Tour of Highbridge

After having a few days to settle in our new house, we decided to test our legs and find out what the local competition was like, so we headed to Highbridge, New Jersey. Even though the area was experiencing a record heatwave we thought it couldn't be any worse than what we were used to in the South. Wrong! This was probably the hottest race we have ever down with the temperature going above 100 degrees. Suddenly, we realized this would be more of a survival race than anything because there was no feedzone! The race was 11 laps of a 3.3 mile circuit with one steep grade (20%) for about 300 meters followed by a turn onto a false flat for 150 meters with another turn to go back up a 10% grade for 150 meters. That was the hardest part of the course as the next few miles saw us bomb down a very worn road, ripe with pot holes, bumps, and gravel.
As we took the line with about 70 other riders, pockets stuffed with ice cubes and already drenched in sweat, we held on hope to the thought of placing. It was reminiscent of a mountainbike or cyclo-cross race, as riders attacked off the line to conquer the hill that lay 100 meters away. As we had not ridden the course yet, we were a little surprised to ride on such a beaten road, that looked as old as the trees around us. Oscar made a few attacks trying to form a break, but couldn't get the right mix of riders. For the next few laps, the attacks were steady, until a serious move went up the road, dangling in front for a lap until they disappeared over the climb. From then on, small groups of one or two riders distanced themselves from the dwindling peleton, as the heat beat down on all the riders. For the last few laps, Jafer made many fruitless attacks, hoping to establish a break or bridge to the group ahead, of about 17 riders. Only about 7 other riders remained in Joey's and Jafer's group. Absent from the race was Thomas and Oscar as the heat had overwhelmed them, so they played it smart, went to the car to rehydrate, then took a dip in the creek. Joey and Jafer were gald to finish the race, as only 25 of the 70 riders finished. It wasn't hard for Thomas and Oscar to talk them into getting into the creek to cool off! We didn't get the results we wanted, but due to the conditions it wasn't because of our fitness. Stay tuned for our next race report....