More poduims? yes please!

We came to Dixon rolling 5 deep in the 3/4's and 4 deep in the 4/5's. With numbers like that in a small race you should be able to put together a team plan that puts one of your guys on the podium. I always try to make podiums the goal. With so many of our races coming down to sprints its so hard to produce victories in this sport it takes prefect luck. However with good team tatics and attentive racing it is very realistic to expect podiums if you have the fitness.  

The course was altered from the 8 corner gem of last year due to some serious construction. (it would have made for a good CX barrier). This year we had a wide open, but bumpy 6 turn course with a slight rise on the backside into a downhill final turn and a uphill sprint finish, extremely unique. The course was a blast, some technical areas, but nothing really dangerous. You could hammer through most of the turns when you felt the need.

3/4's Race
In the 3/4's race we lined up with 5 guys. Michael Shea, Dan Pollard, Matt Riezman, Brandon Diffenderfer, and I were going to work as a unit to take a podium spot. I felt terrible most of the race, breaks attempted to get off and the pace was rather brisk, Brandon and Shea were holding strong position; Dan and I were doing my classic tail gunning act and Matt was throwing up in some dude's lawn. Panda express as your pre-race meal really?

I took a free lap due to a mechanical with about 15 laps to go. Small breaks got away but the field remained attentive and brought everything back within a couple laps. With about 5 to go a two man group was about 200 or may 300 meters off the front and I thought what the hell I hadn't done anything this race I might as well try and bridge. I attacked up the left side of the rise and I saw Shea coming up the right side. I thought if I could get a small gap he could come over the top and block while I tried my bridge. However my efforts got me on the front of the group but no further. I thought I would take a long pull and see what happened. I pulled for about a lap and tried to pull off on the rise, and that I did. Directly off the back. I chased for about two laps until the group was out of sight. When the pack goes out of sight its like a punch to the stomach, you know your day is over.

I am told on the last lap Brandon took an outside line to attack the group grabbing a 3rd place finish, Shea took the inside line and got pinched finishing a respectable 10th. Shea commented after the race how impressed he was with Brandon's abililty to read the race on the last lap. For a Cat 4 rider to get a podium while racing against some really strong 3's is really impressive!

4/5's Race

In the 4/5's we decided we would ad-hoc the strategy with all the riders from the first race less Shea. I was really impressed how we stayed close to each other and talked during the race. It was 39 person field so moving around was going to be an issue. Dan, Brandon and I maintained mid-pack position and Matt hugged the front of the group in an impressive display of racing. With about 5 to go we knew it was time to start sticking our nose towards the front of the group.

We moved up for a few laps and then with three to go at the start finish line someone flipped the squirrelly switch and bike handling went to hell. A couple ridders tumbled into the fence, the pucker factor in the field was high. I got shuffled back and saw Bryan Cael he said "its getting nuts up there", I thought it sure is. So on the rise I attacked up the left side again. Same result, it ended at the front of the group. I saw a rider in front of us, he was chasing after his crash but I didn't know that. I got to his back wheel and he sat up. I soft peddled or two strokes and then dropped the hammer through the rise. I was trying to string out the group for a full lap to allow Brandon and Dan to spring attacks on the rise. I put everything I had through my bike and bombed each of the corners. I felt great about my lines and the pack snaked behind me. I dropped a maintained a strong tempo until we crested the rise, and then BOOM!!!!!! I blew up, and faded to the right as Brandon attacked just to the right of me and barely to the left of the curb. We grassed hands and he flew off the front of the group. I saw Dan follow from the inside and I knew my job was done. They were first two through the last two turns and we Brandon held on for 3rd in the long sprint with Dan holding his wheel for 4th. A great team effot nabs us another podium and another top 5.

We have had a great run as of late, we are really getting the hang of team tatics and figuring out proper execution. I am really proud of what we have accomplished this year. Now time for the chiCROSScup with a diversion for the Fall Fling and problably a rest week or two... probably not.

Thanks for to Dixon, great event! Look forward to a return trip. Thanks to Julian, Justeen and Brandon's family for the cheering sections. And Juilan when you yelled move up, I really was trying but I was really tired.

All photo credit to Justeen.

Grayslake Race Report: By Dan Pollard

This past Saturday was the Grayslake Cycling Classic located in the Prairie Crossing subdivision in Northern Illinois. The course is approximately 1K long and is in the shape of the letter U with three wide, sweeping turns and two tighter 90 degree right handers. This course layout allows the pace to get and stay high, as we would find out soon enough.

Andrew, Drew and I would make the trip north together, meeting up with Brandon at the race. Drew has been on excellent form lately and had some great results during Superweek, including his first win at Geneva. And Andrew was coming off a podium finish last week so we agreed the team would do what it could do to put me in a position for a result.

The race started off with call ups for the top 10 in the Illinois Cup standings since this was the final Cup race of the year. After staging well the last few races, I got stuck towards the back and knew I would spend the first part of the race working my way to the front. When the whistle blew I set to work getting up to the front. The pace immediately was high and the field was strung out single file working its way around the course. On the first three laps gaps already started to form as the pace was slowly spitting people out the back. I could see Drew and Brandon sitting in great position in the top 10 for most of the first half of the race, but I didn't see Andrew. I didn't think anything of it until the pack came around through the start finish and I saw Andrew in the SRAM neutral support pit. I would find out after the race that he clipped his pedal and went down on one of the first laps, luckily, outside of some more road rash, he was ok.

