FLCC> Words versus Action - Tuesday B's

[Mark Rishniw]

First lap with the A's.  Nothing to write home about (sitting on 
Hanlon's wheel up over the Coddington climb, when he suddenly lets a 
30yd gap open up and I'm left chasing a fast-receding pack).  Second 
lap with the B's.  Robbie Hanlon and I decided to ride off the front 
for a bit, and suddenly Garret and some others came up wanting to 
race.  So it started.  Rotations in the pack continued until the bump 
on Whitechurch near Ridgeway Rd, where I stood and hammered.  Alex 
Tamm was the only one who followed my wheel and we got a good gap 
which was closed down just before the final descent on Whitechurch 
(allowing me to get some breath back before the turn).  At this point 
my glasses were so fogged I could barely see Ernie's safety orange 
rain jacket in front of me.  I was riding by sound alone.  At the 
turn, I slowed down to an almost stop (marco Shenstoni and I were 
last wheels), and I took off my glasses.  Now, for those who don't 
know, I'm legally blind without my prescription goggles.  But I could 
see better than during the descent, because there was suddenly no fog 
to look through.  At least with naked eyes I can see shades of light, 
and blurs of color.  And besides, I can always smell the rubber of 2 
rubbing tires if I get too close...

I worked hard to catch the pack going up Coddington, got into a 
second bunch with Jason and 3 other riders and bridged back up to the 
front bunch by the time we hit Ridgeway Rd, with Jason doing some 
investigating of the gravel shoulder for a moment (good save, 
Jason!).  After resting up along the flat and last wheel (bar Ernie) 
through the dip, I attacked about 2/3 of the way up the last 
rise.  Dave Heck grabbed my wheel and we gapped the pack by a few 
yards.  Head buried, I was pulling at 22-23 mph along the false flat, 
hoping to give Dave enough of a gap that he could take the 
win.  Suddenly the Ernesto Express came through, towing about 8 
riders.  Dave jumped onto the caboose of the express, while I sat 
up.  I didn't win, but I felt like we at least animated the race.

Twinkie.


>Actions
>At the start of the race we all still stayed on the road. Luckily, 
>we had no cars drive up behind us. Glenn led out the A's and I 
>decided to enjoy myself in the B's. Ernie decided that he was fried 
>and wanted an "easier" pace. I planned to do my best to make him 
>work. We took off and I noticed that Sara B's friend John was in our 
>group and looking strong. John picked up the pace rather quickly and 
>I hoped that everyone made it around the corner. Other people had 
>also heeded Glenn's words and we had several good attacks right from 
>the start. ARIDK and I had a good attack but the group caught us 
>easily. I stopped pedaling and allowed 4 to 5 riders to go ahead. 
>Immediately the group responded and rode them down. Whenever I 
>recovered I attacked again. I happened to be at the front when we 
>made the turn onto Coddington. I grazed the yellow line, slowed, 
>looked left and yelled clear. I rode at 15mph up the hill until I 
>heard someone yell "Packs through!" and then I cranked up the speed 
>to 21mph. There were several riders able to hold this pace and soon 
>I was passed. At the top of the hill we regrouped and started to 
>bunch up again. At this point Cracker Jack was ahead of me and to my 
>right. I thought I was in good position until Marko made an attack 
>on my left. I saw Jack look left then move hard left. Jack is not 
>know for his acceleration and as he stood to follow Marko his bike 
>slowed and bam, contact was made with my front wheel. I stood and 
>kept weight on my bars and pushed my front wheel hard against his 
>rear. Your first reaction is to move your wheel away from the 
>contact. Usually this will cause the bike to tip and down you go! 
>The trick is to maintain pressure and stop pedaling while the person 
>in front continues to pedal. Jack and I were rubbing long enough for 
>me to unclip and start dragging my right foot hoping to stay 
>upright. I had too much pressure on Jack's wheel so that when we 
>released I went right and off the road. I kept upright and let 
>everyone go by and then moved back onto the road. Ernie was the last 
>one by and asked "What the hell you doing in the dirt!" No harm, no 
>foul. It was my fault for being too close to Jack's rear wheel. I 
>have now recalibrated my safe distance measurement.
>
>As we neared the final uphill to the race the rain started and I 
>could see Ernie starting to work his way through on the right side. 
>I stayed on his wheel and only had to ask "The Animal" for 
>permission to continue by. Ernie never really attacked, he just kept 
>the pace really,really hard. I kept expecting someone to ride by us 
>but then I noticed that I was having difficulty staying on his 
>wheel. No way!! I'm working 30% less than he is by drafting I can do 
>this! My can do attitude lasted until my arms started to go rubbery. 
>I was having a difficult time keeping my front wheel from wobbling. 
>I wasn't in any pain it was just like all my blood and energy was 
>going to my legs and I was losing control of my arms. I reached into 
>my suitcase of courage (courtesy of Phil Ligget) but a gap opened up 
>well before the finish. Pretty soon a young RIDK with a red polka 
>dot jersey rode up on my left. I maintained my pace and expected him 
>to ride by me. He looked at me and I looked at him and our position 
>stayed the same. We rode less than a minute side by side and all of 
>a sudden he said, "That's it! I'm done." I finished about 30 yards 
>behind Ernie and considered it a good race.
>
>The Animal said that she was done and heading to the parking lot. I 
>decided to keep here company since the rain wasn't much fun to race 
>in and I needed to get home. Kelly said that she tried to be 
>aggressive but ended up sitting in because of the pace. I bet others 
>were saying the same thing. It's tough to attack and then stay on, 
>but the more you try it the better you'll get at it. It won't be 
>long before we'll have trouble keeping up with her.
>
>I hope others will write and let us know if they thought this 
>Tuesday was safer. From my point of view things were better.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Don
>
>
>
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