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SeaTac Shuffle, Indie Series #2
24 April 2005
Report by: Derik Andreoli
The weather for the race was perfect: cool and overcast. The race was originally slated to be 2.5 laps and
was announced as such at the start line. The usual contingent was out, including Nick Valison, who won the
Indie Series opener, and Tony Lombardo who got fourth. As such, Derik, Barry, Nick, and Tony were invited to
the front of the group for the start. As usual, the the race started with a group sprint on a paved section
of road. The roads were wet and, in places, mossy. Out of the gates, Derik sprinted just hard enough to slip
in behind Nick, and Barry and Ben were only a couple of places back.
The pace was measured from the start, with the leaders realizing that the race would likely take about an
hour-fifteen to an hour-thirty. For the great majority of the first three miles, all of the likely contenders
were contained in a small group with Nick in the lead, Derik in second, another rider in third, and Barry in
fourth. The race course was awesome...more technical than usual, and longer too. In order to minimize the
race's impact on recreational riders, the ribbon marking the course where multiple trails intersected was put
high enough that recreationalists could ride underneath it. At one point, Nick asked Derik if he wanted to
take the lead, but Derik declined because he didn't know where the course went (Nick had indicated that he
had pre-ridden the course). Shortly thereafter, we went through the finish line and were told that we were
on our last lap...apparently there had been a change of plans!
Nick began to slow down which inspired Derik to make a move for the front, in an effort to keep the heat on.
After putting down a successful pass, Derik immediately proceeded to ride under the course ribbon without
immediately realizing it. The consequence was that he dropped from second to fourth, just behind Barry.
Before remounting, Derik was forced to run up one of the hills, losing some more ground along the way.
Hopping back on his bike (he is a bunny, after all!) he was able to get clipped in on the short downhill
which culminated in a giant sandpit. With pulse elevated, Derik was in full chase mode. Unfortunately,
Barry had to run the sand section, and Derik - who was only inches from Barry's back wheel - was also forced
to dismount after running into his own teammate!
It was during this section, that Derik's bike 'got stuck' in the large chainring. In reality, Derik learned
later that he had inadvertently shifted into the big ring without realizing it, and the lactic acid daze kept
him from realizing it. After losing some time, Derik settled back into a groove and slowly began to reel back
the third place rider. After catching him, Derik sat on his wheel for a while before making his move. After
executing a pass, Derik was happy to maintain a measured pace, confident that he could take a sprint for the win.
Going into the steepest of the hills, Derik was forced to run up (still not realizing that he had lower gears
to use!), and the other rider took second back. Upon remounting his bike, Derik realized that he did indeed
have not one, but two smaller chainrings that he could use! Shifting into the middle ring, Derik immediately
found some more speed. After passing the second place rider for the last time, Derik was almost able to catch
Nick, but was forced to settle for second place (and the $20 bill which substituted for the normal trophy award).
Barry finished just out of the money in fourth place, and Ben - who suffered from a chain that refused to
behave - came across the line a few minutes back.
Results:
Derik Andreoli 2nd, Beginner Men 30-39
Barry Campbell 4th, Beginner Men 30-39
Ben Ulness 8th, Beginner Men 30-39
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