Nutmeg Classic Criterium,Whaling City Cyclone

Saturday Lynn raced the Nutmeg Classic Criterium. Finally! She got to race in a straight cat 4 race. Lynn finished strong, the cat 4 group actually caught the 3s! I was unable to race due to unforeseen circumstances, was able to get a 50plus tri-state ride in.

Sunday, I was able to sneak in one race, the Whaling City Cyclone. I raced the 35plus masters event. I had no warm up, arriving 15 minutes before the start. The first two laps of the very technical course were a flat out sprint. Once things began to settle, my legs cleared, I really began to enjoy myself. I felt like Valentino Rossi(he is a very fast Italian motorcycle racer), powering through the curves single file. I really had a great time, it's been a while since I've said that about a bike race. Anyway, as Valentino would say "Amo andare molto digiunare!"

Ninigret on Wednesday, Cox Classic Saturday, Keith Berger Sunday, speedway under the lights Monday!

I have not consumed meat in more than four years. I do not eat fish, chicken or clams. I cut out red meat years prior. In the past few weeks, I've had odd cravings, such as little necks and clam cakes. When I ride past a cookout, the burgers smell great....what is happening? From what I've read, it's possible that my body is craving these foods, because I have a severe lack of protein in my diet. Or, is it my inner fat bastard trying to get out? Probably both. I wont be eating a burger any day soon. Clams cakes may be a possibility, there is never any clams in those things anyway.


Saturday Scott and I went for a woods ride in Big Riva, the first two hours were great fun, riding the berms and whoops like we were on a pump track. After two hours of moderate paced fun, we were out of water, and ready to head back. We got lost, we passed the same log bridge a few times in 45 minutes. Scott kept cool and was amiable as ever, but I was getting frustrated. As road types do, we settled on a double track dirt road, figuring that it lead somewhere. After a few hundred yards I saw a figure, I thought it was an apparition. No, it wasn't an oasis or a camel, it was true salvation. It was Brendan D.! Yes! He graciously offered me some much needed water and lead us out of the woods. Thanks Brendan! The beers are on me.

Today Bart and I went for a road ride in the rain. We rolled out into the hills at a comfortable pace, chatting and catching up. Bart is a great riding partner, I miss the long Sunday winter rides out of the shop. Cheers Bart!

Happy Father's day!

Looking to ride....

No racing this weekend, Wells ave is cancelled. Thinking mtb Saturday, Big Riva'? Road, Sunday, 10ish from Pbike? Contact us if you have any interest. Saturday we will have room in the Volvo for two.

hotter than.......

It's hot, almost too hot. It's way too hot for the dogs, Lyons and Judge have been completely paralyzed by the heat. It's almost like they are hibernating, only getting up to eat or take a severely abbreviated walk. Otherwise they are crashed out in the a/c. I was able to ride Monday, putting in three hours of easy riding, in the noon day sun. The high temps only bothered me towards the end of my ride, once I returned to the city.

Today Lynn and I went for a long slow social ride down the South county bike path, continuing on to Galilee. We stopped at the Narragansett town beach to put our feet in the ocean. Lynn had the good fortune to run into a dear old friend and had a chance to reconnect. We then continued on to the Mews tavern in Wakefield, for a beer and portabela mushroom sandwiches, good food and good beer!(69 beers on tap!) Other than Lynn getting a slight case of sunburn, it was a wonderful, hot day.

Work and Ninigret tomorrow!

ninigret report

I entered the cat 4 race Saturday, this is where I usually self deprecate and bitch
but, I'll spare you the drudgery. You guessed it, 20Th spot. I raced well, I was part of a bunch of breaks, chasing down the ones I missed. So what happened? I really can't tell you much, the last lap things bunched up, the pack got tight and squirrely, so I backed off. Simple as that. I'm glad a local providence rider won, check the results, a truly great win for a good guy!

My ten year old daughter always seems to put things into perspective. Saturday was her final soccer game of the season. The team was completely win-less, yet they played hard right to the final whistle. When the game was over their flush faces were smiling as they cheered. They played hard loosing by one goal, coming back from a 3 goal deficit. None of these kids pouted, bitched or complained. They cheered, not because loosing is fun, but because sport is good. Lindsey, sport is very good, indeed!

Lynn was not able to race, because there were no woman's categories. Lame, very lame. Mystic Velo, your view of the female competitor is very myopic. That's all I have to say about that, for now.

Lyons and Judge will be taking a short hiatus from spectating at the bike races. It's way to hot. They will be back for 'cross season.

an actual quote...

an actual quote...from Wild Bill, a message left on our voice mail regarding Ninigrit last night. " I just spent an hour in the pain cave!" "I tasted vomit, it was sooo sweet!".

still sore!

Today is the fifth day after Pat's Peak. Most of the soreness in my legs is gone. I had no idea what it was getting myself into. The start was Le Mans style, when the horn sounded I was off into a full run, getting on my bike and continuing my sprint. I was third going into the single track. Once the climbing began I felt like I was going backwards. People passing me were remarking about my gear (17t) or asking me if I was OK. I completed the first lap on the rivet. The second lap was worse, once the climb began, I got off and ran. This was the hardest lap and my fastest. I was breathing hard at the end of the 2ND lap, the official could not understand me as I told her that I was number 61. I could not keep this pace up for FIVE more hours. So I settled into a rhythm of pushing my bike, hammering the flats and trying to be smooth and fast on the descents. On the third lap I realized that every one of the few riders on single speeds had 22t cogs on the rear, I had a 17t, not the hot setup! Laps 3-7 were terrific, the weather cooled off, I was having a blast. Lap eight, I was out of gas, no longer running, more like slogging. The descents were scary as my front disc failed. I wanted to get across the line before 6:00pm so I get one more lap in. It never happened. I crossed the line, and was told that I was done, no statement could have been more accurate. In all, 6 hours, 40 miles, 7000 vertical feet of climbing. Yes, I was truly DONE!

Lynn had 3 great laps, than ran into trouble. Our paths crossed at the end of her third lap, she told me that "it's not so bad" with a big smile. I figured that all was well. On her fourth lap, symptoms of severe dehydration came on fast. Chronic dehydration is a result of her past health issues. She wisely pulled the plug on the race.

Wild Bill, still recoving from his brutal crash in Hartford also attemped the 6 hr solo race. Succumbing to his injuries after 5 hard laps. Bill is "THE MAN!"

Lynn also raced Sunday morning in the Root 66 XC series, completing two laps on the same corse, earning anoth gold medal, some sweet shwag and best of all retaining the series leader's jersey! Yes, she is the coolest woman on the planet!

Lyons and Jugde don't quite like camping, they just kind of deal with it. They are glad to be home!

Mystic Velo Saturday!

too tired to type

brothers

what goes up must come down

first night laps

good times

Lynn's second race of the weekend, yes,she has another gold medal!

Dirty tired happy legs


875 feet of elevation each lap,maybe more words tp come!