Easterns and the end of an era

This past weekend marked my second and last Easterns weekend. Hosted in Vassar, it was a heck of an event. TTT and RR on Saturday, and a crit on Sunday.

Day 1
Team Time Trial
I stepped down and did the TTT with the B squad this weekend, hoping to go for a "V", and because Justin and Jeff had upgraded to As for the mass starts, and couldn't do the Bs anymore. We were relatively smooth for the 11 miles. I worked it up real hard on the last lap and did a few long hard pulls towards the end, but we ended up only 3rd. I think Yale and MIT beat us out, which was a theme for the weekend, as these teams were sparring for the overall..... Yale and MIT? Go fucking study you dorks.

Road Race

This was a fun race, but not for me. Pretty epic course though. I was bitched off the back of the field on the first climb, just a few miles in. I chased for most of the 30 mile lap with a group of ~10. We got within sight, and people started saying stupid shit like... go easy, we'll catch them. Stupid. So on the next little climb I put my balls on the stem and went as hard as I could, catching Munas's Subaru in the process. I may have ridden directly behind it for a few miles... but then it was a long descent, and I went through a shit-ton of cars and motorcycles, and even swerved my way through traffic coming into a hairpin turn. That was fun. Caught back onto the group just in time for THAT climb again.... you guessed it. Bitched again, and just rode to the feedzone and called it a day. Luke manned up from our field and got himself a top 10. Legit!

Chasing back to the group next to the team car. So

Day 2
Criterium
I was really looking forward to the crit. I got to the course and was already a little disappointed. Four corners and flat it was... but the straights were so long, and the corners so easy.... this would be too easy. Noone would get shelled. Too many people would think they could win. And that's what happened. I stayed right at the front for the whole race, feeling pretty good. Got mixed up going for primes and was never really in the best position for them. People kept FLYING by on the backstretch completely voiding my good position I had fought for. I worked very hard to stay in the top 10 in the last few laps, but then when we got the bell, it all sat up. All the way across the road. Bitches! Doesn't someone have teammates? Shouldn't we have shelled half of you? Yes and yes. The BC dude Greg had a teammate, and he got a legit leadout on the backstretch and won. I botched following a strong wheel, and came across in 6th. Not the best way to end the season, but it wasn't too bad.

Cornering after taking a flyer that no one was interested in coming with for. Noooo I'm not clipping my pedal.

Next up: Turkey Hill this Saturday. Hopefully I can help some of the Dynaflo guys who's names happen to be Munas or Spohn out. Or maybe make it over the hill twice in good enough position to mix it up myself. We'll see.