Before the midpoint of the race I had finally made my way up to the front and comfortably settled in the top 10. A few small breaks would try to go up the road but would never get more than a few seconds on the field and the crosswinds on the backside of the course made it extremely difficult to maintain a breakaway. The race was pretty uneventful from there until 3 laps to go when the pace visibly slowed as everyone seemed to be saving themselves for the final sprint. Drew went to the front a couple times to keep the pace high and the field strung out. The main field was still together as we crossed the start/finish line for the final time. Drew, Brandon and I were all sitting top 20 at this point and we started to move up the field to try to position me for the final sprint.

On the final straight-away Drew took a strong pull and went to the front and gapped the field, with me right on his wheel, according to our pre-race plan. Turns out Brandon was the victim of someone taking a bad line through the final right turn and he was pushed off the course into the grass, so the Monkey lead out train was now just Drew. He pulled into the cross wind and put me in great position to start my wind up for the final sprint into the inside of the U. I wasn't sure how big my gap was when I pulled around Drew, but I may have taken off a little early as the finish would prove to be about 50m too far for me. I came around the second to last bend in first place with John from Rhythm Racing on my wheel. John took a quick pull on the front and then I rotated to the front and saw Quentin from Project 5 go flying by. I tried to spin up to catch his wheel but couldn't catch on, and a gap slowly was opening up between him and I. Coming into the finishing straight I was in second place. I didn't look back because I was hoping I would have enough to hold on. Turns out, I didnt as I got swarmed just before the line and rolled across for a 9th place finish.

Even though I didn't end up with the result the team and I wanted, I'll take Saturday as a learning experience and put the lessons learned to use in my next race. Thanks to Drew, Andrew and Brandon for the team effort, next time hopefully I can get the result. Thanks also to the residents and volunteers of Prairie Crossing and all those involved for running a well organized and on time event.

We came this far, we might as well make a statement!

Alright so 6 weeks back some yahoo from Wisconsin rode up under my teammates Bryan's handlebars and crashed him out resulting in a broken arm. After five weeks of recovery and one week on the bike he was ready to roll up the start-line again. A three man wolfpack (Bryan, Dan and I) ventured to Indiana for Parkview Cycling Classic put on by the Men of Steel Racing team. We would throw down in 3/4's race followed by a 4's race.

The course was really nice, huge corners and relatively smooth, besides the 6th corner where there was a bunch of road furniture. If you want a better description of the course check out our preview.

3/4's race
We all agreed after the race that was a pretty uneventful race. We had 50 starters and guys were getting dropped quick! Dan held tight up front most of the race, but then he dropped his pink Vision Quest water bottle. Bryan and I moved around a little bit but settled towards the back of the pack. We were all together coming into the last lap, but we put it on cruise control when a rider in front of us clipped a pedal in the downhill corner and somehow remained upright. The pucker factor was high on this near miss. I finished 20th, Dan was 23rd and Bryan 25th. One more race to come.

Between races Dan and I decided with a small field anything less than a podium spot would be a failure in the 4's race.

4's Race
We were on a mission. Dan and I line up on the outside or the front row and on the whistle we come over the top of the group. Dan starts setting the tempo. As we approach the rise I takeover.  We are trying to show that we are going to be the guys that dictate the race. I attack, we stay off the front for a about 2 laps, maybe less. Dan attacks, Bryan gets hung out to dry on his attempt, nothing really sticks. We were all over the attacks from the start. After about 15 or 20 mins the race settles.

Early in the race some guy rode right into me and starting freaking out and screaming. I said "I need you to clam the fuck down!" And then everything was fine, thanks to my 2 Randy Warren safety clinic's I don't freak out when someone starts bumping me. He later told me he thought we had locked bars, no harm no foul. 

For the first time we rode together all race. With about 12 or 13 laps to go we all go to the front and push the pace. Pre-race their had been discussion about trying to split the field, and this was our best attempt. We all pulled through once and then settled about 5 wheels back. With 6 laps to go the pace slowed again, Dan hammered to the front took control. At this point Bryan tells me "I'll get you to turn 5". Dan comes back to me and tells me he's done. I tell him to stick Bryan's wheel.

These guys were setting me up, I started to get really nervous. I thought if Bryan gets me to turn 5 what the hell do I do between 5 and 6?

With 1 to go the bell rang and Bryan went to the front and did his best George Hincapie impression. He killed it, at the top of the rise he looked back to make sure we were still close to his wheel we sate 3rd and 4th wheel. He hammered the downhill and we were single file coming into turn 4. He picked up the pace as we came into turn 5. He peeled off and Dan kept me 4th wheel as we hit turn six. However somehow a lapped rider was in the way. He actually took the inside line! I jumped outside and a rider came to my inside. I was 4th coming into the finishing straight which had a stiff head wind. I exploded out of my saddle. I checked my inside and it was clear so I swung to my left, I opened it up. I passed the rider directly in front of me and I was now on the podium but then I ran out of real estate. The computer said I got it up to 35.7 mph in the sprint, I'll take that. Had the last turn been cleaner who knows what happens.

