Babler was my first race as a cat 2, so there was a lot to learn going in.Add to that a 3 week break from racing and I was fairly nervous.The course was a 4 mile loop with 2 big hills – one up and one down.I don’t have numbers (no computer, just feel!) but Adam (RecycledCycles) said his Garmin topped out at 18% on the climb.Let’s just say it wasn’t easy.With 8 laps I was looking to follow wheels and try to help my cat 1 teammate, Kurt.
I felt good up the climb the first two laps as an early move dangled off the front.I felt comfortable in the group but was definitely working hard on the hill.The two-tiered climb usually played out with a steady pace on the lower section with riders kicking it up on the second slope and over the top.Once they saw that everyone was together the pace would slow a little and the pack would take a deep breath.It’s funny to me how the first couple times up the climb you keep your breathing quiet and try not to show your cards but by the third or fourth time up the hill you don’t care that you sound like a sow in heat!By the seventh time up the climb my back was a snare drum and my legs were empty.I gave in and let the pack go up the road.I was in the race until the real racing started.Ouch.
The race highlighted the need to be judicious in the use of strength and cautious to put one’s nose in the wind.Next time I plan on being around when the fireworks go off!I’m also taking steps to move past the back pain by getting a bike fit with Russ of Mesa Cycles.I’ve waited too long to do this!
Kurt rode well and placed 3rd - another podium for 708 Racing!
Thanks to Gateway Gastroenterology, Off The Front Racing, and the Park Staff for putting on a great race!
Note: only 17 riders were scored but I thought I counted 25+ at the start – this was confirmed by Daniel (Lindenwood) at the GEO crit as he thought there were ~30 guys in the race.Suddenly 13th doesn’t suck so much.
Great Egyptian Omnium Crit
After attending a friend’s wedding in Indiana Saturday, I stopped by Carterville, IL for the GEO crit Sunday.Keith and Erik rode well in the Omnium but had to finish the crit as a t-storm rolled in.Dead air became 30mph+ gusts uncomfortably quick.The boys kept the rubber down to seal a good weekend of racing.
For the P/1/2 crit I was hoping the race would be a quiet affair – another chance to get my legs going before the MO state crit and Gateway Cup.I knew Daniel (Lindenwood) and Eduardo (Bigshark) were going to be there but as I had suspected, Jonathan (Nuvo, National TT champ) showed up.It would be anything but a slow race now!Not only that but more firepower came to play via 5 IsCorp riders – this would be quite a race!Unfortunately, that t-storm that escorted the 3’s to the line poured out lightning on John A. Logan College for 1.5 hours, scrapping our race.It looks like another 3 week gap between races.Motorpacing time?
Big thanks to Chad Briggs who put on a great race (from what I could tell about the rest of the omnium) and had super community support (I heard a GEO ad on the radio while driving in!).Not only that, but Chad refunded the P/1/2 crit entry.This is definitely a race to attend next year!
Glencoe Grand Prix and Webster Groves Criterium Race Reports
In brief:
Buncha guys lined up. One rode away 15 minutes in. I won the field sprint.
If you’re not into the whole brevity thing:
Mike, Nick, Keith, and I headed up to Glencoe to contest the IL state criterium championship for the cat 3’s. I decided coming in that this would be my last weekend racing in the category. I had the points for the upgrade (including several wins) and more importantly I was starting to feel stagnant. Part of that is the place in the season – after racing since April I had accumulated more race starts this season than any prior YEAR! In fact, I have raced more this year than my first two in the sport combined. Regardless, I convinced myself that I wasn’t happy with a race unless I won (or a teammate won). So of course the rational next step is to begin racing in a category where winning means finishing!?
Off the shrink’s couch and on to the race…four of us showed up to represent 708 Racing. The guys all had good attitudes but I was a basket case. The state crit always gets in my head and I have trouble sleeping and notice that my normal neuroses and compensation mechanisms all fly into overdrive to deal with the additional self-inflicted stress. During the warm-up I felt alright but not great and everything that had to happen got done. I entered the staging area pretty late but pushed Tim Speciale out of the way. At first he thought someone was being rude, but once he realized it was me the joking began. It was a good way to kill a little stress before the start. As they let us go to the preliminary line I snuck forward in the group. Then they let us go to yet another line and I again moved up. The race was soon underway and I was looking out for 5 guys: Tim (Psimet), Kyle (Tower), Ryan (xXx), John Villena (Rhythm), and The Squirrel. I also had to watch the Burnham team as for sheer numbers they could sneak somebody off the front.
