Conference noted::bicycle

    The TDL was my first race. I raced in the 40-45 age group. Our pack was
    great. We stayed together for most of the race. We avarged 24 MPH and
    completed the race in 1:12:19 (from my clock) I was 5th and had a good
    chanch to win it. I will have to work on my sprinting. 
    
    My question is are there any more fun races around like the TDL. I want
    more more more.
    
    Wild Bill

                           -< what a great race TDL >-

Sounds like an interesting road race.  I'm curious, 

How many riders were there in the 35-39 and 40-44 age groups?

Is this a USCF race?

What is the course like?

What was the weather like Sunday?


	And finally, congratulations!

    I rode in the 35 - 39 category for the 2nd time on Sunday.  As was
    mentioned, it was perfect weather, 65 degrees, just a slight breeze
    from the south (headwind the final 13 - 14 miles).
    
    The TdL is great fun.  Good 1st time race.
     
    The citizen's race started at 8:30AM, sending age group waves out
    every 3 - 5 minutes.  It takes approx 30 or so minutes to get everyone
    off and riding. 
    
    The course is a rolling triangle heading north out of Lowell into
    New Hampshire.  It then turns to the east for a few miles on Rte
    111 (?), then south, where it meets up with the first 7 miles of
    the course, back into Lowell.
    
    No major hills, but plenty of up and down stuff.
    
    I was able to stay with my lead group until the MA/NH line, then
    somebody decided to get serious.  It wasn't long til I was hung
    out to dry.  Fortunately for me, there were a few other "imposters"
    that lasted just a bit longer.  I was able to catch them, with the
    5 of us riding together for most of the 2nd half of the race.
    
    I finished in 1:20:26, which was 5:30 ahead of last year.
    
    The organizers do a great job with the start and finish lines and
    traffic control.  
    
    There are many other races that day also, for children's age groups,
    plus a pro race at noon.
    
    I'm wondering about the course length.  I came up a bit short on
    my cateye (just under 30 miles).  Is the course closer to 29.5 -
    30??
    
    ricb

    I've done the TdeL 4 or 5 times and this was the best (even the
    T-shirts were the best). Perfect weather as has been stated in previous 
    replies. I was in the 40-45 age group (I was the one wearing the
    DIGITAL Coolmax shirt) and finished at 1:16 which was 7 minutes better 
    than last year. 
    My CatEye also says 29.* (can't remember the decimal). 
    By the way, Chip (WMOIS::C_GIROUARD) Girouard, the author of this base
    note took 3rd in the 35-39 age group. A 1:09.something. A bronze medal 
    for Chip! Congrats!

    I have done the T.D.F. 4-5 times and this was the best weather
    and shirt, plus marshalling was great; Paul Randazo (CAT #1) always
    does a good job as does Dick Ring- anouncer.
    I was in 45-54 age and didn't hang with front group; but at 10 or
    so pulled in behind 5 N.E.B.C. guys and stayed there the rest of
    the rac.
    Yes; it is about .5 short..Great day!Great race!
    Denny
    p.s. I have the Complete Lowell sun finishers/pics etc,,, if any1 wants
    a copy mail me

     Thanks for the congrats Tom... It was only my second TdL and
    the weather was great! The pack was great, well behaved and
    moved in at 24.5 avg. mph. I ended up with a 28.9 on the Cateye
    but the back of the medal says 40K. Big thrills for me. It's
    my 4th race overall and second year of getting serious at it.
    
     Our pack did scream along though. We just blew by some riders.
    It was huge to until the final hill about 2-3 miles from the finish.
    The pack was about 40 people. I think my age group (35-39) was smaller
    than lasy year.
    
     The organization, as someone pointed out, was outstanding as it was
    last year. I've also done the Kiwanis in Andover and the Hollis N.H.
    races which were pretty good. The Hollis race is a 12.5 mile circuit.
    I am looking to do a couple more this summer. Great experience and
    you meet some really nice people.
    
      Chip

    Anyone know what the first women finishers time in the 20-25 and 26-30
    age groups were?  The Lowell Sun only listed the time of the first 
    finisher overall.
    
    Thanks.
    
    Doreen

    WOMAN-A: (16-25) 1.LAURA NIRTAUT (NASH)
                     2.ROBIN WEBER   NEWBRPRT
                     3.JUDY KOSINSKI NEWTON
    WOMAN-B  (26-34) 1.JEAN CANFIELD AYER
                     2.LINDA FOGEL   BILL,
                     3.MARIE LEO     SHIR.
    WOMAN-C  (35-44) 1.CONNIE PETERSON NEWBRYPRT.
                     2.CAROLE DUPUIS  HARVARD
                     3.PAT DEITCH     CHELM
    WOMAN-D  (45&UP) 1.PAT RYAN        MEDF.
                     2.JEAN CAMERON  NUTTG LAKE
                     3.ELLEN MCCARTHY  BDGPRT CONN,.
    DATS IT FER THE LADIES DIVISIONS...
    DL

    re: .5 "I have done the T.D.F. 4-5 times and ..."
    
    Honored to meet you, Sir.  What years did you?
    
    :-)
    
    ed

    Ed,
     1987 - 8th in "E" 
     1988 - 15th in "E"
     1989 - ??    in "G"
     1990 - ?? in "G" 
    p.s. If they list 1st 500 or whatever (water bottles from foxco)
    I will let file know..
    Denny

    
            I'll echo the same thoughts here. Perfect weather, well
    organized, and the most racing courtesy I've seen (not that I'm
    that experienced now) but everybody seemed to be jockeying around
    for position, fading off riding point to allow the next pull, and
    generally giving way to other racers to avoid any mishaps all very
    smoothly. I didn't see any bumping or wheelhooking at all unlike
    other races.
             I rode in the 35-39 group, and did manage to stay towards
    the fromt of the pack for the entire race untill the series of 
    `heartbreak' hills at about mile 27-28. Then I was one of the ones
    that got `thinned out'. I finished at 1 hour 11 mins, approx a 
    minute and change after the winner. I guess I must be on Greg Lemonds
    early season training program......overweight and undertrained !
    
      Great time anyways....can't wait `till next year.....
    
                Dave
    

    re: .10 You missed the joke.  I was commenting on your saying that you
    were in the TDF rather than the TDL.
    
    :-)
    
    ed

    What about the women's finishing *times*?  I know the first overall 
    finisher was a man at 1:09+.  I'd like the times for reference.  The
    newspaper listed names but no times.
    
    Thanks.
    
    Doreen