Night Weasels CX

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My five Night Weasels laps took a shade longer than 41 minutes. But it all came down to the final 2 (see "Finish" video, above).

Remounting following the steps, I spotted a rider ahead (I'd meet him for the first time after the race: JeremyS). Four turns later and I was on his wheel.

And the next four turns offered a great chance to set up for a pass. The first was a right hander that I took wide to get the inside lane coming out. Even closer now, with the next left-hander a great chance to pass.

I went wide early, took the inside on the exit, and pulled even. Wide early, inside exit allows greater exit speed, and I took full advantage to pull ahead.

Next up, a right. I went wide early but didn't manage to come inside as much as I would have liked--I thought that he'd pass me right back. Coming out of the turn, though, I held my lead and kept it through the next left-hander.

The lap would finish with a long sweeping right, then a sharp right 180 followed by a sharp left 180 and the short finishing stretch. In theory, a great stretch to defend a lead, with the finishing stretch not ideal to catch from behind.

Long sweeping right, still in the lead. Right-left chicane, still in the lead. No time to look back, but I hoped that what seemed like better turning ability than Jeremy meant that my lead was extended.

I lowered my hands to the drops and powered up. Wait, maybe this wasn't the last lap--we'd only done 5 and the lap card had indicated 6. Scratch that, I'd been lapped by the leader, definitely only 5 for me, definitely last lap.

In the time that those thoughts crossed my mind, though, I lost focus. Jeremy powered by on my left to edge me at the line.

Bad execution on my part. My lapse didn't cost me a place in the 40+ field as Jeremy's only 29, but it did count against me in the Cross Results standings. Lesson learned, I hope.

DIEFFENBACH CROSS RESULTS

2015 RESULTS

Race	Field	Distance (Mi)	Avg Speed (mph)	Max Speed (mph)	Elevation (ft)	Elevation/ Mile (ft/mi)	Avg Heart Rate (bpm)	Max Heart Rate (bpm)	Cadence (rpm)	Place	Field Size	Percent Back	Race Points (lower better)	Overall Rating (lower better)
AVERAGE/MAX	--	7.5	11.0	25.3	361	- 48.0	154	166	68	--	--	76%	610	--
Night Weasels 09/30	Cat 4/5	6.6	9.6	18.6	453	68.6	n/a	n/a	n/a	83	100	83%	657	560
Gloucester 09/26	Cat 4/5 35+	4.0	11.6	20.6	272	68.0	n/a	n/a	n/a	DNF	116	n/a	726	560
Midnight Ride 09/23	Cat 4/5	8.6	12.2	22.2	213	24.8	n/a	n/a	72	64	113	56%	576	560
Sucker Brook 09/20	Cat 4/5 35+	8.0	11.6	25.3	279	34.9	155	166	72	54	83	65%	604	566
White Park 09/19	Cat 3/4	9.0	9.9	21.3	564	62.7	152	163	61	55	61	90%	523	568
White Park 09/19*	Cat 4/5	9.5	11.2	21.0	558	58.7	157	166	61	46	53	73%	642	n/a
QuadCross 09/13	Cat 4/5 35+	9.0	11.8	19.5	387	43.0	156	164	n/a	40	62	65%	576	585

