Conference noted::bicycle

    
    	It finished in a field? I hope this was an ATB event...
    
    Graham.
    

    RE:.-1. I'm tellin' you, riding through that mud with 1" road wheels
    and tires is a lot of work. Gave me a great idea though; I sunk in so
    far that my pedals were churning up the soil really well so I don't
    have to rent a roto-tiller for my garden anymore!
    
    								:^)

     I didn't mind the mud too much. It was trying to those ballplayers
    out of my derailleur that bugged me!
    
     Seriously folks... The course definitely took a turn for the better.
    No suicide finish into downtown Marlboro like last year.
    
     The roads weren't great, but the squirrels out BIG TIME! We had one
    guy in our pack (136) that scared the heck out of everyone. I think
    it might have been his first. He got dropped about 6-7 miles into it.
    Everyone breathed easier.
    
     The finish area was GREAT. Nice and wide and straight. The course was
    marshalled extremely well. Nice, organized race... Cool yes.
    
     I thought it was a little slow for a fairly flat course. I think our
    pack ended up with a 23.6 avg. mph (approx. 50 minutes). Last year we
    hauled in at over 24mph in the 48 minute area...
    
     It was fun. I'm looking forward to next year.
    
        Chip

    re: -1  
    
    SLOW?? Jeez................I thought this was a citizen's race. ;-)
    
    Yea, I was in the 30s group - at least until near the top of Forest St. 
    It took me just a bit too long to crest that hill, and they were gone.
    Alf obviously misunderstood my pre-race instructions to him concerning
    the early hills at Nickerson/Ames/Forest Sts.  Knowing he would be near
    the lead at this point, I told him to take the lead and SLOW the pack
    down til over the hills.  That way, I'd have chance to stay with the
    lead pack for awhile!!  He took the lead alright, and proceeded to
    take off with some guy in an NEBC shirt!!  Thanks, Alf  ;-)
    
    A second group formed on Rte 85 near the Marlboro/Southboro line.  It
    swelled from 3 to ~8 riders until Flanders Rd somewhere and broke up.
    
    I basically rode the last 2.5 - 3 miles solo.  Finished in ~54:30.
    
    My cateye read 19.7 miles, FWIW.
    
    rb

     I live in a fairly hilly area, but I thought the only hill really
    worth mentioning was the one climb before we got into Marlboro center.
    
     Those NEBC guys really control a race. For a public group, they
    actually practice blocking, breakaways, sprint finishes, etc...
    Those guys are serious.
    
     I was one of the guys in the Gamache Cyclery shirts (there were 3 of
    us) riding the MERLIN. 
    
     I got caught fairly deep in the pack right before the road widened up
    by the field. I still managed 12th, but was pretty disappointed with
    myself.
    
       Chip

    Sorry 'bout that, Ricky.  Tell ya what, next race I'll just take a dive
    and bring the pack down with me.  In the ensuing mess (and as they're
    erecting the cross on which they'll crucify me) you should be able to
    make at least 20 minutes on 'em.  That should do it.  
    
    I sort of enjoyed the race but didn't like the cool weather.  Normally,
    it congests me too much and I wind up wheezing and spitting and
    coughing.  As usual, I went to the front on the climbs and got passed
    as if I was going in reverse on the descents.  Oh well, it was a good
    race to end the season.
    
    Alf

    
    
      Does anyone have info about the 92 Stratus Race?
    
    
     Thanks
     John C.

    1992 Stratus Race,  in Marlboro,MA
    
    Sunday Sept 6, 1992, not sure of start time.
    Citizen & Cat 5 only
    Same course and start/finish as last year; i.e. 20 mile loop done once.
    
    For application contact Bill Fiske at (508)485-5855.
    
    Regards,
    Mark

    30-39 Race,  Sept 6, 1992
    
    Fiske really runs a great race compared to many USCF races, doesn't he?
    Start was roughly on time, marshalls at corners, organized finish,
    awards ceremony immediately after last riders in, and free iced tea,
    cookies, banannas, gatorade, etc.
    
    CHIPSTER sprints his way to second place, nearly missing 1st place!
    3rd place was Chip's teammate, and I finished 4th inches away from 3rd!
    (not sure of who finished 1st).  My MRC teammates Jeff Roberts and
    Rich Korn finished somewhere 5th-8th.
    
    The race started fairly fast, with DECie Jeff Roberts and myself
    pushing the pace up the opening hills 1 mile into the race ...
    had to get rid of as many non-climbing sprinters as possible as
    this race usually comes down to a bunch finish.  These slight hills
    also punish anyone who has not properly warmed up.
    
    The rest of the race was relatively uneventful, flat/rolling miles
    quickly spun away as the finish approached.  Jeff Roberts took the
    lead with about 500-600 yards to go, I was on his wheel in excellent
    position as the field started to wind up.  Jeff quickly spun out
    (had is 14x30 Mt Washington gears on!!) and a number of riders flashed
    by.  I started humping my 12 ... gaining ... gaining ... passing riders
    that had passed me ... but in the end I could not come around Chip
    & Company, threw my bike to try and snag third, and missed by inches.
    
    GREAT FINISH CHIP!  And man did he look cool in his Oakley Sub-Zero
    glasses!
    
    Regards,
    Mark

     Gee thanks Mark... That was the first race with my new Oakleys! I owe
    it all to them...
    
     Even though the weather wasn't waht was advertised, I have to agree
    with Mark.. The race was well organized and very uneventful (except
    for some very major squirrels in the pack).
    
     Mark and company did a great job attacking the hills trying to lean
    out a very large pack. I did notice it would stretch out the pack
    over the hill, but a lot of the guys were able to pull up again.
    
     It was a fairly quick race... I had 24.7 avg. spd. on my Cateye.
    Not too slow anyway... 
    
     The guy who won was from Andover, Ma... I can't remember his name
    either. The 3rd place finisher was Dave Lystila (Fitchburg). I had
    my Mt. Washington gears on too... 39-53 -- 11/13/16/23/26/28/30 with
    a "dead" gear (won't use) as the 8th speed. 
    
     It was a fun even though a lot of the guys said I looked like a bug
    with those Oakleys on!
    
      Chip