Ken Woods Report
Sara Brokaw
Womens 1/2/3
8/13
40 mi (2 laps)
Lined up with a handfull of Birchwood riders, 2 Flanders, 1 Bella, 1Nature Valley, 1 Silver Cycling, 1 AUC, and our spunky Albertos friend from Chicago, a relatively impressive field size for 1/2/3 (though I can’t help to think of what might have been with an OPEN race (40+ riders).
My “race” had 2 parts:
Lap 1: All Theresa ALL the time. The day was quickly identified a training ride.
Lap 2:
I started lap 2 off the back (for the 3rd time), but kept focus on a steady tempo (hey this is good training AND a heck of a nice day for a bike ride) because I expected the elastic to snap between the Group and Theresa, and at that point, no one would want stick their noses into the wind and the group would slow. Hooked up with Albertos just before Turn 1, and we caught the group mid-way between turns 1 and 2. As expected the Group had let go….. Upon our return, Nature Valley smartly put in an attack, which I let go as I knew I would rejoin again after the group slowed (starting to feel like the Energizer bunny, but it certainly kept the day interesting). Shortly after Turn 2, attempts were made to force the B-wood riders (3-4) to pull into the headwind, but primarily Albertos, NV, & I contributed to the pacemaking (at this point, having spent miles chasing, goal for the day was the workout).! Threw down an attack after a B-wood pull, and no-one chased for a bit (probably rightly so given my yo-yoing). Eventually reeled in by NV towing the bunch, but in the process of the chase it was obvious a few riders (including 1 b-wood) had been shed. I rolled to the front to keep the tempo up to see if we could prevent some riders from rejoining. Attacked again between 3 & 4, was covered immediately, and quickly realized that was my last jump for the day. A surge after a pull dumped me off the back again, where I would remain until the end of the race (although for awhile again I thought I might rejoin again as the group slowed for awhile). Colleen, however, on Corner 4, did not lose hope, as she yelled, “Attack the hill, Sara! You can get them!!” Not in the cards, though….
Rolled in completely empty at the end…very satisfying training effort…definitely identified some limits.
Highlights of the day:
The weather (we SO deserved this after last year)
Some nice riding by the cat4 Women!! Hopefully a report or 2 will be shared
I heard there was a WIN from the guys!
Sara