2005 Results

Saco Bay Criterium, Saco ME 8/

Pro1,2 Toby Walch 10th, Chris Green 16th, Chris Karam 17th, Ryan Fleming 20, Neil Fitch 26 Cat 3 Jurgen Nebelung 12th, Cat 4/5 35+ Ed Sebok 5th, Scott Withers 17th 45+ Graydon Stevens 17th, 35+ Paul Weiss lapped, Juniors 13-14t h Haven Bradley 7th, Juniors 15-18 Travis Lee , Chris Talbot 4th

Race Journal of Kirk Turner:    Kirk is a 17 year old PVC Junior Development Team Racer that also races Mt Bikes with another team.  He has been racing out west all summer racing and shares his journal entry with PVC:

After spending a week aclimatizing at Steamboat Springs in CO, We packed up the car again and headed off, more days driving! We had spend 3 days nonstop to get to Colorado. I had some cool road rides along the way, including cornfields outside of Chicago, and oil refineries Wyoming, I got a bloody nose there and that put a dampner on my ride but it wasn't too bad.The first national race was in Schwitzer, Idaho. We started at 8,000 something, and climbed into the 9,000's. We had 3 laps of 11 miles each with 950ft of climbing a lap, not too technical course but fast, and perfect for me. I had a great start on the front row, and was top5 most of the way up the 1st big hill eight minutes in, but we hit it like a freight train and I had to back it off a little so I wouldn't blow up. So about 9th into the big downhill and I was feeling ok, it was rather hot so I wore a camelbak the first lap, but I drank too much too fast and got some wierd stomic cramps, not disabeling but noticable. Live and learn. I passed a few and got passed on and off for the next two laps, which were pretty much uneventful, but finally caught 2-3 people on the beginning of the last lap on the climb and worked my way into 6th Untill Ra-Ra-lizard shit, I was comming out of a switch back 3miles from the finnish and I snaped my f*&#%$ chain. Just too much juice comming out of the legs coming out of a switchback. After look so I fixed it in about 2.5 minutes and then got going with only a few places lost, and I wasn't carefull enough and broke it again, *sigh and fixed it again but came in 13th, I still had a good race but am slightly dissapointed as you can probablly understand. Lost 5 minutes with all that crap, my time was around 2:36 with laps in the low 40's passed like 10 semipro. So I was the highest 17 year old still in 13th and would have been the only one in all the top 18's. Next year, that course is mine. Its got a good mix of every thing, and I can place top 5, I know it, Its perfect for me.

I Did alright in the short track I got 12th, but me and the four guys right in front of me got pulled at 12 minutes in becaue of this kid from South aArica that absolultly trashed every one in XC. There were about 30 starters or so. The course was ok, but it had a big muddy hill and a sharp turn, it was really hard to get into an efficient grove. He won by like 6 minutes and passed all the semi pro that started in front of us. They pulled us way too early like not even close to getting laped and every one was pissed, the last 10 minutes there were only seven riders going around the track. But oh well, I was in the top 5 first few minutes but I went out too hard and had to back off and it cost me, I still wasn't fully recovered from the xc, my legs didn't have the juice.. Oh well, not the end of the world. I love racing in Idaho, and lookforward to next year.

Mt Washington Hill Climb August 20

Congratulations to Carol Meader for an outstanding race Saturday. For some reason she doesn't consider herself a bicycle racer, but coming in 2nd. on the hill climb that has literally blown folks off the mountain, certainly shows otherwise. Below is a racap of her experience Saturday.