Dan and Bryan both finished in the top ten giving us 3 top tens for the day. We achieved our goal of a podium and we really races strong. Not to mention we finally figured out what to do at the end of a race. All and all it was a good trip even if we did sit in my car for 7 hrs. 

Thanks to the Men of Steel Racing Team, Parkview and all involved in this event. The opportunity for a 3/4's race was the best part of this event. I really enjoyed the low cost racing as well 2 races $38. 

Parkview Cycling Classic 1.0

Criterium: Check
6 Turns: Check
3/4 at 2:45pm: Check
Cat4 at 6:30pm: Check
Shoes: Check

A few lone wolves are heading to Indiana tomorrow in search of strippers and cocaine 2 races of fun. Its my first race back, and i'm excited.

Boogity Boogity Boogity, Lets Go Racin'!!

The Diaster that was Willow Springs

This was a course I was excited about. However in bike racing some days you have it and some days you don't. Today was one of those days where I just didn't have it. Lots of squirrels in the field today, and to be honest I was one of them. I sucked today!!!!

My teammate Drew took 2nd, which was great because it at least made the trip not a total waste.

Really enjoyed hanging out with the Rhythm Racing guys before the race watching Andy Schleck throw fire on the field at the tour (I really don't want to see el bitchelero in yellow in paris), thanks to 2 Bici for the accommodations.    

Well after 15 races in 26 days not to mention a trip to Matteson for the Tuesday Night Training Races I think its time for some rest. One more good day of training and a couple of High Lifes then I am putting the bike down for at least two days followed by a rest week next week. 

Superweek Kickoff in Gevena

Yesterday myself and three teammates (Drew, Dan and Matt) headed down to Geneva Illinois, a great destination or a bike race. In my opinion the best place for a race is in a town's downtown area... and today that is where this race took place.

Superweek is always tough racing. When people drop $40 to race their bike its seems to add speed and aggression, these aren't always the best things in a 4/5 race (more on that tomorrow).

The course was interesting to say the least. Two of the corners were made of bricks and the third turn was terrifying. There was a downhill off camber right hand turn into a narrow street, amazingly in our race everyone seemed to navigate this corner without anyone touching the ground.

We prepared for the race by trying to combat the heat, which was tough. It was sooo hot we had to use a mitten full of Enzo's buttonhole for extra protection (it smells like thin mints!)

A full field of 75 took to the line, this race was loaded with newcomers which was evident early on in the race. I staged well, but in retrospect I should have lined up behind Dan or Drew. Something I will make sure to do in my next race.We all rolled off the line for a 25 lap race, ohhh the joy of superweek. Due to a failed clip in I was swarmed when the official started the race (pretty sure the clip-in this is a mental block at this point).

As we hit turn 3 for the first time it seemed that everyone puckered up good, but somehow despite trying to jam three or four wheels through the turn we all made it. As the race went on we got better at taking this turn, but the hardest part was that there really wasn't a clean line through it. This seemed to be the consensus from everyone I talked to; including Phillip Mann a Bahati Foundation rider who finished top ten after being off the front for 75 laps!

I raced pretty well, I moved up a couple spots each lap. I knew superweek races are long and there was no reason to blow up early. I took advantage of my ability to power up the hill and moved up four or five spots each time. After a couple laps the attrition started and riders were being shelled off the back, about 4 or 5 guys a lap.

The group remained extremely strung out all day, something that rarely happens in a 4/5's race. My teammates Drew and Dan raced amazing, they held top 15 position all race. This is something I really need to focus on, until I figure out how, my race career will not progress. I dodged a couple solo crashes and managed to chase back on with ease. I was feeling good as the laps passed.

With about 5 to go I knew I needed to move up, I was sitting about 5 wheels back from Drew and Dan with 2 to go. I moved up again on the hill and started to try to navigate my way to Dan's wheel. I was moving up the left side looking for a clear lane to start to set up for the sprint. At this point the field had been whittled down to about 30 riders. As we approached the final turn all hell broke loose. From what I gathered someone tried to put a wheel where it had no business being. Bumping occurred, someone freaked out, and the next thing I knew bikes and bodies were flying in every direction.The sound of a crash is horrifying, the sight of your friends from other teams laying on the ground is depressing and the fact that this happens almost every week is ridiculous. I was able to find a path through the carnage by grabbing a fist full of Ultegra breaks and throwing my ass back in order to stabilize myself, but a gap had formed. I could see Dan and Drew had made it through, what a relief!

At this point I was with Bryan from Verdigris, we took turns trying to pull ourselves back into the race that was running away from us but we had no such luck. I was extremely jittery after seeing what had happened the lap before. I did my best to make the turns as clean as possible. Bryan and I simply wanted to make it to the line safely, as we did just that. He crossed 16th and I followed close behind 17th.

As I cooled down I saw Dan and Drew, I knew they did well. I yelled "how did we do?" Dan said "Drew won!" I screamed with excitement, he then said "I was 4th!", what a day! When the results were posted we saw that Dan was pipped at the line by about a half of an inch and finished 5th, still an incredible result. (Photo Credit: John Wilke)

Having a teammate win is a incredible feeling. Now I only wish I could have done something to help him out during the race, well maybe next time.

