Kjellquist Blog

Question of the day – When is 2 @ 15 mi. races equal to one 30 mi. race?

Answer: When it’s this weekend’s 55+ Blueberry Biciletta race in Hammonton NJ.

This race has to be one of the strangest bicycle races I have been in. Now for the details. The 55+ mens race was a combined field with women. I am getting to the point that I hate this type of race. You’ll see why with my comments. The race started normally. We went off following the 45+ men on this 15mi road race course. We were to do 2 laps and 45+ men do 3 laps. The first part of the race went normally. With 3 riders from ERA team (Dick, Barry and Stick) attacking regularly. I was pretty happy with my legs and road towards the front even chasing an attack or 2. A couple of times there would be 50 or maybe 100 yard gaps but nothing stuck. The wind was typical for this course, not strong but long open stretches make it tough. During one of these attacks with Barry + 2 others away less 100 yds, we were told via a chase car that we were to be caught by the 1-2 field – ok no big deal. They caught us right at a turn. A little dicey but our field stayed to the right to let them go. The 1-2 field was motoring. It took about a mile for them to get by us.
What happen to Barry et al? Never saw them again!!! My best guess they mixed in the 1-2 field and were gone. Discussion in our group was DQ!! They were the only ones that seemed to take advantage of the mixed field.

As we round the fnal turn and come towards the S/F (on our lap 1) we can see nothing but flashing red lights across the entire road. Ambulance and follow car block the entire road. Riders and bikes are everywhere.

It seems the 1-2’s were in their finish lap when they passed us. (According to my wife) during the field sprint, 2 riders hooked handlebars and went down in the middle of the field. Two riders were transported to ER. One was Quaker City Wheelmen. I don’t know injury status.

Here comes the REALLY strange part.
Back to us! We are standing around at S/F. 20 minutes to clear the road from the crash. Ok start racing again – Nope. What about the 45+ mens field coming up behind us? But where are they? Wait, wait, wait. Here they come. Another 20 minutes goes by. We start again after they pass. Yup, we stood around for 40 minutes!!!

On this second lap (or second race sort of), we go pretty much the same. Except now we have 3 less workers (remember we never saw Barry et al). Stick motors alone of the front after a few miles. Dick + 2 bridge a short time later. I see it coming and knew it was the successful break but couldn’t go being boxed in on the inside with women all around. The reamaining men either didn’t want to work or were working for their women’s team. Yes, there were a couple like this right from the beginning.

On the final leg into the S/F, I pulled through, found myself with a gap and tried to stay away. Unfortunely, I was swalloed by the field at the sprint.

All in all a very strange race. Personally, after Union Grove on Saturday I was surprised how well I felt. I feel good about my ride since I animated the race and was aggressive on the front chasing attacks and taking pulls.