The pace was quick and Burnham kicked things off. Mike (708), acting the dutiful lieutenant, covered several early moves. The plan was for Keith and Nick to cover moves while Mike would lead me out for the win. “Plan B” was to put me in a break. The team was 100% committed to me (see nervousness above) and I could see it in those first laps. Nick jumped away during an early lap and stayed off long enough to take the first KoH sprint and I felt comfortable about how we were minding the pack. I believe that at this point the pace was quick and the course tight, but all 4 708’s were near the front (top 20?). On the first sprint lap Ryan Fay (xXx) took off. It was around 15 minutes into the race and I was riding next to Mike in the top 10 or 15 wheels. I turned to him and said: “What do you think?” Mike: “It’s early.” Me: “Yeah, let’s let him dangle.” Well, that was the wrong decision! Ryan began putting time into us. A chase group formed just off the front with Tim and a few others (John? Kyle?), so I jumped just before the start finish to bridge. People on the course were giving us splits – 12 seconds, 15 seconds. Alright, I thought, we caught Ryan and the field has split. We even have a nice gap! But by the end of the lap the numbers had gone up and the field had caught us…hmmm, aren’t we all together? No. Ryan was still off the front. I thought for sure he was part of the group I bridged to, but I was very wrong – he was 25 seconds up the road and hammering.
After these early efforts guys started making poor decisions in the tight turns and crashes befell the chase. The Squirrel was the first to go down (surprise?), but even TSpesh ate it. Ryan on the other hand knew how to drive his bike and just kept the pressure on. The gap from spectators was coming in as high as 45 seconds. The race was up the road.
Nick, Kyle, and I trying to get something going in the chase. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Rangel.
I ordered Keith and Nick, my khalkotauroi, to thefront and they worked to bring back Ryan. We got back 10 seconds - down to 30 total - but it was too little too late. I even began my own probing attacks and taking turns at the front to try to instigate a more energetic chase. It is on this point that I’ve thought over the last week(s). Should I have tried to bridge solo? Would it not have been better to go down swinging (or pedaling as the case may be) than to sit in and wait for 2nd place? I did have some of these thoughts at the time and considered that there was a chance that Ryan would run out of gas or crash in a turn. I wasn’t hoping tragedy would befall him, but cracking while holding off the field was a real possibility. Secondly, being a week or so past prime I haven’t felt very strong for 20 minute solo efforts. So bridging a 30 second gap solo was racing my weaknesses, not my strengths – it seemed a fool’s errand. Avoiding this scenario was exactly why I introduced myself to Ryan before the race as I wanted to be sure I knew who he was, what he looked like, and what number he had pinned. Ultimately, I let a known mark get a gap and race his strengths. So this race boils down to my tactical failure. I don’t think this was a question of legs as I bet there were 8-10 guys in the field who could have bridged to Ryan’s move, but we all thought it was too early. We were all very wrong.
Ryan stormed home with a 34 second advantage, supposedly (since I didn’t see it!) soft pedaling the final straight and enjoying the win. He certainly should have as he earned it!
Behind we were on a quick lap but I wasn’t in the red – a good feeling leading into a sprint. I was in about 10th wheel and I saw Nick in the top 3. Clearly he was my leadout man into the final turn. I burned a match up the climb one last time and kept the gas on to make it to Nick’s wheel. He assumed the front and I shouted commands as he kept the pack strung out. I told him “this is it! Go Nick! Go!” and he stood hammering out a pace which served as a launch pad. While still 50 meters out from the corner I jumped at 80% and hammered into the turn, railing it at speed. I stood and powered out of the saddle as hard as I could shifting as I got on top of the gear. I could see Kyle’s wheel beginning to edge up to me on the right so I gave it another kick to be sure he didn’t get me at the line. I sat up and held up three fingers. I thought there was a two man break up the road and I had just found the last podium spot.
Sharing the podium with Ryan Fax (xXx, center) and Kyle Selph (Tower, right). Photo credit: Nick Gierman.
I was surprised to hear that I finished second but was still disappointed. I was truly happy for Ryan as he had earned the victory. However the race was my best chance at a state championship for some time as the P/1/2’s aren’t exactly going to let me waltz across the line uncontested. But this is what makes state championships special – they are hard earned. If everyone was champ they’d be meaningless. My cat 3 campaign for 2011 will close with a silver medal in both state races – not too bad. Shall I buy a TT bike and see if I can finish second to Ryan in late august for the trifecta? No thanks.
I think it's clear from my recap, but just in case you missed it: I have awesome teammates. Thanks again to the 708 team for working for me.
