This is me, after the dumbass move I made on last night's finishing sprint!
How it went down:
First off, who were the 2 riders way off the front on Airport Rd?
Did they really open up a 1/4 mile gap, or were they as someone mentioned, 2 riders who took a wrong turn in Fitchburg and ended up off the front.
If anyone knows, please post in the comments section.
I picked tonight to launch my attack, I knew the point on Airport Rd where I wanted to jump, just over the Nashua River bridge where the Nissin outlet store is (way to far out but no guts no glory) - I had it lined up pretty good, moving up on the outside once I was off the front I looked up and saw the 2 aforementioned riders up the road.
Good, a target.
That's when I turned my head to the ground and tried to bury myself and not think about the pain.
Somehow I opened up a gap on the main group, but I didn't know it because I was too afraid to look back, I just wanted to keep digging.
When I reached the uphill leading up to the airport I finally looked back, "holy shit, I really did open a gap"
Concentrate, keep turning the pedals as fast as possible, win or die trying.
Out of the saddle, legs and lungs burning like hell, heart feels like it's going to explode, but I had a gap and I felt strong. And I had 2 targets up the road and a swarm of angry hornets behind me.
This was going to be the night!
This was supposed to be the night.
Before it all went wrong!
At the worst possible moment - 38 miles into the ride, less than 2 to go.
My heart sunk, I sat up and screamed, "gawdamit!!!!!!" (and a bunch of other bad words) when I heard the pffffffffffffffft coming from the back tire.
I'd made it all night over some of the worst roads in So. NH and No. Central Ma without a problem.
Why did I have to flat with less than 2 miles.
When I was off the front, about to wear the green jersey for the first time in my life.
Maybe.
The 2nd worst part, never knowing if I could've stayed away - most everyone who's raced said no way, the train was winding up behind me and would've overtaken me someone along the airport.
I would beg to differ but I know 20 against 1 aren't great odds. Especially when they're angry.
But the worst part wasn't losing, the worst part which hurt more than anything I've ever experienced on a ride is just sitting up on my bike and waiting for the ride to pass me by and not getting the f*&^ as far over to the right as possible, which I failed to do.
The next thing I knew the 20 riders were coming up hard.
And then I heard the yelling, swearing, "sonofabitch!!!" "what the fuck are you doing?!!!!!" as several riders went off the road to my right to avoid running into the sorry ass rider (me) just sitting there.
Never assume people are going to see you, especially at 8:00pm when the sun has set.
I know Daren and Alan and a couple others got caught up in it. Daren went down, Alan managed to stay up. Thankfully it was in soft sand and there were no serious injuries other that to my ego.
Mea Culpa to all involved in the cluster fuck I created, and even more so for screwing up the finishing sprint.
I'm trying to figure out how much beer it's going to cost to make amends with Daren. I'm thinking at least a case, or 4 or 5 and probably a box of that Almeden wine he's so fond of.
I'm off the ride for several weeks while I take a remedial bike riding class. Maybe I'll get on the Saturday morning C ride for a few weeks and learn.
Maybe I'll be back in late July.
I will get around to writing a full ride report when time allows.
It really was a great ride...up until the last 2 miles anyway....
I took airport road to Rt 2 this morning. Whether or not I could've stayed away is debatable, BUT considering I hadn't done an ounce of heavy lifting since the hills into Greenville and a little on Rt 101, I was feeling good.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I checked the milage, I would've had to stay away for 1.6 miles from where I made the jump.
With Andrew, Brandt, Noah, and lots of other fast riders behind, I'd give myself about a 10% chance I could've made it all the way, about the same as any breakaway in a major pro race.
I mapped out the course we did last night. Check it out, you’ll love the profile!
ReplyDeletehttp://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/18176240/
50 riders or so at lift off.
Lots of hills last night. On the stretch into Lunenburg center I could tell I was having a bad night. Could not hang with even the 2nd group. I was in the third group with a whole bunch of others.
Going up the red store in Mason was not any better. Evidently Natalie was not on a good night either because I was with her, Alan Parker and a few others. We climbed together all the way to the high school in New Ipswich NH. From there mostly flat and downhill back to Fitchburg. Some very rough roads in NH and Mass before we got on 101 in Ashby.
So here’s what happened on Airport Rd from my view.
I tried to work my way towards the front. The group checked up a little right after we went by Dippin Donuts. John Barry came up on my left and I decided his wheel was a good wheel to follow. You’re on the outside left and I’m right behind John. John takes off and I’m thinking WAY too early so I stay put in the group. Off he goes and now I see two other riders way up the road ahead of him. Lots of jockeying now and I’m looking for another wheel to get on. Don’t know which young guns wheel to get on so I started looking for Noah’s wheel but he’s behind me.
Meanwhile it’s really ramping up and were closing on John so now I’m feeling good about my earlier decision to stay with the group. Now we’re closing wicked fast and I see why because John almost stopped by the side of the road. I hear some yelling behind me and a gap opens on the right side so I slide over and Noah come up on my right how he fit I don’t know but he was polite and asked me to let him in ahead of me. I’m thinking perfect this is the wheel I want and somehow I’m in perfect position and the train on the inside REALLY starts to pick up speed. Now I’m beyond my limit, well into the redline and we have not even past the entrance to the airport. The person inflicting all this pain was Brant. Finally after the entrance he pulls off and I’m thinking it will slow down. But no, were rapidly closing on two other riders and the speed goes up another notch. These two riders pick it up. At this point I’m blown off the back of the train. The two riders make the back of the train. So now there are six riders ahead of me. Just ahead Noah jumps for the line and he told me after that he just got nipped at the town line. I came across 7th a shattered rider. Even on my VERY best day there is no way I could have any chance of coming around the folks in front of me. You can hand me that EPO now.
At Airport furniture I turned around to come back to look for John. Where we parked at the gym with me I figured we could ride back together and cry on each other’s shoulders about what could have been. Him making the escape stick and me winning the sprint…. I can dream!
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ReplyDeleteI can't take Noah in the sprint (with or without his battery powered crank), but Brant's another story, he's like McEwen, Renshaw, Cav and Cippo all rolled into one.
ReplyDeleteI still stand by my delusion I could've won last night's finishing sprint had I not flatted.
I meant to say I CAN take Noah in the sprint.
ReplyDeleteJohn, your move was way to early. You didn't stand a chance. Keep at it, your day will come. All I have to say about your dumbass move after flatting is if your causing me to crash affects my golf game today, you will owe me a lot more than a case of beer. All kidding aside, that was a great Tuesday night ride. More to come. John, I still love you.
ReplyDeleteMy move was planned to catch everyone sleeping. I know you were all laughing behind me thinking i'd never survive, but I'm telling you I was in it to win it.
ReplyDeleteYou still drinking that crappy Mexican stuff in the green bottles? They'll be delivered tomorrow night.
And I don't care if you want to blame me for today's crappy round of golf. I deserve it!!