Bill C wrote in message
<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:Anyone here in New England who didn't get out to Bear Mountain
yesterday missed one of the best days of racing I've been part of.
This was the first time I've been to that race, the course is a
fantastic 14 mile circuit in beautiful surroundings. The race is well
organized and run. You really couldn't ask for more.
It was definitely a day for the hardmen and women. Chilly, rain and a
peasoup fog that rolled in. One corner marshal told me that it got down
to where he could only see 3 passing lane stripes on the road. I was
starting to lose sight of riders with a 5 second gap. Maybe this is why
the 3 field which I had was so agressive. We had attacks and counters
going up the road after about the first half of the first lap of 5.
Fantastic racing and a great finish then I wrapped it up by going out
with the pros who were down to a shattered field and a really strong
break of about 6. At the bottom of the climb on the last lap, the two
Louis Garneau guys really dropped the hammer and it was over. They did
a 12 mile team TT to take it.
I'd strongly urge people to make the trip to this race if they haven't
before. Hell of a race. Too bad the only part of the Philly crowd I saw
was Ed Dailey who's got to be one of, if not the best motor official in
the country who rode up, did the race, and rode home again.
Thanks Alan and JT for getting me up there.
Bill
I do training rides on that race loop every now and then. It takes about an
hour to ride up there from where I live, ascending two of the best hills in
the area: hi tor ridge via central highway and then willow grove from stony
pt to get up to the highlands. Willow grove makes tioroti brook road seem
like a stroll in the park.
One of my buddies used to do this race years ago, when they had a TT up to
the top of Bear Mt via perkins drive on a separate day. For those in the NYC
area, it's truly a great area for cycling, and free from traffic almost all
the time with weekends only slightly more.
-Tony