Initially, the weather was fine, actually clear and sunny at the bottom with breathtaking views of the presidentials as well as the top of Washington. Clouds were rolling in and it starting lightly misting but stopped. I actually saw a rainbow while warming up (I think I've seen 2 or 3 in my entire life!). The start was exciting (Tyler Hamilton was there) and lining up with the 600 other racers felt somewhat surreal (I am not a bike racer...wasn't I only there for the view???!!). The cannon (for the love of God, can't they just softly whisper "GO?" Must they send me into cardiac arrest????!!!) goes off and I cranked as hard as I could for the first 50 yards that are flat and then started climbing at a measly 5 mph. I passed Chess McGee right away and kept thinking she would pass me, but I never saw her again. As with most hill climbs, you kind of get into a groove and just keep turning the pedals over. My heart rate was very high and I was huffing and puffing (literally...people were looking at me when I passed them with an expression like, "keep it down over there! Do you need a medic?") After what seemed like hours, I had completed mile one!!!! My legs were already burning (mental note, learn about proper nutrition) and I was quite certain I was having a heart attack (mental note #2, next year do the intervals and train properly!). At the halfway mark, I looked at my time and was very pleased. I was doing well and actually could complete this climb in 1:30 (my spoken goal was 1:45 but in my heart, I wanted to do it much faster). This motivated me even more and I dug deep and picked up my speed (to maybe a massive 5.5 mph!!!) Then, I saw a guy sitting on the side of the road and as I got closer, I saw the PVC jersey. I knew Bill Black was racing as well as Stu Abramson and Mike Claus, and I wondered who it was. As I got closer, I saw it was Bill and my heart nearly broke. Which is worse, mechanical or physical failure? Bill yelled out that he had a nerve/leg problem but he was "okay" and to have a good ride. I was torn. I was consumed with guilt for it was this man that has shared so much of his time and expertise with me, has believed in me from the get go and has encouraged me completely. A real friend would stop and sit with him. I didn't know what to do. I continued on slowly pedaling and looking back but something said to keep going. Then came the dirt section. Two miles of the climb are unpaved and my mountain bike days are over. I was not enjoying this!!! It is also where you come above tree line and meet the wind. My time slowed down and for the first time, I became frightened. This road is so narrow and I felt so alone. I kept pedaling (now at 4 mph) and praying for the pavement to start again. After a lifetime of pedaling on the dirt and in the wind, I saw the pavement and I was exhilarated! I shifted up, pedaled a bit harder, came around a switch back and met chaos! The wind was gusting so hard that my bike nearly tipped over. I saw others getting blown off the bike and held on so tightly. One after another, people were walking/running their bikes, trying to clip back in with the wind howling. Steph, I thought for sure I was going to get blown off that mountain. I had no idea how to handle wind like that. (mental note #3, ask questions and train!!). The gusts kept hitting me, blowing my bike from side to side and I wanted to stop before it stopped me. Something inside just kept screaming at me to pedal, pedal, pedal and that's what I did. Finally, I saw the mile 7 marker (half a mile to go) and I shifted up again and cranked as hard as I could. I started hearing people screaming. The fog was too thick to see them until you were right beside them, but their voices moved me. I started passing people. If you can "sprint" on a mountain, that's what I was doing. I came upon the 22% grade section, shifted down and somehow got over it. I have no idea how as it was so hard. I looked over and saw my children soaked and freezing but clapping for me. I then crossed the finish line. I looked at my time....1:28:27...I did it!!!!!!!!!! They draped me with my pedal and infamous fleece blanket, took my bike and I started shaking uncontrollably. I was very emotional and fatigued but ran down to my family and cheered on the others. I was completely elated and still shaking (from the emotions or cold, who knows!). It was an experience like no other. A couple hours later while at the foot of the mountain and eating lunch in the rain, the award ceremony started. I was completely shocked to hear my name called for 2nd place in my field. I was standing on the podium of the Mt. Washington Hill climb Race. My family was cheering. Life doesn't get better! Of the 561 people who finished the race, I was 212 overall. Only 46 women finished the climb, I was 12th amongst them. I was the fastest woman from Maine. I averaged 5.2 mph and had an average heart rate of 184. But none of that matters. I was told by some Mt. Washington veterans that this race is not a race against other cyclists. It is a race against the mountain. It is a test of your strength and will to fight the elements of the moodiest mountain in the east. I took that challenge and won. Now that I have experienced this climb, I have even more respect and appreciation for the strength of our fellow PVC riders. As we have always known, Bill Black is a phenomenal rider holding records on the mountain and completing it in amazing times. I truly pray his legs heal and he is on the podium next year. Stuart Abramson finished 9th overall with a time of 1:03:33...truly mind-boggling to me! Mike Claus did it in 1:10:17. These guys are also the real deal. This is a very different "race," and those who do it are incredibly strong, both physically and mentally. Interestingly, in talking to those who have done this race several times, many have seen the weather much worse. I thought it was brutal. Ironically, there was no view after mile 4 (mental note #4, maybe, just maybe, I didn't do this for the view!!!).

Carol

Results:

Silver City Flyer 8/13/05

Mt Agamenticus Time Trial 8/14/05

Morgan Macleod 3rd Overall Sean Trinque 4th <17 Chris Bradley 17 45 - 54 Haven Bradley 8th <17

Central NH (Bow) Road Race, Bow, NH 8/7/05

Race Report : Submitted by Stuart AbramsonMike Claus and I went into the race with the plan to try and take the KOM and make the final break at the Bow road race. There is almost always a break in the Bow race since it is always hot (this year being no exception) and the course up and down but never level. A break went after the very first time up the hill and I thought this was a good opportunity to get some KOM points and followed along. We had 6 riders at first but slowly went down to 3 over 2 laps. I worked the KOM hill harder then the rest of the riders in the break and waited at the top. Probably doesn't help the break much but I really did want those KOM points. We got caught after 2½ laps but no one wanted to work and I ended up riding off the front by a bit so that I could try to get some more KOM points the 4th time up the hill. At the top, we had another break going and started to work well together with just under 2 laps to go. PVC was the only team with 2 riders in the break and Mike and I worked hard to keep the group together. After a couple of hard accelerations, Mike dropped off the break but stayed with the second group behind and finished 20th. I came into the finish with 5 other guys and successfully out sprinted one of them for 5th place. I need to keep working on that sprint but not a bad day for the PVC masters riders. .

Results: Pro 1,2 Ryan fleming 9th, Neil Fitch 21, Tom Gosselin 30 Men 3 Morgan Macleod 30 Men 4 Scott Marr 21 Men 5 Scott Withers 23 Master's 35+ Stuart Abramson 5th and KOM, Mike Claus 20th

Concord Criterium, Concord, NH 8/6/05

Race report by Stephanie Chase:  Yes, another story! I'm not sure if it's me or does this happen to everyone when they start racing? Yesterday at the Concord Crit, Kendra and I had an "iron clad" plan to do well. Our plan was to start in the middle of the pack (35 entrants) and see who does what for the first few laps. (17 laps for cat 3/4) As it was, we were psyched to race with cat 3's to see how we hold up and knew we'd have to work a little harder to place, but we were confident we could pull it off. The plan was fail proof....HA!!! The course itself is just over a mile long and has seven turns in it, with turns, two, three and four being on a fairly decent climb and in the shape of an 'S" and turns five, six and seven being on a downhill (sprinting). read: you are either sprint climbing or sprinting down hill...there is NO recovery on this course - now add to it the following incident. By lap three, Kendra and I had positioned ourselves just where we wanted to be - positions 3 and 4. However, they had sent out the pro 1/2/3, 30 seconds in front of us - no problem, right? wrong!! We caught them on the second lap and initially stayed separate from them. On lap three, all that changed as a couple in our category got meshed in with the pro's on one of the corners. Lap four, the officials and racers in both categories were yelling at each other and no one knew who was who. On lap five, the race was stopped, the officials pulled all of us to the line again and started over. (luckily, they did count the laps we had already raced) Now we are all riding in ONE race. Yep...cat 3/4 division is now racing with pro 1/2/3 in the New Hampshire State Crit Championship race. Instead of the 17 laps, we are now bumped up to 20 and the field went from 35 to 52. Reminder: Kendra's 3rd crit and my 2nd. Needless to say Kendra's and my strategy went right out the door and the word 'pain' brought on a whole new definition. Our new strategy, you ask?....SURVIVE!! We stuck together, worked off each other and did survive. We finished with the pack placing 14th. and 15th. Do you think we can make the next series of "Survivor". A bunch of women in Lycra, battling for position, ought to make a hit series, don't you think?
To give you an idea of the speeds, my max speed was 39 mph and I hit the seventh corner once at 33 mph. This is kinda funny, I came into this corner thinking someone once told me to trust my bike, that it can do practically anything as long as you keep pedaling. I leaned the bike left and all my weight to the right all the time thinking "self, this is either going to really, really hurt or it's going to be like sprouting wings" but one thing is for certain, that Verizon girl behind me is NOT passing me. The feeling was beyond words...what an adrenaline rush! Then as soon as the corner is over, you stand, sprint and do it all over again. Unfortunately (in some respects), I'm not built to be all that great at crit racing but I'm stubborn enough to survive. (however, I think I sprouted horns not wings). To finish with the pro 1/2/3's, having dropped (which I had no idea until after the race) 1/2 the pack was an amazing effort that left both of us completely spent, yet feeling like we accomplished something to be happy with. OH, for those that were yelling and cheering us on - we do hear you and thanks so much because if quitting was an option...that race would have been a time to do it. (believe me, it entered my mind but quickly got dismissed) We bagged the road race today because neither of us felt like putting in four hours of driving again so we'll be spinning this afternoon if anyone wants to ride.

