Onion River Racing

This past Saturday saw Steve Colangeli, Scott Harding, Art Roberts, and myself do battle with all the heavy-hitters at the 28th running of a northern New England classic, the Concord Crit. This years edition featured a new, ‘backwards’ direction course brought about by the recent construction of a roundabout at the exit of the former downhill. This reverse direction possibly made for even more intense racing as the new downhill section is now comprised of a very fast 180 degree sweeper which empties into a equally fast and technical left/right series of turns before a flat 250 meter long drag race to the start/finish line.
The racing and temperatures (mid-80′s, finally) in the Master 35 field were hot from the officials start whistle. After laying down the fastest(!) lap time of the day in the first 1/3 of the race -taking the punch out of many sets of legs- the breaks started going off. Art Roberts made what looked to be the smart move of the day getting in the right break with two others who had strong teammates blocking back in the pack. Unfortunately, this break didn’t stick and with five laps to go, was absorbed by the fast moving field which was preparing for a field sprint ‘royale’. With the fast downhill left/right turns ensuring a single-file line before the final sprint, I had it in my mind to position well beforehand on the backside of the course. This worked to pretty good effect as I had slotted into approximately 8th wheel prior to entering the finish straight.
The finale featured what we crit racers all love about this genre of racing: an all fanned out across the road, spun out in 53×12, 36.5 mph, Mano a Mano throw-down; dying, and then finding a little more before dying again as you cross the line type of sprint. To my chagrin, I got out-kicked by a couple guys in the last 100m or so to end up just outside the top 10 in 11th place.
Motivation to do it again next weekend, right!?

Congratulations are in order for Jean and Andrew M.’s very nice 3rd and 4th place finishes in the Cat. 4 race. Well done, guys!!

matt Uncategorized

Tough, short, tougher, wet, toughest.  So was the rhythm of life in the north country of Quebec City this last weekend. John McGill, Mark White and I headed up on Wednesday night for four days of stage racing with some of Canada’s finest, and a handful of New England’s finest as well. We had a fourth partner in crime, Adam Carr, who seemed to negotiate the high speeds and difficult course far better than John and I, and Mark was the only sane one who went to duke it out in the Masters race on Saturday. The rest of the time Mark played the critical role of feeder, driver, and master of good humor.

Stage One was a 130 km road race on the northern tip of an island centered in the St. Lawrence Seaway. Beautiful course, fairly flat and faster than I could handle. After two laps on the 32 km loop I got caught at the back during a massive tailwind acceleration and popped like a kernel of corn in hot oil, only with less fanfare. Fortunately I had a group of fellow com-pain-triots to pace with for the second half of the race, but the peloton’s speeds were so high we lost 30 MINUTES to the pack by the finish. But strongman McGill managed to survive that violent attack and stayed in for a great pack finish.

Stage Two was a 5.1 km TT along the banks of the river right next to Quebec City. I wish I could tell you something about that one but frankly it was over before anyone had time to catch their breath. Flat, with a tailwind and the fastest guy went 5:32! I knew I was in trouble when my strongest discipline got me a 68th out of 120 riders. But McGill was in hot pursuit only 3 seconds back – that new funny bike of his is treating his old-school ass pretty well I’d say.

Stage Three was a 55 km, 50 lap Crit in a city outside of the main downtown of Quebec City. The course included a steady climb and then a downhill into an off-camber single-file only corner into a long downhill into an accordion corner into a hill into a…well I guess that’s it. Things started raging instantly and after about 5 laps of pretending like I belonged with the lead pack, got slapped back into the second group. We chased, we suffered, we thinned, and after 25 laps we got run down by the lead group of about 25 and were pulled from the course for safety reasons. Definitely a happy moment when that whistle got blown. That was the moment when I realized I’m not quite ready for that level of racing.

Stage Four had me thinking differently. This was 10 laps on an 11km circuit with a 500 meter wall, a technical neighborhood stretch, some into-the-wind flats and a stepped descent with some easy tailwind rolling. And then it started raining. With semi-fresh legs after the shortened day two, I fell into a great rhythm, found a comfortable line around the course, and with McGill on my heels proceeded to ride like I actually knew what I was doing. After 10 laps we had dropped about 40 people and Adam and I were well positioned for the final climb – McGill suffered a flat a lap before. And then I droppped my chain. But by then I was so happy for having a great day I laughed my way through the mechanical and finished a satisfying 62nd. Probably the best day of racing I’ve ever had, and the only moment when I didn’t feel completely under-qualified to be there.

