Cantua Creek Race Report

Sat Feb 18, 2006; Cantua Creek RR (By the way, where was the creek?)
Masters 35+ 4/5 field size 53
EMC/Vellum Racers (10): Krag, Richard, Dave, Bob, Larry, Steve, John, Xeno, Adam, Paul T

Well, in the end it was Bob Raymond for 7th place. EMC Sportie season so far: Three races - three top ten Finishes. The uphill finish stung twice as it was an out n back times two. Thanks to Richard's late night espresso buzz, we were prepared with the facts on the climbs... but were we prepared? I enjoyed less pressured climbs of the triple stair case because this week was my turn to flat at 15 miles. Felt good, was in the process of joining an Easton rider in the jump across a mighty gap to a group of 10-12 that included Adam and Richard - I only knew Richard was there, if I knew he had company I might have just watched the others jump for a while. Anyway, back to the flat - after one of the most miserable flat changes, it took 12 minutes to get rolling again and only with about 30 psi in the front thanks to a CVC rider already well OTB - he was the guy with the job of going OTF around 5 miles into the race. I rode back to the start with him (where he bailed) and we had caught back to the women's group right at the uphill. Not willing to take a DNF, I ran down a floor pump, got back to 120 psi and shot down the hill hoping to catch the women again to insist that Shari and Shaun to stop doing all the work. But alas, I never overcame the 4 minutes they had on me - though I tried, and did get close enough for a visual of their finish. I did catch about 3 guys from our race so not only did I finish, I avoided the DFL spot and ended up wit a good day of training. That's most of what I experienced - it was great day with a rather brisk start (38 FUheit?) and as a team we again rode aggressively, getting in some breaks, chasing others down, keeping tempo high and generally staying in the race. But it was San Jose BC waiting and watching EMC/V and CVC manage the 53 man peloton which was whittled by the end, but I'll let someone who was 'there' to report more on the last 33 miles of the race. San Jose 1-2ed us, plus put a couple others in the top 10. No CVC made the top ten and they had about as many as we did; WebCor had nobody and plenty OTB. Paul T had a nice debut on EMC/V with an almost never ending solo breakaway a ways before the turnaround. Nice to finally race with Larry and to see he's fit to work the scene – he also had some OTF with one other rider. JC, Vick, power mongers. Dave - I'll let you give your painful experience as you see fit, but clearly the sick time took it's toll. Overall, fine - we just need the right race or combination of others racers in the field to make a break stick and/or pop the podium in the pack sprint. Next week is another race.
Today RacerX learned:
1. Time to invest in CO2 cartridge technology.
2. The Lance Effect means a lot of fit old dudes like us hungry to race in February. I wonder that July will bring?!?
3. I'm still not even close to being a fake climber.
4. None of the Velo Promo race vehicles are carrying a floor pump.