Race Report: Turtle Pond 2010 cat 3: GG Bavolar Works The Break

The real race report is on the team blog. I have just a few short comments. Nonsense really.



My job was to either get into an early move, and then if the early stuff failed to stick, sit in and sprint. As always, if we got a man in a promising break, I'd control the front, breaking up any chase efforts and sitting on and thwarting bridge efforts.


As Gary states in his report, I expected Embrocation's Rapha celebrities to be a factor in the race, as both PVB and Mr. Dunn can climb well and have deep hardman credentials.

My early moves didn't stick, despite having some good company on a couple of attacks.

After what I decided would be my last attack of the early laps, a big group went up the road. It had over 10 riders and representatives of most of the stronger teams present, CL Noonan, NEBC, Threshold and 2 Svelte riders. I found Gary and asked him to bridge to the move. He jumped and succeeded in getting into the group.

At this point, there was confusion at the front of the peloton. With all of the strong teams represented up the road, no one was willing to pull. The pace slowed considerably. PVB and Jeremy Dunn drifted to the front and I told them that it was their job to chase. They laughed me off, pointing out the the move was still in sight. Since I am good friends with PVB, I explained that I was serious, that the move was likely to stick. I was hoping that he'd take the hint and try to bridge up to it while that was still a possibility. He didn't. PVB and Jeremy spent the rest of the race fruitlessly attempting to get away (every chase was quickly marked and neutralized) from a slow peloton, trying to get a paceline started and grumbling about how much the situation sucked.

Since the break was gone, I started resting for the sprint for 13th. Man, I really wanted to finish 13th. I still chased down bridge attempts and remained vigilant at the front, but I sagged on the big climb, allowing myself to drift from the very front of the group to the very back, sometimes even loosing contact, knowing that someone would work with me to get back onto the peloton within minutes.

On the last lap I made arrangements with Dave Montes to stick with me on the climb, so that he could pace me back to the main group when I allowed myself to get dropped. Uneventfully, Dave and I got back into contact and went to the front so that we'd be in position when things started heating up.

Spaits made a few promising attempts to attack the main group in the last lap. At one point he got away with a small group that included Jeremy Dunn. They took a wrong turn, or failed to turn and thus lost their advantage.

A few attacks were reeled in. Nick Mashburn worked the front, chasing moves down. He was clearly working for Svelte sprinter Mike Sabatini, as Sabs was sitting in while Nick kept the group together.

The sprint was textbook. Svelte and CB were at the front, ramping up the pace in the final 2k. I had instructed my teammates, Dave and Spaits, that all I needed from them was to keep me out of the wind up until we were done with the fast descent and inside the 1k to go mark, which they slayed themselves to do (Thanks Dave and Matt). I then marked Sabs's wheel, tucked in and waited, as Mashburn was giving him a fast leadout from the front of the group, that put me in 3rd wheel with 1/2 a kilo to go.

Since the sprint was slightly uphill, I waited an extra few seconds before jumping. When I did go, I had the road to myself. I felt like I was going to win 13th place. Then, as I came screaming toward the finish, I noticed that there was a traffic jam of pace and follow cars stopped on the finish line, in my path of travel. I sat up. As much as I wanted 13th place, I didn't think that it was worth crashing over. I coasted in 15th.

GG stayed in the break and got 8th. Gary has been having a rough season on top of his thwarted cross season, so I was glad that he was able to get into a successful move. While the team may have been hoping for a better result, I am happy that most of our race went according to plan and that Gary affirm that he can hang with the tough guys of cat 3 New England road races.

RMM’s 2nd Annual Guide to Local Race Teams--Part 1

Last season, I posted a guide to local teams. The post caused some controversy, since some rider’s objected to my portrayal of their team. So here I am writing this thing again. I expect a similar uproar, as I plan to call it like I see it again. Please take all of this with a grain of salt, as it is nothing more than my opinion.

This post is mostly meant as a guide to lower category (5, 4, 3) riders who are looking for a new or first team. I will outline what I know about the team’s behavior as well as what I know about admission and benefits of joining (I will not share any inside information) It is not meant to dish on any teams or to promote any teams in particular. That said, I am a long standing member of Cambridge Bicycles and have put considerable blood sweat and tears into helping build that team into the best team possible. Therefore, it should come as no surprise what I say about CB.


NEBC NorthEast Bicycle Club

This is by far the largest team/club in New England. Their members number in the hundreds. If you are looking to meet the maximum number of cyclists, NEBC may be right for you.


