FLCC> Owasco Flyer

[Steve Edgar]

The Owasco Flyer started with a record 230 riders.  It also had the  
most top end and depth ever.  As in previous years, there was a long  
distribution of rider fitness and skill, from fast racer to modest  
tourer.

With this in mind, I decided to start near the back and watch, for  
the art value.  Seeing a field of this size and composition, 4 wide,  
going 28-32 mph around the gentle curves of the first 5K, with riders  
flying off the back, was quite a view.  The front must have been 100  
meters in front of me.

Note that if you are looking for a good result, I do not recommend  
this :).  Such a field is at high risk for major crashes, and if it  
splits, you will not be able to bridge.

Until Moravia, I was not looking to get near the front, just not get  
dropped.  That meant passing folks coming off the back due to the  
relatively high speeds from the fast guys at the front.  Once we got  
past the rollers on the West side of the lake, the field stayed in  
tact until Moravia.

One mile outside of Moravia I pass some 120 bikes and slot into about  
10th place.  I ride position am okay up the first grade, making the  
first group.  After a while on the ridge, I start to struggle and  
drift back.  More folks have gotten on and we have a field about 40.

We take the big right turn and do more climbing.  This is the crunch  
point of the race.  The field comes apart.  I am not nearly strong  
enough to ride with the front group.  It is second group or bust.  In  
the remaining rolling miles, we pull in a few folks, and some more  
get on from behind.

We approach the finish with a group of 14, going for 19th place.  A  
14 rider sprint means timing and traffic are key.  The road can  
quickly become blocked as riders move.  I start at about the center  
of the road and move left to pass several riders.  I have clear  
pavement.  I get 25th place.

I really enjoyed the event.  From Moravia on, the racing was quite  
good; fast, fun and challenging.  The organization was tops.

I do think the race has grown too big for an "everyone starts at  
once" format.  I did not see any crashes, but the risk was high until  
we hit the rollers on the West side of the lake.  Perhaps a 2  
category (A and B race) format would work for the future.

Good to see Dave Heck and Tim Carlson riding so well.  For me, the  
revelation of the race was Don Fitterer, who showed good power to  
make our group and turn in a solid finish.  Will we be seeing him in  
the A group on Tuesday Nights from now on?

And man... Max Taam strong.  He spanked some very good riders to take  
second place.  Great to see some youth a blazin'.

-- Steve.