Race number 2 in the EFTA New England Championship Series took place on May 19th, and Crank Racing had a pretty good field of racers on the course including Jean St. Pierre, Tom Merrill, Tim Corning, Doug Salb, David Alden, Nathan Smith and Mike Lawless

Here's a play by play from some of the participants:

NATHAN SMITH
5...4...3...2...1...GO!!! Pedal...Pedal...ka-P-I-N-G!! No more than 10 feet into the race, I look down to find my normally taught, circular chain hanging loosly on the cranks below me. Seeing my heat take off as I slowly come to a stop due to the lack of a drivetrain made me lose hope of even being able to finish the race. Picking my bike up, I headed over to a local bike shop's tent that was doing tune-ups before the race. I asked the guy if he could fix a broken chain and without hesitation he puts my bike up in the stand and goes to work.

Four minutes later, I was off. Unfortunately, I got to the starting line at the start of the clydesdale novice race. This was a stink. Now I must trudge through all of the clydes AND THEN try to catch up to the other racers in my heat.

On the opening downhill, I do my best to just keep my line and prepare for the long race ahead. I knew I was going to have to dig deep to make up the lost time, and the downhill was a chance for me to remain calm and do what I do best...pedal.

After the mile downhill, the trail opens up and fury of the trail is unleashed. The main portion of the race was done on rather wide fire trails interspersed with some ups and downs. Knowing that I was down 4 minutes, I cranked away on the uphills passing people whenever the chance arose. This meant sometimes riding on the berm of the trails just to go outside the line.

On one uphill, I was practically in the woods trying to get around a stream of riders. I hear someone yell something like "Hey, what are you doing?!" When I got to the top, I turned slightly and yelled "Sorry!" It wasn't until after the race I found out what really occurred. My friend Tim had yelled at me to 'keep up the good work'. Heh...

Racing around the course, I managed to do most of my passing on the uphills. Not knowing where I was in the race, I just pedaled and passed when I could. After a grueling 1-1.5 mile uphill, I finished the first lap. Into the start of my second lap, I saw some family of a fellow teammate...they cheered which got me pumped up for the next, and final lap.

Upon completion of the second lap, the dreaded uphill shoot lay before me. Making the turn towards the shoot I saw in the distance a familiar looking yellow bike. The rider of the bike had placed first at the Spring Boogie a few weeks earlier. Knowing he was a strong rider, I assumed he was at the front of the pack. With the mile of uphill, and him within my sights, I was hopeful that I could take him. In under a minute I was on his tail and decided to draft (for what it's worth traveling at like 7 mph) trying to save my strength for the final sprint towards the finish. I soon realized that he wasn't going slow to slow me down, but because he was hurting. I pulled off the line, changed my gears, and cranked up the hill towards the finish. By the top of the hill, I gave a quick glance over my shoulder to see and empty trail behind me. Smooth sailing to the finish.

Crossing the finish line, I looked around to congratulate the other riders. The only problem was there weren't any. I had managed to turn my four-minute deficit cause by a broken chain into a 30-second win and a new tire! Rock on!

Placing high in my first couple of races means that I am no longer novice. Time to move up and race with the big boys...the Sport Class.

DAVID ALDEN
I had been wicked sick for the past week, and when I woke up the morning of the race, I decided that I'd sit this one out. While getting stuff ready for Jean, I decided that since I had already registered and paid my money, I might as well go and just do a lap for fun. That's when I made the crucial mistake of putting on my cycling shorts. With my shorts on, I just about guaranteed that I was going to race.

Anyway, we got to the course, I got my number and then tried to decide what to do. I had raced the Wahoo last year and I really liked the course - it was fast and fun. But, I thought to myself, did I really "NEED" to race? How would I benefit? I wouldn't really, but taking another day of rest might really do me some good.

Yeah. That sounds good and all, but there I was, on the start line. I figured I'd go out, have fun for a lap, and then pull out.

I had so much fun on my first lap that I decided to hang on for a second lap.

I had so much fun in my second lap that I decided to hang on to the end.

I struggled across the line, coughed and wheezed for a while and then made my way over to the van. I felt like crap. The third lap killed me.

Oddly enough, my efforts were enough for a second place finish in the sport clydesdale class, and I earned a huge seat bag from Trek. I figured I could use it to carry my medicine cuz I was going to be needing some.

That night I was at the hospital. I couldn't breathe very well, I had no voice, I was coughing and I overall felt like death. Diagnosis? Bronchitis and laryngitis. Antibiotics that made me feel almost as bad as being sick, another week of rest and soon I would live to ride another day.

TOM MERRILL
I lined up in a good position in the 2nd row. The start was slightly muddy so, I eased though it, while it seemed half the pack sprinted through it. (Need to practice starts in the mud) I was able to make up some positions on the downhill and in the "chute". In flats on the far side, I tried to draft the experts as they went by, I got dropped on any slight up hill, those guys are fast. The hill on near side at the end of lap one, was painful, into granny gear. Two expert / sport riders passed me at the top at the "handoff zone", I was happy that I could stay with them on the descent, but not on the next small hill.

The legs were tired, but the lungs were okay. I just went into survival mode. I drafted on the flats and granny geared up the "Hill from Hell" until the finish.

I had fun, but disappointed that I finished farther out of the points than the 1st race from 12th in Spring Boogie to 14th in Novice Veterans. Later, there was a little consolation, I did better in the overall standings of all Males Novices, 27/126 from 37/118 at the Boogie. :-)

DOUG SALB
Dave, Jean, Nathan, Tim, Mike and myself entered the Watershed Wahoo. I am in the beginner class because I feel that's where I should be until I win a race, and there are so many fast riders even in the beginner class anyway.

Like with all races we had to get there early. It had rained the day before, I think it even snowed. This made the trails really muddy, YUCK!

Nathan broke his chain but somehow still seemed to win his race. Maybe I should try breaking stuff. Hmm.

At first I felt good about this race but as I kept going it seemed long to me. The hills, mud, etc... took a lot of energy out of me and I just couldn't seem to find a groove. Some of the downhills were really fun and fast, and some loose rocks made it interesting.

My favorite part of the race was the end. I know I was far from first but at the finish line it was me and another rider neck and neck through the mud. I had to pass him. As I crossed the finish line I heard an official say switch the numbers. I was over the line first. Woohoo! So I gained one more place. Some day that could mean the difference between 1st and 2nd, and I'll be ready.