RR: BikeJam - CAT5 (May 24)

BikeJam
Location: Some park in Baltimore
Saturday May 24, 2008
Laps 10 (1 mile loop)
Course: 1 mile loop with two traffic circles to ride 3/4 way around. The second, 2/3 of the way through the loop has a hairpin turn coming out of the circle followed by a hill up to the finish line. Perfect for attacking and blocking

RR:
I got up to the race early. If it was only a 10 mile race, I knew I'd need to be warmed up plus I wasn't sure of the traffic possibility driving all the way to Baltimore so I left with plenty of time. Got a nice parking spot on the back stretch right next to the park and was one of the first in the CAT5 race to register. I got my things in hand and started doing laps on the course to get familiar with it. Guys were out there with brooms and leaf blowers cleaning the entire course which was pretty nice to know. I met up with Roger and Johnathan (Coppi guys) prior to the race and rode a few laps with them. We didn't really make any race plans but if I saw them out there I had planned on working with them.

The race started out pretty hard like I thought it would. After the first 4-5 laps, we had dropped 10-15 of the riders. I noticed my two Coppi teammates weren't in the main pack but didn't really know what happened to them (I later saw Roger near the finish cheering me on so I knew he was okay). I had been sitting near the front the entire race because I had decided I wouldn't get stuck near the back around that hairpin turn and get gapped on a break up the hill. I was sitting in 10th just past the finish line when Ted (big guy from Evo that rides the RBC rides with me) went off the front. He pretty much stayed 50 yards in front of the peleton but noone responded and I wasn't in position to hop on his wheel at the time. I had been riding his teammates wheel most of the morning and picked the wrong wheel. After a lap or two a Trails End guy bridged the gap and the two of them began working together. I knew the peleton would hafta pick it up if we wanted to catch them both. I tried to start to bridge with 4 laps to go hoping someone would hop on my wheel and we could chase but it wasn't happening. Noone in the peleton wanted to do any work. Richard (WWVC), some NCVC guy and I were the only guys that wanted to chase it seemed. Final lap, the two of them still off the front 50 yards I went from the inside and attacked the peleton on the backstretch. I had them blocking the crosswind as we turned into the tailwind section I shot ahead of the peleton. I could only cut about 2/3 of the gap and was cooked. I kept going and was caught by the traffic circle. Hopped on the middle but I didn't have anything left. The peleton steamed up the hill and I was left hanging on the back not involved in the sprint.

I guess I took a gamble because I wanted a shot at winning the race and want to fight for 3rd with 20+ other guys. If I were to race it again, there are plenty of things I would have done differently but that's what I get. I'm still new, I need to learn what my body can and can not do vs the field in a race.

Looking forward to RFK the next day!