Results: Pro 1,2 Chris Green 14, Chris Karam 25 Ryan Fleming 28 Neil Fitch 42 Tom Gosselin 55, Men 3/4 Morgan Macleod 45, Women 3/4 Kendra Jarratt 14 Stephanie Chase 15,  Men 4/5 John Liston 19 Scott Withers DNf Master's 35+ Carl Hitchcock 6th, Stuart Abramson 30, Brian Rossignal DNF Master's 45+ John Liston 27

SMCC USCF Time Trial, Kennebunk, ME 7-31-05

Race Report: by Paul Weiss: I enjoyed this great course, though I have not done a single time trial this season.  Windy on the back half of the course seamed like a slow event but then the route 9 section was much faster with the tail wind.  Great to see so many Juniors at this event.

Sterling Classic Road Race, 7/30/05 MA

Race Report :by Stephanie Chase: As I told Stuart last night, I have to say that racing the Cat 4 women's races are completely different than riding with you guys on the SMR and even the MNR (which is supposed to be a recovery ride). First off, I'll thank all of you for preparing me so well by putting me through huge pain on these rides and showing no mercy for the chick that has no idea what she's doing?? lol - because of your "no mercy" attitudes, I go into these races very well prepared it seems.
The course starts at the bottom of a hill similar to the first pitch of Dutton..supposedly starting neutral (rriiiiggghhht!!!) and the finish is at the top of that little pitch. It then has a false flat area and climbs again but longer and less steep. From then on out it is fairly non-challenging and lots of fun with the true challenge being - "how does one move up with such narrow roads and a strictly enforces yellow line rule?" Team cycleloft had, once again, a large showing and rode 4 wide so no one could get by ( I thought they only did that in football??)...that is until the stretch of highway before heading into town. On the final lap, they sent out a rabbit and being about 1/2 a mile from the decent into town before the final sprint up the hill, I didn't dare to "just let her go" so I went after her. As soon as I did, she pulled off and I'm thinking....damn - the rabbit Dick Ring warned me about. I immediately had to strategize knowing these girls were not going to let me off the front and use me as a workhorse to pull them into that final sprint. Soooo...I slowed to a bloody crawl to recover and no one would pass. Awesome for me because I know I have a quick recovery. I literally crawled up over that little hill before the decent into town, then stood and went for it. I had no idea who was behind me, but I didn't look back to find out either. Took the turn into the final climb with what ended up being two sprinters on my wheel but left the rest quite a length behind. Neither of the girls behind me were from Cycle-Loft and both shot past me at the finish. I finished 3rd and very happy with it knowing I had to think quick and feeling like I could vomit at the finish. Does it get better than that? Okay, so it does if I come across the finish first....maybe some day!
Thanks for all the well wishes.

Results: Men 3/4 Morgan Macleod  2nd, Gregory Bratick  Pack, John Liston Pack, Jurgen Nebelung Pack Women 4 Stephanie Chase  3rd,  Masters 35+ Stuart Abramson 10, Mike Claus Pack Men 4 Sam Crocker Pack, Scott Marr Pack, Fred Thomas Pack Men 5 35+ Tom Murray 13th

Tour de Toona, Altoona, July PA Category 2 Points Race Altoona, PA July 29-31, 2005

Race Report : Four members of the Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania cycling team ventured into western Pennsylvania for a three day stage race. This points race was part of the larger "International Tour de 'Toona", is one of the toughest races in the country for Category 2 racers only.

In the first stage, two 20 mile laps through rolling corn fields and finishing at the center of town, Toby Walch found himself in the deciding break of 10 riders. The break, which left early in the second lap, worked hard to establish a gap of one minute before the closing kilometer circling the town. Walch finished 6th, while Tom Gosselin and honorary member Ryan Fleming finished with the main group. In an unfortunate turn of events, Chris Green had a mechanical problem early in the race and finished behind the leading groups.

Day two was a grueling 70 mile road race over hilly terrain. The Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania boys spent time at the front of the peleton before the first climb, making sure the pace was high enough so on one would try to attack before the climb. The first climb of the day, up to the peak of the Blue Knob Ski Resort blew the race apart. Walch found himself in the lead group of 25 riders as they crested the summit, while Gosselin, Green and Fleming rode out the day with the remainder of the riders. Through the following climbs, riders from the front group dropped off the back until only 15 remained for the 1.5 mile finishing straightaway. Walch lined up in the sprint and finished third on the day, which was enough to put him in a tie for third on the general classification.

