Before anything is said about this past weekend, apologies are owed to Mr. Todd Brenner for grievous oversight in last week’s post. Todd, having received battle wounds (including a concussion) in the fight for the glorious cause (read: while racing over spring break), was unable to join the team on the road at Yale, but nevertheless played the role of the soigneur to perfection, providing transportation, moral support, and evidence that the Ephs did indeed tear up the road in New Haven.
Proof that Todd was indeed at Yale: he took this awesome artsy fartsy photo of Ian and Erik at the line.
Todd was back in the saddle this weekend, ready to join the rest of the hardcore crew as they traveled to the (rather bizarre) state of New Hampshire (Live Free or Die, state operated drive-in liquor stores, etc.) to finish off their ECCC season.
First up was the ironically (or perhaps aptly) titled L’Enfer du Nord at Dartmouth. With temperatures dropping decisively below ‘brisk’, the Ephs had to work hard to just stay warm, let alone go fast. Saturday’s highlights:
-Erik and Amy reprise their amazing performances from the Yale crit.
-John snaps his rear derailleur cable with 4.5 laps left in the crit, leaving him with two speeds (hard, and VERY VERY HARD), and manages to finish 8th to snag the last available point
-Ice baths for all!
-Henry’s newfound way of expressing emotion: “THE F***ING LAARB!” (Alternatively, “F*** THE LAARB!”)
-Todd plays digestive system roulette (“How spicy, 1-5?”)
-“Men’s D? Why not Men’s A++?”
On Sunday, the team awoke bright and early to a frigid, rainy morning. Undaunted by the decidedly miserable conditions, Todd, John, and Henry set out to ride their first ever Team Time Trial without any practice. Erik rode his with two riders from Lehigh. Thoroughly soaked, the team retreated to warm themselves at the hearth (Coach Cruz’s Honda Element) before once again venturing out for the road race. The important facts:
-Todd proves once again that he has mastered the art of vomiting during a bike race and continuing unfazed. Erik, in awe of Todd’s skill, decides to try too.
-Henry has perhaps the most fun of anyone in the road race. After sliding out twice and beating up his already battered loaner bike, he rides the rest of the race in the UVM van, eating donuts and heckling Women’s C riders.
-Amy arrives at the finish line a full 8 minutes before the rest of the Women’s C field, having reached a level of Erik-like mental…calm.
All in all, it was an excellent weekend to finish out the team’s season. Expect a full season recap in the next few days.
Results (no one cares about these)
Dartmouth ITT
Women’s C
2nd – Amy Levine
Men’s C
1st – Erik Levinsohn
Men’s D
3rd – John Hawthorne
7th – Henry Schmidt
11th – Todd Brenner
Dartmouth Crit
Women’s C
27th – Amy Levine
Men’s C
32nd – Erik Levinsohn
Men’s D2
8th – John Hawthorne
17th – Henry Schmidt
UNH TTT
Men’s D
4th – Team New York Driving Lesson (Todd, John, Henry)
UNH Road Race (40 Miles of slick, back road New Hampshire goodness)
Women’s C
1st – Amy Levine
Men’s C
8th – Erik Levinsohn
Men’s D
5th – John Hawthorne
29th – Todd Brenner