Webster Groves Crit
Racing is fun, but most of the time it is serious fun. You set goals, train hard, and do your best, accepting the outcome. Sometimes it is fun to just have fun and not take it seriously and that is how I approached this race. I think I had to. My shoes (which have worked great all year) had a buckle break (already repaired – thanks Mesa!) and I was mentally exhausted from the previous day’s race and travels. So my goal was to win preems and be a jerk to anyone in a breakaway. I didn’t care how I finished, I just wanted to horse around!
To that end I took the front on the first lap and kept it strung out for a little bit. It was a 3/4 race after all, and we don’t need those cat 4’s hanging around crashing us out(!). I chased moves and stole a preem from Jason (CBC), even tried my hand at a “Fay” but only stayed off for 2 or 3 laps. Je suis fatigue. (I don’t speak French.)
We had fun and mugged for our great cast of StL photogs. One of the highlights of the day was seeing my sister’s Father-in-Law there. Lockwood is a Webster Groves local and he came out to see a race. His nephew, Jeremy Bock (Dogfish) was unable to make it – a huge disappointment for Lockwood. What started as “I can only watch the first 20 minutes” ended as “I just couldn’t leave – it was so exciting!” Amen. Nick Hand hung tough and finished 5th on the day.
This race day saw a crash from a racer named Randy. He's still in the hospital (several weeks later) and we're all pulling for him. If you think of it, please pray for his recovery and his family's comfort.
At the end of the crit I took off for a 2 3 week work trip to Arkansas. Yeehaw!
Ste. Gen served up the MO state RR championship this year.Dare I say it was nearly perfect for a June bike race?A gentle wind and some clouds were present as we started on 2 laps of hilly racing for a total of 69 miles in the cat 3’s.
The field was similar to the O’Fallon Grand Prix (2011 IL RR Championship), with fewer turning up than I expected.It really puzzles me why more do not come out for these races.They are in my view the biggest road races of the season.With frequent complaints regarding the “critcentricity” of US racing, here we have two ~70 mile road races, with hills, and guys don’t come out to play.Perhaps we just have too many races?Between Tulsa Tough, Ste. Gen, and Galena, a limited number of racers were spread thin.(This isn’t even accounting for MTB races, of which I know nothing.)But it begs the question:why do riders show up for training crits and early season races yet avoid the races for which the training exists?Do we train all winter to be fast at Froze Toes?!Or do we train all winter to win Ste. Gen?!
Anyway…the racing began as Shawn (Momentum) attacked through the feedzone (which marked when the neutral start ended, I think – but it’s humorous considering the recent discussions of feedzones following O’Fallon…).Shawner was off and nobody seemed too interested in chasing or bridging – it was a suicide break with 67 miles to go.But then, maybe it could work!
708 dispatched some riders to the front to keep pace. Kudos to Keith, he did the thankless job of setting pace for many of those early miles.Eventually it became clear that the other teams would not lend a hand in the chase, so Keith rolled off the front and was soon joined by an opportunistic Dogfish.Several riders from other teams bridged.The cards kept reshuffling as different breaks went up the road and came back.Nothing very serious was let go as Momentum, Dogfish, and Hub instigated and chased moves alongside 708.After several miles of this I considered myself a carrot, and with a few riders dangling off the front, I decided to provide something a teammate could counter – perhaps to glory.
On a slight incline I was joined by Aaron Koch (Dogfish) and we soon got out of sight of the peloton.I did a fair amount of work on the front already and was hoping this would only last a few miles.However, the pack didn’t chase too hard at first so Aaron and I kept cruising.Soon we found ourselves on the KOM.The benefits to my teammates of my little move were already showing up – no attacks on the KOM as the points had already been taken.
On the rollers into town we caught sight of the peloton and knew pretty quickly that they were chasing enough to doom our little run.Alas.We stayed off until the feedzone, which was good as I grabbed a few bags for teammates, allowing them to avoid that dangerzone.
After completing my domestique duties I returned to the pack while the pace ebbed and flowed.I was starting to feel the day’s effort on the hills and was concerned several times that I would be dropped.Always a humbling thought.
Coming into the final hills Shawner had been caught (and was livid that no teammates countered his suicide break – Paging B.J.!) and Adam (Recycled Cycles) was off the front.I found myself sag climbing the hills but the bunch wasn’t flying yet.I ate a little something and the body woke up before the KOM.Turns out my decision to use another product instead of my normal Hammer Gel was a poor one!Nothing new on race day, genius!
