Boston Chapter

Boston Chapter Meet-Up

MatthewMiller — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:42:40 -0800

Start: 12/07/2008 - 06:00

Boston Chapter Meet-Up! Come for good food, gooder conversation, and the goodest people around! Location to-be-determined. E-mail organicathleteboston@gmail.com to RSVP or for more info.

Boston Chapter

CX Update...long overdue

MatthewMiller — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:30:05 -0800

So I know that this is WAY overdue, but I thought that halfway through the CX season would be a great time to give an update...

Aumiller has been burnin' it up on the CX circuit with an 8th place at Amesbury, 6th at Eco Cross, and 6th at MRC CX.

I, on the other hand, have been biding my time, takin' it easy, waiting to take the Cat 4 racers by storm when they least expect it! (read: sucking big time) I've been hovering in the top 20's with a 19th at Gloucester, 16th at Eco Cross, and 14th at MRC CX. At Canton we had an OA sandwich going with Aumiller heading the lead group and me sitting pretty in last wheel in a group of 6 or so, until I broke my chain. That spelled disaster for my only chance so far this season of a top 10 finish.

Here's some eye candy (if I can upload the photos correctly)

The rest of the season's CX races are already planned:
Plymouth North and South
BRC Shedd Park
Baystate
NBX Gran Prix

Boston Chapter

Boston Veg Fest Update

MatthewMiller — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:42:31 -0800

The Boston Veg Fest was a huge success! We had a nice spread of materials and a little bit of merch, but most important I met a ton of awesome people who are down with OA and its message. It was such a refreshing experience to meet folks from all across the northeast who are as excited as I am to be a part of something this cool!
A surprising revelation was that 4 out of 5 people that came to the table were runners! Who knew that there were so many veggie runners out there?!?! I'm hoping that people (with better knees than I) take up the torch and pull together a group running schedule once the weather gets better.
Other highlights from the fest include (in no particular order): Hangin' with Steve Allentown, Aumiller modeling the OA team kit, geeking out about old hardcore tee shirts, all the food/vendors were vegan.
Big thanks to Steve and Matt for camping out with me and spreading the OA gospel!

Boston Chapter

NBX Gran Prix of Cross Day 2

MatthewMiller — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:29:52 -0800

Start: 12/07/2008 - 08:00

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7314

Boston Chapter

NBX Gran Prix of Cross Day 1

MatthewMiller — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:28:52 -0800

Start: 12/06/2008 - 08:00

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7314

Boston Chapter

Baystate Cyclocross

MatthewMiller — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:27:02 -0800

Start: 11/29/2008 - 08:00

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7270

Boston Chapter

BRC Shedd Park Cyclocross

MatthewMiller — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:24:50 -0800

Start: 11/16/2008 - 08:05

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7290

Boston Chapter

Plymouth South Cyclocross

MatthewMiller — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:18:26 -0800

Start: 11/09/2008 - 10:00

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7199

Boston Chapter

Plymouth North Cyclocross

MatthewMiller — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:15:20 -0800

Start: 11/08/2008 - 17:00

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7167

Boston Chapter

Today I learned how to suffer

MatthewMiller — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:30:20 -0700

After a mediocre time trial I was pumped for the Wachusett Mountain stage of the Fitchburg Stage Race, considering this was the only opportunity a rider like me had to make an impact on the race.

No sooner had I rolled out than a small handful of riders and I flatted due to some broken glass that had washed into the road during overnight rain showers. Calm as a cucumber I pulled over for a wheel change and flagged the neutral SRAM support when the weirdest thing happened. The driver took a quick look at me (and the 3 marshals standing nearby who were also waving him down) and he drove off. (!?!?!?)

Well, to make a long story short, I had to wait 20 minutes before the riders made it back around the 11 mile loop. The first car passed and didn't stop. The second car passed and didn't stop. Finally the Cat 2 support car stopped and gave me a wheel change and off I was on the longest ride of my life. For two hours I rode solo just a few minutes off the front of my group, trying like a madman to not get lapped and pulled. I caught and dropped quite a few Cat 2's and 1's along the way and kept trudging on like a man possessed. Knowing that I obviously had no chance in the race overall, I was determined to ride like hell to make the time cut, and if I didn't make the time cut I could always protest having to wait 25 minutes for a wheel change.

After spending the whole day alone time trialing over one of the hardest courses in the northeast, I was caught by the pack on the final climb. I floated to the back of the pack and explained my situation to the official who informed me that I could lodge a protest, but first I needed to finish the stage. "Oh, can I finish on this lap?" "No, you have to take another lap to make up the difference." Great. Freakin' great.

