Salem, NY

When cobblestones and long sections of dirt loom on a race course, cyclists try to negate any notion of chance in their minds. It is said that you don’t need good luck; you just need to avoid bad luck.

We didn’t heed that nugget of wisdom. So it goes.

The team lined up with Eric Tremble and Colin Murphy in the Cat 2 race and Jason Baer, Jason Beerman, Sean O’Rourke, Adam Sullivan, and Toby Walch in the Pro/1 race. The key, with a relatively small squad in each race, was to to conserve and have as many guys available when the final selection was decided. With temperatures in the 80s, the naturally selective course, and the presence of a handful of teams with double-digit numbers in the race, it promised to be a long day.

Unfortunately, when the dust had settled, the team’s equipment had taken a battering and any tactical plans took a backseat. It was a frustrating day for everyone, but we look forward to next year’s edition, where we hope to avoid any mention of luck, good or bad.