Chris (708) is a big rider, so when he attacked the pack on the KOM, I was impressed.The group surged to catch him over the top as gaps started opening.Nick and I held tough and I paced him back up through the group.Coming into town Adam (Recycled Cycles) was being drawn back from a long, bold move while the descents gave me a chance to rest the legs a bit before the finish.Nick and Chris were with me and we discussed the leadout briefly.I had a flash of adrenaline and excitement: “we really can do this, we are going to get a jersey” I thought.The finish is a really cool one: a wide right, followed by a tight left, then another mile run-in to the line.We had to nearly stop taking the sharp left turn – I think I took the worst line in the history of bike racing that didn’t end in a crash.I paced Nick back to the front and Chris had taken the reigns and was doing his Berny Eisel impression.I pulled through around 600 meters out (too far!) and pulled off after we went up the little hill under the rail road bridge – completely cooked.Nick gave his best but the hills had softened his legs.He finished as the 9th MO rider – a universe ahead of the DNF he had last year.Just think of how he’s going to crush souls in this race in 2012!
So the team had a lock on places 21, 23, and 24 – a failure, right?No.While we didn’t win we raced our plan and wrote the story on the day.While many teams race like individuals, we’re trying to execute team tactics.Big ups to Momentum for taking the race to everyone, too.
Hellbender Criterium Cat 3 [3/12]
I wasn’t expecting to race the Hellbender Crit but the schedule got flipped around.As preparation for the event I accepted a “challenge” from some coworkers to go for a 4 mile run during lunch the day prior.Not a big deal, except I hadn’t run that distance since August of last year.Add in that I was wearing my Chaco’s and we were at lunch with the power out from a t-storm and you have a fuller picture.Oh, and I had just eaten a pizza.Needless to say, my intent was to sit in and survive come Saturday!My teammate Nick wanted to ride in a breakaway, so we were set for the day’s tactics.
The course had great pavement and featured some nice touches: tight cornering (2 corners were off camber), a little rise on the back stretch, and a false flat into the finish line.A great course that would have been very tough with more than 30 riders.12 showed up to contest the cat 3’s and what we lacked in quantity, we made up for in quality as I believe the top 10 in MOBAR were present for the 3’s.
Jason (CBC) got a little gap on the first lap through the tightest section of the course and decided to push it a little.A lap later Nick decided to bridge.I thought it was a little early for a move to stick (race was 45+5, and we were assured by Aaro that we’d be racing a full 45 minutes!), but Jason is a strong rider and I wouldn’t mind blocking a bit.A few more laps go by and Trent (Michelob) rolls off the front.At this point, alarm bells should be going off in everyone’s head: the best cat 3 TT rider in the area just snuck off the front – all hands on deck!The group chased with a little more gusto but didn’t bring him back.Once he made contact with Jason and Nick, I knew my boy would be safe up the road.Trent is a diesel!
The rest of the race was good tactical fun.I had a problem to figure out: to bridge or not?As BJ, Brett, Chad, and Adam worked themselves down in the chase I constantly took stock of myself, should I bridge now?Next lap?The last thing I wanted to do was bring back Nick, and with crappy legs, would I even be able to get away?
I found myself continually saying: “next lap, Mark.Attack on the rise next lap.”But each time there was a reason not to: I haven’t seen BJ for a while, oh, he’s been sitting on my wheel!Or, I just had to close a gap and don’t have the confidence, etc.I missed an opportunity to do something great, but at least I didn’t screw it up for my teammate up the road.It’s the least I could do: no harm to his chances.
As the minutes switched to laps I knew it was very unlikely that I would bridge and focused on preparing for the sprint.At the end of the penultimate lap I tested everyone’s legs (including my own) to see if I could get away early.The results were ok, but not as good as I had hoped.So when Adam (Recycled Cycles) put in an attack on the back stretch, I made sure I got his wheel.Coming around the final bend I managed to hold off B.J. in the sprint, taking 3rd on the day.
Jason popped in the break and Nick fought it out with Trent, getting bested but learning a lot.I was very pleased with the result considering the quality of my legs and I think Nick was rightfully happy.Big congrats to Nick who rode strong and notched his first cat 3 podium finish!Five out of six cat three 708 racers have gotten on a podium this season!!
Nick (708) 2nd, Trent (Michelob) 1st, Frenchy (708) 3rd - who happens to be channeling his inner male model.
On Sunday I skipped the hilly road race but Nick rode to a top ten, earning 4th in the weekend omnium.