The third and final stage was a technical crit through downtown Altoona. Green, eager to get a good finish for the team, moved to the front of the race for the closing laps of the race, while Walch sat on his wheel and waited for the sprint. In the final corner, one rider lost his traction and fell, taking out other riders in his way. Green was able to avoid the carnage and sprint for 10 th place. Walch also missed the crash and held on for 12th place. This was enough for Walch to end up seventh place out of the 70 riders that started the weekend, highest of the members of the Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania cycling team.

Points raceCR, RR,Crit, GC
Toby Walch  7,3,12,7
Tom Gosselin  37,?,?,?
Chris Green   ?,31,10,22

Tokeneke Road Race, Barkhamsted, CT 7/24/05

P1,2 Toby Walch 18 Cat 3 Morgan Macleod 34

Keith Berger Memorial Crit, East Hartford, CT 7/23/05
P1,2
Chris Green 15
Toby Walch 43

Working Man's Stage Race, Amesbury, MA 7/19-21 2005

Race Report : Six members of the Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania Cycling Team were on hand for the Working Man's Stage Race, a small, points based stage race run in the evening, so people can attend the race after work. With 35 athletes in the Category 2/3 race, Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania was one of the largest teams in attendance.

The first stage, a rolling six mile time trial was won by Toby Walch, while Chris Green finished eighth. Chris Karam, Neil Fitch, Tom Gosselin, and honorary member David Donnelley posted times in the middle of the field.

The second stage was controlled perfectly by the boys in blue, with early breaks being covered by Karam, Donnelley and Gosselin. At the beginning of lap three of five, Walch and Green launched a flurry of attacks until Walch escaped with four other riders. While Walch worked in the break, Fitch and the rest of the team worked to control the other racers, making sure that no one else could escape from the main field. In the final sprint, Walch finished second but maintained his lead in the general classification.

Day three found the riders lining up under the lights on a banked car track in Epping, NH. This was a fast points race, with a sprint up for grabs every five laps. All the boys worked to keep breaks from gaining too much time, while also attempting to take as may sprints as possible. All the riders finished safely, missing the only crash of the night. Unfortunately, other riders scored more points, and Walch only finished seventh that night.

Overall, this was a successful stage race, with the boys all riding well as a team, doing the jobs necessary for the team's plan to succeed. In a race of this style, team work is necessary, and the effort of the team is shown by Walch's third place finish in the general classification.

TT CR PR GC
Toby Walch 1,2,7,3
Chris Green 9,12,8,12
Neil Fitch 19,27,16,14
Tom Gosselin 20,14,16,14
Chris Karam 18,13,16,14
David Donnelly 31,25,27,14

Fitchburg Longsjo Classic 2005

Pro,1,2
Name TT Circuit RR Crit GC
Toby Walch 20 82 49 71 29
Chris Green 101 36 94 38 99
Tom Gosselin 112 129 DNF

Master's 35+
Fred Thomas 45 38 23 59 25
Chris Karam 33 5 29 5 28
Neil Fitch 41 11 56 58 48
Greg Hutchinson 73 20 75 30 66

Catagory 4 Men
Jurgen Nubelung 36, 71, 19, 23 19
Scott Marr 10 32 18 16

Cat 3 Men
Morgan Macleod- 41, 84, 70, 93, 61

Women 4
Kendra Jarratt 3 4 5 6 3
Stephanie Chase DNF due to illness

Cumberland Time Trial results for June (MS exel spreadsheet)

Housatonic Hills Road Race, NW CT   6/19/05

Pro 1,2 Chris Green  30, Toby Walch  37 Cat 3 Morgan Macleod  49 Masters 35+ Stuart Abramson  12

Race Report by Toby Walch: Three members of the Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania cycling team lined up for the 81 mile Pro/1/2 race this past weekend, while Morgan MacLeod was the team's lone representative in the Cat 3 field.   The Pro/1/2 field began the race at full throttle, reaching speeds of close to 30 mph directly off the start line.  Although the pace mellowed a bit in the early miles, the field shattered on the first few climbs, quickly decreasing from close to 90 riders to a leading group of 40.  At the beginning of the second lap, a small break started, which  Chris Green and Toby Walch quickly bridged up to.   With six riders in the break, the two Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania riders found themselves in an ideal spot for the middle of the race, and worked hard with the other escapees to establish a gap of greater than 2 minutes over the remains of the field.   Everything seemed to be working perfectly until the leaders came upon a crash from a different field.  The accident, concerning racers from one of the women's filed, looked serious, and the riders were told the race was over.  Wanting to respect the course marshals, the six break away riders stopped racing and rode to the start line, while the rest of the field continued racing, and quickly caught the break.  At the start line, it was decided that the race would proceed for the third and final lap.   After several miles, it was decided that the riders from break should receive a minute and a half advantage over the field, who wold then commence the race as before.  This was a generous gesture, and great example of professionalism present in New England cycling. Unfortunately, 20 minutes of soft pedaling had taken its toll on the six riders.  The break lasted only a few miles before fell apart and was swallowed by the chasing riders.   Although the team did not have any spectacular results at the Housatonic race, the fact that two riders made the key break of the day shows that, physically, they are where they need to be at this point in the season.  This also bodes well as they prepare for the Fitchburg Stage Race, the second oldest race in the country, and the largest and most prestigious race in New England, which begins on June 30.   Morgan MacLeod spent most of the Cat 3 race sitting in the pack, getting more racing miles in to help with his own preparations for the stage race at the end of the month.

Cyclonauts Racers, Monson Road Race Monson, MA Saturday June 18, 2005

Cat 4/5 Jurgen Nebelung 15th, Masters 40+ Stuart Abramson 2nd!