So after a dozen more miles I finished up, lodged my protest, and was told that I could start the next day, but I would be given the last possible time, putting me in the lantern rouge spot.

My experience has taught me that it's infinitely harder to muster the will to finish dead last than it is to win a race. I feel like I really learned what it means to suffer for hours just to be able to start the next day. It's also amazing how quickly you learn to rearrange your priorities for a race based on whatever crappy luck comes your way. As infuriating, chaotic, and utterly depressing as it was I wouldn't trade the lessons learned (and the good training miles) for anything.

Boston Chapter

Hearbreak Hill GP

MatthewMiller — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:34:30 -0700

After an 11th hour entry to Fitchburg I needed a quick fitness in the form of the Heartbreak Hill GP last Sunday.
The course was altered from 4 laps up the hill to 8 trips, and a technical section was added through downtown Newton which worked in my favor. To be honest I was expecting an aggressive ride and was looking to get into a break, which didn't happen. For the most part the pack soft pedalled on the climb and the circuit's short length didn't lend itself to separating the pack (except for shelling riders out the back of the field). I was keeping in the top 10 riders over the climb and getting through the S curves near the front until I got a snake-bite flat on the downhill section, which sealed my fate. I chased with a rider who had got dropped but was pulled with one to go.
The funny thing was that even flatting I still finished in the top half of the field! Over half of the 100 man field either DNF'd or was pulled behind me! Too funny. The fact that I could stick with the top 10 riders over the top of the climb was a positive sign for Fitchburg...

Boston Chapter

Bowl Vegan! and other thoughts...

MatthewMiller — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:16:14 -0700

The newest brainchild of OABoston is, you guessed it, an all vegan bowling team. Inspired by a few overpriced beers and some stylish synthetic bowling shoes a couple of mates and I hit the lanes and thought that Boston Bowl could use a vegan team for league bowling night. Green and orange bowling shoes, embroidered shirts, soy white russians, the ideas go on and on...

Furthermore, Aumiller and I are instituting a new policy: the use of track bikes are now mandatory on Thursday night training rides. I forget how much fun fixies are when you're not commuting in a suit and tie...

Currently I'm wait-listed for Fitchburg. Since I'm in no shape to ride a bike if I don't get in I won't sweat it. If I do get in I'll be sure to document the suffering in detail right here.

Boston Chapter

The Hell of the Northeast

MatthewMiller — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:48:08 -0700

On a hot day in upstate New York, members from OA Boston and OA NYC flew the team flag at the Hell of the Northeast, Battenkill Roubaix.

The Cat 4's got underway just after noon as temperatures hit an unseasonably high of 80-plus degrees. For anyone familiar with Battenkill-Roubaix (or, heck, even Paris-Roubaix) the race is won or lost if you're not in the front 20 riders to hit the first dirt/climb section. With two OA riders towing the line (myself and Dave Richman), the team had quite the coup when we both got in the lead group after the first hill. With a little coaxing, some swearing, and riders bridging up and getting dropped, we settled into a lead group of 22 for the bulk of the 55 miles of racing.

Being mid-April and having not acclimated to racing in 80+ weather, I was in for a shock when both of my teeny water bottles were bone dry by mile 30. With the help of a Boston homie in the breakaway (Thank you Jordan!) and Dave (I owe you one!) I was able to get a swill or two of water from the neutral water stops. Yet, as they say, if you're thirsty then it's too late: you're already dehydrated. Too true.

As we neared the crest of the final climb I saw teammate Dave get to the front of our group of 14 and lay the hammer down, which prompted my fatal error of getting out of the saddle in an inch of sand (do NOT try this at home). With the consolation that it was an OA teammate driving the PainTrain, I got dropped and soft pedalled in for 13th place with Dave taking a well-earned 7th in the bunch gallop.

Hearing all of the mechanical carnage wreaked on riders' wheels and drivetrains it's often a small miracle to finish the course. Also, looking at photos I was amazed to see just how many riders had to get off and walk sections of the dirt climbs!

Ways to win B-R (in theory at least):
-Be in the first group of riders over the first climb or be ready to ride 50 miles solo.
-Bring an extra water bottle.
-Make friends with your breakaway companions: it's a long day.
-Don't get a flat (or rip your derailleur off).
-Avoid the 3 inches of sand on either side of the road.
-Wear your MTB shoes and practice your cross mounts and dismounts for those 18% dirt grades.

Boston Chapter

Battenkill-Roubaix

MatthewMiller — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:53:47 -0700

Start: 04/19/2008 - 11:51

Boston Chapter

Chris Hinds Memorial Crit

MatthewMiller — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:54:13 -0700

Start: 04/12/2008 - 21:52

Boston Chapter