*Metrics not included in running total; lesser of two races in a day excluded

2014 RESULTS

Race	Field	Distance (Mi)	Avg Speed (mph)	Max Speed (mph)	Elevation (ft)	Elevation/ Mile (ft/mi)	Avg Heart Rate (bpm)	Max Heart Rate (bpm)	Cadence (rpm)	Place	Field Size	Percent Back	Race Points (lower better)	Overall Rating (lower better)
AVERAGE/MAX	--	7.5	10.7	24.2	343	- 45.9	161	176	70	--	--	75%	634	--
Scrub zone 01/11	Men's B	7.1	9.3	17.7	413	58.2	166	175	66	29	40	73%	549	594
Elm City 12/21	Cat 4/5	6.1	7.8	13.9	361	59.2	161	170	70	24	37	65%	578	611
Ice Weasels 12/13	Beginner	10.2	12.3	24.2	459	45.0	164	171	n/a	48	89	54%	614	611
NBX 12/6	Cat 4/5	6.4	11.5	22.4	128	20.0	161	167	71	90	111	81%	637	617
Sterling 11/30	Cat 4/5 45+	5.8	9.2	19.7	243	41.9	159	169	62	31	48	65%	620	616
Shedd Park 11/16	Cat 4/5	5.9	10.4	22.4	446	75.6	151	159	n/a	76	84	90%	687	621
Plymouth 11/8	Cat 4/5	6.0	10.6	21.5	318	53.0	160	171	70	68	75	91%	682	621
Crosstoberfest 10/29	Cat 4/5 35+	8.7	11.9	17.7	128	14.7	162	170	76	46	53	87%	669	621
Orchard Cross 10/26	Cat 4/5 50+	7.3	10.9	19.2	361	49.5	157	168	69	27	36	75%	608	621
Canton Cup Cross 10/25	Cat 4/5 35+	9.0	13.2	22.1	384	42.7	161	174	71	72	103	70%	642	628
Cooper River 10/12	Cat 5	7.5	11.6	24.2	100	13.3	162	176	77	41	63	65%	578	615
Whirlybird 10/11	Cat 4/5 40+	7.4	9.5	16.3	220	29.7	165	172	75	82	96	85%	652	629
Providence 10/04	Cat 4/5 40+	9.1	11.4	20.6	653	71.8	164	172	70	89	110	81%	672	629
Night Weasels 10/01	Cat 5 40+	6.2	8.8	17.9	482	77.7	165	175	52	15	22	68%	633	629
Gloucester 09/27	Cat 4/5 35+	6.5	11.6	21.3	387	59.5	165	173	76	80	108	74%	642	631
Midnight Cross 09/24	Cat 4/5	8.9	11.8	23.9	299	33.6	159	171	n/a	80	102	78%	646	633
Quad Cross 09/07	Cat 4/5	9.0	10.6	16.6	446	49.6	158	170	75	57	67	85%	660	636

2013 RESULTS

Race	Field	Distance (Mi)	Avg Speed (mph)	Max Speed (mph)	Elevation (ft)	Elevation/ Mile (ft/mi)	Avg Heart Rate (bpm)	Max Heart Rate (bpm)	Cadence (rpm)	Place	Field Size	Percent Back	Points (lower better)	Overall Rating (lower better)
AVERAGE/MAX	--	7.9	11.2	29.5	462	- 58.3	162	180	77	--	--	80%	655	--
Shedd Park Cross 11/17	Cat 4/5	7.5	11.7	24.4	417	55.6	163	174	83	72	91	79%	679	636
Plymouth Cross 11/09	Cat 5	7.9	12.0	23.3	374	47.3	163	175	82	23	28	82%	643	636
Orchard Cross 10/27	Cat 4/5 40+	9.1	10.9	21.3	479	52.6	161	176	75	40	47	85%	667	641
Marty Cross 10/19	Cat 5	5.7	10.3	20.8	515	90.4	163	172	75	27	40	68%	580	642
Casco Bay 10/13	Cat 4/5	9.4	11.9	29.5	554	58.9	161	170	77	54	62	87%	660	665
Providence 10/06	Cat 4/5 35+	7.3	11.3	19.9	436	59.7	n/a	n/a	75	94	107	88%	646	646
Night Weasels 10/02	Cat 4	7.0	8.8	17.0	548	78.3	n/a	n/a	72	76	92	83%	698	688
Gloucester 09/28	Cat 4/5 35+	8.8	12.4	21.5	581	66.0	164	180	79	81	108	75%	651	688
Midnight Cross 09/25	Cat 4/5	8.6	11.8	22.6	253	29.4	162	171	72	73	101	72%	671	698

2012 RESULTS

Race	Field	Distance (Mi)	Avg Speed (mph)	Max Speed (mph)	Elevation (ft)	Elevation/ Mile (ft/mi)	Avg Heart Rate (bpm)	Max Heart Rate (bpm)	Cadence (rpm)	Place	Field Size	Percent Back	Points (lower better)	Overall Rating (lower better)
AVERAGE/MAX	--	8.0	9.6	--	--	- --	--	--	--	--	--	93%	711	--
Baystate CX 11/24	Cat 4	9.3	10.0	--	--	--	--	--	--	93	97	96%	722	704
Shedd Park 11/18	Cat 4	6.7	9.2	--	--	--	--	--	--	85	95	89%	699	699