Cox cycling classic Providence RI 6/12/05

Pro, 1,2 Toby Walch  7, Cat 4/5 Charles Goldman  25, Master's 35+ Greg Hutchinson  10

Rock and Road Race, Raymond NH 6/11-12

Race Report submitted by Stephanie Chase: Two grueling days in the heat at The Rock and Road Race Weekend in Raymond NH. (cute little town). I won't go into too many details but Paul wants the results posted so here they are. Plus, those of you that ride with Kendra and I, will get the story (several times) face to face with all the little details, exploitives and animation.
I did the crit yesterday on a course that reminded me of a carnival roller coaster. LOVED IT! I think I may be a crit-aholic now. NEBC had five girls out there that worked very well together and I fought with everything I had to stay with their attacks. (definitely dug deep) I was either counter attacking or pulling through the 30 laps, but the good news is I no longer have fears of taking corners fast. Finished with 3rd. Ed, Scott, Paul and Fred thanks for the cheering, and support. Kendra did not do the crit do to the adventure race.
Today was the road race. Kendra and I sat in and watched as NEBC worked the course with a couple of other solo riders doing a ton of work. As we finished the 2nd. lap, I attacked to get my bloody heart rate up for the end as I thought my legs were thinking it was a spinning day. We didn't get out of the little ring for heaven's sake! Kendra kept an eye on the gals in front, while I moved back and sat on the wheel of the NEBC girls as they recovered for the final lap. Coming into the 2nd. to the last turn, I attacked and pulled away from the peleton with another rider on my wheel and Kendra on hers. I'm thinking I'll set it up for Kendra to win on the sprint (that way she can race cat 3 next weekend). It wasn't in the cards, unfortunately. The final turn, Kendra lost her wheel by going a bit too wide in the corner. (by the way she owes me because I had to finish the stupid sprint) The other rider just got past me at the finish line by an inch. I got 2nd and Kendra 3rd. I think I need to work on sprinting.
Fun weekend for sure and not bad results for my first crit and road race and Kendra's second road race.

Rock and Road Race Weekend - Crit 6/11/05 results: Pr1,2 Chris Karam  4 Tom Gosselin  14 Women 4 Steph Chase  3 Cat 4/5 Ed Seebok  19 35+ Fred Thomas  5 Stuart Abramson  DNF

New England Crit Championships, Ninigret Park, Charlestown, RI 6/5/05
Junior Men 17-18 Sean Trinque 8th

Auburn Crit, Auburn ME, 6/5/05

Pro 1,2,3 Chris Green  6, Kyle Wolfe  11, Tom Gosselin  19, Neil Fitch  29,
Cat 4 , Fred Thomas 2, Jurgen Nebelung  12,
Women's Cat 4 Kendra Jarratt 1st
Cat 5 Ed Sebok  1, Scott Withers  11th
Juniors Nate Fuller 2nd,  Travis Lee  4th
Master's 35+ Chris Karam  4, Carl Hitchcock  6, Greg Hutchinson  15
Masters 45+ Greg Hutchinson  5

Lake Auburn RR, Lake Auburn, ME 6/4/05

Pro 1,2,3 Kyle Wolfe  13, Chris Green 19
Women's Pro 1,2,3 Rhonda Morin  11
Men's Cat 4 Tim Fisher  17, Fred Thomas  19
Women's Cat 4 Kendra Jarratt  7
Men Cat 5 Eric Weinrich  1, Tom Murray  18, Kevin Hays  20, Scott Withers  27
Juniors Morgan MaCleod  1, Haven Bradley  2
Masters 35+ Stuart Abramson  3, Carl Hitchcock  11
Master's 45+ Mike Claus  8

Race Reports:

Women's Cat 1-2-3

Submitted by Rhonda Morin: A derailleur suck into my rear wheel on the first lap just as we stared Harris Hill dashed my hopes of winning this bad-ass race. After a few minutes of fighting with my wheel, I managed to get the derailleur back in place somewhat, minus some gears, and rode the rest of the race for kicks. A PVC rider saved me on the third lap when he handed me a nice cool bottle of water. Thank you so much!! That was a four-bottle race at least.Despite the fact that I finished the race to get the work out in and 7 women dropped out, I managed to take 11th overall. Hey, it's the effort that counts, right?

Submitted by Stephanie Chase: The Lake Auburn Road Race and Crit was a tough race for all attending. Tough for me because I couldn't race do to an injury (vastus medialus) and tough for those that could race because it was grueling with temps in the 90's.  However, the women that went up against Kendra in the cat 4 had no idea what was in store for them.  She has no mercy.  Most of you have ridden the Auburn course but those that have not...it's downright painful.  11 miles of hills....zero flat!  You're either going up or flying down.  (which is usually a blast but these descents usually are immediately followed by a sharp turn so there's little recovery before you climb again)  and you do this three times in the cat 4 women divison.  (33 miles)  So Kendra's race starts with a field of approx. 20 riders.  On the first hill, some 'rider' decides to "lock horns or handle bars with her" .  Kendra looks at her like, "settle down or it's going to be a long, painful ride for you, keep it under control, honey" and leans into her in order to unlock the handle bars.  On the second hill climb, her chain falls off.  As she stops and attempts to get the thing back on, she can see the pack disappearing out of site.  Once the chain is on she has to start climbing from a stand still.  Again, the pack is gone.  She time trials until she catches them in site on a descent with a left hand turn.  She can see them turning as she trys to catch them.  However, there had been a crash and the rescue pulls her up and halts her on the course.  AGAIN, she sees them disappearing ahead of her and now once again, she has to climb a mother hill and they are no where in site.  She time trials (again) another 4+ miles to just get on the tail of the pack.  The last rider in the pack looks at her and says in a disappointed little voice, "I thought you were dropped?".  Kendra, being the polite Christian woman she is calmly and apparantly not showing how fatigued she was, simply states, "I was, but I caught up." then passes her.  (LOL...LOVE that part!)  Just then she passes us ( the pvc cheering wagon) and yells with a huge smile..."My chain came off".  All of this on the First Lap....22 miles to go.  How she's breathing, much less smiling and talking is truly beyond me.  Not only did she finish with the pack, but came in an impressive seventh. Now...it get's even better!  The Crit.  Some of you have ridden with Kendra and I and the toughest thing for both of us is to "SIT IN" - what to hell for???  Well today, it was clearly learned.  She sat in during the 20 laps of the crit and being the sprinter that she is...blew the wheels off the pack on the final lap to win the crit.  She had a great cheering squad...okay, more like a screaming squad with Lisa just before the last corner screaming her head off to "Go, Go, Go" then Maryann just after the last corner to "Dig, Dig, Dig" and me just before the finish to "Hammer, Hammer, Hammer!"  Not that she needed to - they were dust and she won the crit!!  Her advice to me for this weekend.."Steph, you're going to be bored stiff with how slow they go, but sit in and you'll kill them at the end".  LOL...patience is not a strong point of mine on a bike.  (or in life for that matter) Special thanks to Lisa Maxwell for taking us under her advisement.  Even though I could not apply then what she was teaching us..rest assured I don't forget much and will certainly be applying it this weekend.  (Lisa and Maryanne, do I have to take some sort of special voice lessons to be able to yell that loud??) A great time, great people and awesome support!  Great Race!