Next up: the Glencoe Grand Prix (IL Crit Champs!) and the Webster Groves Crit (MOBAR points!).
June is already here! And with June came the first state championship of the season for the 708 Racing team: the Illinois state road race championships. O’Fallon has a good course for determining an all-around racing champion. There are three climbs per lap but they aren’t long enough for the mountain goats to distinguish themselves. There are open areas and long stretches exposed to wind but nobody will argue that this is the Leland Kermesse, favoring the big gear grinders. Meanwhile, the final climb (which on the third approach in 104F heat doesn’t tickle) is inside 1K from the new finish line, meaning the sprinters have to earn it. In sum, it’s a course that produces a well rounded winner.
The conditions on Saturday were hot. Air temp reached 97 or 98 degrees, while the sun’s heat reflected from the black pavement cooking the riders in 100+ conditions. Winds were up to 11mph out of the WNW if memory serves.
The field was a little small considering (in my view) this is THE most important road race on the calendar. But no matter, you have to show up to win and many were choosing not to win. With only 26 riders pre-registered in the cat 3 field, my homework was pretty easy. Two IL riders to watch were Dustin Morici (Burnham) - who has had a great year so far and was strong in the heat and hills of the Hermann RR - and Patrick L (R-Bikes.com) - a MTBer who had some good RR results.
The 708 plan was to work for someone other than me in a 2008“Ronde Van Vlaanderen” scenario. In 2008 all eyes were on Tom Boonen who was marked heavily. This allowed strong man and Quick Step teammate Stijn Devolder to get away for the win! Is it not a little bit of vanity that I thought of myself as Tommeke? The plan fell apart and I’d rather not get into the kiss-and-tell. As it worked out, I was by myself in a selection of 10+/- that included 4 other IL riders. 3 MO riders were up the road. I mistook Joe Fuller (Veda, MO) for Brett Bohanan (Proctor, IL) and instigated his capture. 2 MO riders up the road.
Speaking of Joe, I need to write a few words about him. I was in the break with Joe and Shawn (Momentum) at Forrest Park a couple months ago. He’s a strong rider and comports himself with class in the pack. At the end of the first lap in O’Fallon he attacked immediately following the final turn. I took it as an “attack the feed zone” move at the time and complained about him to others in the pack (we were not actually in the feed zone yet). He, being the classy rider he is, bridged to 2 guys off the front and was not to be seen till the latter stages of lap 3. My grumbling (and surprise) about his move reached his ear so he came to me the next day at the crit to talk it over – a class gesture. I was wrong to say he was attacking the feed – he thought there was a prime for the intermediate laps.
I don’t think I saw anyone attack the feed but the eventual winner did take feeds outside of the feedzone from his significant other. Not his only clever tactic. (Yes, my sour grapes are quite sour. Nobody like a sore loser, i.e. me.) The whole “attack the feed” concept lacks the class that makes cycling a sport of gentlemen. These unwritten rules of etiquette belie the honor that each man carries into the race. You may dismiss this but remember, these are the guys who follow decorum to the point of shaving their legs, wearing specific shoes, and piloting $4K carbon fiber rigs. Alright, enough of that rant.
Back to the race, Dustin (Burnham) and I had done a lot of work at the front through the race and the heat and miles were starting to wear on us. But about 8 miles out guys started attacking the group (remember, about 10 of us). Dennis K. (Dogfish) took off with a nice seated move before a turn and dutifully applied a little pressure. Brian K. (Dogfish) kept telling me what a good move it was. I guess I agreed as I jumped hard (bike creaking and wailing – more on this in the sour grapes section below), going over the top of him into the corner I shouted for him to get on. The group chased and after the next two turns we were back together again. Dustin smartly countered, taking Patrick with him. I jumped to close the gap. This kind of thing went on more or less to the finish. Dustin looked completely smoked yet he put in at least 3 such attacks. Patrick always followed then sat up.
Sums up my day. Photo Credit: Dennis Fickinger
Coming into the finish I asked Brian to lead it out and promised him $20 if I was the first IL rider across the line. Tyler (The Hub) lead us after the penultimate hill, then Brian took the front up the final climb. Patrick held his wheel and I was on Dustin’s. I moved up to Patrick’s wheel during the climb, cresting third. We took the corner nice and fast and Patrick jumped around Brian. I held his wheel as he sat back down before jumping again. In the last 100 meters Patrick stood up and I jumped trying to come around him on the left. I threw at the line but knew I wasn’t there. I had lost the state road race by half a wheel. 0.035 seconds. Thanks chip timing.
