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What Mike Z. saw:
Category: Masters 30+ 4/5
Result: Mid-pack
Although the course was shorter than last year, it was tough and the field is still the best of any race in the area. A lot of people were getting dropped on the first climb and we were down to about 40 out of 120 riders by the time the race was 1/3 of the way through.
I got dropped at the beginning of the 3rd and final lap. It wasn't to be my day from the start since I was still suffering from a cold that began the previous week. I didn't really feel that bad, but I couldn't breathe through my nose the entire race and the limited airway made every climb a lot more difficult than it normally would have been.
The main reason I got dropped though was because I stopped paying attention. I was in the back 1/3 of the lead group starting up the main climb (bad move #1) and didn't notice that the two guys in front of me had let a gap develop (bad move #2). Then, instead of pushing harder up the hill to make up the ground, I waited and tried to do it on the downhill and then the flat section into the wind (bad move #3). The series of bad moves made me lose contact with the main group.
I rode alone for a couple of miles and then joined in with 4 other guys to get to the finish. We worked well together and we were actually pulling the main group back a little bit. To finally add insult to injury, I got a flat 200 m from the finish. The finish had been moved to near the top of the hill on Barloy Cyn Road since the Elite racers were doing their circuit race on the track. I took off my shoes and pushed my bike the last 200 m up the hill. So, 2 races in a row I have walked my bike across the finish. Something is definitely wrong with my rear wheel causing flats. I am going to try to replace the rim tape because it looks like that is where the problem is. I think I'll stick to the Mavic Open Pros for a while.
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What Jeff saw:
Category: 4
Result: Back of pack
I was pretty nervous before this race. I think I was dreading falling
off the back. Just standing at the start made my HR go to 120.
I fell to the back coming out of Laguna Seca. Well, I guess I couldn't
say I feel to the back since I started there. Anyways, on the long
fast descent, I moved my way up to the front by riding between the
bots dots where no one was. I moved back due to poor gear selection,
chased back to the front, and died on the 2nd wall. This time the skin
on my face was hot and I was having a nasty headache. I rode the rest
of the race with some motley stragglers who had no organization at all.
At the end, my back really started to hurt and I rode the rest alone.
I think I need some intervals and pilates sessions. Anyways, I will
be doing the Berkeley RR course this weekend. Hopefully, that one
will have a happy ending.
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