occurring in the Masters 50+, (go figure).

None of you get cred for introducing yourselves. As far as I know none of you even showed up. You could have at least introduced yourselves to the tall guy with the camera taking shots of all the fields and running around making sure there were neutral feeds for all your dehydrated butts.

I will post photos soon. I have pics of most of the fields including most of the finishes. I will not post all. If you want to know if I got a pic of your field PM me with field and kit color and I will check my library.

We plan on doing a better job next year and hope that the roads get repaired.

Grumpy McTrumpy

guy with camera? you were standing next to me at the line for like 5 minutes. I already mentioned I was the only guy in a yellow RUUD jersey

TheKillerPenguin

Greg dude, I meant to say hi but didn't see you anywhere!

tyrade

I did the Cat 4 race. East Hawley did me in again this year, though I did go up it 40 seconds faster than last year.

Our chase group caught another chase group, which caught another chase group. We amassed a 30-rider field by the time it was all over, but never caught the leaders.

Just curious if anyone has power data for East Hawley. Here's mine. Not too great considering I'm 176 lbs (80 kg). Maybe that's why I was dropped.

ATB24

I got there 10 min after registration closed and had to do another 3+ hour drive back home

bostongarden

That crash happened in front of me -- I don't know how, but, I made my way through that swirling mass of gnashing steel/carbon/aluminum and flying bodies (seriously, one guy was up in the air, flipping over, just to me left, yikes). My understanding is that there was a cone in the road to mark a pothole...well, some poor soul saw it too late and holy moly...one bike did thud into my rear wheel just as I was clearing the scene...oh, and it was downhill going at least 30 mph...after that, I watched the pavement like a hawk!!

But, organization was excellent...Excellent folks pointing out turns, police officers were terrific, starter was excellent, camera guy was stupendous (didn't know it was you Greg!!), lovely starting area/venue...although I'm more of a crit rider, I liked the course...good workout...East Hawley was fair and challenging (for me)...the 14 mile grind-it-out climb to the finish was good...I'm glad kids were handing out water bottles at the feed zone as I had no one to pass me water...a kid was very excited when I took a water bottle from him -- thanks kid!!!! Overall, well done!!!!

I did look around for BF folks, but, saw none at the end...but, I met a guy who is friends with someone on my team and I met Norman Flye, from whom I purchased my SRM on eBay Meeting those folks made for a couple of small world encounters...and, I did not come in last!!!!

Would I do it again? Yes, if I lose at least 10 pounds :-) Would I recommend it? Yup!!

to ya

FormerBMX'er

Well, I can honestly say my BMX skills came into play today

Nabbed 10th in Cat5 so this brings me one step closer to my upgrade. Just a bit overgeared on E.Hawley, doubt I could have stayed with the lead group anyway.

I'm just about ready to start focusing on next season. I need to build more raw horsepower through the winter

Nice meeting you Hocam, full report in race report thread

-Fbmxer

Greg180

Here are some Pics

https://gs154.photobucket.com/groups/...view=slideshow

gsteinb

How about results instead of crash pictures?

Grumpy McTrumpy

I was mid-field in the Masters 40. They didn't post full results.

bostongarden

Congrats!!!! Very very cool!!!

Well done!!!!!!!!!

grolby

Norm runs a very nice bike shop in Sunderland, probably about 30 minutes of driving from the race area. Real nice guy, class act. Funny thing about cycling in Western MA: it's a really small world. This is actually true of pretty much anything in the Pioneer Valley. It's an interesting place!

botto 

All around the hilltown's bush
The master chased on his specialized;
The master thought 'twas all in fun,
Pop! goes the specialized.

A penny for a spool of carbon fiber thread,
A penny for a a call to calfee—
That's the way the money goes,
Pop! goes the specialized.

grumpy's got the ridley vibe
And master's got the specialized
That's the way the story goes
Pop! goes the specialized.

All around the gator-aid jug
The masters chased the specialized;
The master 50+ pulled the stopper out,
Pop! goes the specialized.

I've got no time to wait aside,
No time to sit and bide my time,
I'm off for now. Hello, Goodbye!
Pop! goes the specialized.

Grumpy McTrumpy

lol


There were six pinch flats within five minutes on the descent of 8A in the Masters 40. Pop indeed!

Hocam

Funny how during a race most people don't even think to point out obvious dangers like potholes, but not doing so during a group ride would elicit lots of yelling.

Grumpy McTrumpy

once it started happening I positioned myself on the right shoulder and was somewhat in the wind, but I stayed away from most of the minefield.

tyrade

I don't think it would have made a difference at Hilltowns. In fact, our Cat 4 field was calling out most of the larger and more dangerous looking holes and crevices, and I still counted a minimum of 6-8 pinch flats and one exploding tube - all before we got to E. Hawley. Those roads were pretty rough.

TheKillerPenguin

Not nearly as bad as last year. That bumpy descent before East Hawley had sand all over it last year.

ridethecliche

Yeah, our field was pretty good about that.

My biggest mistake for the race was not lining up at the front and then not moving up right at the gun after the race started.

Had I been near the front of the field before Hawley, I would have finished with a chase group closer to the lead group. There was just no way to catch back on once the pack disintegrated.

I'll make sure to not to start so far back in a road race. It's easier to move up as needed in a crit.

I set new power records on everything from 5 minutes up. Damn!

bostongarden

That's pretty good!!!

tyrade

If you're not a great climber, being in the front is the only place to be before E. Hawley (or any climb, for that matter). That said, I was third wheel to hit E. Hawley and I still got spit out pretty quickly. But you're right, there were a lot of us to regroup after we hit the top, and we were still catching other small groups miles afterward.

Grumpy McTrumpy

Thanks bg..

I would have done better had I known the course. I knew I didn't have the power to stay up there with the leaders group on E. Hawley so I just rode my best pace. I figured I'd pick off a bunch of guys who went too hard to maintain contact with the leaders and was right about that. We formed up a group of nearly 25 by the time we hit rte. 9 and were riding a pretty decent tempo. I stupidly went to the front to chase down a flyer and noticed that nobody went with me. Stuck in no-man's-land for a while, I wasted some needed energy because shortly thereafter came the final climbs on 9 before the finish. I got dropped there (and probably would not have if I had been smart) and finished with three other rejects.

I don't know how many we had in the race but it seemed like 70 or so. I was hoping to finish well within that main pack, but it just didn't happen. I don't know how many were left in the break.

Greg180

There's always critics...Want results check Bike Reg. I was only responsible for volunteer organization and the crying towel for "elite" riders who lost their arrogance on the 97 mile loop...Of course you would have crushed the field if you would have been there. How about next year?

But your right about the crash pictures they're gone...

FormerBMX'er

I made a point to ride slightly off line and not directly behind anyone.

I wanted to be able to see the road ahead to avoid bombing through a pothole. Guys were calling out the road, but it's hard to call-out a mine field. I tried to be light on the bike riding it more like a horse jockey, especially on the downhill section.

I watched one guy get the sickest high-speed wobble I've ever seen on a road bike through that downhill. I just knew he was going to dump, but he saved it. Good on him for the sake of everyone behind...including me

Great Job BTW Greg! I did see you but didn't know that was you, I was wearing the Williams Kit.

My heart rate at E.Hawley Rd. hit 96% of my 197max...no wonder I had to back off. You can also see that I had work hard early on because guys let gaps open. The last spike is from my attack on the other 4 riders in my group.




-Fbmxer