Admission is open. They regularly recruit newer races from the “C” race at Wells Ave.

The downside is that NEBC is so huge that many riders feel lost on the team. It is not uncommon to see 10 lower category NEBC riders on the starting line of a race introducing themselves to each other.

In the cat 4’s and 5’s teamwork is out of the question. In fact, quite the opposite is often true. Teammates often chase teammates. Teammates sprint against one another. If you are looking to join a cohesive lower category team, NEBC is probably not right for you.

There are a few situations where NEBC might be the right club for you. These include if you want lots of organized club rides (though you don’t need to be a NEBC member to go on most of these) or if you are a higher category rider.

My understanding is that NEBC takes fairly good care of the cat 2’s and 3’s. I don’t have details, but there are a number of talented riders who chose to remain on NEBC.

Svelte Cycles

Mostly a cat 3 team, which is run by Justin Spinelli (aka semi-famous Euro domestique to Cipollini). Spinelli comes out and mixes it in Pro123 races and appears to offer guidance to the cat 3’s.

Svelte appears to only be open to riders above category 3. I believe that you must contact Justin Spinelli directly in order to be considered.

Last season was Svelte’s first season fielding a cat 3 team. The team was chock full of talented riders who never seemed to gel into a cohesive unit. Their results suffered as a result. There were a few exceptions, such as Chris Bailey shattering everyone at the Attleboro Criterium

This season, they have an influx of extremely motivated riders, many of them well versed in team tactics and riding very strong. While last season was surely a disappointment to Svelte’s cat 3’s, this season may prove to be a breakthrough.

I have no idea if the team has addressed their every-man-for-himself race tactics for 2010. If they have, expect some serious domination and some upgrades. If not, we can expect a repeat of last season with Svelte taking long suicide breaks that get brought back and then countered by another team who ends up with the win.

Green Line Velo

This was another new team in 2009. They mostly seem to an amalgamation of collegiate riders, thus the name, which references the many colleges that are located on Boston’s notoriously slow Green Line.

I don’t know their admission policy, though I assume that if you are racing collegiate, you know a rider or two from Green Line.

My assessment of Green Line is mostly based on seeing them around before and after races. They don’t have too many outstanding results, but they are a bunch of young guys and a few gals, who seem to enjoy racing bicycles.

During races, they tend to remain invisible, taking few pulls and attacking infrequently.

If you are a collegiate rider who is looking to carry that good time collegiate vibe into the USAC season, you don’t need me to introduce you to Green Line, since you are probably already a member.

Quad Cycles

Quad is mostly a bicycle club with a racing arm. This team used to do some great development work, helping club riders make the transition to USAC racing. In fact, Quad developed me into a racer way back when.

Quad has open admission. You can register online at their website.

Anecdotal data suggests that Quad is no longer developing riders. It seems that every season they have fewer and fewer racers, mostly racers who have been racing with them for a few years who haven’t moved on.

In races, they tend to sit in and then try to jump in on someone else’s leadout train. While they have garnered a few decent results over the years, they are seldom a factor to consider during a race. Teamwork is rare. Tragically, the one leadout train I saw them organize in 2009 was crashed out wholesale by a Threshold rider in the last lap of the Attleboro crit.

Threshold Racing

Another new team for 2009. These guys came out swinging and got results. They were often factors in both the cat 3 and cat 4 fields, often getting in decisive breakaways and using their wattage to remain away from the field. If Threshold had a motto, it would certainly be “Attack!!”

Team cohesion appears important to Threshold, as does strategy. If they have the manpower in a race, they attack and then counter their teammate’s attacks. They tend to get into a lot of breaks and work those breaks hard. On occasion, they have worked those breaks too hard, getting out-sprinted in the end.

Many of us enjoy making fun of Threshold for posting power data on the Internet, but seriously we make fun mostly because we are in sheer awe or Leo Desforges’s wattage.

If you are looking for a good group of guys who take training and racing seriously, this is a good crew to hook up with.


Embrocation Cycling Journal

This team is a grassroots road team, who focus on pro races. They happen to have a couple of elite cyclocross racers who chose to race cat 3 in Embro colors on the road in New England. Since the founder of Embrocation has moved to the Portland, OR area, there is now a west coast branch as well. I have no idea what they are up to.

I happen to be good friends with the NE cat 3 riders as well as some of the riders on their elite road team. The New England branch of Embrocation is not accepting lower category riders on the road, so stop emailing them to ask.

