OSRS #5 - Spring Valley - BigDaveSports & 7 Hills Racing

Late to the line as usual and started at the back of a big field. There was a crash and some sketchy stop go stuff. Managed to get to the front by the 2nd lap. Max won the coveted coffee prime! Decided to keep the gas on after the 2nd climb and took the turns agressively and found myself with a gap. Decided to make a go of it. I got a pretty good lead and then went the wrong way on a turn. Not sure what I was thinking there. An OSU rider bridged to me, which turned out to be a good thing. we worked together most of the rest of the way. He dropped me for a while on the last lap, but I caught him. I was able to accellerate away on the final climb.

Yep, it was windy. Too much caffeine and not enough sugar before this race. I started out weak and jittery. I got blown off the breakaway before it even broke away, then it seemed like I couldn't hold a single wheel that rolled by in that wind. Finally ended up with 3 others to work with and we stayed together the whole way. Jenny from 7 Hills caught up in the 3rd lap. She weighs like 50 pounds and I just watched her get smaller (if that is possible)on the final climb.

6 guys came out and rode super hard. Best race so far.

Feeling more comfortable each race. Had some good teammates to line up with at the start and we were all looking to ride strong. Spent some time off the front after the first lap but with the wind knew i was not going have enough to stay away for the rest of the race so i settled in and spent most up the day up front in the top ten saving the legs a bit. After 3rd time up the only kinda real climb a small group pulled away with a few us just off the back. Spent some time with another rider working real hard to catch up but was not able to close the gap. The other guy asked for some help so I obliged for a bit but then gave a shot to catch the group up front. Very frustrating to have them only 35-40 yards ahead at a few points but not able to close. They saw us coming and picked up the pace. Sat up and waited for a group of 3 behind to recovery a bit and we worked well to together until the last climb to the finish. Half way up I picked my spot and dropped them and managed to pass one of the riders in the front group towards the finish.

Great course,windy day, with one climb per lap. Managed to get in a break of 7 on the 3rd? lap. Unfortunately for me didnt have the legs, started to cramp and was shelled with 1.5 laps to go. Hooked up with the chase group of 7 or 8. Finished 9th overall. Enjoyed the race and the course just wished had a bit more endurance today.

Had a great race today and felt pretty good for being off the bike for two weeks.

Nice and windy! I positioned myself at the front for the first lap and did a solo by myself and paid for it on the next 3 laps (serious lesson learned about taking off solo with wind). Not a bad finish considering I was off for two weeks with bronchitis and being shipped off to Vegas for work. It was cool & funny hanging out with the team! (Next Goal: working out for a top 5 finish).

Windy! We positioned ourselves better at the start of this race than we did at Hueston Woods. I could feel the lack of riding this past week from my cold. Looking forward to the next race.

Not a bad race considering I started the day with tired and sore legs and nearly missed the start of the race because of some bad directions. I started at the back of a 50+ rider field that did not want to race the first lap. I was on the fortunate side of a crash on the first lap and moved up 10-15 places when the field scattered. Put in a decent effort the first time up the climb and moved up another 10-15 places. Second lap was fast but manageable and ended up passing a few more, but got gapped from the main field the second time up the climb. Soloed half a lap and settled in with a Fuji rider and a CycleSport rider and worked together the remaining laps. Legs are coming around, but still not quite there for racing yet.

My story is virtually identical to Eric Peters'. Getting caught out in cross winds meant my matches got burnt early. The two hills on this course are easy grinders and yet each time I got to the second hill I felt drained at the beginning. Twice I worked with a few other gapped riders to chase successfully back on but I then I was spent. Lots of strong riders got dropped today-the pace up front was fast. I refused to be a DNF and gutted it out for 30 miles. Good job Tony and Happy Birthday.

Wind. This race marks wind and decent hills over the last four weeks. Legs felt like garbage this morning, felt like garbage over the first two laps. Got caught gapped behind the main pack after two or so laps and that was all she wrote. Backed down the effort for a half lap and soloed in. Despite not feeling it today, I felt very good out in the wind by myself. I found a groove and stayed in it for 35 miles, felt good on the hills and in the wind. Getting there...No DNF's.