Bicycle Racin’ season is back!
[insert image of ridiculous lobster arm tan line]
Bob and Randy Hadzor headed out east, packed up the bicycles and hopped on the ol’ Erie Canal and, well ok, we took the thruway.. crossed the Mohawk River and entered the hills just as we entered the area that the race would be held coming in through Greenwich and down to Cambridge.
We got all situated at the registration tent where Randy checked in for the Cat4 gray race and with 11 spots open Bob was tempted to have a go in the 60+ category but we kept to our plan. We headed out to drive the course and scope out this 25% dirt road race and check out the hill scenario. Shortly into the course preview drive we had to stop to get a gift for Pete whom we were staying with..
We stopped at a little shed where the signage announced that they had home made maple syrup. Pete who is a connoisseur of sweets we thought we’d pop in and grab some quick and continue on the course. However, upon entering the little shack, there was no counter, no display of syrup bottles and goofy hand made junk for souvenirs. Instead there was a giant hulking shiny steel apparatus, with gauges and dials abound, puttering and steaming and an old woodchuck lookin’ guy with a long white beard, camouflage vest and two different colored eyes. “I’d like to buy some syrup?” Bob declared to the man, feeling slightly rushed to get on with the course preview, though slightly overwhelmed with fascination at the suprisedly high tech contents of the little cabin-shed. “Yea, that’s it? You don’t wanna look around or anything do ya.” The man stated, knowing for sure that we did indeed want to know more about the operation. Randy chipped in “Yea we’ll check it out!”
In .3 degrees they were about to take the final draw of the season from the magical syrup machine which he designed each bit, and where he can calculate the barometric pressure humidity and determine the precise point at which it would boil and at which to draw the syrup from its process (218.1). As soon as the temperature was reached they began the process and flipped the switch to dispense an amazingly consistent flow of hot delicious dark amber liquid.
We continued to scope out the ups and downs, the pot holes, and the gravelly surfaces of the course. It looked a bit daunting with some serious downhills on incredibly rough terrain.
Before long the race had begun, as you got into it the ride goes on and the rough and scary roads seemed to become normal. Though racers flatted as they hit sharp gravel, the crunching sound of carbon wheels on potholes was frequent followed by spontaneous expletives and riders slowly moving off to the right and the peloton swarming on. There was only one substantial wreck that I was aware of and luckily it wasn’t in our field, some one had apparently crashed on one of the sharp corners on the back country dirt corner near a pretty sketchy good ol’ homestead strewn with various vehicles, farm equipment and other lawn ornaments.
The race went on and with each minor bicycle explosion and each quick climb the pack thinned. Until it was a line of about 16 and apparently one squeeked off the front on one of the dirt roads when I was allowing ample room in case evasive maneuvering was necessary. Upon realizing that I moved to close the gap, and on the dirt gravel rapid decent, the familiar speed/eye tearing turn unnerving as dust and sweat got all up my eye! Had to hold back for a second to clear it out and the pack grouped back up. Then the pace line thinned out and began to cycle through. The finish was a ways off and then all of a sudden we were upon it 500m to go out of the saddle get moving, had a sharp hammerhead type turn and then a super short sprint to the finish, unfortunately I hadn’t previewed this part of the course (what was I thinking!) but picked up a couple places just enough to squeek in to the top ten, finishing ninth, just inside the top 10 pay out.
And that was that, ride over. It was definitely the most adventurous road race I’ve ever done, Bob was at the finish with some ridiculously delicious chocolate milk in a glass bottle, with the company logo stating best in New York and on the other side the Battenkill 2011 logo… awesome design and super great delicious chocolaty recovery.
results: http://www.velocityresults.net/results/309/tour-of-the-battenkill-cambridge-ny