Bucknell Cycling Classic

I raced the Bucknell Cycling Classic road race and had a great result, in my humble opinion.

I haven't been training as much as I would like to, for a variety of reasons: sickness, weather, fatigue, location. It just hasn't been a good preseason.

Still, when I heard about this race I said "why not". I would at least be out riding and it would be a fitness check.

Since this was a collegiate event and there were no age groups, I knew I wouldn't be competitive with anyone but myself or any other oldsters.

So I lined up on a blustery, overcast race day and waited for a start that was 10 minutes late.

The start was a short flat section followed by the steepest hill of the race. I was at the front with about five guys when we started up the hill. They quickly dropped me, then 95% of the field blew past me as well. I tried to keep up but felt like doing an 800 watt sprint at the start would come back to bite me.

After the hill there was a flat-ish section where I started scouting for riders that seemed to be going about my speed. There were some, but they latched onto my wheel and let me do the work until I shook them off, temporarily.

Shortly after starting my second lap, the collegiate women started passing me. I finally found one rider from UVM going at a sustainable pace, so I caught her wheel and we worked together for a couple of laps. We also built up a group including some of the original hangers-on.

In the final lap I was on the UVM rider's wheel, and right before a fast descent I got on the front. I went fast on the descent, then full gas on a kicker and managed to drop them. I passed two or three more riders further up the road and finished solo.

Very happy with the result, and a fun ride. Thanks to Steve Schoenfelder for the action shots.