| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 2060.1 | mass start? | RUSTIE::NALE | Sue Nale Mildrum | Wed Sep 18 1991 17:01 | 6 |
|
Do all the citizens start in a pack? i.e. all age groups and
men with the women?
Thanks
Sue
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| 2060.2 | YES & NO | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Thu Sep 19 1991 07:29 | 18 |
| Hi Sue. All citizens do not start together. It's arranged by age
group and gender. e.g. senior men, junior men, veterans, masters,
women (not in this order). The start times are staggered.
I'm not familiar with this year's course. The one used for the last
few years wasn't bad at all. One big hill on the north side, but beyond
that it was rolling. Most of the area is rolling. Nice race though.
My only complaint... The finish line is extremely narrow (maybe enough
for 4 bikes across to sprint safely non-suicidely)
Are you going?
BTW, mass start simply means entire groups go off at the same time
versus the usual time trial practice of one person every few minutes.
Chip
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| 2060.3 | Still wavering... | RUSTIE::NALE | Sue Nale Mildrum | Thu Sep 19 1991 14:01 | 15 |
|
Well, I'm still not sure if I'll be going. Taking three weeks off
from riding for my wedding/honeymoon didn't help!! Neither did all
the pina coladas I drank in my time off!
A couple people described last years course to me (in fact, they're
going to take me on it this Saturday), but they didn't exactly say
it was "rolling" hills. More like "lots of big" hills. Sounded a
little intimidating, so I've been wavering on whether I'm ready to
race it.
Are there usually many women racers? Do the cat3 and 4 race with
the citizens?
Sue
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| 2060.4 | THEY'RE FUNNIN' YA | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Fri Sep 20 1991 07:56 | 15 |
| This race is for citizens only. Yes, there are generally quite a few
women who do the it.
BTW, congratulations on the new marital status (good luck) and my
sympathy for letting it interfere with you cycling (just kidding).
I guess hilly/rolling is relative. I just did Mt. Washington last
week so nothing will probably appear hilly to me for a while.
This is a typical citizens race with a typical field. All levels,
shapes, and sizes...
What the heck (NIKE: "Just do it!")
Chip
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| 2060.5 | Shapes/Sizes/Ages | NOVA::HORN | Steve Horn, Database Systems | Fri Sep 20 1991 11:22 | 8 |
|
We were thinking of entering the citizens race together...our little
NUO Cycling Club...that's why we were interesting in how they broke
people down...since we're various shapes/sizes/ages!! Too bad, Sue's
new husband and I would have made good 'lackies' for Sue!!!
-Steve
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| 2060.6 | USCF races too | RUSTIE::NALE | Sue Nale Mildrum | Fri Sep 20 1991 13:36 | 17 |
|
Steve: "good lackies" ha!! You'd blow me away.
Chip: The hand out I got for this year's race says:
30 Mile Citizen's Bike Race
or
52 Mile USCF Senior Cat 3 and
41 Mile USCF Senior Cat 4
(All races to use USCF District 13 Championship Course)
* $250 case prizes per USCF cat (top 5 places)
If any cat3 or 4 women show up, I'd assume they'd be racing the
52 and 41 mile races respectively. But I'm not sure.
Sue
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| 2060.7 | NOT TO WORRY... | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Mon Sep 23 1991 07:42 | 9 |
| They wouldn't mix the CAT's with the citizens. Gee, I don't remember
the past two years with CAT riders in Hollis.
Anyone else?
Like I said, this will be a typical citizens race. I am curious about
the course though...
Chip
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| 2060.8 | The USCF will not allow mixed events | AD::CRANE | I'd rather be on my bicycle | Mon Sep 23 1991 09:59 | 8 |
|
The USCF will not allow Licensed racers to race in anything other
than USCF snactioned events. Since Public racers are not allowed into
USCF Sanctioned events they will not mix the fields.
John C.
