Cyclepath Oakville Race Team – Report # 15

This past weekend was the Ontario Provincial Road race championships
in Pelham. It was a new course the organisers put together. Lots
of fun and quite a challenge. Ian put this report together that lays
it all out. My apologies for my delay in posting, it’s been a busy
week. Here’s Ian:

“It's a sore Monday morning from where I'm sitting but more of that
later.
I arrived in Effingham just after 9am on Sunday morning and it was
already pretty warm and very humid. The Master Bs had just set off
and I made my way to the feeding zone at the top of the course's only
steepish climb on Tice Rd. Brad and Francois came through towards the
back of the peleton, obviously taking it easy on the first lap. The
second time through, they were both near the front with Francois
taking up his photogenic position on point. I headed back to the car
to have a ride around, find registration and eat some pasta. While I
was eating Chris showed up and we got our stuff together and rode
down to the feed zone for the passing of lap five. I took a few
bottles to feed Brad and Francois but when we got there Brad's wife
Shirley and their daughter were already there in team jerseys doing
the job. Brad rode straight through (the boy's a camel) and there was
no sign of Francois. Thirty seconds later Francois came along and
made sure to get his bottle by coming to a full stop. Having drifted
off the back, the effort to rejoin the peleton was going to be too
much after five hard laps. The morning stayed dry but muggy and saw
107 finishers in all categories except senior women, master A men and
1/2 men. There were 18 DNFs and 2 DNS in all categories including our
own Gary Scully who was pre-registered but was kept away by back
pain. Brad finished the 105km in the main bunch in 14th place. Geoff
Banner, OCC member, finished just behind in 18th.
Chris and I headed down to registration and picked up our timing
chips and started spinning around nervously before the start of the
afternoons 120 km event. The 1/2 men (165km) started just ahead of us
and the senior women started just behind. I rode at the very front
for the almost the entire first lap of 15km in order to scope out the
course. I know Chris was at the front too because he kept coming up
and telling me not to do too much work. The second lap we both
settled in to enjoy the muggy heat and avoid the two crashes in that
lap alone. I heard someone remark that it was already shaping up to
be a wild day and that we would probably have thunder and lightning
next. Before that happened though, Chris flatted and spent almost a
whole lap (and lots of energy) rejoining the peleton. I was at the
front at this point and one of the radio-equipped racers was letting
everyone know that we should keep the pace down so that three crashed
riders could rejoin. It turns out Chris had joined up with two
crashed riders and was one of those three. After another lap or so I
drifted back through the peleton reaching the back just as Chris got
back on. We chatted for a bit and started picking our way back up
through the pack. Heavy rain, thunder and lightning ensued and we
lost touch of each other. Somewhere around lap seven, Chris lost
contact with the peleton. On the climb on lap seven, I felt twinges
of cramps in the quads but pushed through and up the hill. As always,
the pace picked up quickly after the climb. As we turned off Tice, I
heard what sounded like another big crash behind me. It's sooo good
to be in front of that sound. The last lap was fast and wet from the
road spray, although the rain had actually stopped by then. On the
last climb, my legs cramped like I've never experienced before. I was
half way up the hill and found that my legs just stopped functioning
completely momentarily but repeatedly. It was actually quite painful
but I was distracted by the plain weirdness of having my legs not
feel like they were under my control anymore. Somehow, I got over the
top of the hill and my legs were mine again almost immediately
(really weird) and I sprinted up to the peleton again. I moved up and
through a fair number of riders and wasn't too badly placed going
into the last corner. At this point, dreams of glory dispelled
thoughts of caution and I swept into the last sharp turn just a bit
too aggressively. The front wheel slid and once again I donated my
freshly regrown dermis to the tarmac. I was up and off again without
delay, passing another rider splayed over the hay bales. I sprinted
to the line and was actually still given the same time as the front
group despite my spill which was more like a sliding bounce off the
road. I wasn't going to win by any means, but I think I could have
been in front of at least half of the 28 riders in front of me at the
line if it weren't for my stupidly over-aggressive final corner.
Chris came in 47th and myself 29th. In contrast to the morning races,
the afternoon saw 104 finishers, 7 DNS and an astonishing 74 DNFs in
the senior men, women and master A categories. There were at least
two major crashes and several minor ones in the master A race alone.
One wild, wild ride. Can't wait for next year.”

Ian describes the day well – Wild!

I need to add one thing as well – Award for most excellent team-mate
to Brad! After completing the gruelling 105km race which he finished
a great 14th, he sends Shirley and his daughter (who came to assist
with feeds and encouragement) back to Burlington, and he stays to
assist Ian and myself with our feeds. He remained (in his race kit
no less) to assist us through heat & a major downpour (what about
sleet, dead of night? - No we’re not Postal). Then patiently waits
for me to drive him home. Long day for him.

Thank-you Brad.


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