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Lined up with Chet Geschickter at Boston's
Lowenbrau criterium back in 1981. Sunday we
found ourselves in exactly the same position. |
Statement of the obvious: Starting a cyclocross race seeded in the 9th row is like being on the end of a whip. Based on my number, I started about 90th Sat. and 87th Sunday - last row baby. And after 45 minutes in the pain cave, I only ended up 75th and 65th on the day respectively. Not very good really, didn't have the extra gear. What's the point in racing? Well, it's a heckuva lot of fun. More accurately it was
haardtrainen, because from my global positioning,
you wouldn't call it 'racing' exactly. In fact, you would have needed a GPS to locate me relative to the leaders before the first half lap was over.
After one spanking, back on the grid Sunday, I was contemplating how I was going to weave my way though a forest of tall, lean willowy 45-55 year old greying guys - most of whom I swear look like they ought to be cast in a Cialis commercial - when I realized guy next to me calling my name was my old friend, Chet Geschickter.
I hadn't seen Chet since 1983 or so. He was one of the best road racers in New England back in my day, now lives outside Boston, has a family, and is racing again.
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The uphill grind after the stairs was a killer. |
We were juniors together and shared too many stories to bore you with here. Whereas I was a
petit coureur, Chet was a real
gros moteur, good enough to ride in France for awhile with US-Creteil. Chet could go into the pain cave and stay there till you called him home for supper.
Now he was on my left on the grid, staddling a just-purchased Specialized cross rig. We just shrugged and laughed off our back of the pack placement,
"just pass as many guys as you can... that's our race"
Halfway though a stop-and-go lap one, Chet came flying by me on a grass section, missing a squirrel by about 2 cm in the process. Trying to hold his wheel was as hard as it was in 1979, I had to let him go... He did a great ride, though. Class.

Richie Fries and his gang of collaborators organized a fantastic weekend, on days of record heat here - about 85 degrees F. I was very excited to see that my old CCB teammate has become the English announcing voice of preference at UCI races: Yes, that was Richie's unmistakable voice you heard trumpeting Cav up onto the podium in Copenhagen a few weeks ago.

The circle turns. As I was on the grid Sunday, I got a warm greeting from Richie's predecessor as the 'voice of cycling' - Dick Ring. Dick looks as ageless as Dick Clark to me - I swear he hasn't aged one iota in 25 years. He was there cheering on many, and man-o-man, he knows many! His public announcing voice may be retired, but his enthusiasm and love of the sport and all those who love it will never retire. As I a gasped round with the backmarkers, I could hear his voice hollering at us everytime I came by the pits. It was a few second burst of feel-good nostalgia, a once-a-lap adrenaline bolus that would help dilute a cloud of pain and suffering.
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Luke and Jesse Keough going fast around some Tom Stevens whoop-d-doos. |
Dick always had an ironclad memory for names and faces, and a soft spot for the local New England riders. Thanks for the encouragement Dick! I needed it.
Hi Eddy, nice meeting you in the beer tent. Does this explain your performance? ;-) Please contact me regarding my Spring Classic Series, etc. touriste.routier @ gmail
ReplyDeleteEddy,
ReplyDeleteJust as my old buddy Billy M. once said "it takes a lot of balls to line up at the start".
Good for you.
The "envious" Russian.
P.S. Those without balls spent time doing this:
http://www.redberryphoto.com/We-1/Us/9947193_X6Z6N6#1516383010_PgtmKDL-A-LB