Bear Mountain Spring Classic
Harriman, NY
April 30, 2005
By JP Partland
We had Joaquin, Keith, and Victor in the IV race. I was in
the pro/am. Susan and Shannon were in the feed zone (thanks to
both). Eric and Don were in officials cars (thank here, too).
Didn't see anyone else.
Don't think the pictures do the race justice. The rain
wasn't bad, but the visibility was terrible for most of the course.
It felt like I could see no more than 25 meters ahead going going
past the finish line. Tiorati lake, even when you were right next to
it, seemed barely visible.
I figured I'd try to stay sheltered and near the front for as
long as possible. I'd skip the early race heroics to see if I could
do something later on. The first two times up the big hill, I felt
fine. THe third was neutralized. The fourth was ballistic for me.
Since I got dropped at the very top of the fourth ascent of Tiorati,
the idea of early heroics now seems better. All I can say about that
climb was the bug guns were breaking legs. I chased, but it was
fruitless, as the field didn't sit up once the climb was over.
Pulled out at the feed zone, thanked my feeders and then waited to
see what the field looked like. At the end of the fifth lap, the
remaining racers were all over the place.
In the IVs, I think Victor pulled out, Keith had his front
brake come off, and Joaquin took 14th after sitting up because a
bonehead crashed in the sprint.
Hope the first day of track racing was sunny and fast.
JP
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