The Embrocation riders in general are known to have lots of style. They have a loose affiliation with Rapha, a tight sponsorship from Ridley and hookups all over the place. They are VERY concerned with bike fashion. Tan lines are regularly compared and a discussion of proper sock height can last for hours. During cross season, I heard that one of the “executives” of ECJ was upset that a photographer had published photos of an ECJ team member leading a race while wearing a garish pair of orange construction worker type gloves. I am not dishing on them, as I support their push to make sure riders are professionally attired. I like white handlebar tape, shiny Italian shoes and tall socks as much as these dudes.

As far as cat 3’s are concerned. They have a few strongmen who will be factors in break-aways and hilly races of attrition, such as Tour of the Hilltowns or The Central NH RR. In general the cat 3’s don’t even show up for criteriums.

Part II will be Published Tomorow

Party with the Cool Kids: Superb’s Grand Opening Party

My friend Jason over at Superb is having a grand opening party after a long and thorough remodeling/rebranding. His shop is closely affiliated with Cambridge Bicycles, in fact Superb is CB’s high end branch.

Jason knows how to throw a party. The last party of his I attended was huge, taking over the entire basement of a block long building, complete with DJ’s, beer sponsors, BoldSprints and complete cycling mayhem.

I’d expect beer, DJ’s, dancing and some fashionably dressed urbanites. In his press release he mentions the chance to “fraternize with Boston’s cycling elite” at the party. He certainly doesn’t mean me, but that may refer to you. Either way, you should check out the party.

This will be the hottest cycling event, outside of races, for weeks, perhaps month to come. Wear your “going out’ clothes and not you Lycra (unless of course you wear Lycra when going out).

I will be there, though I may have to head home early to rest up for the New Gloucester Verge race the following day.

Race Report: Quad Cross 2009--CB Brought the Pain in Three Events: 3/4 35+, Women's 3/4 and Men's 4

As an intro, Quad Cross (had a different name) 2007 വാസ് my second cyclocross race. I broke my shoulder in a high speed fall in a fast corner. It ruined my season and put me in PT for the entire winter of 2007/2008. I was careful in that corner this year.

Quad Cross is a great little race, local to Boston in Bedford. In fact it is so close that I drove out the evening before the race to preride the course while doing my prerace openers. There had been a steady rain, so the course which features tall grass and became a mud bog last year, had become treacherous. Newly cut damp grass clogged my drivetrain and got caught in my brake pads. The Course felt slow, as there was hay stuck in and wrapped around all the moving parts on my bicycle.

I should mention that Quad did a great job with routing the course. The barriers were challenging offered you the option of remounting before a hairpin or after, which was then followed by a run/rideup. If your game was on, you could easily gap less skilled riders who were more fit than you. The "S" turns were tight, but routed so that line selection was important. If you hit turns properly and connected your turns well, you kept your momentum, if you bobbled or took a bad line, you squandered your speed and had to sprint. There were some off cambers thrown in to unsettle you.

The sun came out for the race. In fact, it was downright hot on the starting line. I only took one preride of the course before my race. Most of the corners were in similar condition as they had been and the run/ride up was still rideable.

I only had aggressive mud tires (Tufo Cubus), so I actually raised the pressure in order to decrease their considerable rolling resistance. I didn't notice any downside.

I shouldered my way into a front row starting position. Shamelessly separating 2 MRC teammates who had left enough room for me to squeeze in. I was lightly heckled, but I brushed it off. I was feeling fit and rested, so I planned on making good use of the front row start.

I got tired of registering for races with a normal team name. So I registered for a bunch of races with "CB/Igleheart Will be bringing the pain" as my team. I didn't think that anyone would even notice. They did. They poked fun. Even Diane Fortini got in on it by raising her eyebrows when it was brought to her attention.

The opening sprint was tame. I held back and went into turn one in 3rd. I moved up in turn 2, which I had practiced 12+ times the day before. Basically, I attacked right after the second corner, as I had taken the inside line and turned on a tighter radius than my competitors, which left me an open course.

As I rode out in front, I realized the folly of my attack. I was burning it hard right there in the beginning of lap one.




I didn't open up a gap right away; 2 or 3 dudes stayed on my wheel for the next half lap. I made sure to punch it extra hard out of the corners to open gaps. If these guys were going to ride my wheel, they were going to have to work hard to stay there. Also, my cornering was at least as good as the guy on my wheel, if not better, so after a turny section, I often had a 2 or 3 second gap, which I enhanced by putting the gas down.

