Given the rarity of long TT’s in the New England area, I decided to take a drive north to the White Mountains and give this one a shot. I have to say that it was well worth the time spent. The race was well organized and the venue couldn’t have been nicer. The course was an out and back from Campton to Waterville Valley with a nice looping turn-around through the roads of Waterville Valley to get back to the road down to Campton. Yeah, the course had a ca 9 mi long 2% average grade up the river valley, which wasn’t necessarily the best terrain for me. However, you got to scream down that same climb back to the finish.

Start times were set alphabetically, so I was lead off for the 35+ crowd. Unfortunately, that also meant that my 30 sec man was one of the stronger riders in the crowd, Mike Barton (winner of last year’s 30+ GMSR, among other things). I was dreading seeing him come around me on the climb.

I got a decent start and began picking off riders ahead of me on the road. About 3 mi in the climb really started and I found myself struggling a bit to get a rhythm going. It was one of those grinding just slightly more than false flat climbs that forces you to constantly keep on the pedals and play with the gears. Of course, it didn’t help that there was a headwind as well. Most of the way I just felt like I was fightling with my bike rather than smoothly powering along. I was slowly but surely straying away from my targetted >22 MPH on the climb.

Somewhere between 5-6 mi in, I finally decided to hazard a look back and, sure enough, Barton was within 5-10 sec of my back wheel. Not to long after, he just started grinding on by me. After debating about trying to match speed, I settled back into my own semblance of a rhythm and kept going on at my pace, accepting that I was looking at 2nd at best, overall and in the age group.

I kept him within 15-20 sec through the remaining 3 mi of climbing. Once on the flatter loop in Watervile, I was finally able to kick things in gear and get into my stride. Once back onto the downhill, I was truly in my glory. I’d say 95% of that descent I was in a gear no easier than the 55×13 and most of the time I was in the 11 or 12. I was going for broke and determnined to at least get the 15-20 sec back on Barton.

Slowly but surely, I got my time back. With about 3-4 mi to go, I finally got back to Barton. Given how quickly I closed the gap towards the very end, I actually though he was losing steam and though for a moment that I might be able to eat back into the 30 sec deficit as well. Unfortunately, my pass spurred him on and the remainder of the race was basically a drag race to the line between the two of us. I finished off right around 46:15.

It turns out that was good for 4th in the overall and 3rd in the 35+ group. Not quite podium in the overall, but good for a medal and $75!

Podium for the overall mens was 1) John Meerse for yet another OA/cyclemania win, 2) Ryan Kelly (Sunapee, the only 19-34 guy faster than us old folks), and 3) my 30 sec man, Mike Barton.

Bottom line is that I was a bit too conservative on the climb, not wanting to blow myself early on. The leader was close to 1:30 faster than me and I’m certain I did not lose that time on the downhill. If they run this race again next year, I will be back and fully intend to shave at least 30 sec of my time, if not more.