New England Time Trial Championships, Colebrook, CT May 30, 2005
overall times:
Kyle Wolfe 55:57 (12th overall M, 8th Pro/1/2, 3d 30+)
Bill Black 56:29 (14th overall M, 9th Pro/1/2, 1st 50+)
138th Sean Trinque (Junior Development Team) 1:13:04.02

Race report by Bill Black : The New England District TT Championships were held this past Monday (5/30) from Colebrook Dam in Connecticut, running north up Rte. 8 to the turnaround and then proceeding back south on Rte. 8. The sun was out for the event although the strong northwesterly wind prevented any records being set and most folks reported somewhat slower times than in prior years. The north leg out on the course is tougher than the return due to the last 6 miles before the turnaround being a steady uphill, the remainder of the course is constantly undulating.

Hartford Criterium, (moved to New Britian CT) Saturday May 28 th +
Summerville Criterium, Summerville NJ May 29th

From Greg Hutchinson : I saw the sun this weekend, two day of it, at New Britian Ct, an in Surmmervill NJ, both day were in the 70's. New Britian got behind a semi crash, just as I was jumping, then lost my large chain ring, when I shifted to my 12 cog.  nice try, who could be angery with such a nice sunny warm day.
In NJ, even a better day, temp's in the high seventies,  the day would not go without some scarifice to the sun god's, were I would get into a small skin altercation, which I was able to get into the wheel pit, to be sent back into the pack, with 7 laps to go.  Did not realize 135 rider strong, I would finish 17th.  I did scarifice alittle skin but was a lot of fun.

Hartford Crit  5/30/05 Pro 1,2,3 Kyle Wolfe  28, Master 40+ Greg Hutchinson  36

Maine State Time Trial Series, Damarscotta, Maine Sunday 5/22

Poted by Toby Walch: While the rest of the team was slipping around the soggy criterium in Claremont, NH, Tom Gosselin posted the fastest time in this weekend's installment of the Maine State Time Trial Series in Damarscotta. Riding in his first time trial of the season, Tom was nearly two minutes faster than he had planned on being, and easily a full minute faster than the runner-up.

Posted by Kendra Jarratt: Stephannie Chase1st place W 35-44 38:48 Kendra  Jarratt 1st place W 18-34 38:08 1st woman overall.

DownTown Claremont Criterium Claremont, NH May 22, 2005

Race Report by Toby Walch: Four Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania riders lined up under threatening skies to contest the 2005 installment of the Claremont Criterium. The fast, flat course featured freshly painted cross walks which made cornering tricky while dry, and dangerous when wet.Fifteen minutes into the 65 minute long race, rain began sprinkling down, and caught the racers unaware as they crossed one of the crosswalks. A rider went down and slid across the road, knocking several others down in his wake. Teammates Chris Karam and Kyle Wolfe were two of the casualties. Thinking quickly, they returned to the start line where they received a free lap to make sure their bicycles were all right, and rejoined the race. With the adrenaline still pumping from his run-in with the ground, Wolfe won the team's first prime of the day.Later in the race, Toby Walch took advantage of a lull in the pace and launched anill-fated attack with one other rider. He was able to stay off the front for several laps, taking a large prime in the middle of the race. As the pack started closing in, Walch made a last ditch effort for a second prime, but was overzealous in the final corner and fell victim to one of the wet crosswalks. After taking his free lap, Walch returned to the race and spent the remaining laps chasing down breaks, helping keep the field together for the sprinters of the team.With ten laps remaining, Chris Green moved to the front, taking the final prime, and contesting the finishing sprint. For the second time this weekend, Green was the team's top finisher (as well as the only member to stay upright the entire time), crossing the line 9th over all in a fierce field sprint for the finale.

Lake Sunapee Road Race, Lake Sunapee, NH 5/21/05

Race Report by Toby Walch: For the first time in recent memory, the sun was shining on the sixty riders lining up for the 30th annual Lake Sunapee Road Race. All seven members of the Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania cycling team were in attendance and ready for the hilly, 70 mile race in western New Hampshire. On the first of three laps, Kyle Wolfe, Tom Gosselin and Toby Walch drove the pace to chase down an early break. Despite fierce blocking efforts from members of other teams, the small group was reeled in within the lap, setting the stage for Chris Green to launch a counter attack. Green escaped with three other riders, two of which were from the same team. Meanwhile Walch and junior standout Morgan MacLeod moved to the front to protect Green's break, which eventually gained a full minute on the rest of the field. Green worked hard in his small group, driving the pace up the hills, while his fellow escapees maintained the pace on the following down hills. In the closing minutes, Green fell victim to the team tactics of the others in his group and finished fourth on the day.Back in the field, Walch and MacLeod continued to work the front of the field until it was obvious that the break would stick. In the closing miles, Wolfe, Gosselin, Chris Karam and Neil Fitch moved to the front of the field to try their hand in the ensuing field sprint. A large crash 500 meters from the finish line caused a ripple through the field, causing several people to lose their rhythm and forcing everyone to find a clear line to the finish. In the end Wolfe finished 15th, while Karam stayed near his wheel for 17th.