I got away. At one point I had 10 seconds on second place. Even though it was the second lap, I thought that I was gone. I was riding well and not bobbling. My team mates and friends lined the course and enthusiastically cheered, jeered and heckled me as I passed. I even found the energy to heckle Matt Aumiller who was announcing. High Fives were slapped. Foolishness.

Mortals can't just ride away from a field. If I could do that, I'd be pro. Or at least someone would pay my race fees. Or at the very least, I'd have better results than I have been posting for the last year.

I didn't implode, but I definitely crumbled a little. Especially when I saw that we had 4 to go. I knew that I was done then. In fact, I wanted to quit. And vomit. My stomach was in rebellion. In fact it was so imminent that I was drooling and slobbering as my mouth prepared to spew.

My rival from Palmer, Sebastien Dumont of Cape Cod caught me with about 3 to go. I knew it was him even before he came around me. I had been stink-eying him on every straight away as he steadily reeled me in. It was a classic case of going out too hard.

I rode well and hung on for second. Sebastien dangled about 10 seconds up the road. I could have closed the gap, but I felt that if I put in the effort to catch him (or stay with him) that I would overdraw my account, which would cause me to slide out of 2nd and...who knows where I'd land if I detonated entirely.

It was heartbreaking. I made the pragmatic decision not sprint up to him. I don't regret it, but it was a hard decision to live with at the time. Obviously my team mates and friends heckled me mercilessly. I'm sure that the haters had their say too, but I didn't hear them.

In that situation, what would you do? Sprint up to the leader and risk blowing up and losing your second place or settle for second?

In speaking to Sebastien after the race, he explained that I was the only one that he was watching, which I took to be a huge compliment. I genuinely and heartily congratulated him on riding a great race. I have the feeling that Sebastien have kicked off a great rivalry. I look forward to seeing him at Sucker Brook.

In other CB news, Natalia Gardiol won the women's 3/4 race





and Nick Mashburn got second in the well attended men's cat 4 race. I think that 3 podiums in one day equals bringing the pain. So despite people's ribbing, my prediction proved correct. We brought the pain.

Also I partially announced the elite women's race as I recovered and ate. And I announced the men's elite race. I wasn't very good at it.




I feel like I would have been better if I had someone to converse with, like another announcer. Either way, I threw some stupid random heckles out at the pros. I have a new found respect for Dick Ring and Richard Fries.

I was happy with the race and with the venue. My only complaint would be to have only one 3/4 race instead of splitting us by age (Under 35 and 35+). While I realize that I wouldn't have podiumed in such a race, I really enjoy racing with my younger friends.

EBTI and RMM Sell Out!

If took no time at all. I was made an offer and I folded like a newbie cat 4 in a break with Mark McCormack at Wompatuck.

It wasn't a manufacturer offering me free product for a good review or a sales company offering me a job if I could help them open an account.

My defining moment as a blogger came when my team's title sponsor asked me if I would help out with their shop's blog.

For years I said that I would never work in the cycling industry and here I am, a cog in the machine.



In all seriousness, I my new project with Cambridge is rather cool. I will be posting 2-3 times weekly. My posts will focus on vintage racing parts, vintage clothing, ride reports and cycling esoterica. The focus will be image dense and less wordy than EBTI (actually, I was told 3 or more times that I had to hold back on the verbiage)

Go check it out and let me know what you think (post comments):

http://www.cambridgebicycle.com/blog/index.php

Shop Review: Cambridge Bicycles--They've Always Treated Me Well

Before I start this review, which I have been putting off, I need to state that I race for this shop's team. In fact, I am one of the managers of that team. But the team and the shop are administratively and financially separate. Cambridge Bicycles is my team's title sponsor. As always, I will keep my review honest. Luckily for me, there is nothing scathing to write.



As many of you know, I was a commuting cyclist long before I became a competitive cyclist. I used to smoke cigarettes and ride a fixed gear. My original commute was a daily triangle starting in Coolidge Corner in the morning to Harvard Square and then in the afternoon to Boston's South End and then back to Brookline in the late evening. I took Mass. Ave. on the afternoon leg of the commute and used to frequent Cambridge Bicycles. I been and on and off again customer of CB for 10 years. In those 10 years, I have always been treated well and found what I needed.

