Press Release 2.26.2007

Race Report from the Frosty Toes Road Race
by Bruce Miller of Seven Hills Cycling Club

DATE: Sat. 2-24-2007
LOCATION: Croton, OH

Here is a short race report for my first race of the year. The name of the race was the Frosty Toes in Croton, Ohio. The race lived up to it’s name. When we started at 1:00 pm it was 25 degrees, real feel around 20!

Everything went pretty smooth in our group, cat 4/5. The race was a three lap race, each lap approximately 10 miles. Lap one was rather uneventful. Lap two was a little more intense. A mile or two after the start finish line there is a 90 degree right turn covered in gravel. About half of the group made it through and then someone decided to attack. We spent about the next five minutes trying to regroup. We finally did, only at this time the field had gone from the original 21 down to about15 or 16. After that a couple of small attacks went off of the front here and there, nothing major.

With about 1/2 mile to go on the third and final lap we came up to a right turn, followed by a left. On the right turn I went a little wide and started making my way up to the front to attempt a sprint. Unfortunately when I was getting close to the main group two guys right in front of me made contact. One of the riders went down directly in front of me. At this point I had two options, nail him or grab as much brake as I could. I went for the second option. I got lucky and avoided him, unfortunately I didn’t have a chance at a decent placing though. I worked as hard as I could, passed about three more riders and managed a top ten finish.

Overall I am pretty happy with the way the race went. My goal was to not get dropped. I feel that had I not been in the wrong place at the wrong time I could have probably fought for a top five placing. Not sure if I would have gotten it but I could have tried. That’s how it goes though.

The good news is the crashed rider was fine. As far as I know everyone else had a good time. Also, cslone from bikeforums had a pretty good race and finished top ten as well (ahead of me). I had a good time chatting with him during the race.

Congratulations to everyone that finished!