Tripleshot Cycling

Well, that was interesting. Not as bad as I had expected given what people had said before hand, but difficult. I was initially registered in C, but then they got combined because of numbers. I got dropped ~1.5 laps in, and entered this strange limbo in between groups, caught a fair number of people, and got caught by even more. I had fun, I think I finished about 2/3rds of the way back, but really have no idea.

David

As a member of the Tripleshot Clydesdale section I found the ride very very painful but fun all the same. My legs are screaming for mercy, Tylenol, naproxen and rest! Great support from the sidelines esp. from Mike really helped.

I joined the cruelty to clydesdales, but Andrew's feathery feet were kicking my legs too. We had a little group with Duncan for a while, but both left me behind.

At the pointy end, newby first year junior Taylor Ellison was third in his second B race ever. He's not sure what happened but he had to jump across a gap at one point, which turned out to be to the front group. One guy got away on the last climb, then he lead out the rest of the climb and one other got by him. The ex-rower was heard after wondering what would happen if he put his cranks on the same way, and pushed with both legs at once.

Brenna and Jenn also rode b and finished together.

Thanks also to Mike for the encouragement. I would have whinnied my thanks if I'd had the breath...

By the way, for newer riders, tho hilly, this is the least intimidating technically of the Wednesday night circuits. Only one coned, right angle corner, and the descent actually seems longer than the climb. And despite them adding the C's to the B group, it splits up early so everyone is riding in small groups. Felt to me more like a cross race than Latoria or Caleb in terms of just doing your own thing.

prelim results are up
http://duanebc.com/raceresults2012/VCL2 ... 5_9_12.htm
Nice work with four in the top ten in the B's, great ride Taylor, Gavin and Stephan.

First, thanks to Mike L. and Andrew's brother (Dave?): Mike punched a hole in the wind for almost the entire ride to the race. The rest of us felt like we'd been delivered, ...... to the slaughter, it turned out. Andrew's brother then took us almost all the way home. Anyone record the total mileage?

Stephan and I had a plan: We were going to break away sometime after the half way point. That would allow the rest to sit in and wait for the final sprint. It all sounds kinda funny now. At one point Stephan started to initiate that plan, but by then I was hanging on. Sorry.

Let's get straight to the key figure. >32 km/hr average for the lead B's. Crazy. We were lapping dropped A's by lap 4 and lapping one another shortly thereafter. I think Mike used the word carnage to describe it from the sidelines, and there was a lot of it. >40 in the B race and >25 in the A race.

I am a little disappointed in myself: Chris Paul and I were at the back of the peloton as we hit the base of the final climb (sitting 10th and 11th I think). He let a gap open and it appeared he had decided to just make his way to the line. I followed his lead. I stopped racing before the race was over and that doesn't feel so great now. .... it felt really good at the time though. Chris still ended up passing someone on the way up and got a point, I think I ended up 11th. It's not all about points, but with the guys at the top of the B GC either absent or suffering off the back, every point would have moved me a little closer to the top.

The only time it feels like racing has actually damaged my lungs is at Newton Heights. But, I am looking forward to the next one and I won't be soft pedalling across the line then.

JT

I've got another blog post up. This one is long, rambling, and only tangentially related to Newton Heights. It even has a bad word in it, so read at your own discretion: http://blog.commonvelocipede.com/?p=119

In truth I can summarize the race report part of that post in one word: mechanical.

Another great turnout of Tripleshot riders and sideline support. I am particularly impressed with the Juniors' progress and their growing confidence and strength. Well done!
John and I had talked about a plan to try and make a break at some point, maybe 1/2 or 2/3 of the way into the race. I can't really say I rode a "smart" or tactical race, but I really pushed myself and had a blast. After a disappointing race at Windsor where I was too often at the back and subject to the accordion effect of the pack, I wanted to stay close to the front as much as possible and be proactive rather than reactive. I tried to initiate a break at one point and jumped onto some others in the 2nd half of the race. On the last lap I put in a big effort and was chasing the lead break of 4 riders. I had them in sight but wasn't quite able to close the gap. However, it was a thrill feeling the pack getting closer and closer on the last hill, but I just managed to stay ahead and not get swarmed at the line. I was in pain and could hardly breathe at the finish, but it felt great! Can't wait 'til next time!