Well thats a way to spend a Saturday!

So today is Saturday, there was a bike race within 30 mins of my house, what do you think I did this afternoon?? This was an ABR race hosted by project 5 racing, which excited me. It meant that I could draw a sword and clash with the 3's today after my 4's race. What I didn't know is that a crash in the 4's would combine the 1/2/3 field into one talented field, scored separately (more on this later)

I was accompanied  by my teammate Mike Meyers, this would be the first time he turned the pedals in anger all season (I now owe Phil Liggett a nickel for use of his favorite saying) 


Cat 4's Race

Mike and I took the line and I felt good. The Chicago boys were in the house, Sean and Q of Project 5, Joe and Rob of Psimet and Bryan Fuller of Bicycle Haven. Not to mention an army of Tower Racing fellows in their sharp new kits The course was very similar to Sherman Park (no turns) however it was in a neighborhood. I love a neighborhood race where the front yards are filled with people watching the sport I love for the first time and that was the case today.

The race wasn't the most exciting race ever but good enough. Without corners it was more about if you could do a long burning effort as opposed to the constantly sprinting out corners like I did at ToAD. So when they called the first prime about 5 mins in I went for it. I attacked about 3/4 of a lap from the finish. I fizzled out and the pack caught me about 150 meters from the line (better to have tried and failed then to have never tried at all (word of wisdom from a veteran racer).

I decided I would sit in for the rest of the race and see what I could throw done the in the sprint. Sean and Q of project 5 (our gracious host for the day) took fliers and each held they gap for about 2 or 3 laps. These are guys I like racing with so if they can hold an extended break I was willing to concede the win and go for it in the field sprint. So with one to go we were all together. I knew I needed to move up, and I did but I moved way too far up. I was know on the front dragging the field around the course on the last lap.... not a good thing. I really didn't know what to do so I figured I would ride a steady tempo until I saw guys come around me and try to grab a wheel and take it to the finish. This seemed like a good plan, until it actually happened. Guys swarmed me on each side and when I got out of my saddle it was over. I didn't really have a kick left. I rolled in 19th, another top 20, but I wanted more today.  Mike rolled in one spot behind me, well done sir!

Great learning experience, lessons are noted and I will take it to the start line next time I line up.

1/2/3 Race (the big boys)

So whenever I have an opportunity to test myself against what I consider superior racers I jump at the opportunity. So I was excited about throwing down with the 3's today. The surprise that the 1/2's would joining us was pretty exciting. I mean there was some fire power at the line. Cesar from Iron Cycles, Luke of CBR fame, Ryan Freund of VzW and ToAD Stage winner (his photo graces the month of July on my CBR calender which hangs in my kitchen) and a guy from Helen Cycles who had raced the entire ToAD Pro series.

So we started, and I quickly realized that I was still in my small ring! This could quickly become an issue, but after a couple failed attempts to shift up to the big gear I was there. I was at the back of the pack so I needed to move up. It was easy to move around on this course so I quickly found myself  towards the front of the race. It appeared that the Helen Cycles racer was making a move about 2 laps in, I thought what the hell, I'll give it a go. We got a little off the front but we were quickly pulled back. (goal one of the day was to make an attempt to get in a break, check).

I was actually pretty tired at this point. The 1/2's races are crazy when guys are trying to get a break off the front. After several failed attempts to form break a group of about 8 or so got clear including Ryan, Luke and Cesar (I think Q was in there too). After a few laps of chasing the gap had grown and the group was out of sight. I thought the pace had slowed so I asked the xXx racer next too me "did we just concede the break?" He replied "yep" I said, "Thanks, I'm new to this having a break up the road, that doesn't happen in the 4's". At this point I didn't have aspirations on a strong finish. For me a pack finish behind the break would be an incredible accomplishment.

I took a pull or two. I could the Helen Cycles racer was getting frustrated, so pulled through again and took my last pull and moved myself to the back of the field. With 1 to go I tried to find a comfortable spot to hang out, and then it got hot! I mean really hot!!! These guys fly. I was quickly was funneled to back and realized I wouldn't be sprinting today. I rolled in with the pack and a smile on my face. The congrats from my friends after the race was my reward. I would be re-missed if i didn't mention Alex from the Recycling Team, he was a great familiar wheel to follow all day, which really helped ease my nerves.

I rolled around the course to cool down and chatted with Luke, I was so proud of what I had just accomplished and I am pretty sure it was written all over my face. Looking back at today I realized just how far I have come in a year, it actually makes me kind of emotional to think about. I have always loved sports but until I found cycling I was never really able to compete at a high level in any of them but thanks to countless hours in the saddle I can push myself farther than I ever imagined.   

I took one more lap around the cousre and made sure to thank all the locals for letting us race in their neighborhood.

(Now I am getting on my high horse) Everyone should be doing stuff like this, as races disappear from the calender with greater frequency we as a cycling community need to do everything we can do be good citizens where ever we race. The responsibility lies with each racer to be an outstanding citizen and give back to this great sport.

