Fwd: [GW] Square Lake
From: Dan Wheeler
Date: 13 Aug 2007 22:58:42 -0500
By request, here is the Master’s 4/5 Square Lake Road Race Report.
Got to race early to support who Sara would call BWAGC. See 13-lined
teammate official Merwin and decide to ride shotgun with him all AM to
further investigate this whole official thing (free lunch, drive around,
walkie-talkies, and get paid! - note to self…). Really this is not an
enviable job and thanks to all for your hard underpaid and
under-appreciated work.
Back to racing. It is 1PM and 90-some degrees now when I see a mirage -
another Master’s 4/5 teammate Lacey. I approach slowly and it turns out he
is real! Pre-race we discuss keeping near the front during Nason Hill climb
and keeping pace high.
We line up with about 30 racers for 45 miles/3 laps. MCT rider (recently
downgraded from 3) takes off during the neutral roll-out and has a 15
second gap at the real start of the race - great way to start. I roll on
the front to keep pace high just to make sure this “attack” goes no where.
1st time up hill, we pretty much stay together. Second lap Cat 6 team sits
on front and pace lines. I jump up there just in case they try anything,
but there is no attacks. 2nd time up hill everyone is again content to keep
pace. 3rd lap I roll back up at the front to keep an eye on attacks and
pull more than my share, but Martin has been strong on the hill. Into the
last time up Nason, Martin is moving up to about 3rd wheel and the first 2
guys get a gap. The 2 crest pulling away and remain away for the remaining
~4miles for 1st and 2nd. Martin has a mechanical at the crest of the hill -
bummer. I follow wheels to the line and miss the jump for 3rd. Sprint past
a few others for 7th. Martin recovered nicely for 10th.
It was great to see such strong performances from so many fellow ground
squirrels! I also wanted to highlight the support of Gophers that
surrounded Cheryl upon her oh-so-hot finish of the Women’s 4 race. Hoping
you are fully recovered!
Stay tuned for information on the next (best) race season - cyclocross!
Dan