Photo Credit: Nikki Cyp
The Sour Grapes:
Two days later I took my bike to Champion Cycling in Ft. Smith, AR for repair during a business trip. My bars would flex a good inch up and down when out of the saddle. I suggested that the fork might be broken as I was sure the stem and handlebars were installed properly. As it turns out, the carbon steerer tube was flexing all over as it was debonding (a word?) from the crown of the fork. You can see the crack/separation on the unit. When I think back to all the attacks, all the hillsides I stood on, and the sprint at the finish, I consider the wasted watts of the flexy front end. Would it have been enough to give me a wheel in the sprint? I think it would have. Regardless, I have nobody to blame but myself as I am responsible for my bike and I am the one that cancelled the work order at Mesa Cycles two weeks prior. Ugh. My new Orbea Orca…fork is super solid and I feel like I have a new bike underneath me. I’m pretty sure I’d have a new jersey in the closet had I raced in the new configuration. Wah wah wah.
The two MO riders that stayed away had big earned results. Trent (Michelob) and Brian (Momentum) both stayed away after bold early moves. The gap at the finish was over 2 minutes. Big ups!
Big big thanks to the Momentum crew who fed me each lap. Thank you!
O’Fallon Grand Prix Criterium
Sunday we were back in O’Fallon for a technical crit. Turnout was low but the conditions were near perfect: 92F (which felt nice after the previous day!) with minimal wind. The pavement was horrendous. It was the worst pavement I’ve raced all year. I watched riders get air coming out of the penultimate corner!
We had a few new faces on Sunday (Jason (CBC), Chris (The Hub)) but a lot of tired legs after Saturday’s deathmarch. The pace was brisk and I noticed we were taking the corners foolishly – only using half of the road. I noticed I wasn’t comfortable on those lines and getting gapped a little bit out of a few turns. What gives? I also noticed that I was breathing through my nose while we were lined out, so maybe things weren’t so bad. I just had to focus on where the apex of the turns should be, as most of them had potholes in the actual corner.
Photo Credit: FicksPhotos.com
The early move was Mike and Keith (708) going off the front tempting the pack to chase. I didn’t counter it as I think Trent and Joe (CX guy?) got off the front. They are both motors so I bridged up – it only took an entire lap! The two South Chicago Wheelmen juniors bridged up too. More and more guys bridged up and soon our group was 10 strong, starting to look more like a field split than a break. The field eventually came together and more attacks were tried and brought back. Permit me to add that Trent (Michelob) is really rolling right now. Keith (708) also got in a good looking move a little later but everybody had too much juice and it came back together.
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Rangel
Coming into the finish we decided we’d work for one of our sprinters. I would do leadout work with Nick. Trent was on the front (jeez!) as we crossed 3 to go. I thought I could hold the front long enough such that Nick and maybe Keith would only have to lead Mike the last lap. I pulled for the next two laps and felt like a fighter pilot, taking the turns how I wanted – outside, inside, outside – and just focused on picking up the pace on the straights (so as to keep it lined out). Trent jumped me into the chicane entering one to go and I jumped back up to him as I flicked off coming out of turn one. Unfortunately our train got derailed on that last lap as 5 guys swarmed the front. Mike (708) managed a solid 5th place. I’m convinced we had the right tactic, but we’re still ironing out the leadout. On that course, first one out of the last corner wins. Another “next time.”
Post race chat w/ Mike. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Rangel
Epilogue:
The results this weekend were disappointing but our team expectations are pretty high: a cat 3 win every time. The state championship was a personal and team goal and we took 2nd by a pretty close margin. Vittoria, you are elusive.
I’ve been weighing whether to upgrade or finish the season in the cat 3’s. The prospect of getting smoked by the P/1/2’s is inviting, but I think I should race a full year as a 3. It should be the last time I do so. Further I have these opportunities each weekend to work as a teammate. I truly enjoy it. It is also an area that needs improvement. Tous pour un, un pour tous!
Race Reports: Tour de Grove, O’Fallon Gold Cup, Tour de Champaign-Sunday (2011)
Midtown Rally [30/108]:
A big, open, 4 corner crit. 100 cat 2/3’s lined up under perfect dusk conditions. I felt ok and bridged to a break. We got swallowed by the pack. The group was pretty fast. I counted down the laps and started getting worried about being boxed in with 2 corners to go. I yelled at BJ (Momentum) “Let me out BJ, let me out!” He did and I took the final corner top ten. I opened up the sprint flying up the right side. “Man, these guys are slow!” I thought as I dug all the way to the line and sat up. Unfortunately I had counted wrong, we were now at “1 to go.” I am an idiot. I ruined good legs and good position for nada, rolling in 30th. Meh.
