Sheehan

45degrees and a little wind all day. No sun. Sheehan is always a fun course. It was my first Cat 5 Road race ever, I've done it every year since, it is a good race.

I have never had success at this race, or for any real road race for that matter. I simply don't train properly for them.

Sheehan has lots of "rollers" with a few small climbs. The wind was going about 12-15 from the north, it seems to do that every year for Sheehan, come from the North. This means that if there are riders away at the turnaround with 20miles to go at the highway then they are probably gone. At this point in the race I was not feeling good at all. Just couldn't get the bike to go fast. It could have been my front brake rubbing, or it could have been me eating too much, or it could have been not being in shape.


It was here that Andrew Coe finally got an attack that stuck. It was a very impressive move with Shadd Smith on his wheel from Mercy. With Bill from Mercy up the road, Shadd would not pull through, had it been me, I would have looked back, saw Shadd and put on my brakes. Andrew was able to take Shadd all the way to the finish by himself, pretty impressive.


Finish was
1. Bill
2. Cameron
3. Shadd
4. Andrew



This year was probably the most fun I had at Sheehan, it was mostly due to the larger field, we had maybe 20 or 25 riders when usually its around 12. With this many riders, all pretty, it made for good racing.



At the end for me I went a little early and immediately couldn't go much further. Sheehan has a 600 meter climb or so to the finish, half way up I simply stopped, not sure why, my head just didn't want to go. Once I got off my bike I noticed my front wheel not moving, and the front brake just a little loose. I borrowed this bike from the store to race, so that I could let Andrew race his first Cat 4 race on my bike, he ordered a Xenith Elite 2 months ago, but we are still waiting. Jamis and Masi are out of carbon bikes, but I can still easily get Pinarello and Focus for anyone that asks.

The most interesting part of Sheehan this year was the "gravel." I believe there were 3 sections, all about 200 meters long. Very loose rocks all over the place, nothing like Perry Roubaix, this was fresh rocks that I am surprised anyone was able to ride through. Had it not been for my 90mm carbon tubulars, I don't think I would have made it. It was here that Shadd from Mercy attacked with his 27mm parisroubaix challenge tires. It was vicious. I had no idea the gravel was coming, but when you seee him and Coe get to the front, its common sense that you should too. I think 4 or 5 people flatted here. I was not surprised.


Next up for me is tour de grove. Its gonna be a family deal, wife and kid will be with me all weekend cheering.




Brian got 2nd at his first "real" cat 4 race. He's going pretty good. He's been training with us since last July, too bad he didn't race Cross. Charlie got 6th. We had 9 or 10 riders in the Cat 4 race, that is fun to see. Steve V. would have won had his girlfriend bought him some deep carbon wheels.