The C.C.R. bike scene

The race started out at a decent pace, no craziness, or crashes that I was aware of. My legs felt really good up the hills on the first go around and I found myself, Chris, and Gregg up front on the most of the 2nd half of the first lap along with Eric M (Keltic), Dave F (Mystic velo) and some other random guys doing most of the work. About 8 miles from the finish I started to get some twinges in my left hammie but not to bad yet. The pace really started to pick up about 3 miles from the big hill, one guy tried to make a break for it but Eric M, Chris , and I chased it down. Coming into the final stretch where the turn comes to go up Constitution Hill for the finish it was Eric M leading it out, then Chris, then me. Eric makes the turn and Chris missed it and kept going straight......UUggggghhhhh......I was in serious dis-belief. I made the turn and quickly caught Eric, who was out of gas and slowed dramatically . I got out of the saddle to hammer and all of a sudden.......excruciating pain in both quads and hammies.......I thought I was going to lock up right there at the base of the climb. Some guys started passing me so I sat and down shifted......bamo! dropped my chain!........major bummer.........I got it back on by just using my shifter but it definitely cost me some momentum and a few bike lengths on the main group. The pain subsided a bit and I continued to turn the cranks at my own pace. Around the second switch back I started to feel better and shifted a few gears and started gaining some momentum. I caught a a few guys and suddenly found myself in an all out sprint for the line with four guys.

For me it was a Very Very good day....15th place and just 30 seconds off of the winning time. I might have done a bit better had I not dropped my chain. ......a great day would have put me in the top ten! Never the less I bettered my time from last year and beat some of my main rivals. We averaged 21.4mph and I clocked 4250ft of climbing on my computer!

Chris B. came in 39th
Gregg came in 57th

New Brit Crit. The CT state Criterium championship is always a fun event and it brings out the top guns due to the fact that it's the CT state champs! Well organization, food and free t-shirts make riders happy!

The day started with rain! lots of rain. But Dillon and Joe K. decided that rain won't stop CCR from showing the other riders who the state belongs to! (Road-racing-crit-cat-4 wise, of course)

20 laps and 74 riders stood between Epic Velo and victory! The start was timid due to the water but the pace lifted 4 laps in to a 24-25mph avg. Dillon drew first blood with a short, test the waters type attack, 6 laps in and the field answered with a resounding "your kidding right, get back here chump!" I complied. No action for the next few laps besides some strong riders working hard at a good pace up front. And Joe placing 2nd in a preme (prime?) Then with 9 laps to go Joe dropped the hammer with a violent attack! Dillon hopped on thinking "If more come with us, (and with two E.V. guys they WILL come with us,) we make this stick!" No one chose to keep up with the attack. Dillon and Joe K had 30 bikes on the peleton in no time. Dillon was getting tired and the other teams weren't there so the likely-hood of the break working was poor. But Joe K stuck with it and some fast riders wasted valuable energy pulling Joe back and it still took 3 laps to pull the solo break back.

LAST LAPS:
The pace was ereely slow with a crash 3 laps to go and tired riders trough-out. 500m left Joe said "too slow fellas" and punched it! He won by 4 bike lengths and Dillon came in 19th overall 9th out of the Nutmeg state-ers.

Over-all the Epic Velo squad won some sick points and Joe K won some well deserved respect!