Tour de Grove [62/108]:
Rain. It makes the ground wet and slippery. After my mental breakdown in the rain at Belleville I lowered my tire pressure to 80/85 and girded myself for action. Unfortunately I continued to slip my rear wheel. On one such occasion I slid out in front of the wheel pit (back side of the course). It was the craziest thing: one moment cornering gingerly, the next moment sliding on my hip. Between my palm, knee, ankle, and hip I bounced off the ground and found myself sliding on my cleats, standing up! So I started running!
After all that excitement I hopped back in the race only to continue losing spots in every corner and eventually got dropped with 3 to go. They pulled me with 1 to go. On the upside, Chris Connolly (708 Racing) rode like a beast and finished in the top third of the field. He had it in the legs and between the ears. Kudos!
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Rangel.
This was the first race my in-laws saw in person. For all my talk of cycling with them, my result was pretty disappointing. “If he trains that much and finishes 62nd, perhaps he should take up knitting?” They didn’t say that, but that’s what I would have thought! It was also good to see Mr. and Mrs. McJones and their son Will. Rob has had to take a hiatus from racing to recover from an injury but it was good to see him on the bike again.
Dutchtown Classic [17/108; 3rd cat 3]:
Rain. It continued to hover over the weekend’s proceedings. I had procured “rain tires” and prepared myself for racing in the wet. Surprisingly the pavement was dry when we started, but the rain came in after the start and guys started stacking it in the corners. I was caught up in a crash (in the first 15 wheels) at the S/F and went to the pit. When the field came around again, they neutralized the race: cue mass tire deflation exercise.
I maintained position well and cornered ok compared to my peers. I stayed in the top 20 wheels and felt good on the course. The kicker at the s/f wasn’t too bad for me as I gained positions there each lap (which I would cede in corners to save my hide). Entering the last lap I was top ten through the start finish but bled many spots to more aggressive/confident riders in the turns. I wound up sprinting for 17th, which was 3rd cat 3 across the line. Turns out I missed the $$ by 2 spots. Ouch.
Rob braved the conditions again and we got to take a cool-down lap on course. That was nice to chat for a bit and catch up.
Arkansas Work Trip
I took my first work trip for the new company in May. I was able to toss the bike in the back of the rental car and sneak a few rides in. Coming off of the 3 day Tour de Grove I didn’t need a hard week on the bike, lest I get sick (we did race in the rain 2 days!). I got out for a good 5 or 6 hours in the hills around Ft. Smith, AR. Aside from a few jerks the people were surprisingly patient. Now, I did get a lot of strange looks while rolling through small towns but the courtesy from motorists was better than any other state I’ve ridden in to date.
I must admit that driving past the turn-off for Devil’s Den made me think of 2012 plans. Plans for getting smoked in the 1/2 field at JMSR!
O’Fallon Gold Cup Crit
I was tempted to go to the Champaign Crits Saturday and Sunday. But BJ and the Momentum boys were putting on a local race in StL so I split the weekend between the O’Fallon, MO and Champaign, IL. Let me just say about O’Fallon: the race, organization, and venue were fantastic! StL racers: you definitely don’t want to miss this race next year! They had buckets of free beer for crying out loud! (I did not imbibe, btw, so as to maintain the purity of my precious bodily fluids.)
Cat 3’s [8/19]:
Course: flowing, open loop. You could pedal through every bend and the one turn, save an off-camber uphill bend (should you be going fast enough). The race was in a park so nary a car was on the course. Some trees were present for shade and a nice open area at the s/f provided plenty of room for families to watch or nap or whatever.
The field was a paltry 19 riders. However, during a 5 man 50+ mile RR last year I learned that it can be plenty exciting in a small field. 708 Racing had the largest team, at 4.
Mike had already raced aggressively in the master’s field, so Keith was our man to take the win. We worked to keep him in good position but the heat and hill seemed to steal the power from our legs. We weren’t looking too fresh.
With 20 minutes to go the field started to break up and Keith went up the road with BJ. We sat up to try to let things congeal. A group of 7 formed off the front and Keith was in there with a chance. I wasn’t feeling too great after doing some work on the front, so I sat in a bit and followed wheels. In hindsight I should have gone all-in to bridge and then help Keith work over the break/split. Live and learn.
Coming into the final lap I jumped and got away with a momentum rider on my wheel. He pulled through and I jumped him on the back stretch easily “winning” the field sprint for first…out of the money. There is a theme here!