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| 2060.9 | Will anyone else be there? | RUSTIE::NALE | Sue Nale Mildrum | Thu Sep 26 1991 11:13 | 22 |
|
Well, I rode the course a couple of times (on two different days).
If it's the same as last year's, it's a loop of ~ 11 miles which
you do 2.5 times. The finish is partway up a hill. Chip, like
you said, it's mostly rolling until just before the finish when
a couple of pretty big hills start. Well, maybe they're not
pretty big to someone who just cranked up Mt. Washington! But
they're pretty big to me.
Seeing as how Mark (new hubby) really wants to do this race, and
I hate waiting on the sidelines (I'm determined not to be a bike
widow) I guess I'll go ahead and enter it. I figure the worst
thing that could happen is I bow out after 1 lap and slink back
to my car. %^)
I still don't know how they do the start tho, this is my first RR.
They don't wait for one group to finish before the next starts
do they? That could take a while. Do they just wait X minutes
between starts? Gotta make sure I properly time my Power Bar
consumption, you know!
Sue
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| 2060.10 | STAGGERRED | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Thu Sep 26 1991 11:33 | 3 |
| THE DO STAGGERED STARTS...
CHIP
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| 2060.11 | | MOVIES::WIDDOWSON | Rod, VMSE-ED013. 824-3391 | Thu Sep 26 1991 12:15 | 1 |
| Hey, good luck sue....
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| 2060.12 | Don't quit! | CTHQ3::JENIN::FRERE | Ellas Danzan Solas | Thu Sep 26 1991 15:52 | 9 |
| Hey Sue,
Good luck. Don't despair and try to finish. No matter how far behind that you
are, it always feel better to finish then drop out. Just hang onto somebody's
wheel and shake the butterflies.
Eric
P.S. Remember, it's your first race.
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| 2060.13 | | SHALOT::ELLIS | John Lee Ellis - assembly required | Thu Sep 26 1991 16:04 | 2 |
|
Eric's right ... and good luck, Sue.
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| 2060.14 | ANOTHER ONE... | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Fri Sep 27 1991 07:12 | 5 |
| I'll third that... Good Luck Sue!
Chip
P.S. Trust me, you'll like it!
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| 2060.15 | show some faith | AD::CRANE | I'd rather be on my bicycle | Fri Sep 27 1991 14:34 | 10 |
|
Hey Eric,
Whats makes you think she's going to get dropped?
Go get em Sue!
John C.
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| 2060.16 | Sue will NEVER drop out. | CTHQ3::JENIN::FRERE | Ellas Danzan Solas | Fri Sep 27 1991 15:19 | 9 |
| Never said that she was going to get dropped. She mentioned:
"I figure the worst thing that could happen is I bow out after 1 lap and slink
back to my car."
That is what I am hoping that she doesn't do; that she completes the whole race.
I'm sure that everybody has full confidence in her success. Looking forward to
Sue giving us her impressions...
Eric
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| 2060.17 | | AD::CRANE | I'd rather be on my bicycle | Fri Sep 27 1991 15:46 | 6 |
|
Thats better Eric ;-)
John C.
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| 2060.18 | I shoulda kept my big mouth shut | RUSTIE::NALE | Sue Nale Mildrum | Fri Sep 27 1991 15:58 | 7 |
|
Jeez! With all this encouragement, I *better* do well!
Thanks, guys. I'll give an update on Monday (maybe even
Sunday. Heck, why not Saturday night?).
Sue
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| 2060.19 | Go get 'em! | BROKE::NOVA::HORN | Steve Horn, Database Systems | Fri Sep 27 1991 16:12 | 8 |
|
Hey, Sue was plenty strong today on our ride...she'll do just fine!!
She has a good Coach you know! 8^)
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| 2060.20 | OUCH! | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Mon Sep 30 1991 08:25 | 69 |
| Well, the race from hell is over and the titanium bullet (plow)
did pretty well.
