A-D Racing Race Report: Chain of Lakes Cycling Classic

Chain of Lakes Cycling Classic is a road race held in Fort Meade, Florida. The course is mostly flat with some mild inclines. There are many turns. The road is rough and it is always windy. It was dry with the temperatures in the seventies. I joined about fifty riders in the combined 50 plus and 60 plus race going 55 miles. I am riding my Ultima Carbon Disc Limited Graz.

I am fond of saying “Sometimes to get into the break, you have to be the break.” That was what I was thinking at the start. I got to the front and stayed at the front and at some point early in the first lap I rolled off the front with Vance James of Ponte Verde Racing. We had the benefit of Ponte Verde blocking services, big tailwinds and the out of sight out of mind factor. But it was hard work particularly on the headwind sections and I was feeling the effort. 

We were caught by a six man break halfway through the second lap. This slowed the pace down and allowed me to recover from what was a hard effort. Soon after, another Ponte Verde rider rolled off the front and Vance James jumped to join him. There was no way I was going to join them so that was the last we saw of them. No one wanted to chase or work so the remaining lap and a half was quite slow. So slow, I almost crashed out on the one technical turn on the race (somehow I saved it using dormant cyclocross skills).

With three miles to go I decided it was best to try to get away than to try and outsprint Terry Auter (the fastest 50 plus rider in Florida). I hung off the back to create a few bike lengths and then wound it up so that I came by the break at full gas on a small, windy rise. I got the gap and to my surprise, the break did not chase. By the time I was in the final mile, I had many seconds on the break, a huge tail wind and an appointment with the second step at the podium. The other thing I like to say is “It’s not that they can’t chase, it’s that they don’t.” This great event proved all my pithy aphorisms to be true. Many thanks to Top View Sports, the volunteers, the residents of Fort Meade, and the USA Cycling officials for making this great happen (again).