Pieffer Hill Road Race

[ohmyspokes]

Pieffer Hill Road Race
Stevens, PA
Saturday, June 16, 2007

Women ¾


I arrived at the course around 7:45 - early enough to register, change, and do a one lap pre-ride. My race wasn’t scheduled til 10:20, but I think it’s worth getting there early to survey the terrain and spin my legs loose.

The course started with a quick right turn, followed by a fast and swoopy downhill. The first slow point was a mile or two in, where there was a sharp right followed by a small bump up. Then more downhill and flat sections, a right turn, and a smooth but slightly uphill fast road. Another right turn, and it was climbing. Not steep or terribly long, so I planned to keep it in the big ring. The predominantly uphill final two miles were punctuated by a short downhill and a right turn before the last 600 or so meters to the finish. Our race would complete three laps of the course, for a total of about 20 miles.

The field that served as a parking area wasn’t the best surface for using rollers, so I spent the time before my race shooting the poo with some folks and watching the men’s races in progress. As lineup time approached, I had two gels (when I should have had one) and rolled around on a road that intersected with the course.

Half the women lined up via the back, and the other half lined up via the front, which caused some grumbling in the pack, but it made no difference to me. I was in the second row, good enough.

The race started calmly, with the Sturdy Girls taking the lead. I was in the first third of the pack, rolling along in the draft. Pam from SVVC rolled up along side me and said “Hello Kristy Swope, how are you today?” which made me laugh. I replied that I was just fine and she said she was going to hang out in that part of the field to keep out of trouble.

We kept going at a mellow pace until about halfway through the first lap, when I saw Kate from Vortex wiggling her way to the front. She snuck through the lead riders and took off. I wasn’t in the best position to cover the move, but I figured it was just a jump to get things going. The pack quickly caught her, and I picked up the pace, passing the front of the pack and towing Jennifer from Boston Scientific behind me. We were ahead for just a minute or so and a Sturdy came to the front for the uphill portion. I latched onto her wheel and then went to the front for the little descent.

By the time we finished our first lap, the group was together again. Pam and I traded pulls at the front, along with a girl I didn’t know in a plain jersey. I wanted to help keep the pace a little faster this time around. As we approached the uphill section, I swung right to go through an opening for an attack. Just as I swung, Christine from SVVC swung over in front of me, thwarting my jump. I laughed and said, “Oh! Stymied!” to which Christine replied, “I’m a Mom, I have intuition!” So hopped on her wheel as we ascended. She kept up a good pace and I think we were both hurting a little. I looked back and saw we were a bit ahead of the pack. I told her “We have a gap!” and took over pulling as we crested. As I approached the end of the second lap, I looked back and saw that I had ridden Christine off my wheel. I couldn’t slow down, though, since I knew the pack wasn’t far behind.

I finished the second lap with a good lead and tried to play my strengths by taking the turns at speed and cooking it on the hills. I knew I would lose time on the downhill portions, so I tried to stay low and aero. Every once in a while I would stand for a few strong strokes to pick up the pace and stretch my legs. The pack was out of sight by the time I crested the first little bump. With several miles left to go, there was no way I could even think about relaxing. My stomach felt a little queasy. Two gels – not better than one. I maintained a pace just below total meltdown. If I could save something for the climb, I knew I would keep my lead.

I passed a few men who had been dropped from their packs and, as I made my way down the final little descent, I heard a female voice yelling. Oh crap. From that point, I basically turned myself inside out to keep it going. There was no way I was going to let them catch me in the last mile. I made the last right turn, looked ahead to the finish line, and looked back to the chasers. I was pretty sure I had it. Maybe. I pedaled in what seemed like slow motion. My entire body was on the verge of rebelling against what my mind wanted to do. People were yelling my name. “How do they know me?” I thought. And there was the banner. I got it.

[SheFly]

Congrats on the win! Sounds like you had a good race.

SheFly

[ohmyspokes]

Thanks!

[equus123]

whoa that's awesome!! congratulations! excellent job. sounds like you definitely had the legs and the energy that day (hey you never know...could have been all the caffine the gels jk i'm totally playing)

sounds like you were tearing it up. is this your first win? that's a very well deserved win to be able to solo in. great job

[ohmyspokes]

Thanks!

Oh man, espresso and apple-cinnamon gels do not mix. :P Too much science in my belly.

This was my second win. The first was the Hellertown Crit that NJBikeGal wrote about.

[NJBikeGal]

You are such a little motor! Rock on, girl! You are having one heck of a season this year...keep it up and you'll be challenging Cat 2s in no time!

I rode the Cargas Crit on Sunday. It was an open race, so it was a very different experience than a Cat 4 crit, that's for sure! I ended up 10th, which after a 25 mile crit in 90+ degree weather, I was pretty happy with. Our top finish was 2nd (Sally), so we had a successful day!

[ohmyspokes]

You are such a little motor!

Ok- that made me laugh, as they say, out loud.

Thank you very much.

I've been wondering how Cargas went. Congrats on 10th! I can't believe it's your first season. When are you upgrading?

That's awesome Sally got 2nd.

[equus123]

25 mi is fairly long for a crit. 10th place - you should be very pleased and proud of that finishing. i don't normally mind the heat but i'm not much of a fan of racing over 90 degrees. i'm guessing they made you gals go last (and let all the fragile little boys start when it's cooler in the AM)?

[NJBikeGal]

i'm guessing they made you gals go last (and let all the fragile little boys start when it's cooler in the AM)?

But of course! It wasn't so bad, except that I have been working very hard on staying hydrated in races (bad cramping episode at the State Champ Race!), and drinking my fluids was like taking a swig out of a hot tub! BLECH!

It was a long race...and we had 5 preems(sp?), so there were quite a few laps that got ramped up. Nobody was really willing to do a lot of work...you know, like take off from the start line (cough...Kristy...cough, cough!). That kept us all together pretty much to the final lap.

[RoadRaven]

OMS and NJ..... sounds like some serious hard work and good racing... congrats to you both

I always appreciate hearing/reading about races here on this forum - that help keep me motivated, particularly as I have moved up a grade and have yet to hang on in a road race!

So thanks to both of you and well done on awesome efforts

[ohmyspokes]

like take off from the start line...

Yeeeah...I don't think I'll ever get away with that move again, will I?

[NJBikeGal]

Yeeeah...I don't think I'll ever get away with that move again, will I?

Hey...that was a dang sweet gutsy move...and it WORKED! Can't say anything bad about that...except that you made the rest of us work WAAAY too hard!

HUGE congrats again on your Peiffer Hill win! Will you be my swami and teach me all that you know?!

[equus123]

Will you be my swami and teach me all that you know?!

Better yet....your Obi Wan.

[ohmyspokes]

Just saying, the element of surprise was a huge part of that...and I think that's gone when I'm talking to people at lineup and a girl says, "I heard what you did at that crit"

Cracking me up...

Hey, we all learn from each other, right? That's part of what makes this so fun.

(not a swami but I am vegetarian)