Stage Five confirmed that this feeling of belonging was quite temporary. 17 laps on a 5.7 km course for 100 km. Ok, not too long, people are tired so things should be slower, but we heard there was hill involved. So we pre-rode the loop to see what this climb was all about. Now all of you have experienced Lincoln Gap. This was steeper. And I don’t mean that in a “you wouldn’t believe how hard that shit was” kind of way. There was a large contingency of Vermont riders there and we agreed it was the steepest pitch most of us have ridden, and that everyone had ever raced. When I first saw the 400 meter-long hill I laughed, swerved my way up like a drunkard and then went to switch my cassette. And just to be sure I didn’t get any ideas I might actually survive the race I lined up dead freekin’ last in the group. Sure enough, when we rolled into the wall there was total carnage, Chains popping, gears grinding, shoulders bumping, and people simply coming to a stop and tipping over. I picked my way through the wreckage, survived the climb, survived it 5 more times and then pulled over to cheer as the Yellow Jersey group raged past me, ending my Tour of Quebec as they were DNFing all lapped riders. And then there was McGill. Although he positioned himself safely in front of the first lap mayhem, he thought his new SRAM setup had been placed into an appropriate gear as he attacked the hill. Turns out he was still in his big ring, and by the time he crested the hill his quads were destroyed having only turned his pedals about 50 times total for the two minute climb.

So it was hard, fun at times, miserable at others, and there were plenty more highlights and low-points to be had, but overall it was a good four days of racing. Would I go back? Only if we can get some more Onions on the roster for 2010! Suffering loves company. And another huge thanks to Mark White for supporting us with a smile. That guy is awesome.

Nick Uncategorized

We had a good day and not so good day crit racing today. It was a great  downtown course and great weather. Andrew was racing well at the front when his tire went flat going into a corner. He crashed and I ran him over and took a header off my bike. Andrew is ok,  but got some road rash. I was able to get a free lap and got back into the race with 20 or so to go. Jean and I raced well. I took a $20.00 prime and then got ready for the finish. Two guys were well off the front and Jean and I wanted three and four. Jean moved to the front with me and we communicated through the last two laps. I was his co-pilot leading up to the finish. We came around the last corner in fifth and sixth and took the field sprint easily. Jean ended up #3 and I got #4. Its always nice to walk away with some cash. It was also great to work the last laps with Jean knowing what each of us could do and communicating.

admin Uncategorized saranac lake downtown crit

Emore to Marshfield

We’ve got a couple of longer rides lined up for this weekend:

Saturday, leaving ORS at 6:30am, Ap Gap -> Lincoln Gap -> Montp
Multi-sporters can turn back at Ap Gap to make the ORS foot race

Sunday, leaving ORS at 6am. Elmore -> Hardwick -> Marshfield
http://tinyurl.com/orrride (map to the left)

admin Uncategorized

Steve Marmo captured by Todd Heisler

The New York Times has a really great piece that captures ways in which biking impacts life. Watch the whole audio essay (complete with absolutely fantastic photographs) here.

admin Uncategorized

This just in (see full PDF: citycouncilbikes6-10-09)

BIKE LANES, BIKE PARKING, and BIKE NETWORK

All on the City Council  agenda, Wednesday June 10, 7 pm. We are the first agenda item at 7:10 pm.

If you’ve ever pedaled down the street and wished that bicyclists had  more of a visible presence on the City streets, I am now writing to  ask you to spend 1/2 hour of your time, this coming Wednesday night,  by coming to the City Council meeting to show support for better  bicycling.  Yes, we have a lot of meetings in this city.  This is one  where your bodily presence could have a lasting effect.  If you have  never been to a City Council meeting, that is OK.  You don’t need to speak, unless you really want to.  Read on for details, or just come  to the meeting.

THIS Wednesday, June 10, 7 pm
Montpelier City Council (Go in the rear door of city hall; the council  room is up 1/2 flight on the main floor.)

Here’s the scoop:

All YOU have to do is show up.*  What WE are doing is below. Bring your bike helmet in with you, and/or come a bit early to get a  bicycle sticker for your lapel (provided).

* Note this is one time when showing up is the right thing to do.    Yes, even if it is a gorgeous June evening, or if it is pouring down  rain.  Please come on over to City Hall for 1/2 hr with your bicycling friends and go for a bike ride or have a drink before or after.  But  if you really can’t show up in person, please do contact your city  councilor in advance of the meeting – list of councilors: http://montpelier-vt.org/council/index.cfm#members

Background:  (optional reading)
The Montpelier City Council will consider two important points  relating to bicycling this Wednesday – June 10 @ 7:10 pm.

1. The addition of bike lanes to the Route 2 / 302 paving project -
1.6 miles of bike lanes could be added to this project, under  construction this summer, with small tweaks to lines, and the addition  of signs & bike lane stencils.  Bike lanes are on-road bicycle  facilities (not a bike path).  Through the Montpelier Bikes project,  consulting firm Going Green has been working with the City DPW and  VTrans, and the idea is doable from a technical perspective – it may  need political will.  Bike lanes on the road would not replace the off- road path to Barre (the one in the works for the past 10+ years!) but  would serve those traveling on Route 2/ 302.  Even better, it is going  to be built THIS SUMMER.

2. The City’s preliminary support for a bicycle network on the city streets The Montpelier Bikes project would like to work with the DPW  to submit a Transportation Enhancements grant this fall (and to pursue other grant opportunities, such as any future “stimulus” funds and/or  federal earmarks) for the development of an on-road bicycle network,  including signs and stencils.  Through this project, existing roadways  would be indicated for bike use, bike lanes constructed where space  permits, and perhaps a few streets could be turned into “bicycle  boulevards”  or “shared streets” where motorists and bicyclists are on  more equal terms.  Bicycle shelters and lockers would be included at locations such as the middle school, high school, transit stops,  library, and pool (the Co-op & Shaw’s would not be eligible as they  are private property). There are also a few “spots” to improve for   bicycling.  For example, the connection between National Life Drive  and the Winooski Bike Path (near the DET lot) is very poor.

