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Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 8:02 am
by Ertcycling
Me and Erik Boos are looking to do a recon ride for the Holland road race Sunday. I am thinking 10am from Big Bunny plaza in Southbridge. It is about 10 miles to the course so out,two laps, back. There is a good coffee shop in town and Tree house is on the way back to 290 for a post ride brew. One of the local pros from Dudley who is coming requested that starting place. Who is in?

Re: Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 9:32 am
by Fintan
What is the route for that race?

Re: Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 9:35 am
by Fintan
Fintan wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2020 9:32 am What is the route for that race?
https://www.strava.com/routes/19725545

Re: Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 10:50 am
by JeremyC
Can we actual race it? Loser buys Treehouse?

Re: Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 10:58 am
by eboos
In, obviously.

Re: Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:04 pm
by Ertcycling
Well, how much tree house? I can barely afford a round.

Re: Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:05 pm
by Ertcycling
Well, a round for us all.

Re: Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:07 pm
by djming
Possible, but would meet enroute and I'd have to see what time that means starting. May just wait for temps to hit max warmth for Sunday.

Re: Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:13 pm
by pace21
Please report back any intel!

Re: Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:29 pm
by Ertcycling
djming wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:07 pm Possible, but would meet enroute and I'd have to see what time that means starting. May just wait for temps to hit max warmth for Sunday.
One of the guys who is joining locally can't ride until 11 so we could start at 11.

Re: Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 8:16 am
by Ertcycling
https://www.strava.com/routes/23917069 This is the route from the start to the course.

Re: Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 8:06 pm
by eboos
pace21 wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:13 pm Please report back any intel!
Brimfield Road is pretty flat and fast. There are a couple sections of rough pavement, but they are fairly short. RT 20 on a climb I cracked while holding Dave’s wheel. Caught back on on the descent. This could be a trouble area if in a break or are just barely hanging on, but shouldn’t be a problem if in a pack. East Brimfield-Holland Road seems shorter than it is, but there is a short steep climb at the finish. Overall there isn’t too much to blow up on unless you overreach on 20 and can not recover before the climb on EBH Rd.

Re: Holland road race recon ride Sunday 2/16/2020

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 7:29 am
by djming
What Erik said. Bit more detail:
The start on Brimfield/Holland Rds (4.2 miles) begins with a fast descent (taking back the finish climb) but then it's a series of power small rollers. Overall good road, just a couple spots early with some minor rough spots. Good opportunity to string the field out then launch an attack towards the end of it to gain some separation for the turn on Rt. 20.
Rt.20 (2.9 miles) starts with a 1.5 mile drag strip so if a group has separation before this they should be able to hold a gap. Then a .5 mile big power grind (holds a consistent 4-5%). This is too obvious a spot to attack, better to have done something with a group before, as the final .9 to the final turn is a steady downhill 2-4% bomber. Excellent road condition as that stretch of 20 was completely repaved a few years ago with a dedicated bike lane and a separating smaller lane between the bike and travel lane.
The final 3.3 or so is basically a reverse profile of the "out" road. Flat and fast to start, but the final 2-3K has a couple deceiving rollers. Plus this is where the road conditions take a step backwards. Nothing I would call bad, but more cracks and spots you definitely need to avoid. The finish is deceptive. It's ~.5 mile (depending on where the actual line is) and while it never gets to double digits, it keeps steadily ramping up from 2-3% to 7-8% at the finish.