Press Release 04.24.2006

Weekend Race Report

from teammates of the
WV squad - Mazza Vineyards /Inferno Racing Team

Event: Spring Valley,OH; Sat.. 4.22.2006

by Billy Hart - Cat.4

I made the solo drive up to the Cincinnati area for a weekend of racing. A race on Saturday and a race on Sunday, along with great weather in the forecast, what more could you ask for? I had decided to race in the cat 4 since my upgrade was approved earlier in the week, foregoing the final 3 races in the series as a cat 5. Thought about staying since I was 7th in the GC, Bruce was 5th, but ultimately decided to move on up.

I was excited about this course because it supposedly had some hills, doing 4 laps on a 10 mile loop. The cat 4 group had 40+ bikes on race day and man it was a beautiful day. I was uncommonly nervous, very unusual for me. So lined up at the back of the group just to get a feel for my new division. The race took off at an eyepopping pace, I was really sucking wind and just trying to hold on for dear life. The furious pace continued, my quads were really feeling it as we approach the first climb, got up it no problemo. Still hanging on the back of the group as we approach the biggest climb on the course. The front riders accelerate quickly and I got the yo yo effect. Get to the top and the leaders really hammered down and took off, I got dropped .To make matters worse there was a headwind at the top of the hill. I pedaled as hard as I could and finally caught the group after a mile of so, but it really put a hurting on me.

On the second lap I was still hanging on the back on the group as we approached the climb, again I got dropped. I chased for a while but just couldn’t catch them and watched as the rode off and out of sight. Watching the group ride off without you is one of the worst feelings I have experience, its just demoralizing. I thought about quitting for a minute but ruled that out, I didn’t want a DNF(will not quit at a race). A couple other guys that got dropped caught up with me, man was I HAPPY to see them. I grabbed a wheel and we took turns pulling until we caught another group of 8 guys that had been dropped. We got in a line and took turns pulling until the finish. Ended up finishing 19th, about 5 minutes behind the winner.

This race was definitely a learning experience for me.  My average speed on the day was 22.5 MPH with 1500ft of climbing.

Event: Vanderhort's Corner, OH; Sun. 4.23.2006

by Billy Hart-Cat.4

We had perfect weather for race day, sunny skies and temps around 70 degrees. The cat 4 race had around 40 bikes. The course was six laps doing 8 flat miles per lap, with the exception of one small hill and wind. My goal was to finish with the group. A day earlier I got my butt handed to me as the group rode off without me. I was feeling great and got some good sleep Saturday night because I stayed overnight in Ohio.

Race time! Race starts at a very fast pace, so fast I’m just trying to hang on the back of the back and not get dropped. I was really shocked at the speed of the first lap. I think the first lap was around a 23-24 MPH average. But I was able to hang on and my legs finally loosened up and I began to feel strong and relaxed. The pace slowed just a little after the first lap but was still smoking fast. During the 3rd lap I had decided that I would move up to towards the front of the group during the 4th lap if I were still feeling good.

We were about 2-3 miles from completing the 3rd lap, everything had been smooth up to that point, no troubles at all. I’m cruising along about mid pack all of the sudden I hear guys start yelling dog, dog ,dog!!! I quickly scanned my surroundings for the dog. Just a few seconds later I spot the dog, its in the middle of the group, next thing I know bikes are going down like dominos and I hear lots of yelling and yelping. I was on shoulder and a couple of guys in front of me went down, I thought to myself get ready this is gonna hurt. I ended up running off the road and smacked into another bike but I was able to stay up. My bike stem was pushed about 3 inches to the right and my chain was jammed.  I was okay other than my nerves being shot.

I watched as the group rode off into the horizon, I knew my race was over. But I didn’t drive up to do a twenty-four mile bike ride. So I made some adjustments to my bike, got back on the saddle and decided to keep riding. It crossed my mind to quit but I really wanted to get in the full forty-eight miles. It was very difficult riding 24 miles by myself with some nasty crosswinds but I did manage to complete it.

Final results show me as dead last, other than the DNF guys. I didn’t feel to good about my weekend of racing in the cat 4 group. A day or two after the race I was feeling better about racing cat 4. I know I can hang with the group, I just need to do a few things differently.

 

Results: www.ohiovalleyracing.org