Conference noted::bicycle

    Same course as last year? 
    
      Chip

    Is there a separate category for women?  Or do they ride with
    the men in the appropriate age category?

    Thanks,
    Sue

     There was a separate category for women last year. I don't have any
    details on this year's.
    
     Chip

    Though I don't have a registration form yet (they should
    be mailed soon), I expect separate women's categories with
    same age groupings as the men. Course should be the same.
    
    I'll post more info as I get it.  Contact Lisa Doucetts
    if you need answers now (.0 has her phone#).
    
    Mark

    I'd like to organize the first training ride on the Appleblossom
    RR course; I'll probably do at least one more training ride in May.
    
    Two options for riders:
    	1. For a longer ride, meet in Hudson,MA and bike over to the
    	   course, do the course, then bike back (estimate this is
    	   around 50 miles).
    	2. Meet at the course start (XRE Corporation in Littleton,MA)
    	   and just ride the 15 mi course.
    
    Here's the scoop:
    	1. Meet in Hudson at 11:00am on Sunday April 12 ... and
    	   we'll bike over to the start for 12:30.
    	2. or drive to the course start in Littleton @ 12:30pm.
    
    Directions:
    	1. For the longer (50+ mi) ride:
    
    	from 495 heading North, take exit#26 (Rt 62 Hudson/Bolton),
    	Left off the exit onto 62 West, 100 yards on your right is
    	a big parking lot. Meet there 10:50am-11:00am Sunday April 12.
    
    	from 495 heading South, take exit#26 (Rt 62 Hudson/Berlin),
    	Right off the exit onto 62 East, 100 yards on your left is
    	a big parking lot. Meet there 10:50am-11:00am Sunday April 12.
    
    	Basically the commuter parking lot is right off the 495 exit ...
    
    2. TO drive to the start of the course for the 15 mile course ride...
    	495 to Rt 2 West.  Take the 1st Exit (Taylor St), then Right
    	off the exit.  First Left off Taylor, then immediate Right into
    	XRE Corporation parking lot.  I'll give better directions when
    	I recieve the '92 application form.
    
    SOund good?! This course is very twisty/turny so it's good to ride it
    once or twice before racing it.
    
    Regards,
    Mark

    More info on Appleblossom RR; I called Lisa Doucette from Mass
    Foundation for Children (617-648-6207) & she is mailing maps &
    registration forms out.  Those who competed last year should get
    one in the mail.  If you have never done this race, then give Lisa
    a call & she'll send you the reg form & map.
    
    She mentioned, same course as last year, but one of the bumpy roads
    has been completely paved.
    
    Hope to see interested parties this Sunday (see .5)
    
    Regards,
    mark

     ONE of the bumpy roads? Man, that couse was like an artillery field.
    
     How many riders were MIA that day??? The marshals had to get metal
    detectors to find them... Okay, okay I'll stop now.
    
      :-)
    
             Chip

>     How many riders were MIA that day??? The marshals had to get metal
>    detectors to find them... Okay, okay I'll stop now.
    
Important consideration, Chip - are metal detectors able to find Ti? You
might want to take a radio beacon along, wouldn't want the metal detector
guys to come out lookin' for you and just figger you were another pop-top :-)

                                                          ken

    I held the Appleblossom RR training ride yesterday
    (Sun 4/12) ... 12 of my club members attended;
    nobody from this NOTES file showed up.
    
    I'll hold one more training ride before the race;
    Saturday May 9.  9:00am from commuter lot in Hudson,
    or meet @ the race start at 10:15am.
    
    If you are interested, respond directly to me via
    VAXMail (MRAERO::MREID).  Yesterday we waited 20 minutes
    at the race start (we arrived @ 12:10, advertised 12:30 meet)
    and nobody showed. I'd rather not have my riders waiting
    in the cold for no reason.
    
    Let me know if you are interested.  This will not be 'race
    pace'; it's a ride to review the course & discuss probable
    tactics.
    
    Regards,
    Mark
                           

Mark and I decided last-minute to do this race.  Unfortunately, that means we
don't have an entry form with whatever useful info is on there.  Previous notes
said the starting time is 10am.  I can't imagine they have one mass start (or
do they?).  If not, does anyone w/an entry form know when the husband/wife 
category starts?