Big thanks to Chip Gray for coming out and rolling around with the 4's after his master races in order to help our team by coaching us through the race, you are constantly giving back to a group of young racers and it doesn't go unnoticed. 

Also thanks for all the encouragement from the sidelines during the 1/2/3's race, it was amazing to hear.

Day 10 - Carl Zach Classic

And sometimes you don't have it!

The previous day I raced hard, and lets say I ignored recovery (its good enough for obama!)

On about the 3rd or 4th lap a rider crashed in front of me. I would have to chase again, fail!

I got popped, I got lapped twice, that hasn't happened in a while.

The field blew up and Drew took second in the field sprint for 6th. I crossed 25th. It was over 10 race 10 days. Wow!

Tomorrow i will post a look back at ToAD, a season goal accomplished. I am really proud of this accomplishment. Now where are my keys I keep losing them (see DZ quote)

Day 9 - Downers Avenue Classic

The previous night my teammate Matt rolled into town and on race day Drew arrived via Amtrak, it was good to have teammates to race with. At our level the value of teammates has less to do with tactics and more to do with motivation. So having some friends in the pack was a welcome change. When I arrived on the east side I saw some more familiar faces. It was nice to have xXx's John Wolthers, Iron Cycle's Ted Ramos and Adam and "the Doctor" from MS in the field as well as the regulars from the week Dave, Travis, Lionel, Nate, Jared, Craft, the iscorp army etc....

The course is fairly well know, its been a superweek course for a while. I had never raced the course, but I knew it was going to be tough. I had heard about "the corner". I knew with the weekend here fresh legs would attendance. I was going to have to work hard.

The race started with a quick jump from Travis, Lionel and an Iscorp rider. I was in no position to take a pull or follow an attack yet so I slotted in and tried to take the turns clean. I saw Drew was sitting up in the top ten, I knew when I saw an opportunity I should join him. The corner was interesting, everyone took it really slow so the hardest part was sprinting out of it. Some intresting lines were being used, but it wasn't as bad as expected.

On the 3rd lap I moved up to the front to take a pull and try to bring down the gap. I thought Travis had the talent to ride away from the field and with Lionel up there two anything was possible. So I took a pull and moved back into the pack. As we hit the back stretch I saw a rider jump to the left I jumped too. If we could bridge across we might really have something. And a small group would be able to navigate the turn much smoother than the nervous chasing pack. In all reality it wouldn't have stayed away but worth a shot. As we hit the third turn we were attacking, the other rider didn't give me a clean line. I was carrying a good bit of speed and I CHERUNDOLOED the turn. I adjusted my line didn't freak out and all was good. Had I went down I would have taken a great deal of the pack with me, I couldn't have that. As we came up the front stretch the pack latched onto my wheel. I felt a hand up on my hip (when i dip we dip you dip.....) I saw the tweety bird shoes and knew it was Adam. I pulled a little longer and then moved back in the field.

With about 13 laps to go as we came into the corner the rider in front of me touched wheels, he had no chance. He slid out right into my line. I threw my ass back and grabbed a hand full of breaks and remained clam. The corner was huge so I just kept going straight narrowly avoiding the sliding rider (do your wheel touch drills gentlemen). I saw the field sprinting away from me. I knew it was gut check time. I powered the bike up to another rider who was trying to catch back on. I knew primes were being handed out like epo on the fiesta bus so the pack would sprint and then slow. If I maintained a steady tempo I would be able to catch back on after a prime, hopefully. And that's just what happened. After a smooth two lap time trial I rejoined the field. I was happy to be back. I rolled up to Drew and said "lets chill here and head up with 5 to go" I drank some water and recovered. Drew moved up to limit the sprint out of the corner. With about 3 to go I tried to move up, but I just couldn't. The chase had really ended my chances that day and the previous 8 days of racing were beginning to take their toll.

The sprint looked pretty clean from my respective. I was within 25 meters of the winner, but that a big gap in a bike race. I gave it my best effort, but it wasn't enough. I finished a respectable 23rd, Drew was 7th and Matt hit a pole.  This was probably my second favorite crit race of the week, behind the Grafton Race. It was a great racing atmosphere. Only one more day, what was I going to do Monday?

I would like to thank my parents for hosting 5 members of the chicago racing community on Saturday night with only one working shower. Have you ever tried to get 6 racers through the shower starting at 1015 on a Saturday night? The morning pre-race breakfast will be something I will remember about this series. Four different teams bunked at my parents place, I think it says something about our community (xXX, CCC, Iron Cycles, Spidermonkey)

ToAD catch all

So heres a quick summary of whats been going on.

Day 6 - Waterloo - Great course, little hill, easy corners and smooth roads. The race was tame and attacks were rarely made, none successful. I was in better position than previous crits coming into the final hill but got stuck behind someone braking up (who does that) and crossed the line 18th - got some series points to add to Road America. This was a good race, but its becoming clear that I lose position in corners on a regular basis and that leads my inability to crack the top ten. Its something I need to focus on during my trips to Matteson.

Day 7 - Greenbush -  Hardest race I have ever done, I turned myself inside out to finish 14th in a pack uphill sprint. Great Chicago crew in the house 6 of the top 15 places. Great race, full report to come. More series points.