Similarly, the connection between Terrace St. and Court St. (through the state area) could be improved to make it work effectively for  bicycling, including kids biking to school.  And wouldn’t it be nice  if the end of the bike path near Sarducci’s ended a little better – an  easier turn across the RR tracks to Barre St., or a better connection directly to Main St.  Aside from the initial construction, support will be needed for the City to be willing to take on the ongoing  maintenance of these facilities.

We will be seeking preliminary support – the first step in the  conversation – for this project.  Strong citizen support (that’s you)  can turn into strong Council support.

admin Uncategorized

Congratulations to Phil for scoring 2nd in the 3′s. Powering through the field sprint, Phil once again holds his own in the 3/4. Alumni Matt Buckley was hot on his heels crossing the line 7th,  Andrew McCullough blazed in in the same pack at 31st. Mark White finished not far behind, creating a solid group of Onions . In the 30/40+ masters, Art Robert rocketed in at 7th with Paul Wonsavage just 4 seconds back. All together a great day for ORR.

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Buckley, McGill and I sojourned south to Colebrook, CT this weekend for a couple of days of stage racing. The weather was spectacular and the tiny town of Colebrook is not what I was expecting out of Connecticut (i.e. no burbs and beemers). The TT was Saturday morning and John and Matthew both logged solid times on an 8 mile course that had one up and over climb. I managed to throw down pretty well and placed 3rd, which was quite a relief after having been thinking about those 8 miles of riding ever since they announced this race.

The Circuit race played out as expected, with the groups staying together for a bunch sprint after 8 laps of a solidly rolling 3 mile course. John was in the thick of the finish in the Masters and Mathew and I stayed safe and sound as well, while the teams with numbers duked it out at the line.

Heading into the 91 mile road race there was much speculation as to how things would roll in both our groups. The terrain was hilly, and despite some extended breakaways things held together more or less in both groups. Some hammering in the hills around mile 60 popped some riders but it seemed like we still had at least 40 guys out of 70 in our group that made it to the bottom of the long climb to the finish that started 5.5 miles out. I was expecting the climb to be a bunch of wispy guys (like Buckley) taking repeated flyers off the front all the way up the moderate-grade, winding climb, but after a mile of attacks things settled down and I was plenty happy to ride tempo at the front. The closer we got to the finish line with no breaks the safer my G.C. time was so I was stoked when nobody challenged my pace…

…Until 2 miles out. There was a short wall that we figured would be the sorting location and sure enough the guy on my wheel broke right at the bottom. I chased hard, but he maintained a gap at the crest and once we got up to the top he was away, and then I had two guys with me with a bit of a gap on the next bunch of about 15. Our group of 3 consisted of one guy who wouldn’t pull, one guy who was pulling strong, and one guy who wanted to pull and wasn’t having much success (that would be me). The wall had taken its toll on my legs so the group behind us, led by Buckley himself, managed to slowly reel us in and tag us with about 500 meters to go. A few people came around me, and then with 200 meters to go there was a brief pause at the crest of a steep dip, and I shot through a gap on the right side in 4th-ish, and by the time we climbed across the finish a few guys had surged back past me and just about caught the lead guy. The nasty ref who was marshaling our group (I’m sure you’d all recognize her 120 db voice) ended up disqualifying the winner who blasted off at the wall because he crossed a non-existent yellow line on a corner that was closed to traffic (lame) so I ended up with a 7th place for the day. After pulling our group of 3 back in, Buckley’s attention waned for a split second and he had a group that got around him, so I think he was somewhere in the teens for a finish place, which was pretty damn impressive considering the last three weeks he’s had with the Flu and then the Essex crash.

I was eagerly expecting the Masters finish with McGill being the total distance strongman, and sure enough that orange Limar helmet was right there as their group stormed up the hill to the finish. They were a tight bunch of about 30 and John was mid-pack. Since they started with over 70 guys there was definitely some sorting going on out there and I was not surprised to see McGill make the cut. And for once, he wasn’t complaining about the lowly distances of Masters racing!

So we all drove back into the crazy VT windstorm yesterday with satisfaction and well-worn legs. Holding onto the 3rd place for G.C. was a definite bonus that exceed my expectations for the weekend. The TT effort may have earned me the podium finish, but feeling strong enough to do battle at the line after 91 miles of racing is equally satisfying.

Long live stage racing!

Nick Uncategorized

Doubtless photoshop was involved, but hey, yet another reason why we are traffic

admin Uncategorized

Leaving Onion River Sports, over Duxbury Gap to Bolton Valley and back

Slow ride on Saturday morning, leaving ORS at 7am, goal is work at low hart. For the adventurous, do repeats on the Bolton access road, or spin around to the west side of AP gap or Lincoln gap for lots of extra miles.

Map My Ride Map

admin Uncategorized Bolton, Climbing, Rides, Slow