The warm weather, the 446 circuit and the recent end of the school year meant the Wednesday Worlds likely had a season high of riders as approximately 45 riders met at the samples gates ready to do battle over 8 laps of our high speed circuit. The few Tortugans who joined us out at the circuit must have had quite the shock as the herd of riders appeared over the horizon!! Added to about 20 Turtles were a flying group of students about to head off the Collegiate Nationals and also other local luminaries.
Credit must go to all participants as the ride was very safe with no obvious close-calls either with each other or with any passing vehicles! The size of the group really dominated the day as even though the pace stayed high no significant breakaways could form. This was exemplified by the fact the pace at the top of the ‘446 rise’ was sedate on most laps and lacked the usual furious chase from those at the back of the bunch. Into the last two laps, and aside from a brief solo attack from Mike Kehrberg, the group was focused on the finish. Through the final corner and into the last half mile a group of at least 30 riders were still in contention as only Tim Heffner was willing to lead out the sprint. Fortunately the finale was safe and it was the ‘peaking’ Mike Sherer who pipped ‘just starting out’ Karim Abelkader to the line.
It was also great to see so many ladies out on the rider and props to Sarah Rieke who rode near the front for the majority of the ride and seems unfazed by the excess of testosterone all about her! Next week- the Paragon loop.

With winter only just gone and summer on the way, the IRS spring series finally got underway at Morgan-Monroe with the MMSF RR on the classic Mount Bean circuit. For most Tortugans it was a first road race of the year and the team had much success with podium places for Gary Palmer (40+), Ren-Jay (Cat 4) and Taylor Gaines (Citizens) as well as top ten positions for Mike Brauner (40+) and Pat Garner (Citizens).
The plan of the Cat 2/3 squad to race in that event was altered prior to race day due to the horrid Wednesday worlds of certain squad members (me) and lack of anyone racing who was under 30. Therefore the decision was made that turtles Purvis, Millar, Lewis and Parry who contest the new Master3/4 category. The wisdom of that choice seems clear when Guy East, Brett Stewart (both ‘fresh’ from the Tour of Virginia), Mike Kehrberg and other ‘Cat 2s’ rolled up to begin the 2/3 event (The ABR isn’t quite as rigorous as the USCF in its categorization!).
The MAS3/4 event had a good field of about 40 riders but the pace was somewhat sedate for the first lap as everyone wondered how their climbing legs were feeling. About half the field were found the legs weren’t quite there yet as on the second roll down forest road the main group was down to about 25 riders! It was here that the race began in earnest with a few small groups rolling off the front, resulting in two riders developing a gap on the rest of the field. At this time with one independent and one affiliated rider (Heroes) up the road you’d think about 20 of the remaining riders would have an incentive to chase? Sadly not! Tortuga and a few other individuals took up the chase and for a while it appeared the break would come back. However without the dedication (or with the laziness) of a few extra riders the little group stayed away. Myron was clearly frustrated by this and was most often found on the front forcing the pace. Hopefully there were a few riders chuckling in the bunch that ‘this guy is just wearing himself out’. Well those riders were left to think again as final time up Mt Bean Myron stayed with a the small lead group and then crushed them in the sprint for 3rd. Although pleased with the result this of course added to the ‘if onlys’ and the thoughts that if we’d just chased a little harder…..

This past wednesday saw the first significant Wednesday test of the year- The forest-north shore-south shore loop where those with no climbing legs would soon be found out. A group of 25 rolled out and kept a steady tempo on old37 past Anderson road and onto the first of the days climbs. The tempo was hard but fair on this drag but as soon as the lip was reached the attacks blasted off with the Morris Trucking duo of Issac Neff and Ryan Knapp to the fore. I was promptly dropped and then punctured (unfortunately in that order) so Ren-jay Shei will take up the story-

The rest of the worlds went well…we got going pretty fast, regrouped at the bottom of
Bean Blossom, then got going again after the big hill on North Shore. There were tons of
attacks by Kehrberg, Neff, Knapp, Sherer, Chartier and some other people. Myron and
Isaiah were kind enough to tow me back up when I was feeling poopy. We kept a good pace
with an alarmingly fast attack by Kerhberg on South Shore. We regrouped after a
successful chase, and then Neff took off going up the hill on South Shore. I barely hung
on the back and then the pace eased back up a little at the top. When we got to
Robinson, there was a strong attack by Myron and he stayed away until just before the 1/2
mile to go mark, when he was caught. There were some more attacks, but nobody was sure
where the finish was, as we all have no sense of how far a 1/2 mile is. Kerhberg came
flying up the left side and I hopped on his wheel. He took the final sprint easily with
Sherer second and me third. Overall one heck of a ride. Great turnout, especially
considering the dreary weather.

Next week the forest loop riding up Beanblossom. Climbing legs required again!