What's up everyone. Shortly after a 4 week hiatus from racing due to a shoulder separation, I seem to have found some new, late season racing motivation. I made a solo trip out to Binghamton, NY for the weekend for the Chris Thater Memorial bike races. Today was the Cat 2, amateur only race, and tomorrow is the US Pro NRC crit, one of the final races on the US PRo Crit series calendar. I thought it would be a fun challenge, and as it turns out, it is a good thing I made the trip.

Today's race was a 35 mile, cat 2 only race on a course of approximately a mile. We raced 35 laps. Following an early race prime, about 7 laps in, a group of 3 of us rolled off the front and punched it a bit up the short power climb and opened up a gap. The field seemed a bit hesitant to close the gap and we rolled as a threesome within striking distance of the peloton for a lap or so. The gap hovered at 15-20 seconds for a couple of laps and then a Kelly Benefits amateur team rider bridged up to us and we pulled away from the 60-70 rider field at a solid pace, slowly but surely gaining time on the field. The break was cooperative, and before we knew it, the time gap went up to 48 and then 50 secs. By this time we were more than halfway around the course, and were gaining back on the tail end of the field. It was cool because the race promoters were throwing us 50 dollar primes every 5 laps or so, so we were snatching up some prize money in primes. Once it was clear that our break would stick to the finish, we kept roling steady but smooth in a good rhythm of even pulls. With 2 laps to go, the Kelly rider attacked us and soloed for the win, leaving the three of us to duke it out in what would be a bit of a track style, strategy and positioning race. I tried to jump early before the final turn, opened a gap and then was blasted by a stiff headwind on the final straightaway. I was 20 or so meters from the line for 4th place, but all in all a good day. $200 dollars total on the day for the team and good hard, clean racing.

Tomorrow will be a 50 mile sufferfest. I can't wait. Until then. . .

Adam Branfman
FAST/IF powered by Lionette's elite cycling team
Newton, MA