Why do I affectionately term it the "race from hell"? Here's why:
Actually, I was quite pleased with my performance (considering)...
(35 49 age group - what a spread!).
On the first lap at the dip in the hill right before the finish line
there was a tremendous crash. I don't know how some of the guys made
out. There was an ambulance on its way as I tried to bridge.
It happened near the front of the pack (about 1/3 into it). Of course,
I was somewhere in the middle. At this point the pack was still pretty
healthy - maybe 40 people...
Anyway, I don't know what caused it, but we were hammering at least
25mph when it happened. There were bodies and machines flying and
bouncing all over the place. This crash cut about 12-15 riders away
from the main pack. I remember say "oh sh*t" to myself as I watched
them climb away on the hill.
At the same time, I had more important things on my mind. That was
dodging bodies and bicycles and waiting to get rear-ended. As soon I
saw the stuff start to fly I immediately got on the brakes (hoping
that no one was crawling up my butt or laping my wheel).
I effectively dodged everything until I got to the front of the crash.
There, in the front of me and unavoidable, where two bikes in my path.
I started slowing, but as I saw the pack getting away I just (I was
having the "panic dismount" syndrome (couldn't get out of my pedal).
started hammering. I literally "plowed through" one bicycle and rode
over the front wheel of the other. Amazingly (why I referred to my
bike as the titanium bullet) I got through. At that moment I was
saying "no way in hell" am I going to get through this.
After about three miles of total hammering I caught the lead pack.
I was amazed at this. I was able to stay with them until one of the
hills where I was dropped - my legs and lungs were toast. But, you
guessed it, I bridged the gap again and caught them. I wouldn't really
understand what the price was exacted on me until later. But at the
moment I really didn't care. I was back with the lead pack after
pounding between 25-28mph on the flats and better on the downhills.
Well, I was back. I even pulled a while and even played a role in
chasing down a two man breakaway, STUPIDLY. Well, The lead pack was
approximately 15 poeple with only the front 7-8 guys taking turns
pulling.
On the last lap, the large hill before the intersection (Rte 130) I
found out what price I had paid. I got dropped about halfway up the
hill. I was cooked! Coughing lungs up... everything hurt. The only
thing that WAS working was my new cassette.
I seriously thought about dropping out, but my "cement-head" mentality
kicked back in. I hammered the last 7 miles or so as hard as my body
would let me. I did get to pass a couple of younger guys (small moral
victory at best).
I ended up pulling something in my right thigh, strained something in
my left knee, and irritated something in the small of my back. Boy!
Talk about self-gratification! If I couldn't come in with the lead
pack at least my body felt like it did something spectacular!
I don't know where I placed - maybe something between 15-20... This
was my last race for the year. I think I'll do some enjoyable riding
'till the snow starts...
Chip (bruised and battered but still lovin' it!)
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| 2060.21 | Why does the term animal always spring to mind? | MOVIES::WIDDOWSON | Rod, VMSE-ED013. 824-3391 | Mon Sep 30 1991 09:39 | 7 |
| Chip,
What a great race report, Just like last week I can't make up my mind
whether to be jealous, humbled, motivated or emabarrased (mostly the
last since I haven't raced *at all* this season) by it.
Well done, have a month off !
rod
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| 2060.22 | Another perspective | RUSTIE::NALE | Sue Nale Mildrum | Mon Sep 30 1991 16:56 | 59 |
|
Well, I survived "the race from hell" too. My experience wasn't as
dramatic as Chip's, i.e. I didn't run over any bike parts, but I
think it was about as painful.
They staggered the starts, as someone earlier said they would. The
last group to start was mine: "Women, and Men over 50". Interesting
category. Actually, it was 2 categories, we just started together.