Also, does anyone know how the husband/wife (or any other team category) works?
Does the pair get the time of the slowest one?  average time?  combined time?

If you see a couple in matching tie-dyed T-shirts, that's us. %^)  

Hopefully we'll get to meet some of you noters.

Sue

	They do stagger the start by age groups. Last year the teams 
	(husband/wife, father/son, etc) went off last.

	I have an entry form but the rules on team racing are not on it.

	-tom

     If you're worrying about registration, they allowed it there last
    year...
    
      Chip

    RE: .10
    
    You may register day of race.  I recommend that any DEC employees bring
    a 'matching gift' form to the race - the race is 'free' and they ask
    for a $15 minimum donation to Mass Foundation for Children. Even if you
    just do the $15, why not have DIGITAL match it and bring in more money
    for a good cause (and help keep the race going next year...).
    
    Husb/Wife team time is sum of both rider times; lowest time wins.
    I suspect the husband/wife team to beat is Todd & Margo Webber -
    both very fast triathletes that may show up.
    
    Plan on a 10am start time; although they do stagger the packs, there
    are not that many packs and you may as well be ready in case they
    throw the husband/wife teams in with the 3-person teams (which go off
    first!).
    
    Regards,
    Mark

    26-34 male  (Minuteman Road Club racers listed)
    
    	1. 35:34 Eric Reid (solo last 9 miles)
        2. 36:30 Mike Dwyer (DECie won field sprint among 5 or 6 in lead group)
        4. 36:34 JJ Laukaitis
        7. 39:09 Mark Reid (DECie)
    
        I led out the pack at the start of the race, moderate pace up the
        first hill allowing teammates Eric Reid & Mike Dwyer to move to the
        front.  As Mike stayed glued to Eric's wheel, I let a gap open up
        after the climb; the pack eventually noticed & sprinted up to them.
        This continued a number of times, and was especially effective when
        I gently slowed while climbing - tired riders content to sit in
        while Eric & Mike eased off the front. Eventually a lead pack or 6
        or 7 racers formed; my attempt to solo up to them failed after a
        long few miles of chasing (my brother wasn't waiting!).  After 6
        miles, Eric poured on the steam, and Mike followed as the two
        initiated a breakaway. Eric on his aero bars (one of the few races
        that still allows them) and Mike desperately drafting.  As has 
        happened every year, nobody could even hang in Eric's draft, and
        Mike dropped off & went back to the lead group.  I slowed to join
        in a chase group, and I slowed the group at times to be sure they
        didn't catch the 6 or 7 lead riders which contained 3 teammates.
    
    35-44 Male
    
    1. 38:16 Kevin Johnson (From BRC, also won last year)
    2. 38:20 John Walker MRC
    3. 38:25 Pete Vincent MRC (DECie - his first race ever!)
    9. 38:54 Jeff Roberts MRC (DECie)
    
     The lead group stayed together mostly from the start; Jeff
    Roberts & Pete Vincent tried a couple unsuccessful breaks,
    and after the group made the turn for the last 1.5 miles to the
    finish John Walker surged and got a nice gap.  His teammate Pete
    blocked from the front of the field with Kevin on his wheel. Kevin
    eventually surged giving chase, Pete tried to get his wheel, but
    alas Kevin was too strong and passed John; Pete finished third
    never really getting Kevin's wheel.
    
    45-54 Male
    
    1. 37:25 Charlie Schnare (DECie)
    
    Charlie charged out of the start, and after the first hill he looked
    back to see ... nobody with him!  He solo'd the entire race; a chase
    group of four (3 NEBC riders in chase group) kept him in sight but
    could not close. Charlie is known for his TT'ing ability (prior MA/RI
    District Champion) and his tenacity on hills; those boys in the chase
    group must have suffered chasing Charlie ... but as is often the case
    with the winner - nobody suffered more than Charlie.  Note that his
    finish time is also faster than the winner of the 35-44 group!
    
    Regards,
    Mark

     I forgot to congratulate all winners (sorry Peter). Charlie's never
    a surprise... He is THE TERMINATOR in that age group.
    
       Chip
    

    
    Pete,
    
    Next time will you at least break a sweat?
    
    anonymous