Conference noted::bicycle

     What a joke! This is the same day as the New England Regionals.
    
     Why couldn't they have kept the original date anyway. Another
     racing conflict produced by poor planning and no consideration.
    
     BTW, the flame is ON (if someone missed it).
    
     Chip

         I think that it is great to have a race that is centered around
    citizen racers and children.  Hope to see many more of them, although
    I am a licensed racer, I am a little tired of the jackass dispositions
    shown by some licensed racers and by Pro racers.
    
         Abe;             
    

     Format is fine. I happen to love the TdL, and am not pleased that
     they chose to intefere with another Ma local race weekend. It was
     perfect when they used it as sort of an early race schedule kick-off.
    
     To say it was centered around citizen racers and children might be a
     stretch. This race consistently drew contestants worldwide (as far
     away as New Zealand - won a few times).
    
     I agree with the value of its presentation and diversity. Quite a 
     draw (spectator-wise).

    
    Chip, when you say the race drew contestants from as far away as New
    Zealand, I believe you are referring to the pro race (which is not
    being held this year).
    
    I'm just glad they brought the TdL back.  I don't care what date they
    hold it.  But then, this is probably the only race I will do this year,
    so it doesn't conflict with any other events for me.  What I've always
    liked about the TdL is that it brought out riders from various
    abilities - not just the elite cyclists.
    
    
    
    
    Steve
    

I'm glad it's back, too.  It's probably the only race I'll do, as well.
It's always interesting to see how I stack up against other cyclists.
In the past, I've hung on the back of the pack.  With my new aero rims,
maybe I'll be pulling the pack along!!

Nah!

This year will be the first I'll race in the over 30 crowd.  In the past, I've
heard that this is the fastest group.  Is this true?  Any comments Chip?

-Buddy

     It used to be fast, however I'll be 42 this year so it's a quickly
    fading piece of information. I loved that race too. I hope they do
    some better schedule planning next year!

         The over 30 group is normally fast, especially the 34-44 age
    group.  This may happen because a lot of those people either train
    with or are former Cat 2 racers who have given up their racing license.
    
        Abe;
    

     Hey! Watch it!
    
     I was bummin' a little... The age break used to be (39), then 40 to
     something. I was going to get to ride with the geezers then they 
     cancelled it!!

    hey watch who yer callin' a geezer, gramps.
    
    ed

    	OK, so where does one get entry form, etc., for this thing.
    
    	A friend wants to try this thing (maybe).
    
    	Scott

    Call the Sun (Lowell local paper) and they'll mail you the package.
    Sorry I don't have the number handy...
    
    Chip                                  

    	Chip,
    
    	Thanks for the info.
    
    	Scott

I rode in the E category (35-39 men) event yesterday. Came in 17th out of 100+
riders in the category. The morning started out with moderate rain, and temps
in the 60s. By the start, the rain had tapered off. The main pack rode at a
pretty mild pace for most of the 28.5 miles of the course. I pulled at the
front some near the beginning to try and pick up the pace to string things out,
but that didn't go anywhere.

For most of the race, the front group was big! Biggest pack that I've been in
before. Made it nearly impossible to move around. The bunch covered our entire
side of the road most of the time. I stayed in the front 10 or so riders when I
could, since moving back up after sliding rearward was hard and took forever.
There wers continual calls for "brake!" as the accordion effect did its thing
on little hills and such. I thought it was funny after a while. 

The entire course can be ridden in the big ring fairly easily. To me, sitting
on a wheel most of the time (shame), the pace was pretty relaxed. A little
talking every now and then.

With about five miles to go and the last semi-notable hill coming up, I was
caught about 20 places back in the bunch. Oops. So I slid over to the right
edge of the road, and aggressively zipped up a notch here and there, and got to
the front by the bottom of the hill (about 3.5 miles to go). I pulled fairly
hard up the hill, again hoping to string things out. I didn't look back to see
how it was working, but by the top only one other rider came alongside and then
passed me, so it did a little anyway. From the top, there was 3 miles to go,
mostly gradually downhill. A good-sides group soon re-formed and rode together
until a sharp left turn at a traffic light. A court marshal and a police
officer had held the intersection open for us, but there was a long line of
waiting cars in the middle. Some riders when along one side, some the other,
and so the group totally mixed up at the turn. I ended up taking the long line,
and was a ways back. From there it was about a mile to the finish. I rode hard
and passed a few people, and there was a good sprint for the finish. I'm not
much of a sprinter, so I only passed another couple of folks by the line. We
finished in 1:13, with a 23.3 MPH average. 

After the finish line are the "chutes", narrow chalk lanes -- one per category
-- that the riders walk through in the order of finish to have the results
taken. I don't think this scheme works very well, as people jostle a lot right
at and over the finish line, and so it's hard to know what the order was right
on the line. I was walking to the chute next to a rider, and we had no idea
which of us might have finished ahead of the other. So I said 'be my guest,'
and he was recorded before me. 

Overall, it was a fun time, but a little frustrating because of the big pack!
						-- Tom

Tom, you're ride was similar to mine.

I rode in the C category (30-35 men) and came in around something-teen, as well
out of about 65 or so (just a guess, didn't actually try to count).  My race
was even milder as we averaged just over 22 mph for the 28.5 miles.  I couldn't
believe how slow it was.  I tried to pick things up at the beginning by going
to the front and trying to push the pace.  After I got tired, my friend came
up and took a pull.  After we both got tired, we got sucked back into the pack
but nobody wanted to let us into the paceline of about 7-8 club members
("Images" from New Hampshire, I think), so we got stuck in the middle of the
big pack.  This went on for just about the whole race.  The pace was so slow
that we got bored and fought our way to the front a few times just to try
to liven things up, but the clubs that rode together just sucked our wheels
until we got tired, then wouldn't let us back in line.

