Andrew's Battenkill Race Report

Friday afternoon, Charlie, Gerald and I setoff for the self proclaimed Queen of American Classics, the Tour of the Battenkill. The weather, the atmosphere, the course, the organization, certainly made this self proclamation legit. Above all, the course was spectacular. Truly a euro classic feel to it. A lot of corners and ups and downs. Very fun to race over pavement, hard packed dirt, slightly loose dirt and gravel to very loose dirt and gravel and rocks.

My goals for the race were a) test the legs and see how the winter of training and a week in South Carolina have worked b) avoid any carnage at the first dirt section. Goal b) was accomplished flawlessly. I was fourth wheel heading under the covered bridge (traditionally, where the fireworkds start) and then second wheel onto the dirt. The fallout from this was I was left a bit gassed after the dirt. But many years of racing has taught me though that if I'm hurting early, hang on for a bit, because eventually the pace will come back down to my comfort level as the others tire.

Sure enough, at the 75km mark, we hit the last major section of dirt that was about 10k long. As we hit it, the peloton just exploded and many were going backwards and I was going forwards fast with nobody taking up the implied offer of a lift forward. Eventually I was in a group of 8 including local Ottawa Tall Tree rider, Matt Surch. I was happy to be riding with him but he looked to be fading. I offered some words of encouragement and he perked up a bit. As we crested the last sharp pitch before the descent to the finish, I just couldn't hold the wheels and came home solo.

Turns out the group I had been in was racing for 15th. Sh*t. I ended up 23rd and lost no positions on the descent and run into the finish. Given my non-sprinting prowess, I'd wager I would've got the same result had I buried myself deeper to hang on to the group. Ultimately as I stood at the car spent, I realized goal a) was achieved.

Charlie looked amazing the whole race until he flatted just before the 75k mark. Gerald and new teammate Adam "Fitzy" Fitzsimmons both lost contact with the group early in the race and ended up in a group for the duration.

Hell of the North...well it's in Southern Ontario, but whatever, it was hard as hell

"Raced" in the Hell of the North on Sunday. Wasn't all that much of a race for me really. Just an excuse to hammer myself to an excessive degree, and to get an "event" in the legs before Battenkill this coming weekend. It was a pretty awesome road trip. First time Janine and I did the typical race weekend. We have done big trips like BC Bike Race, and the Sea-to-Sky Gran Fondo, but those aren't so typical. So it was cool to just be throwing the bikes in a car and bootin off to a race. Hadn't been planning to do this one, but Janine signed up for the "Heck" of the North, which pretty much means I have to sign up as well. During our March eating, er, I mean training camp, one of our partners in crime, Tanya, brought the Hell of the North to Janine's attention, and as she usually does during fun times and fresh legs, basically signed up immediately! I am quite stoked that she did and dragged me along as it was a cool event to kick off the year with. Partly because of its low-key atmosphere, and partly because it is so hard (damn that interminable gravel rail trail!!!) that it is unlikely I will do a race this year as hard as this one. So, smooth sailing from here...well probably not. But it was a good ride to force me to HTFU.

Mind you, our race day was almost cut very short, as I had put our bikes in my Dad's bike shop the night before, so the bikes could have more room to get a good nights rest. However, my folks left super early that morning for a sunrise service, and so with the shop all locked up, I was scrambling through random keys left around the house at the front and back doors of the bike shop testing keys one-by-one. Having gone through all the keys on the front doors, I resorted to the back door. Getting to the last few keys and finally, "click", the lock gave way and I could get to the bikes through the back door. OK, Go Time!

Into the house, and J9 is totally relaxed, finger picking at her cereal, completely content with signing up for, and completely failing to start another event. Not this time!!! Coffee made, car loaded up, and our faith (mis)placed in the GPS, we were off. In the end, got to the race with plenty of time to spare. Then the race began to get through the sign-up line the fastest, as Janine and I both made a couple laps through it as we failed to bring ALL the necessary forms and waivers the first couple times. OK, sign up done. BAM.

Ok, my "race" report will be short. On the start line: familiar faces, usual instructions, good jokes. Off the start line: neutral start. Post neutral: hammer time, attacks from the get go (what's the rush!!??), gravel hell, survived in the front group to the first trail section. Each trail section: I would lose ground and come out with a new group. Road sections: I would hammer for training, which I would pay for later. Really really cool twisty turny road section through a town by the water, with a steep little climb outta town. Crazy long gravel rail trail section. Hill after hell after hill during the last third. Survived the finale with some help from a comrade, who was having a rough time on the steep hills due to some sore ribs from a recent crash. Got to the finish line. Shared a handshake with comrade.

Post race: Got to the car. Complained about how tired I was. Listened to how happy Janine was with her ride. Changed out of kit. Picture time to get evidence of how gross I am after racing. Inhaled some chili provided by the race (Thanks!!!). Chatted with Sam Watson (he's got some awesome racing stories). Complained some more. Ate some more chili. Blamed Tanya for how tired I was. Got in the car. Slept. Ate. Slept. Ate. Slept. Solid race day.

Thanks to Real Deal Racing and LaBicicletta for putting on this event! And if you got your own story and/or pictures from hell, send 'em along and I'll post them: charlie@nine2fivepro.com.

Oh, and slowdad.com has a good race report from hell as well: http://www.slowdad.com/

[caption id="attachment_150" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Crusty salt face after Hell of the North"][/caption]

First Race of the Year: OBC Good Friday Time Trial

Grahame P, Charlie, and Janine got out for their first race of the year. The Ottawa Bicycle Club once again hosted their Good Friday Time Trial. Bright sun, but a cold brisk wind greeted those brave enough to take to the start. Check out the vid to hear the gang's impressions of their efforts. Video coming soon...