Lodi: the Branch and the Log (aka Double Trouble)
by Chris
My story begins at 6 am on Saturday as I roll out of bed and begin getting ready for the Poolesville Road Race, a mere appetizer for the 12 Hours of Lodi Farm. The good thing about having two events in a row is that I was more focused on just completing them than worried about results. I probably wouldn’t have considered doing both races if Joel Gwadz hadn’t planted the seed at a particularly debauched team meeting. Evan Ellicott and Eric Welp apparently suffered from the same poor judgment as I because they readily agreed to take part in this hair-brained scheme. Like many an ill-considered adventure, it sounded like a good idea at the time.
I picked up Eric Welp, made the obligatory stop at Starbucks, and soon we were cruising. My 42.5 mile race in the 40+ age group consisted of long stretches of boredom punctuated by a few moments of terror as folks stacked it entering the 1.5 mile gravel section and otherwise demonstrated an inability to ride straight. Attrition, primarilly through flats, slimmed my field from 75 to about 40. I got separated from the field briefly on the last lap as some bonehead who couldn’t negotiate the transition from pavement to gravel dropped his bike sideways blocking most of the road. I managed to push my way around the carnage using one foot. After that, it was pretty easy to chase back on the gravel and resume my customary position at the back of the field where I can crack jokes and eat bon-bons without endangering my fellow riders.
A three man break had gone away on lap two with riders from three of the four main teams, including Bill Luecke from my adopted road team, NCVC. Despite having a gazillion riders in the race, Coppi’s failed to mount a decent chase and seemed content to simply attack each other. DCVelo, LSV and the other NCVC riders pretty much snuffed every attempt to bridge so the break stayed away with Luecke winning the sprint for his second Poolesville victory. That’s got to feel good.
Meanwhile back in the pack, I’m feeling pretty fresh because I haven’t done a lick of work in the race and move forward in the group as we near the finish. Fortunately for me, the race really winds up in the last few kilometers which strings it out enough that I can move into about eighth wheel hitting the last turn. I give it full throttle into the turn and hear that horrible sound of metal on pavement behind me and to my left. No time to look back and see what happened. In front, a small train of LSV riders are leading out the sprint followed by an NCVC teammate, a DCVelo rider, and a few others who I can’t recall clearly. They have put a small gap between us but I close it without too much problem and use my momentum to pull into third spot. I’m forced to slow a bit as I get squeezed to the right edge of the road by the front two LSV riders. I see a sign. Two hundered meters to go. Ugh, I hope I don’t fade. Giving it one last desparate surge, I pass the second LSV rider and draw nearly even with the leader but he remains about half a wheel ahead at the line. I’m second in the field sprint and fifth in the race. Not too shabby for a part time roadie who is foolish enough to sit at the back most of the time. I had 23.6 mph average for the race but it really didn’t seem very fast, at least from where I sat. I’m guessing the guys in the break had a different sort of experience.
Eric and Evan were much more active in the Cat 4/5 race. Evan took a twenty mile (!!) solo flier but was caught about a mile from the line. Eric covered numerous attacks serving as Evan’s army of one in the group. They both finished in the main group with Evan about 12th and Eric about 20th. Race number one was in the bag.
Elation gives way to exhaustion as I pack for Lodi. Shaking it off for the time being, I get rolling and arrive around 6 pm at the farm. Camping spots are limited but I find an allegedly poison ivy infested area that others have shunned. Park the car over where the ivy seems most prevalent, pitch the tent on the other side, chat with fellow CityBikers, and wait for Eric and Evan. After they arrive and we register, I try to sleep before the race starts and manage to get a few hours rest. I awake to the false countdown (“Riders do not move!”) and subsequent Lemans-style stampede. I’m confused as the stampede returns a few minutes later and then realize that Evan has to run more than he bargained for. Major bummer. I’m feeling a little low but dress and wait for Evan to finish his two laps. Evan has some mechanical troubles on his first lap but gets faster on the second. I start my laps and immediately begin passing folks, even though I feel like I was taking it easy at first. I accidently unplug my handlebar light but have no problems navigating with the helmet lamp so I just leave it unplugged. Most of this lap is a blur but I am pleased to hear that I finish it in 57 minutes. The next lap is a bit easier because I know what to expect. I have few problems until around two miles to go, just past the whoop-de-dos, when I come into a dropping left turn a little too hot, overbreak with the hydrolics, and fly headfirst over the handlebars into a log. Big crack. It was one of those moments where you think “oh, snap, I’ve done it now.” I split my helmet in two but was unhurt and, amazingly, I didn’t even lose my light. So I jump back on the bike, pretend the accident never happened, and finish lap two in 55 minutes. Sweet.
Back at camp, I pound some ibuprofen, try to eat with only marginal success, and get out of my nasty riding gear. I spend the next couple of hours in a miserable damp state between sleep and conciousness. My feet won’t warm up and everything feels cold and wet. In short, I feel pretty sorry for myself.
Eric, like many others, had an encounter with the Branch on his first lap. He smashed his helmet light and had to depend on the kindness of strangers to get around the rest of the course. We lost some pretty significant time but, other than this kerfuffle, we had a clean run so we can’t really complain. Eric rode well his second lap and Evan began to show his stuff on his next lap.
I rode my hardtail on my first daylight lap, turning it in 54 minutes. I must say that I am totally sold on full suspension bikes and hydrolic breaks now. Even though the hardtail was adequate, I had a much better time riding the Titus. In fact, my last lap on the Titus was done in 53 minutes. With increasing fatigue, growing course familiarity and the last lap effect pulling in different directions, I can’t say objectively which bike was faster but I know for sure which was more fun to ride. Titus all the way.
Eric rides a fast last lap which forces Evan to go out for his fifth lap. He blazes it in an amazing 51 minutes and we finish with 13 laps in third place out of five expert teams. The other two expert teams finished about 20 minutes ahead of us and we never really challenged them. Overall, I am pleased with our result and really enjoyed the event, at least when I wasn’t feeling ill or shivering in my tent. Congratulations to the other DCMTB/CityBikes riders who competed, even you uppity sport-class riders who insolently whipped us good. DCMTB/CityBikers were a real presence at the race and our team results were impressive. Mad props to Eric and Evan for being great teammates and for bringing the beer!
- Posted in : 2006 Race Reports
- Author : Chris Clarke
Comments»
That posion ivy is confirmed. I gotta nice little patch on my figures and toes.
Way to ride brother… you were the MVP no question!
Atta Be!!!!!!
[…] Well you got the jist from Eric’s and Chris’s reports. Attacked, decided to stick it out - a move that was a lap too early and proved fruitless. Lesson learned. Sat up, but when two riders bridged decided to stuff myself back into the hurt locker. Things were looking good, especially since one of my break companions was NCVC and there were 12 more back in the pack, presumably working for him. When he flatted, the game was up. My other break partner just had more energy and pulled away slowly after the dirt section. In hindsight I should have buried myself and stayed on his wheel….because he won. Still pisses me off. Oh well. That’s racing - lesson learned. Thanks to Eric and Judd for helping launch me and suffering to keep me away - for whatever it was worth - at least the majority of other roadies think were f*ing crazy - especially with the Lodi double up… […]