Results: Pro,1,2,3 : Chris Green 4th, Kyle Wolfe 15, Chris Karam 17, Morgan Macleod 23, Tom Gosselin 29, Neil Fitch 30, Toby Walch 35 Cat 3/4 Greg Bartick 39, Jeff Karam 59, Cat 4/5 Fred Thomas 5th, Master's 35+ Stuart Abramson 3rd, Carl Hitchcock 10th, Mike Claus 25th, Master's 45+ Graydon Stevens 35

North Stonington Cycling Classic, North Stonington, CT 5/15/05

Pro 1,2,3 Chris Greeen 7, Morgan Mcleod 16, Chris Karam 27, Neil fitch 36, Toby Walch 47, Cat 4 Jurgen Nebelung 3

Jiminy Peak Road Race, Western , MA 5/7/05

Pro,1,2 Tom Gosselin    32nd, Master's 35+ Stuart Abramson  8th, Mike Claus  31st

Turtle Pond, Concord, NH, 5/1/05

Pro, 1,2,3 Chris Green 7th, Chris Karam 8th, Toby Walch 12th, Neil Fitch 23, Cat 3/4 Stuart Abramson 3rd, Jeff Karam 29, Paul Weiss DNF, Masters's 35+ Scott Marr 17th, Masters 45+ Mike Claus 15th, Graydon Stevens 19th, Bill Black 20th

Elite Team Race Report by Toby Walch: The full Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania squad was in attendance for the soggy second race of the weekend, a 65 mile race through the rough roads and rolling terrain outside of New Hampshire's Capitol.  Fifty riders lined up for what amounted to a race of attrition, with roughly 20 competitors finishing the course.   Early in the second of five laps, Chris Green found himself in a large break away group that worked hard to establish a two minute gap in the span of seven miles.  Despite the work of teammates Neil Fitch, Chris Karam and Kyle Wolfe to protect the break by disrupting other's chase efforts, one lap later the break was back in sight, and several groups of riders including Tom Gosselin bridged the gap causing the front group to swell.  Realizing that this group would be the one to win the race, Karam and Wolfe put forth a huge effort to help Toby Walch move up and join with everyone else.   As the race turned up hill, riders who had been in the break staged more attacks.  The rest of the competitors, not willing to let any of these attacks escape, kept the pace high for the day's third lap.   On the fourth lap former national champion Mark McCormack attacked Green and two other riders responded.  Although the four man break split in half, Green continued working hard with his break away partner, hoping for a third place finish.   Meanwhile, Karam, Walch, and Gosselin moved to the front of the remainder of the field to protect Green's fragile lead.  With half a lap to go, two riders surged and Walch joined them, quickly catching Green and his break away partner.  The five worked together, but were quickly caught by the remaining 10 riders in the race.  Again, Green attacked, this time with Walch in tow, working together to gain any advantage they could on the field.  In the last corner before the one-kilometer uphill finish, Walch and Green were caught again, and again Green accelerated, hoping that the hard chasing would have worn down the other racers.  In the final 500 meters, Green was caught, and it was again up to Gosselin to go for team glory.  In the second race of this break out weekend  for the young rider from Lewiston, Tom shifted into his big ring, accelerated through a gap and finished fourth over all.  Green, Karam and Walch finished 7th, 8th and 12th, respectively.   Both races were part of the New England Bicycle Racing Association's points series, and with four riders in the points each day, team Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania cemented their placing among the top teams in New England.  The biggest story of the weekend, however, was Tom Gosselin's two top five finishes.  With his smart sense of timing and keen site of how races unfold, he will be one of the riders to watch as the season enters the hilly, challenging races leading up to the Fitchburg Stage Race at the end of June.

Gould cycling team home Race, Grafton Notch Maine 5/1/05

Gould cycling team had a home race in Grafton Notch (a 24 mile race, the last 11 being all uphill).  There were about 9 teams from New Hampshire and Vermont.  I broke away by myself 4 miles into the race and was alone for the rest of the race except when one guy passed me 4 miles to the finish.  At one point I had 2 minutes on all the riders.  I ended up 2nd in the A race (consisting of 20 strong riders).  There were 30 riders in the B race and 30 in the C race.  The guy was a machine and beat me by 2m:20s.  I beat the group of 8 riders on my tail by around 30 seconds. Wooohoooo! .....Chris Talbot

NHIS Criterium, Loudon, NH  4/30/05
Pro, 1,2,3 Tom Gosselin  5th, Chris Karam 7th, Chris Green  10th, Toby Walch  13
Cat 4 Jurgen Nebelung  13 th, Cat 5 Fred Thomas  1st, Scott Withers 12th, Junior 10 - 14 , Alex Lyscars  14, Master's 35+ Carl Hitchcock  8th Greg Hutchinson  11th, Master's 45+ Graydon Stevens  1st

Elite Team Race Report: Under threatening skies, four members of team Mechanical Services/Cycle Mania, along with 40 other riders, lined up for a 26 lap criterium in a back lot of the New Hampshire International Speedway.  The first of two races held this past weekend in central New Hampshire, this technically hilly crit featured five corners and no flat section for riders to recover.   The race began with the team's own Tom Gosselin taking control of the pace for the first few laps. People began dropping off the back from the beginning, unable to match his pace through such a difficult course.  The field dissolved, with several riders dropping out in the first five laps.   Toward the middle of the race, with roughly 20 riders remaining, a large break escaped and was chased down through the team work of Chris Greek, Chris Karam, and Toby Walch.  With six laps to go, a lone rider escaped off the front and Tom Gosselin worked with a chase group of three other riders to bring him back in, while the duo of Green and Karam worked at the front of the pack, making sure that Tom's group stayed safely off the front.  Their efforts were assisted by the weather, with rain beginning at three laps to go forcing the field to choose caution over speed in chasing down the break.   Gosselin's group never caught the lone rider in front, but did stay away from the field, giving Tom the team's highest placing, finishing fifth over all.  Following his personal style of flying through the pack in the last corner, dodging other sprinters, Chris Karam finished seventh on the day, while Green was tenth and Walch held on for 13th.

