Bob Beal Masters Weekend
Well, the 2005 racing season came to an abrupt end yesterday at the Bob Beal Masters Weekend races. The race series started out on a shaky note. All week I have been watching the weather forecasts (probably should have been called guesses) concerning the path and impact of hurricane Ophelia. As late as Friday (Sept 16), there were dire predictions of high winds and heavy rains particularly along coastal New England. The Bob Beal races are held in coastal Rhode Island!
We (my wife and I) decided to go anyway since we were staying with our son in the Boston area and it was a chance to see our granddaughter even if the races were washed out. Well, so much for weathermen! Saturday was warm and partly sunny without a drop of rain. Sunday was bright sun shine and also warm.
The first race for the 55+ crowd was a 3-lap (14 mi per lap) 42 mile road race. I was holding my own in the pack until Andy Buck made a vicious attack at the S/F hill. I was shot out the back of the pack like I wasn’t pedaling. In the spirit of a stage race, I persevered and finished “lantirn rouge” (25th).
On Saturday afternoon was the time trial. This was held on a 3 mi section of the road course. This TT seems to be a pretty informal aspect of the weekend. Only 3 miles and without a holder at the start. I did like the start approach though. There was a radio link from the finish official that provided the count down! Thus, no synchronized clocks. The start line official just makes sure the sequence was correct. My time was 7:22. Not great, just ok. I probably could have done better given that the finish came up as a surprise. But, it was good enough for 16th and 5 points. This moved me to 22nd overall.
Sunday was the criterium at Ninigret State Park on a old airfield. The course is absolutely flat and exposed to the wind being only a mile or so inland. The pavement is excellent and configured just short of 1 mile as a non-closing figure 8. The 55+ group is to do 22 laps of the course.
With 3 to go I was third in the pack as we crossed the S/F. I was feeling pretty good in this position and thought I might be able to hold a position near the front. Going into the last lap I was still in the top third to middle of the pack. As we rounded the last turn and started to wind up for the sprint, I was half way back and on the right outside edge of the pack trying to stay tucked in (head wind at the S/F) until the last.
The next thing I remember is looking down at my handlebars and seeing the left hip of a CRC rider hitting my left hand/ handlebar. Instantly, I was down!
Result – 1 broken right collarbone and badly bruised right hip. My collarbone broke right at the same spot I had broken 20 years ago in a training crash at railroad tracks. My road rash is VERY limited to some scrapes on my knee and elbow. I really didn’t slide! The Atmos helmet did it’s job (cracked the inner liner).
Bike damage was limited to badly bent and scraped handlebar. Frame and wheels are ok.
Interestingly, they scored me as having finished the criterium in 24th place. My GC placing statyed at 22nd.
I downloaded the powertap data for the weekend. The computer reported a speed to 29.5 mph at the moment of the crash.
Update – 2 weeks into mending. Collarbone is doing very well. I am astonished at how much motion I have and no pain. Sleeping is always a problem with this injury since I can’t lay on my right side. The hip is really sore. Absorbing the fluid buildup in the muscles is painful. I ahven’t fixed the bike yet since the Trexlertown flea market is Saturday and I want to checkout any deals there.
Posted: September 19th, 2005 under Bicycle Racing.