I think there were around 9 or 10 women. 5 of us stayed together
for the first lap and a half. We came thru Hollis after the first
lap and started the rolling section. I was in the second position
and liking it. The front woman peeled off, and I wasn't liking it
so much anymore. I figured I'd slow down enough on the up-hill so
someone would go by and I'd catch their wheel. Well, apparently this
is a tactical error, but seeing as it was my first RR I guess I've got
an excuse. Someone didn't just "go" by, they "blew" by. And it wasn't
just one someone, it was THREE someone's. I tried to catch the last
wheel, but didn't have it in me.
After we crested the hill, I tried to push it on the flats, but
wasn't making any headway. I could see the three of them working
together, taking turns with the wind. I unfortunately didn't have
the luxury of drafting anyone. That is, until I heard a voice
behind me say, "come on! We can catch them!" Turns out another
DECcie, Gerry (did I spell that right?) whom I'd met at the Nashua
criterium was right behind me. We worked together for a while but
after several miles couldn't see the front three anymore.
We rode the entire next lap pretty much together. After going past
the school for the second time I got this excruciating pain in my
left calf. It was like one of those charlie horses that wakes you
up in the middle of the night, making you scream and grasp at your
leg. (I'm not the *only* one that's ever gotten one of those, am I?)
I thought I was going to have to quit. Every time I pedalled down
my calf would seize up and my toes would point straight down. OUCH!
I eased up for a while and tried pedalling with my heels down until
it finally went away.
A few miles before the finish we got lapped by the Category racers.
It's a pretty cool sight, 20 some-odd riders traveling together.
Not a bad view from behind, either... %^)
I drafted some guy for a bit, until Gerry warned me that might
not be legal (she was right. I had no clue.). As we approached
the finish I was in the front. There were a bunch of cars and
people along the road and I thought the finish was closer than
it was. I began to sprint, but way too soon for me. Gerry
caught me and passed me before the finish.
Overall, it was a really good race. I was happy with my finish
(I was told we came in about a minute after the winners), especially
since I haven't done a 30 mile ride for a few months. My hour-long
lunchtime rides are pretty fast, but not long enough to build up
my endurance.
I'll hopefully be back there next year, but in better shape.
Sue
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| 2060.23 | nice going | SHALOT::ELLIS | John Lee Ellis - assembly required | Mon Sep 30 1991 17:13 | 12 |
|
Well, Sue, it looks like you were far from "slinking back to your car."
Good performance! Did you know any of the other women at all? How
did you do against the over 50's?
As far as Chip goes, I'm just trying to envision a Titanium bike
plowing through one bicycle and over another's front wheel. What
a video that would make! That's the first time I've heard of pedal
panic as a reason to sprint and catch the lead group. :-)
Sounds like a darned good effort.
-john
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| 2060.24 | The famous words: "Wait 'til next year" | CTHQ3::JENIN::FRERE | Ellas Danzan Solas | Mon Sep 30 1991 17:33 | 7 |
| Sue, there, that didn't hurt, did it? We certainly learn a lot when racing...
Chip, I'm happy to hear that you have volunteer to test crash the Merlin. Next
time, do a better job of it ;-) Happy that you and the bike are alive and
earning a long-overdue rest.
Eric
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| 2060.25 | THANKS AND CONGRATS! | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Tue Oct 01 1991 13:15 | 19 |
| Congratulations Sue! The cool (actually c-o-l-d) weather didn't
help at all. Luckily I didn't cramp during the race, but when I
went to dismount my hamstring immediately tightened up... Really
much colder than last year.
Yup, the MERLIN performed splendidly (as fourwheel-drive plow)...
I would love to see it on tape too! I had some ticking from the
front wheel somewhere. It went away before the end of the race.
I checked the bike but couldn't find anything wrong. I think it
might've been my computer magnet...
The NEBC Club did very well in both the CAT and Citizens. The apples,
crackers, and apple cider were great! The medals (as always) were
very nice too...
One thing I will admit, I did have thoughts of my bike getting all
scratched and bent and I was hating life at that moment!
Chip
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