Day 8 - Fond Du Lac - Four corners, really short, really wide, really windy, really fast. Won a prime, dropped a chain in the last lap and crossed 25th (not excuses, just what happened but in bike racing you need to make things happen or you don't make statements.)

Day 9 - Downers Ave - Best racing atmosphere of the series. Interesting course, some would call it classic. Avoided a crash with 9 to go as the wheel in front of me tumbled to the ground (you shouldn't fall just cause you touch wheels, i am not saying i'm just saying). Chased back on over two laps and thought i was about to cough up blood from the effort. Early on I went to the front and did some work. Failed to hold good position and crossed 23rd. Drew got 7th.

Day 10 -- 12 hrs from now i will be racing my bike!

ToAD Day 5 - Sheboygan Crit

Okay I haven fallen behind on my race reports so this is going be short.

This was my first day racing without a teammate, the hardest part is now I have motivate myself. So I decided I would attack early and often. I would try to establish a break and I would commit to the break. If it didn't work and I got dropped so be it, I would drop out and start preparing for Waterloo.

So on the backside of lap 1 I attacked, some one came across with me and I was to cross the finish line on the first lap. Then we got caught, I attacked again and one of the IScorp jr's came across with me. This sort of stuff continued for the first 35 mins. I think I attacked or followed an attack 7 or 8 times in the start of the race. On my last lap it felt like everyone was trying to bridge to someone and after gettting out my aggression I couldnt grab a wheel. I rolled off the back, as I saw the judge on the back side of the course I gave the universal sign for "i'm done"

Now time to rest up for Waterloo.  

Waterloo Cat 4/5: Tour of America's Dairyland

With a crash forcing me to abandon ToAD a little earlier than planned, I had some free time on my hands during the races...The video is a psuedo-one-lap recap of the Mens Cat4/5 ToAD stage in Waterloo today 6/23/10.




bryanW.

That might be the queen stage, ToAD Day 4 - Road America Road Race (maybe circut)

Today the ToAD pilgrimage took us to Elkhart Lake to the Famous Road America Race course. This was billed as a road race, I consider it a circuit race but who really cares. It was something different than what we had done the previous three days. The course was amazing, wide and perfectly smooth. It was super fast and some great uphills as well (180 ft f climbing, 8 laps, yikes!). The NASCAR nationwide series was in town to race on the track on the previous weekend and the smell of burned rubber was in the air.

Over the past couple days I have been super passive, I tail gunned and suffered from it. I vowed today would be different. After the race yesterday someone mentioned that I needed to be more aggressive. I had been called out, so from the start I tried to ride in the front of the group. I tried to make attacks, I tried to disrupt the best Cat 4's team I have seen in a while. With Bryan high in the overall I wanted to try to make the Brazen Dropouts work hard today. These guys have dominated the race and have the overall leader. So with a strong Chicago crew in the house today I took it upon my shoulders to be the work horse. I wanted to make them work up a couple hills and chase me at least once or twice.

The first couple laps were pretty uneventful, I rode in the top 10 or 15. I tried to make sure that I was ready to follow any attack and chase someone down if they started to get farther off the front than i thought was comfortable. I felt extremely focused and at ease. I climbed most of the hills out of my saddle, it was just more comfortable and the weight of the zipps made climbing significantly easier.

With 4 to go I sprung my first leg stretching attack, it was up the first short steep hill, I flew out of saddle and stomped up the hill, I was quickly rejoined by the pack. I allowed myself to get shuffled back to around Bryan and sit behind him to recover. With 2 to laps to go i repeated my attack from before. As we came up to the start finish for with 2 to go the pace got hot! The start/finish was on a long steep uphill, so I started to wrestle my bike (think cadel's mountain style) to hold my position in the front of the pack. A small group with some of the stronger riders had created a gap. I swung to the left and grabbed the wheel of John from xXx, a very comfortable wheel. He was sitting on Bryan's wheel and the Chicago train had been assembled with two to go.

As we approached the downhill we had closed the gap and I was finally able to relax. I recovered for a minute by John and Bryan and went back to the front to make sure the group stayed together, or at least that i was going with anyone who made a move. As we approached a flat section I moved off the front a little but was quickly pulled back (when I wagged my elbow I realized I was pulling the pack). The race remained together and slowed as the group seemed to acknowledge that this was going to come down to a mad dash up the the big hill to the finish on the last lap.

As we reached the base of the final climb I heard a crash and I saw Bryan hit the ground. It was now up to me. I tried to stay in my saddle as long as i could as this was a really long finish, advice i had seen for the fox river grove race. When the pain was too much I jumped out of my saddle and started passing people as I mashed my pedals to the finish. I finished strong but I had nothing left and in bike racing that is all you can ask. The official results said 17th, but i think  there were some mistakes, not worth the protest I was proud of my result and my aggressive racing.

Now the downside my teammate Bryan  broke his arm when someone came under his handle bars and crashed on top of him. So I am waving the spidermonkey flag solo till Friday so expect one aggressive racer.... i'm not saying, i'm just saying!

