Some scribblins, at last

San Ardo RR, Saturday 16th August, 2008

Team Mate - Bill Brier II

Race Category Masters 45+ all Category, 63 miles.

I had decided well before the race weekend that i would travel down to King City and stay there on Friday night. And I was mighty glad that i did, because I do not think I would have heaved my self out of bed at 3:30 AM on Saturday morning to drive down. I booked a room in a Motel 6 which was fine if a little noisy, I should have asked for a room away from the freeway.

Went to the local diner for brekkie and had some pancakes coffee and toast and then drove the 15 minutes to San Ardo where i hooked up with Bill and found Damaral. I did not even see TimB, but we all know he was there. I saw LaLa before the race and she offered to supply water at the feed.

Lap one
Lots of small probing attacks, varied assailants from Team VOS, Action Sports, AV and Morgan Spinly, who had nine riders. The initial rollers where easily taken care of and about 1/3 thru the first lap a rider from a team called "Cynergy", not to be confused with Team Synergy went off the front and really wellied it. He was in sight for the next 1/3 lap but was soon way off the front and outta sight. Probing attacks continued and from my position in the top 10 I was able to cover some. One group looked decidedly good with representatives from all major outfits making a split, and i bridged up, but it soon became apparent that the VOS team where not willing to work, and it disintegrated.

Lap 2
Thru the feed zone and I grab a bottle successfully from LaLa. i don't really need the water as i am carrying a spare bottle in the back pocket plus two on the bike, but i do need the practice getting feeds and it was encouraging to hear Lala bellow approval of a successful hand up. More probing attacks over the rollers for the next 6 or so miles and then we roll around to the right, bisect the freeway and cross the bridge over the Salinas River and make the next right at San Lucas and head south on Cattleman Road. The pack rides tempo over the little hill and then about 1 mile later Steve Gregorius of Morgan Spinley, who has been absent from the front for some time blasts past on the left. Chris Black, also MS, goes right and 5 others make a break away. So we have Cynergy guy leading, Steve G, Chris B, an AV rider, a Berzerkly, a team VOS plus a couple others (maybe another MS rider) making a go of it. I am too far back and miss the move. Dang, is that the race riding away. Suddenly all the MS riders are missing, except for a couple who jump on any attempts for further break aways. The escapees ride hard for 2-3 miles to get a gap and then eventually a chase starts. I get integrated into the rotation and we are hauling ass, maybe 27-28 at times, never below 25 and 6-7 of us are keeping the bunch strung out. We chase for about 20 minutes, which brings us back into San Ardo where we catch not the break but a group of P/1/2 's who have been dropped. Heck, i thought we had them. Over the bridge and thru the feed zone for the last time, no water required for this next lap.

Lap 3
The AV rider in the break has popped and I mention to Bob Parker that now his team of 4 or 5 had better start to ride. The pack pace stays solid but not crazy and we finally make the catch of the disintegrating break after they have had 25 miles of freedom. Chris Black and Stevie G of MS have worked the break over and have now fled, hoping to maintain their advantage.The Cynergy dude is still ansy though and makes several attempts to go again, but he is toast. On the way back to town on Cattleman, with about 10 miles to go the field splits and i have to make a big 2 minute 30 mph effort to make the bridge, only to find that the second half are on my wheel and we all come back together again. Hostilities come to an end and it seems as if the peloton has decided that we are sprinting for 3rd place down. Thru town and i shed my spare bidon, making the local kids happy. It is not fast but i know the pace will quicken. I have previously identified to Bill Mark Caldwell of MS as the wheel to follow. I personally will use Bob Parker as my lead out. Going over the bridge for the last time jostling starts and i have to make a big move to follow Bob down the left. What the hell is he doing....he ramps it up with a mile to go. And then i see the motivation, the two breakaways are within sight and we are sure to make the catch. They are passed as we go under the freeway and i have lost position because Bob Parker completely fazed me with his move. Langley comes screaming up the right, going 5 mph faster than anyone else, but without Bill on his wheel. Into the finish straight, the rested members of Morgan Stanley hit the front en masse, with Langley leading in Desuibio, Fessenden and Caldwell. MS get the top 4, sheeeet. I make an extra effort after LaLa screams at me and i think i finish with a top 15, hopefully.

The epilogue

Great race, really enjoyed the constant attacking and tactical changes. Bill was fun to ride with, he seemed to be cruzin all day.

See you all on the road
Gaz