Today was the first of the Mingo Creek road race series and I thought, why not? A 30 mile race, on rolling roads south of the city? Sure! I very nearly didn’t go, as I was a bit overwhelmed at the thought of riding there and back, but last night, a friend offered a ride, and I took it. So, after spinning up to Squirrel Hill at 7:30 AM, we were off. 45 minutes later, we pulled into a packed parking lot in Mingo Creek State Park and registered for the race. As we wandered to the registration desk, I immediately made an observation–I would likely be the only person racing on a bike equipped with bar end shifter (friction no less). The morning was sunny, but chilly, and quite windy. Robbie and I pulled our bikes from the rack, suited up, and spun off in search of a warm-up and the start line.
30 minutes or so later, the category 4/5 race was off, and promptly I was off the back (as was a rather group). I looked at the computer–30 MPH. Within about a mile, I lost touch with the main group. About mile later, a small, completely unorganized group formed and tackled the rising rollers on the first half of the course. These hills weren’t bad, but I assumed they would hurt later. After a tight right hand corner, the course began to slope downhill with another set of rollers, this time with no severe inclines. Instead, we were greeted with rather stiff headwinds, and even in a pace line, the going was hard. This section lead to another short climb, then a slightly downhill section to the start finish area. Five more laps to go.
The group stayed more or less intact on lap two, I think. We would lose a couple of riders on the first section of rollers, but they would storm back on the downhill on the back section of the course. Here I made another observation–I am not so good on the flat-ish or downhill sections. I just can’t enough a big enough gear. I was still sheltered from the wind though. Soon enough we were crossing the start/finish line.
Lap three had the group slowing a bit on the first section of rollers, and I felt pretty good so I jumped to the front and keep up the pace. A few moments later I looked back and had a decent gap on the group. Cool, I thought. This would, however, end up being Bad Decision #1. Roughly half way through the back half of the course, struggling mightily in the wind, I was caught by, and quickly left by, the group I left. I didn’t hitch on the back of the group quickly enough, and quickly they gapped me. I kept them within sight however, and managed to do this through the first half of lap four.
This is where it all went wrong for me. First, I was passed by the break and the chasers from the category 1/2/3 race. Bad decision #2 was not hitching my wagon to the chasers, at least for a bit. As we headed into the back section of the course, I saw the chasers overtake my friends, and they wisely attached themselves. A minute or two later they were out of sight. I was caught out on the last section of the course, getting blown about and feeling the bonk a-coming. By the time I started lap five, Bad Decision #3 was apparent–I didn’t eat enough, and I wasn’t carrying anything. Sugar levels plummeted, and it felt as if I was going backwards. I took a hard corner too quickly and nearly lost it, then promptly shifted my chain into my spokes on the rollers. While fixing that on the side of the road, the 4/5 pack passed me. The good news, I suppose, was that I would finish a lap down, meaning 6 fewer miles of bonked out riding. I crossed the line, found my extra bottle and jacket, sat down, and considered eating some grass.
Did I have fun? Yeah. Did it hurt? Yes, quite a bit (to borrow a phrase from Pro Mike Friedman, I was in the pain cave and I dropped my flashlight). Will I do it again? Certainly. The series at the Oval starts in a few weeks, and I could see myself riding there once or twice a month. I will remember, however, to eat more.
Posted on 30 March 2008