Hello from Missoula Montana were I have been home since around 4 tonight. I worked on my bikes and went for a late MTB ride up the fire road. Earlier today I was in the Montana Velo Road Race [map]. The course was a 20 mile flat course with a gravel road section and a small set of rollers by a lake. Here is my recollection of how it went down.
We rolled out to start the race in a comfy group of 20 riders in our group. We had the usual hard work at the front with a couple attempts at breaking out early. I stayed at the back and just bid my time and tried to rest and just take in the situation until it was time to go to the front to work.
As we approached the half way point of the first lap I was told to push the pace a little because we were about to hit the dirt and I shouldn’t be in the back. I did try to move up a little bust stayed back in the pack so I wouldn’t get tricked into doing the work at the front. A NRO rider broke out hard and his fellow team mates slowed the pace.
I was stuck in the pack for about three miles. by the time I could get a clear run to the front the rider that broke away was a half mile ahead. I notice a corner coming up and everyone started to swing left and slow down. I hit the hole hard and sprinted free of the peloton.
I ran a 172 beats per minute heart rate to the rider that was out front. I felt I would reel him back in and show the group that no one breaks out. I looked back and the peloton was sitting back almost enjoying my expenditure of extreme energy to bring this guy back. So I tried something else instead.
I asked the guy if he felt strong and to my relief he said yes. I told him to catch on and we would attack. he shouted that he did not feel as strong as I was riding so I slowed down. We worked together to finish out the first lap.
Is we rode out to the second lap the peloton was a minute or tow behind. We clearly were going to make the break work. To my disappointment the break started to fall apart. My break away partner started to slow down. I wondered if he was pulling me back to the peloton. He told me to be smooth and try to stay consistent. I slowed down and worked with him until about a mile from the halfway point where the courses only climb awaited. He was clearly slowing down and behind him was the peloton. I was within moments of being caught. I took off!
I climbed as hard as I could and looked back. the peloton was right behind me. I went harder and struggled over the rollers with as much power as I could muster. As I settled into a time trail mode I stayed focused and at one with the bike. My heart rate was up to 174 bpm and it had been there for 15 minutes. To my surprise I was able to actually pick up the pace on the flats and rode away from the peloton. I thought I was free and clear all I had to do was survive the last 5 miles to the finish line.
As I rounded the last corner and about 3 miles from the finish I looked back. The peloton looked far enough back but there was a rider making a break to bridge up to me. It was my friend that I went to Pocatello with. I hunkered down and tried to keep a steady pace.
With a mile to go my friend pulled up behind me. I was impressed with his strength! He was in another class so I knew I was going to win Masters B and he was going to win Masters A. We went into the final kilometer and I started to show my happiness with a on the bike dance. as we neared the finish line he sprinted but I did not care. I had won my race and he was a seasoned racer and quite the sprinter.
Stay tuned as next week I am off to Georgetown Lake for the last road race before the MTB season. I am going to miss the peloton.
Boneshakerbike 
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