August 7 - Timpani Criterium, Santa Clara
Race website & results

Race photos: Garrett Lau, Sammarye Lewis, PKPhotoVision.com, Chris Patterson

Tom Olesner nails down the 35+ 4/5 win for host team Easton/Specialized Los Gatos Bike Racing Club Photo by Garret Lau

Men's 35+ 4/5 report by Derrick Gray, Peninsula Velo/Kondra Systems

I didn't race at all in July and pretty much took it easy. Had a couple of great days riding with friends in Big Sur and Carmel, way fun! So the big question was how much fitness did I lose? Got my gear together Saturday afternoon, did an A1 job prepping my ride, even waxed it! Laid out my stuff in nervous anticipation, planned on doing the E4 (10:30) and Master's 35+ race which starts at 12:30 on Sunday.

Well, life happens when you least expect it. My wife, Chris, came home early from a conference she was attending, emotionally frazzled and needing "my wheel" if you get my drift. Needless to say, cycling takes a distant second in matters of family and so I decided to blow off both races and hang with Chris. However, she started feeling better at 11:45 on Sunday and I started thinking of racing at 11:46. She appreciated me blowing off the first race and asked me if I wanted to do the second one. Nah, I'll never make it. Kept looking at the clock, bike, wife. Bike, wife, clock... Bike, clock, bike... I'm out of here, love you!

Called Rich Perkin to see how he did only to learn about his crash in the Elite 4 race. Bummer! Broke all kinds of laws getting there and pulled into the parking lot at 12:27! Cut to the front of the registration line, apologizing all the way. The kind lady couldn't find my number! I'm dancing around like I have to pee, asking anyone who cared if they started yet? Got my number, hastily pinned it on and dashed to the starting line!

My heart rate actually came down during the race, just kidding. Cool seeing teammates Ray Alvarez and Bill Patzer (Peninsula Velo), no chance to strategize, just race baby! I was planning to sit on the back to test the notion that you can rest more until the end when it really mattered. Changed my mind when I got pushed into the cones by some dude wearing a beanie propeller. Ok, he should have been wearing a beanie propeller. I moved to the front.

Early in the race a group of eight got away. Thought it would be a good time to "warm up" and bridged up to them. I immediately shot to the front and did a pull hoping we could get organized and motivated. Didn't get very organized but it seemed like we where keeping the pace high. Unfortunately it all came back together.

Derrick races to 6th place Photo by Chris Patterson

Bill did an awesome job hammering to the front and driving the pace with six or so to go. I could hear guys yelling "watch him" as he moved forward which says so much about the respect from other teams. We always seem to have someone in contention and consequently, always getting marked. Anyway, with six to go I caught up to Ray and told him to stay on my wheel for the last five laps. Don't think he heard me though. I wanted to gradually move him up to the top 10 with two to go. It's too hard to move up in the chaos of the last laps so I wanted to be up front even if I have to stick my nose in the wind.

I was sitting third at the bell and following two guys in red. I was too far up front really but didn't want to look back or give up any position. I proposed to cover any moves coming from the left by shading the right side of red rider #2 while preventing anyone from coming up on my right by riding closer to the curb. After turn two red rider #2 jumped up the left and I covered from the right. We both got off the front and hit the same pot hole jacking our bikes up and sideways. We both recovered and kept hammering. We managed a small gap going into turn four but he quickly faded and it was just me and someone on my wheel, think it was Tom Olesner (Easton/Specialized). I thought briefly of letting him go through and drafting but was afraid of the swarm. I tried to build up gradually but felt the swarm approaching, so I just gave it all I had only to see Tom inch by me with 50 meters to go and then others came by on my left. I have mixed feelings about 6th as it's solid but now I want the Whole Enchilada!

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