M7 Racing Team

2010 Coldspring & Sugarland Crit

Posted on 03. May, 2010 by ernesto in Uncategorized

Coldspring:  M7 had 4 racers (Ramsey, Ian, Yan, and myself) in the 35+ 4/5.  Ramsey’s legs were shining so we all knew that he was ready.  Many thanks to those (Scott, Johnston, Ruberti) who worked the event and for our category as the lead and wheel cars.  At 8:30, the weather was cool and sunny for a perfect day of racing.  The race was 3 loops with a hill finish.  The first lap had some attempted breakaways but eventually came back to the group.  That made it rather fast and the hills were extremely painful.  I’m use to it now seeing Jan up in the top 5 all day rotating with the leaders.  In fact, he even chased down some of the breakaways.  By mid race, Ian comes up to me in the mid to top 1/3 of the pack and I asked him how he was feeling.  In Ian fashion, he said ”okay.”  On our last lap as we entered into a hill climb, I noticed on my left side something very shiny.  Oh shit, Ramsey is here.  He looked good.  Then, I heard and saw Ramsey’s chain coming off the bike at which point I know how hard it is to get it back on and continue the climb.  As we entered the finish, I saw Ian effortlessly moving up from mid pack to top third with Yan pulling the group.  At the final 1K, Yan and Ian were up there.  As the chaos began with people’s chain falling off and yelling, I see Ian way up there sprinting.  I then passed Yan about mid way up the climbing and the rest was a blur.  By the time, I reached Ian after the race, I said man I saw you way up there.  For the first time, I saw Ian smile and said ”yeah, I won.”  Nice!

Sugarland Crit:   To continue with new experiences, Yan and I did the crit as a new venue.  I was worried about the reports of how technical the course was with the grates and all.  The morning was cool again with no signs of rain so another perfect day of racing.  Yan and I began to warm up on the course and in usual fashion I got lost.  We had to follow others to know where the course was.  Already, Yan was yelling at me.  The race started in usual crit fashion – fast into the first turn.  It was sketchy with bunches in the turn and everyone trying to squeeze in around curbs.  I saw Yan in his usual spot up front and after the 3rd lap, I worked hard to get up to top 10 guys.  There were 7 primes throughout the day and everytime the bell rung, someone had a better jump so I stayed relaxed into pack.  I lost my bottle the first 3 laps, oh well.  I one lap I heard the bell ring and I was 3rd in the pack.  I we went around the back, I jumped to the number 2 and I looked around with no one making a jump.  I knew it my time.  I jumped at the second turn before the finish and I as rounded into the straightway, Clark from Shama was on my wheel.  I sprinted as hard as I could and lunged my bike across the line seeing his wheel right by mine.  I found out I inched him for the prime.  As soon as I recovered, the final bell lap rung.  I was in the top 10 but no accelleration.  I saw the winner accellerate and we all chased but no ground could be made up and we all sprinted for glory knowing that we could not win.  It was fun.

Hao.

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