Options
Nantucket Cycling Club - Tour de 'Tucket I
Last Saturday, we held the first of the summer's two road races here. Nantucket bicycle racing is unique to my knowledge in that we encourage riders with a very wide range of abilities to ride together. Last Saturday was no exception. We had a few children,
some guys in their late sixties,
the local "clysdayle",
as well as some nationally ranked racers.
Women and children start at the same time as the men.
I had an interesting personal decison to make this year. I was the official race director and 35 people came out to race. Should I race? Or should I go to the finish line and make sure the timing worked out and be on hand in case there were any problems? This decision was complicated by the existence of a Saab convertible and a willing driver.
Hmm, let's see. What would be more fun? Chasing after some nationally ranked road racers and triathletes for an hour and change on my bike or hanging off the back of the convertible with my camera?
So we headed out around the race course in the opposite direction as the riders so we could pick them up for the last part of their first (of two) loops.
The guy in black has a couple of top 100 finished at the Iron Man in Hawaii.
This is Hunter, the pre-race favorite.
He hasn't ever lost a road race out here. He started a team in California last year and won a couple of Cat 3 divisions in big races out there. He's also a terrible ham and show off. When he saw that camera, he just sprinted ahead and posed.
This is Tim. Unbeknownst to any of us, he is a nationally ranked junior. He hasn't raced out here since he was a child and he raced a very quiet race, just sitting in the pack.
The winner of the first lapp (for all the good it did him):
I was particularly happy to see Ambre hanging with the men in the leading pack. We've never before had a woman race out here who could do that.
This race had a glorious end. Tim out sprinted out Hunter by a couple of seconds.
Ambre finished sixth, only 4 seconds behind the winner, which is by far the best finish ever by a woman in Nantucket.
We'll have another road race on August 27th here. As much fun as it was to hang off the back seat of the convertible, I'm planning to race in that one.
some guys in their late sixties,
the local "clysdayle",
as well as some nationally ranked racers.
Women and children start at the same time as the men.
I had an interesting personal decison to make this year. I was the official race director and 35 people came out to race. Should I race? Or should I go to the finish line and make sure the timing worked out and be on hand in case there were any problems? This decision was complicated by the existence of a Saab convertible and a willing driver.
Hmm, let's see. What would be more fun? Chasing after some nationally ranked road racers and triathletes for an hour and change on my bike or hanging off the back of the convertible with my camera?
So we headed out around the race course in the opposite direction as the riders so we could pick them up for the last part of their first (of two) loops.
The guy in black has a couple of top 100 finished at the Iron Man in Hawaii.
This is Hunter, the pre-race favorite.
He hasn't ever lost a road race out here. He started a team in California last year and won a couple of Cat 3 divisions in big races out there. He's also a terrible ham and show off. When he saw that camera, he just sprinted ahead and posed.
This is Tim. Unbeknownst to any of us, he is a nationally ranked junior. He hasn't raced out here since he was a child and he raced a very quiet race, just sitting in the pack.
The winner of the first lapp (for all the good it did him):
I was particularly happy to see Ambre hanging with the men in the leading pack. We've never before had a woman race out here who could do that.
This race had a glorious end. Tim out sprinted out Hunter by a couple of seconds.
Ambre finished sixth, only 4 seconds behind the winner, which is by far the best finish ever by a woman in Nantucket.
We'll have another road race on August 27th here. As much fun as it was to hang off the back seat of the convertible, I'm planning to race in that one.
If not now, when?
0
Comments
James.
http://www.jamesjweg.com
Ian
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Lookout for the UMass train in the next installment...
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]