Jasper Race

Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Jasper Race


I picked up Paul Kingsbury and Paul Wagner at 6:00 this morning and headed to Jasper. Breakfast for PK was leftover fettuccini & sausage, PW had a Dunkin Donuts egg sandwich served by an idiot. MMMMM good eating. I just had epo with my coffee. Bad jokes along the way but l felt good to be doing the team thing. BHV, classic bhv, and even ancient Kingsbury Jerseys appeared at the start. Steve Burdette missed it but I think I counted 7 BHV riders. Myself, the two Pauls, Dana Carr, Kent Goben, Dave Schirmer, and Greg (sorry don't know your last name) and I think Brian Klotz. Guess that is eight. We joined 28 riders including two recumbents at the start. Oswald cycle from Mansfield had at least 6 riders. Course was as follows 31.2 mile course flat start (yeah right) & gradual climb to a steep climb for the sprint checkpoint. The next five miles are down hill with rolling, level curves to the turn on 248. The next 9.3 miles is mostly flat with a turn back to Jasper in Canisteo. Last 13.1 miles flat (wrong) with gradual climb (my ass) to a steep climb (got that part right) 2 miles from the finishMost of us mortals got spit off the front midway up the first steep climb. I ended up on the flat section with Dave and we worked together to catch a group of 6 that was just around the bend. We were inching closer but needed that third man. Ok maybe a third and fourth man. Paul and Dana kept up with the leaders. The group in front of us starting crumbling and we caught Greg and added him to our pace line. Finally we caught this 17 year old Oswald boy, and if the Oswald boys are reading you need to teach that kid how to pull! Just kidding he did fine. Lousy 17......skinny....no good.... Last hill I was spent and let Dave and the wunderkind pull away. Saw Dave struggling and thought he'll need my help to reel that kid in again. I should stand and climb harder.......... Go get him Dave! Over that last climb and pushed down hard to look good for the Amish podium girls. I think Paul said he was fourth and Dana was third. The wunderkind just clipped Dave. I was next followed by Greg, Brian, Kent, and Paul Wagner. Paul was a little late for the group picture. First comment from him was that he wanted to quit after the first five miles. To his credit he did finish. Not dead last either. Think he beat and old guy on a bent. So overall a great race. Most of us plan to go the next one at Watkins Glen on July 15th I need a massage