Just back from an evening of racing at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome. After spending most of the day in the car driving down from Boston, I felt pretty stiff all night but finally got my legs back in the 40 lap feature event to finish 2nd to Nathan Rouse, some kid that sucked up all the early points. Anyone know this guy? Shit, he's strong. He got away early and stayed out there for a long time thanks to the help of a red, white and green Amoroso's wall at the front.
So Somerville was yesterday and Carney won again, a great feat for sure but no big surprise. Although it would've been nice to see how Marty Nothstein stacks up now that he's focusing on the road. Unfortunately that didn't happen b/c he got DQ'd for taking a free lap for an "unwarranted wheel change." Now I wasn't there and rumor has it that Marty is in the wheel pit pretty often, but what the hell people??? Marty is strong as an ox; he doesn't need to sit out for a lap and catch his breath. So if an Olympic gold medalist tells you he needs a free lap, trust him! I wonder if it was the same official that gave me a hard time at Mt. Joy?
On Sunday there was a race at the Bob Rodale fitness park next to the velodrome. It was hot and Mercury's Henk Vogels and Graeme Miller were there too, so I figured the race would be tough. What an understatement. About 1/3 into the race, I found myself off the front w/ Vogels, Miller, Steve Speaks, Scott Zwizanski and 2 other guys. Our lead grew fast and I thought it might stick. But with about 15 laps to go, Vogels attacked and was gone. Moments later, Speaks was gone. Then G-man was gone. Jesus - now there was a Mercury train away and us four desperately trying to stay in a rythm. Meanwhile, the field seemed to be closing in on us. Well, we got caught w/ 5 laps to go but I stayed at the front just in case there was something left in the legs. I just got nipped at the line - finished 6th on the day. I was stoked... even got a preme to spend at Guy's Bicycles!
Yesterday was State Criterium Championship day in Mt. Joy, a lil' town in Amish country that was hosting its 2nd annual race amidst overcast skies. My hopes were high b/c I rode well at this race last year; I planned on shadowing Steve Speaks since he's been unstoppable this season.
I stayed near the front to make sure Speaks wouldn't get away without me but then the oddest thing happened when I hit a pothole. I can't even figure out how to explain it... but the end result is that I couldn't pedal b/c my rear bottle - now open - was dangling from my chain, with the top on one side stuck against the chain-stay and the bottle on the other side. I finally got it untangled and returned to the front but by that time, Speaks was gone on a solo flyer. He dangled out there for a long time but once we heard he had 35 seconds on us, we got organized. With Neal Stansbury's monster efforts, we finally reeled him in a lil' after the halfway lap and prayed he was cooked enough not to scare us like that again. A few laps later I fish-tailed through turns 2 and 3 and quickly discovered my rear tire was going flat. I nearly took out the entire field in the next few turns, but finally got to the pit for a wheel change. After convincing the official that my seemingly inflated tire really was going flat, I was back in the race. Then I almost took out everyone again b/c I had no rear brakes! Shit, I forgot to close the calipers after the wheel change. I drifted to the back and managed to fix the brakes without losing a finger, but as soon as I looked up, Speaks was gone again, this time w/ three others including Mark Light. Unbelievable. I shot off the front to bridge across but ended up stuck in "no man's land" for over 5 laps. The rest of the race was a blur b/c I only saw red - how the hell did Speaks get away without me twice?
I led the field into the final turn in hopes of a consolation prize 5th place, but Tom Nagy shot the inside and took me to the gutter on the way out. It was a dick-perfect sweep move for his teammate Ted Inoue who won the field sprint (if it were anyone but good ole' Nagy that did it, I probably would've flipped out on them.) Meanwhile at the front of the race, Speaks won in an anxious final lap that saw someone hit the deck. I forget his name but he got up and still finished in fourth place.
The rain finally ceased for the pro-1-2 crit in Bethlehem today. Actually arrived 30 minutes before the start this week but once I finally got my number and returned from the porta-potty, it was time for another mad dash to the line sans warm-up. Attacked early and was off w/ Mike Miller for a while but we got caught on a preme lap. Dean Rittenhouse attacked about 50 meters from the line, won the preme and kept going. That was the race.
Karl Woitas beat Ryan Oelkers for 1st and Mark Light won the field sprint but was then DQ'd for skipping the first lap of the race. It was pretty funny seeing him stroll in at turn 2... so who's the narc that spoiled the Bean's - LiteBites party?
Raced the memorial Hall Crit in Philly today... but just barely. Showed up about 5 minutes before the start and got my number from the promoter (David Mitchell) at the line. Note: Pre-registration is worth more than the $5 late-fee it saves.
Two laps into it Mark Light and I are fighting for the DFL spot when he says to me "There goes Dean," as a 5 man break rolls off. "Great time to warm-up, so I'm outta' here," and off I go. Well holy shit, the break was moving; it took me a full lap at FULL speed to bridge and 2 laps later we were a half lap up. But that didn't last for more than a few laps and we were reeled in after about 8 or 9 laps. The counter attack stuck and I think they may have even eventually lapped us. I wasn't really paying attention after about 10 to go b/c it was obvious we couldn't catch them. Bobby Lea won while Ryan Oelkers took the field sprint for 8th.
So we saw Neal Stansbury and Stephan Kincaid today - the first race for each this season. Neal was off the bike for months w/ some heart problem that he's apparently licked and Stephan was supposedly not racing this year. Well, they're both back and rode harder than most of the guys out there... amazing. Oh yeah, Marty Nosthein showed up to race but wasn't allowed to start b/c he's a pro. Is that a licensing/permit issue or somebody just being anal? Either way, it's BS.
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