Lake Cowichan RR

[Marcus]

So while the big dogs were at the IMC or TTT, Barry and I had a go at the Lake Cowichan Masters RR (65 km I think). I managed to hang on with 50s group for about 25 kms and even bridged a short gap at one point. And damn it was fun. Then we hit a small hill and I was off the back like me on Interurban on a Sunday. So I'm thinking now comes the compete part where I strive alone (from the english don't give up), then the 40s and 30s go by and I hear someone breathing hard up the big hill and it's a 30 something woman who started with Barry and I. Then I'm thinking this is cool, the group actually dropped someone before me but of course she passed me about half way up the hill. Although I couldn't hold her wheel I started feeling better as I went around the hill loop the second time. Then I heard someone breathing hard up the big hill on the second loop and it's a 50s guy who had been dropped earlier too. He went by me as well but I managed to hang on to his wheel until the top of the hill where he had more left and pulled away to a distance of about 200 meters. He was a like a mirage after that, always there but never reachable, as we rode into a bit of a head wind to the finish. Damn - last place again. After they handed out the medals (Barry won a bronze in our age group - 1:53 plus 10 for 2:03 - I had pulled in at 2:05 plus ten for 2:15), I decided to check out the time sheet. I was listed 26th and there was a name below mine, a 30 something who started 10 minutes behind us. Second last felt so good.

So when is the right time to start racing? How about 11 am next Sunday at Cherry Point, organized by our own Kim Gard. I need a wheel to hang on to at the end.

[4827north]

Marcus, thanks for the race report. Great to hear you stuck it out... those masters racers are a pretty fast bunch. Congratulations to Barry. I was just chatting with him (he's lives next door). He had a great race on his new Madone! A bronze medal, and no opened flesh. Takes courage to dust of the race legs and get back out there after a nasty crash like Barry had earlier this year. Way to go, Barry. Marcus, you're tempting me to give Cherry Pt a go, however, I think my race season is starting next Wednesday with the first Cross race of the season.

[Barry McKee]

6 weeks ago I crashed out in a race in Courtenay. At the time I didn't know if I would be able to race anymore this year. Yesterday I had my best showing of the Masters season in, to be honest, a shorter field than normal. I'll take the 3rd place in my age group but my goal is still to finish with the pack, which I did not do yesterday. The course was very hilly, which in a way played to my strength. Unfortunately, Rhonda, Bill, Ray and Duane were stronger and pulled away from me on the first big hill. I went solo for 1 hour until I finished the race. I did manage to stay away from a trio of riders who were working together and saw me once but were unable to catch me. That felt good as did having a compact crank for this particularly hilly route. My time was 1:51 over 63km. This put me in the middle of the overall placing, 14th. It was great to ride with Marcus. As Marcus mentioned, next weekend is the final race of the season. There is a terrific wind-up dinner after the race. I am told that there was a cash bar last year. Hopefully the Masters website will be up soon and the details will be posted. (Duane or Dave if you read this maybe you can comment?) It would be great to see more TSC members out for the final race.

Barry

[Josh.E]

Nice work guys.

[shawnc]

Reading these Masters race reports gives me a lot to look forward to when I get older (only six more years until I turn 30!). In the meantime, how come we don't have more sanctioned road races on the Island for people under 30?

[Duane]

Info on Cherry point race can be found at:

http://duanebc.com/raceresults.html

click on info here for banquet information