Palmer Library RR Palmer, MA 4/24
Pro-1,2,3 Toby Walch 10, Tom Gosselin 14, Kyle Wolfe 33, Neal Fitch ?, Chris Karam ?, Chris Green ?, Stuart Abramson 55, Mike Clauss ?
3/4 Morgan Macleod 56, Paul Weiss ?
35+ Carl Hitchcock 30, Greg Hutchinson ?
45+ Graydon Stevens 30

Elite Team race Palmer race report by Toby Walch: Dry roads and clearing skies greeted the six members of the Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania Elite Cycling Team for the 2005 installment of the Palmer Road Race, a classic 80 mile New England road race. The course, with its sweeping corners and gently rolling hills make it an ideal race for long break ways. With this in mind, Chris Green worked hard to establish an early break in the field, hoping that enough riders would slip away and the rest of the field would be content to sit back and not chase it down. Other teams had a different plan and deliberately sabotaged Green's efforts. When the break returned to the field, Kyle Wolfe, Chris Karam and Neil Fitch worked to stay at the front of the race, keeping the pace up and trying not to let any more breaks escape.Near the 40 mile mark a large group of riders escaped off the front. It quickly became obvious that several dangerous riders were in that break, prompting road captain Wolfe to send Chris Green, Chris Karam and Neil Fitch to the front and reel everyone back in. As the riders off the front began to come back, Tom Gosselin and Toby Walch quickly moved to the front and did the last little bit of chasing. As was the plan, Tom and Toby spent the first half of the race conserving energy in hopes of establishing a late break in the field. With 30 miles to go, Walch launched an attack to which several strong riders reacted. The break worked hard to establish a time gap on the rest of the field. With 20 miles to go, a chase group lead by Gosselin joined the break away. With 30+ guys off the front, this became the decisive move of the day, and with two riders in the break, Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania, with their distinctive blue and white uniforms were one of the best represented teams in the break. In the final miles, Gosselin and Walch both worked hard to bring back riders attempting to escape off the front. The end of the race came down to
a sprint, with Walch finishing 10th and Gosselin holding on for lucky 13th. The results of the past two weekends, with five finishes in the top 20 shows that the Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania team is quickly becoming a respected and recognized force in New England.

Also competing for Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania Elite Cycling
Team, Morgan MacLeod participated in the Category 3 race, working hard
to gain upgrade points to earn his Category 2 racing license.

Sturbridge Road Race, Sturbridge, MA 4/23
Pro-1,2,3 Chris Green 4th, Kyle Wolfe 14, Tom Gosselin 35, Toby Walch 77
35+ Carl Hitchcock 16, Greg Hutchinson 22
45+ Graydon Stevens 28
4/5 Jurgen Nebelung 3rd, Kyle Mitchell 35

Elite Team Race Report by Toby Walch: Four members of the Mechanical Services/ Cycle Mania Elite Cycling Team were present this past saturday for a frigid, rain soaked 50 mile road race in central Massachusetts.  Harsh conditions and a technical course kept the field together for most of the seven laps, despite several break away attempts lead by the team's own Tom Gosselin, Chris Green and Toby Walch.  In the closing laps, Gosselin worked hard to reel in a small break, and helped to get the sprinters into a good finishing position.  The ensuing field sprint was fiercely contested by both Chris  and Kyle Wolfe.  Chris was the team's top finisher,crossing the line fourth overall.  Kyle, who was on the receiving end of some dangerous bike handling by other racers, managed to hold on for 14th place, still within the range of NEBRA points.

Adelphia road race, Myles Standish State Forest Park, MA 4/17/05

Men's Cat 5 Kevin Hays,  6 th Master 's 45+ Graydon Stevens 19th, Men's Cat 3 : Greg Hutchinson  27th Masters 35+ Greg Hutchinson 10-12th?,

Battenkill Roubaix Race Salem NY 4/16/05

Mike Hoover (Team Bikeman) and I made the trip to Salem NY for the inaugural Battenkill Roubaix Race, drawn by the gravel road sections and multiple steep climbs.  I stayed with the front Cat 3/4 group over the hill sections at the start of the race, where many a rider had to grab their 25 on the gravel pitches.  The downhills were mostly paved and on the last big climb of the first half of the race the group was reduced to 20 going over the top.  We headed into a valley road with my recorded max at 54 mph on the descent.  We flew through 10 miles of valley at around 28 mph when we turned onto the last big climb, a 4 mile hill with the first 2 miles gravel.  I needed a little more punch to stay with the boys as the heat was turned up and I drifted off the back with a few riders.  It was a nice spin into the finish for me and fun ride never the less. Cat 3/4 Mike Claus 21

-- Mike Claus

Chris Hinds Criterium, Lincoln, RI - 4/10/05

Results Pro,1,2,3 Kyle Wolfe - 3 rd, Chris Green - 33 rd, Tom Gosselin - 39 Men's Cat 4 Brian Johnson - 52

Exeter Ride Report:

 I w ent down to Exeter Cycle for their Southern NH Wednesday Night Ride (leaves their shop at 5:45 pm ).  Ride was 37 miles of fairly smooth scenic NH pavement.  Pace is fast with a double paceline most of the ride.  25-30 riders for their first ride of the year.  They may go farther when light permits.  Average Speed 24 mph or so.  Hills were very gradual until the end so the larger riders had little trouble pulling back any breaks off the front whenever they wished.  Only sprint is after the final hill, about 200 feet of climbing then a downhill sprint.  Group went over the top and to the sprint line together.  There are no intermediate or Town Line sprints so surges are not an issue.  If you like our Saturday ride this one may be for you.

-- Mike Claus

Marblehead, MA 4/3/05

Pro 1,2,3 Chris Green  22 Tom Gosselin  31 Chris    Karam    39 Toby Walch    ? Cat 3/4 Morgan Macleod    25 Cat 4/5 Jurgen Nebelung    3rd