Another day riding in circles, Appleton Crit

Today's adventure took us to Appleton Wisconsin for the third stage of ToAD.  The course was a classic four corner crit, very similar to Blue Island. It turned out to be a really face race (word on the street was about a 25 mph average); what it wasn't was an interesting race. By no means am I complaining about the course its just sometimes races are kind of boring.

Now here's what happened: First we turned left, then we turned left again, and again and again, then we crossed the start finish, we did this for about 50 mins, at high speeds, and we cornered well a nice change of pace from the previous two days. I continued my attempted to tail gun each lap, struggled on the last lap and wound up 34 out of 50 something. Bryan held his position mid pack all day crossing the line 16th. All and all good day and on to the road race tomorrow.

Highlights from today

1) Somewhere around lap 5 or 6 a old man walked into the middle of the course, and the field refused to slow. The man stayed out of the pack but I really thought he was going to walk right into the group and wreck each and everyone of us.

2) On the Giro Havik prime lap the announcer mentioned that it looked like Jared of xXx really wanted those glasses, he even said that he thought Jared should jump for the prime. As we came across the line Jared won the prime sprint.

Should have more to report later in the week.

Grafton Gone Wild

Friday's bike race wasn't very much fun in retrospect. I had a rough encounter involving a turn, a pedal, and some guys yard on turn 2. I only managed 2 points for the overall so hopefully today was going to be different.

Before the race I remembered why I had taken vacation time to race my bike: it’s a shit ton of fun. We listened to loud music on the way to the race, warmed up like we didn’t have a care in the world, and lined up determined to have fun. Turns out, the front is more fun than the back. Not because it’s easier, but because I get a more relaxed vibe when I can see the front of the field. So immediately, I went to the front.

With fifty minutes the going rate in ToAD, the first 20 minutes are about staying hydrated and relaxed. All the juniors can take the $20 coffee house primes and I’ll keep my matches for the sprint. After all, the overall is something I would enjoy…

The race went on and we all scurried around the course. I saw a few Chicago-mates in the group and was sure to hold their wheels. I never really let myself get below 20^th during the race and settled in nicely with 8 laps to go.

4 lone wolves created a classic wolfpack and the group let them dangle until about 2 to go. The pace got hot and I stayed top 10 and let everyone else bring the break back, I stay tucked in knowing the wolves would be caught. I realized we had sucked up the last wolf with about a half lap remaining and I was sitting right behind yesterday’s 3^rd place rider.

I took the final turn in about 7^th wheel and kept my head high through the turn to mark the riders ahead. 2 guys jumped way too early and a few of us let them lead us down the road. I saw my lane on the far left and went. I had a lot of ground to catch up and eventually threw my bike for 3^rd…

Thanks to the cheering section, always awesome hearing your name from the side.

















bryanW

ToAD day #1 - Thiensville Fiddleheads Coffee Criterium

These updates (lets call them race reports) may be a bit short but I am doing to try and do one of these for each of ten races over the next week and a half.

First race was in Thiensville which is more or less where i grew up (grew up in mequon but whats the difference right, just ask the people who live in mequon they will tell you) It was a pretty simple four corner crit. The field was about 45-50 deep, not racing a ton in Wisconsin many of the riders were unfamiliar, but I would expect by the end of the weekend its going to be clear whose wheel to follow.

The race started and I struggled to clip in (see every race report), the pace was brisk on this hot, hot Friday. I have recently been plagued with a crashing problem, as such my nerves are a mess and every turn seemed to be a slow dance around the curb. Followed by a extreme acceleration time and time again but thats crit racing isnt it? In turn two about 20 mins into the race my teammate was run off the road into a resident's yard. The resident arose from his chair and yelled "Get off my lawn!!!!" Okay so that didint happen but it makes for a better race report. He calmly regained his position within the pack about a lap later. The plan was to get Bryan a win today (he will also be a guest blogger throughout ToAD), but I couldn't do anything to help. It sucks when you have a plan and you can't execute.

The race was actually pretty boring, primes were again being handed out like condoms at a post prom party hosted by Mark Churma. (Thanks to Extreme Ski and Bike for the generosity with the primes)With 5 to go I really wanted to move up but found I couldn't. I need to overcome these nerves tomorrow. With 1 to go a small gap formed between myself and the pack, I regained my pack position going into turn 2 and I thought I could make a jump to the inside and help spring Bryan but I botched the turn and the rest was history, I rolled across with a poor showing (officially DNP). The good part is that I have another shot at the game tomorrow, and the next day and the next day... this is going to be a fun week or racing my bike.

Now I have to get some rest before I head over to watch the pros rip that course apart, chance of rain could add some intrigue, so if you are in the area come check it out; "I'm not saying I'm just saying!"

Thanks to today's cheering section, always good hearing your name.

My Melon City Cat 4 Race Report (from the sidelines)

After a missed line on the down hill at the Snake the previous day I was in no condition to race the following day at the Melon City Crit, its a shame the course would have been good for me. So instead of racing i thought i would shoot the race and put together a race report for you all (thats y'all to my kansas friends) to watch, hope you enjoy what i put together. Oh and if you like the song check out Broken Bells (dj Dangermouse and the guy from the Shins) its a excellent album!

That Ended Quick....

