This past weekend saw the Hidden Valley Road Race (O-Cup #3) in
Kitchener. An interesting course that appears to be in an industrial
area when you park, a luxury modern subdivision within the first 1km
after the start line and remote country lane by the back half of the
course. That’s a less than 5km loop. Cool. The course starts on a
nice wide flat straight-away, then dives downhill with sweeping turns
that you take at approx 65kph - Fun in a big pack! That sets you up
for the more difficult of the climbs. Nothing too serious, but
enough to get you above threshold easily at race-pace and downright
nasty after 14 or 15 laps. Then some more fast stuff and another
short grind before a chicane transition at the beginning of the start
finish straightaway.

My division (Vet A) started at 8:47am on Sunday with 18 laps (80km)
on the docket. One of the biggest packs I’ve seen at over 80 riders,
luckily with the fast downhill’s and grinding climbs the pack was
kept pretty well strung-out.
I admit to being a bit apprehensive early on. Been a while since I
was in a pack that large. A crash or two just in front of me (lucky
to avoid both actually) kept the adrenaline redlined as did the
several laps towards the midpoint of the race where we foolishly
decided to tackle the climb well over 30kph – Ouch that hurt! I
didn’t climb it once in the little ring all-day, which gave me some
confidence as most of the guys were changing onto the little ring
before the top of the climb (oh, did I mention I had a 25 on the
back ;-).
I lost my second bottle (my fault) just as I was starting it, so I
did the last hour of the race sans fluid. Towards the end I could
feel myself losing some power on the climb as I felt the same pain at
26kph as I felt earlier at over 30. Last lap and the pace was
frenetic – I was just hanging on with most of the others. The finish
was tailor made for me, but poor positioning, an unfortunate brake
check in the chicane and NO power left in the legs meant no sprint of
any sort from me. I cruised in with the leaders in 31st. A little
sorry I couldn’t have done more than watched the winners sprint, but
felt good about the efforts made on the day.
I had 1:57 for 78km.

Brad & Francois took the line with the B’s at 11:45
Here’s Brad’s thought on the race…
“70kms, 15 laps, up and down parcours...
Good sized group... Mazur not there, Hamish Gordon not there, big
D'Ornellas turnout, Westhaven Homes... Francois is looking good ...
I'm edgy, still not confortable this season.
... starts with a brisk pace... first feel of the hill on the
backside... nothing, not an issue, won't factor in.
... few out and back tries by some including super Fred Pepper
(Westhaven), John Gee (Ottawa).
... about 6 laps to go a group gets out and sticks... Garnett Abbey
(D'Ornellas), a Westhaven man, few others... no one seems to mind.
... about 3 to go and D'Ornellas guys blocking the pack, Westhaven
guys sitting in... I sound the alarm and give chase after the first
left after the finish stretch... others pick up the pace and I turn
right first to dive down the sweeping left to the bottom... people
moving up on the downward.
... pace slows again as we climb the hill.... and away I go to the
top with Mike Viel and Mark Polsinella from Pavan chasing... we catch
up to the leaders.
... lead group tangles and loses momentum... and here is the pack...
all together again.
... I hang out near the front till the final pitch and chicane into
the stretch... bumped and acquiesced position to finish in the
scramble somewhere in the top 20 I believe... no excuses... never
stuck around to see results... one of these times I'm going to get it
right. I still haven't committed to fighting it out for the sprint...
attends, deja, ca arrive!
... Francois spent the first hour hanging at the front, then settled
in near the middle and back... taking it easy after some nasty
traffic action.
... after had a big dog with sauerkraut with Rob Cheskey... talked
about Martin Reid (HCC) guy who got hit by a pickup a while back...
slow recovery.
... today was the good life... race the bike, mingle with colleagues
and eat.”

Yep – a good day guys. Wish I could have stayed to watch.
Brad – 22 of 76 starters
Francois – 41 of 76 starters

Thanks all. More races coming soon!




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