FLCC> Owasco Flyer 2007 Report -- Not quite as long as Ano's

[Joseph Bailey]

Don,

Really Impressive ride sunday.  I expect to see you in the A's tuesday!

Joe


>From: "Sandy and Don Fitterer" <dfitterer at twcny.rr.com>
>To: <flcc at icycle.org>
>Subject: FLCC> Owasco Flyer 2007 Report -- Not quite as long as Ano's
>Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2007 21:20:54 -0400
>
>I want to say before everything else - race director Jack Kirch, the entire 
>Tersegno family and all the volunteers involved in the Owasco Flyer put on 
>one of the most professional and enjoyable races I've ever been to. Well 
>done and thank you!
>
>
>
>  This is my first OWF and I did not really know what to expect. Two 
>hundred people racing south on Rt 38 sounded like a recipe for disaster. 
>I've been a bit hypersensitive about crashing since the BCR (Binghamton 
>Circuit Race) where I escaped personal harm but destroyed my bike and I'm 
>constantly feeling like an actor in Final Destination where the grim reaper 
>is not happy that I escaped.
>
>I decided that I would race after I received an email from Curt, one of my 
>best friends from Vermont stating that he and one of his riding partners 
>would be traveling west to race the Flyer. I had a terrible race last 
>Tuesday night and was getting tired of racing again. Curt arrived Friday 
>night and both he and I lamented about riding too fast and hard all the 
>time and not enjoying the effort required. My goal for Saturday was to ride 
>4 to 5 hours and use Sunday's Flyer as a high intensity exercise day and 
>perhaps ride the tandem with LiLynn rather than race.
>
>
>
>I met up with Bob Perry and Curt on Yellow Barn Rd at Mike Ciborowski's 
>house. We did a 30 mile mellow ride with a few town line sprints thrown in 
>for fun. Well, fun for me since I knew where they all are and the summer 
>vegetation adds a significant advantage to local knowledge. Considering all 
>the factors I made the decision late Saturday evening to race on my own and 
>do the best I could.
>
>
>
>On race day, Kate Stewart noticed that she had a cut on her front tire and 
>part of the tube was poking out. I offered her my Kyserium as long as I got 
>a cut of any prize money. Kate accepted but stated that all I'd get was a 
>appreciative hug and no cash for use of the wheel. Hugs are good.
>
>
>
>The race started precisely at 10am. Lilynn finally got her bike off her car 
>at 10:05 but with the controlled start she was able to catch back on to the 
>peloton.
>
>
>
>I rode behind Andrew Chadaeyne and Glenn for the first few miles keeping a 
>bike length plus between me and them. I noticed that both Glenn and Andrew 
>were doing the same. Unfortunately, riders were constantly squeezing into 
>the gaps and eliminating my safety zone. We had a few accordion moments 
>asthe front of the group would slow and compress us and then accelerate 
>forward without notice. Slowly, Glenn moved forward and soon we were with 
>Andy Melnychenko. I stayed with them all the way into Moravia and was right 
>behind Andy as we made the left that started our climb back to the north.
>
>
>
>Riding became a game of dodge bike as gravity challenged riders seem to fly 
>backwards as we climbed. One racer broke his chain but did a wonderful job 
>raising his arm and holding his line and preventing an accident. We hit a 
>flat spot in the hill climbing and the peloton swelled across the road. I 
>was on the right side of the road and was feeling like we finally had a 
>group of experienced riders when all of a sudden the rider two places ahead 
>of me threw on his brakes. The guy directly in front of me lost speed so 
>rapidly that I was literally in his lap, making arm, hip, and shoulder 
>contact. We both sat up off the seat in unison and allowed our contact to 
>dissipate naturally without any real effort. Mike Sobol, who had been right 
>behind me, rode up and gave me a pat on the back. "Awesome bike handling 
>skills Don! I thought for sure we were all going down." Your compliment 
>means a great deal to me Mike. Thanks.
>
>
>
>I was spit off the lead pack on the first big climb. The ten yard 
>separation was getting bigger when a younger rider rode past and said, 
>"Come on! Don't give up we can catch them!" I did what he said and caught 
>his wheel. In less than a minute I recovered enough to take my pull. Soon 
>we were six and together we made it back to leaders. I rode up next to 
>Glenn. "Fitterer! Impressive."  We had Andy M, Stevie Moto, Trevor Conner, 
>Max Taam, Don Sproull, Joe Bailey and quite a few others going up the road.
>
>My impressive riding lasted until the next big hill and I just didn't have 
>the legs to stay with the leaders. Several of us were experiencing the same 
>amount of discomfort and we formed a motivated pace line to get up the 
>road. My group had Steve Edgar and Joe B and about 4 other riders. 
>Occasionally, Joe would recover enough to charge to the front and get us 
>back up to speed. This went on to the finish with a pack of 16 riders 
>finishing together. I went to go around Steve just as he cut left. I 
>decided not to force my way past him with the little asphalt we had 
>remaining and that opened enough of a gap for two guys to shoot past me.
>
>The awards started off with a raffle that had some great prizes. The women 
>were next with both Maria KJ-Hannon, and LiLynn 2nd in their age category. 
>Charlsie Donnelly was 1st in the 18 & under. Eli Robinson was 4th in the 18 
>& under. Max Taam won the field sprint and was 2nd overall. Ryan Morris was 
>1st. Don Sproull was 4th, Trevor 5th and Glenn 7th. Marko Shenstoni was 2nd 
>in his age group. Andy M was 1st in his age group with Stuart Wolsh 2nd. 
>Doug Carlson was 3rd in his group. Oh, and I got 2nd overall woman, or at 
>least my front wheel did! And I received two hugs!!
>
>
>
>
>
>I hope everyone had as much fun as I did.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>


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