Just before the last big hill, three riders went down because for some reason,
they thought the race turned left at the intersection.  When they realized
that this wasn't the case, it was too late, since they had already committed
themselves.  They locked up their wheels and fishtailed on the wet pavement
before they all went down.

As we approached the hill a few miles from the finish I was caught in the
middle of the pack, so I squirmed my way to the front and pulled beside the
club guy's paceline.  They all got behind me and I pulled pretty hard up the
hill.  They all just waited for the crest, then blew by me.

Approaching the finish, once again I was caught in the middle of the big pack,
so I squirmed my way to the front again and rode really hard towards the
line.  By this time, I knew I couldn't get into the paceline, so I just
pushed as hard as I could to get some distance on them.  It was then that I
noticed one of the club guys about 50 yards ahead of me.  I was suprised that
nobody was on his wheel.  He just jumped too soon, and so did I.  I managed to
catch him, but just as I did, we were 200 yards away from the finish line and
the front of the pack sprinted by us.

My friend finished in the front pack that sprinted by us and I probably came
in around 18'th or so.  All in all, a pretty boring race which was dominated
by a couple of clubs that had no interest in anything except watching the
scenery go by until the sprint.  I guess if you want to win, that's what you've
got to do, but I didn't have the discipline to do it.  I did have more fun
doing it this way, though.

For me, it was my 4'th TdL and it was quite a rush to be pulling the pack along
at my own pace instead of somebody elses.

-Buddy

     While I didn't do this one I have 3 in my pocket. It's pretty much
     what goes on. The course, itself, is not demanding so it's very
     hard to get away unless you've got the right number of guys (and
     right guys) to drive a good speed for a few miles... For this
     reason, it could be the ideal race to try and get away. You 
     probably wouldn't provoke a serious reaction (if any).
    
     This was one of my favorite races... I hope they don't schedule
     it on top of a bunch of other stuff next year...
    
     Chip

    I raced in the "young old guys" group (40 -45), F class.   I would
    guess there were ~75 riders in this race.   Unlike the previous replies, 
    this race started off quick from the get-go.   We weren't quite to the 
    bridge in town when a group of riders (6-8) took off.
    
    A bunch of us began to chase, but it became evident to me - and about a
    dozen others - there was no way that we could stay with that pace, let
    alone catch them.   Several guys continued to give chase.  They formed
    a small (6 or so) chase group.   Both these groups got out of sight
    fairly early in the race.   So, I became part of the third group, which
    remained together for the entire race.   We caught a few guys from the
    2nd group, so we all figured we were racing for places 12-30.
    
    Several of us got dropped on the last hill at 3.5 miles left, but I 
    managed to work my way back to my group just before we got to the bridge 
    heading back into town.   As we got off the bridge, turning left, there
    was vehicular traffic everywhere.   The group almost came to a halt...I
    shot around to the left, sprinted for 50 yds or so, and was suddenly
    all alone w/ .5 mile left, with the group bearing down on me.
    
    We re-grouped quickly, and with the finish line in sight, our sprint
    began.   Unfortunately, for the 4 of us on the right side of the road,
    closet to the curb, a cop was *allowing* stopped traffic to turn right at 
    the intersection, .25 mile from the finish.  We screamed, we hollered, we
    slowed down.   He stopped the traffic for us, while the rest of the group 
    who had gone to the left of the stopped traffic had a clear line to the
    finish.   It was a bunched sprint.   I came in toward the back of the
    group, probably ~25th place.   
    
    Our group's pace was slow....I ended up with a time (~1:15:30, 22.8 mph) 
    which was ~1:00 slower than my 1992 time.  I didn't catch the winning time 
    in my class.   If the lead group kept up their original pace, I would guess
    they finished around 1:10-1:12.   Nevertheless, my ride was fun....my group
    was friendly, most everyone took a turn at pulling.  Any attempts to break 
    away from the group were covered quickly.  Almost everyone in my 3rd group 
    knew how to ride in a group.   So, we never encountered any safety problems.
    
    All-in-all, a good workout and a good time.....since I only race 1 or
    2X per year, the TdL is my favorite.   Hopefully, it will continue for
    many years to come.....rb
                                  

    Just an FYI. The Sunday Lowell Sun (March 26), stated that there would
    be NO Tour de Lowell this year due to scheduling conflicts, but they
    hoped it would be back bigger and better next year.

    -Dom

RE: -.1                 -< No Tour de Lowell for 95 >-

Wow, that's a real bummer.  It's the only race I do all year and I always
look forward to it.  Anyone have any recommendations for other citizen's
races this spring/summer in the eastern MA / southern NH area?

I know there's one in Fitchburg every year on the 4th of July weekend, but
we always hit the Lakes Region that weekend for vacation.

-Buddy

RE: <<< Note 2739.18 by HYLNDR::OUELLETTE "Buddy Ouellette" >>>

>I know there's one in Fitchburg every year on the 4th of July weekend....

For the last year or two, the citizens class was not available. Only licenced
racers at this point. I think it's this way for 1995 as well.
						-- Tom

    The president of FCC told me that they will not allow Cat V's in this
    years event.  You must be a Cat IV or higher.  Also it is a 4 day event
    for all classes (previous years only the Cat III's and up did the TT).

    What a drag! I'm toning my race season down big time this year and that
    was one I was looking forward to...
    
    Chip