Cat 1/2/3’s [10/23, 1st Cat 3]:
I caught some rest while my teammates headed out to do other things. With my family out of town I was free to play bikes with the big boys. My legs had come around towards the end of the 3’s race, but I wasn’t sure how much I had left.
The first few laps were quick and before I knew it Justin (Dogfish, cat 1), Jim (Dogfish, cat 2, should be a cat 1), and Cale (St. Johns, cat 1) were off the front. Bear in mind, this is like lap 4. Austin (Horizon Organics, cat 1) bridges and I decide it’s the move du jour. I jump hard and stay on the gas till I’m on. It took almost half a lap. Yikes. Almost immediately Cale appears to be in difficulty and is looking for a rest – read: non-smooth rotations. Austin is NOT interested in doing more work than he has to, and is probably trying to recover from his own bridge effort (Note: he went on to win, so maybe he knows what he’s doing!). Me: I’m a cat 3 surrounded by cat 1’s. And I’m trying to catch my breath. I pulled through a few times and even bridged some gaps since Cale, Austin, and I decided to play: “No, You pull!” After a few laps Cale waved the flag on the s/f hill and Austin jumped from behind me up to the dogfish. I should have given everything in that moment to ride with them but all I have is excuses. Cale and I rotated evenly for the next 20 minutes which felt like an eternity. I want to see pics because I think I sold the hot-pain face rather well. I’m not saying it was Chris Anker Sorensen material, but it was hot. And painy.
Eventually a group of 5 that was not working well caught us and the field was not far behind. I tried working with this group but everyone was a passenger. Sitting in the field I felt rested pretty quickly and had a chat with Chris Creed (Mesa). Dogfish had the field shut down pretty well but before long the lead 3 came around and lapped us. Aaro called a prime for the field so Maurice (BMC/Walmart) and Cale jumped onto the passing Dogfish/Horizon break. This was a huge tactical error on my part. I had been foolishly inattentive and was boxed in, buh bye top 5. Nobody to blame but myself for that one!
I rode around in the pack and won a prime for 4 hamburger meals (from a local burger joint) and 4 burritos (from Chipotle – which have already been consumed). So that was good. But I probably should have saved some of that pop for the finish. Regardless, Chris decided that with 5 to go he would attack on a lull. It was a bold move and he probably got up to 20 seconds on us. As he was in his own private hurtbox the field would swarm a little then back off. Nobody really wanted to work. Coming into the finish I stayed top 5 but waited too long to sprint, tried to switch lines, but sat up rather than get pinched into the official’s tent. It turned out that the first 2 in the field sprint (Anthony [Dogfish] and Eduardo [Michelob/Big Shark]) nipped Chris at the line. He still managed 8th. I finished 10th, which is my best finish in a 1/2/3 (or 2/3’s) race so far, and good for last one in the money. But oh that top 5 was within reach!
Tour de Champaign Downtown Crit
Despite unsuccessful carpool attempts I hoped in the car and drove up to Champaign Sunday morning for my former-hometown race. Skies were clear and everything looked great: fun downtown course, decent pavement, and the usual suspects had shown up to dance. Unfortunately the prospect of horrendous weather canceled the race. The entire episode felt oddly familiar though:
Carefully, I measured out the quantities of liquids and gels I had with me. A muffled voice over the load-speaker made an announcement – was that directed at me or another? I chose specific clothing to be comfortable and effective for the duration. I found my place in line after paying. I received a pat-down (UNSOLICITED, from ETHAN STONE). I chatted with the people next to me in line, ready for take-off. But then we were delayed. And delayed. Oh, wait, perhaps we could be shuffled in the schedule – can I take off with that group? Nope. Cancelled. The whole thing felt just like American Airlines.
But it wasn’t a flight home, it was a flight of fancy. With the specter of natural disaster, cancelling a bike race is so shamefully small a thing it does not bear mentioning. Perhaps next time we’ll be able to shred each other’s legs and egos in Champaign?
2nd in line for refund. Podium in ‘the race after the race’!
Epilogue:
This concludes my May block of racing. With the drought of personal wins, it could be depressing. However the team has notched some good results (including a win) and I’ve been a part of several top ten results (both for the team and individually). In addition, I’ve learned a lot (cornering in wet conditions, pack positioning, and leadouts).
Thanks are due my wife for letting me play bikes so much and to Mesa Cycles for keeping the old bike rolling with wheel repairs and spare parts.
Now the month I look forward to all year: June. It’s time!
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