Cambridge is a great shop for getting supplies to facilitate urban riding and commuting. They have a huge selection of locks, lights, fenders, panniers and courier bags and winter cycling clothing in stock. If you are looking for a courier bag or backpack, they are the only game in town. While other shops carry some of the same brands and styles as CB, don't even try to find another shop in Boston that is stocking as many BaileyWorks, Chrome, Freight and Ortlieb bags. Furthermore, they stock stuff with style. Multiple colors are available in every variety of bag.





CB specializes in commuter and urban bicycles. They have plenty of commuter style bikes in stock, including a bright orange cargo bike with a dynamo front hub and integrated rear wheel lock which I would like to buy. They have everything from the fancy commuter to a college kid's cheap ride to and from campus.

CB also has plenty of stylish clothing and accouterments. They have handmade cycling caps, vintage wool jerseys and t-shirts gallore. It is worth a trip every couple of months just to see what is new in CB fashion.








Every time that I walk into CB, I am surprised at the sheer volume of customers in the place. There are college kids with rusted Huffy's looking to keep them running for another semester for under $20, crusty Harvard professors having their Sturmy Archer three speed tuned for the 50th season of riding, bike couriers who crashed their brakeless track bikes into yet another taxi and need a wheel quickly so they can get to work and people hanging just around.

The shop has buzz, it is a hangout. They always have good music playing and are cracking jokes. If I had to choose a bike shop to hang out in, I would always choose CB. The employee list boasts some of the most plugged in scenemakers, musicians, DJ's and even a magazine publisher amongst them. When you widen the scope to see who is hanging around the shop at any given time, you have a veritable who's who in Boston.

In hanging out there and being a customer there myself, I have watched the employees service some of the most difficult customers, scammers and neighborhood types with grace, treating everyone well. People who I would give the bum's rush to are loaned tools and conduct their own minor repairs while listening to indy rock. Neighborhood kids stop in to warm themselves up on cold days. Homeless people service their can collecting bikes.

Cambridge has the largest selection of used parts that I have seen outside of Bikes Not Bombs (review coming). They are always willing to dig around and find a creative solution to a vexing problem. When I was missing an adaptor for my early 1990's Shimano 600 front derailleur, Tom found me a suitable substitute off of a lower end derailleur of similar vintage, cost: $2. Currently they are helping me get a bottom bracket that will fit a 1970's French threaded track bike (not an easy feat). If your 7 speed commuter's cassette is finished, they probably have an inexpensive replacement.


Fixed gears. Everyone is waiting for me to talk about fixed gears. Cambridge is the best place the Boston area to buy track bikes. They stock more anodized track componentry than you can imagine. In fact they custom order much of it direct from manufacturers, so much of it is Cambridge Bicycles exclusive.





I race track. Every time that I have needed anything to keep my track bike running, they have had more varieties of that item than I could process. When I recently needed a 16 tooth cog, I was offered a choice of 4, all with different finishes and asthetics. I choose a chromed out Euro-Asia cog that matches my other components, though I was tempted by the gold one...



When I think of building a custom urban whip with colored deep V's and matching componentry (which is probably my next new bike), Cambridge is the only place that I would think of going.






Obviously, in the interest of my sponsorship, I should end there. But I can not. I started this blog as a service to Boston area cyclists, focusing on the competitive among us.

As a bicycle shop for competitive cyclists, Cambridge has some weaknesses. Stock is the biggest complaint. While CB has been incredibly supportive of our team, they are not really focused on servicing the competitive community. While a competitive cyclist could keep a bicycle running there, they don't have many drool factor bikes and components on the showroom floor. When you need a chain or a 10 speed cassette, they will have something to get you through. But carbon fiber is rare in CB.

CB actually has access to product lines that appeal to the competitive cyclist, but since they are not selling much of this stuff, they don't keep samples in stock. For instance they can quickly order Easton wheels (they got the team a set of EC90's tubulars). CB sells the entire Fuji and Bianchi line as well. Cambridge also is an Igleheart dealer. They have worked directly with Chris to market some track bikes as well as competitive level cyclocross bikes.




While Cambridge is not a uber chic competitive shop like Cadence, it is an honest community shop dedicated to helping cyclists. And, they are the only shop in the city where you are likely to hear Notorious BIG's B sides and Minor Threat played at high volume in the same day, perhaps back to back. I may not go in there to look at race bikes, but I certainly love to go there for bags, track componentry and atmosphere. And if you are looking for a stylish fixed gear, they are the only place to go, as you can see from the photos.



Photos courtesy of Cambridge Bicycles and/or Pedal Power Photography