Yesterday's race took place in Vernon Hills, several Spidermonkey racers took the start line and I would like to congratulate Trent Williams for a 7th place finish in the 5's, excellent work.

The Vernon Hills course is fairly simple, two sweeping turns (if you can ever call them that) and two real turns, one of which would end my day a 1 1/2 laps early. The day started with bad news when my team mate and post up legend Mike Shea sent me a text message that informed me of his crash in the masters race, bummer.

After a good warm up with several teammates we took the line (Bryan, Chase, Dan, Ken, Brandon, Geoff and myself). The race started and I got stuck behind a rough clip in, and of course botched my clip in, something new and different (see every race report i have ever posted). As we headed towards the first real turn the group bunched, and gingerly got through the turn and then sprinted to the next turn, clear evidence the chicago cat 4's crit season was in full swing....

The group was actually pretty safe, i saw a little bumping and some interesting lines through the turns but i didnt feel like a crash was an inevitability as i had in previous weeks. For the first couple laps my positioning in the pack sucked, i mean it was really piss poor. I was literally in the back of the pack and worked my ass off around each of the turns, now that is racing stupid. But after about three laps i remembered i knew how to race and positioned my self midpack, i made my way through the group on the right shoulder and found myself behind my teammate geoff who said "come on zens lets go". I followed geoff to the outside of the pack and found myself either on the front or slightly off the front as we made our way into the first sweeping turn when i saw chase jump to the outside of the group, i attempted a block, unsuccessfully, no break was established. I retreated to the middle of the pack when Bryan lit a match to claim the $10 prime. As he returned to the middle of the pack i made a comment to him and the next thing i knew a small gap had formed between bryan, myself and the rest of the racers (note to self, no comments with 2 to go). As we easily regained our standing in the group we approached the second turn with a lap and a half to go. I positioned my self to the left and took a great line through the corner, unfortunately two riders a few wheels up were bumping through the turn and rode into the curb causing a 6 or 8 man pile up, which included yours truly. I tried to ride around the pile but it happened too fast (it always does) and i endoed on to a fellow racers drive train, i have the teeth marks in my back to prove it, and you can see where i landed from the chain ring on my jersey. I pulled myself off the ground and checked that everyone was okay, which they were, and then inspected my equipment to ensure that i wouldnt be bike shopping next week. The bike was okay, but one of my crashmates sacrificed a zipp 303, what a shame. The best part of the crash occurred when my teammate Dan asked me "is my skinsuit okay?"

So thats how that goes my first DNF of the year, at least there wasn't a hospital visit and I didnt have to figure out if there is a way to "fix" carbon, so i will give it a shot again next week.

Thanks to DJ Ryan, Maggie, Jenna, and everyone else who made there way to the race to support the team. Thanks to Eric for the savvy pre-race advice, you were right. And thanks to RDS for a well run event.

Keep the Rubber Side Down,
Zens

     

Whitnall Park Spring Classic

The alarm rang early, the gear was packed, i brewed some coffee and then we went racing. Dan, Bryan and myself ventured up to Hales Corners, Wisconsin to do a little bike racing today. I would provide a course description, but I prefer to leave that to the expert. (If it wasn't for the outstanding preview i am not sure i would have dragged myself out of bed this morning)

When the week started the idea of racing my bike this weekend sounded awful, i had a disappointing race the weekend before; mainly due to user error. But then the weekend preview came out on Chicagobikeracing.com, and Dan and Bryan stated chatting about a Saturday trip to Wisconsin, and the next thing i know i was racing today.

Before the race Bryan insisted that our plan for the first couple laps should be to sit in, relax and then formulate a strategy to attack this course. With 80 feet of climbing a lap it would be important to conserve our legs for a final push towards the line. However, as the race started (I had a terrible clip-in again today, thanks for asking) Bryan charged to the front, with bryan driving a medium pace I took the opportunity to go off the front, not with any sort of vigor but enough to open up the legs and erase the nerves.

It is very important to mention the weather today, the weather happened to be a important factor in today's race. It was cold (about 7 degree Celsius) with a rain shower that picked up in intensity as the race neared its conclusion. In order to deal with the wet and cold conditions Dan and I decided to layer on the Mad Alchemy embrocation that Bryan had brought with him (thanks Mike Shea). Embrocation is fun, if you've never given it a try i highly recommend it, its the gift that keeps on giving (or burning).

Okay enough about embrocation back to racing. After my little leg opener the field settled in. I made a point to care more about my position in the pack today, and for the first couple laps i made sure to sit near the front (not on the front there is a big difference) to avoid any nonsense that that was sure to happen in the back of the 4/5 pack, there was a crash at some point but i cant provide any details (it was behind me). I stayed in the top 20 for most of the day and avoided my tendency to slide to the back of the pack for no reason; great success, but would it pay off?

All the attacks (i don't remember many) were chased down, and with 4 laps to go it was time to figure out how to make a statement today. Its at this point I made sure to find my way to the back of my teammates wheels, its just more comfortable to race wheel to wheel with your training buddies. I knew that I should stick like glue to the back of bryan's wheel, he would be able to take me to the promise land. As we charged through the start finish the the bell rang and it was go time, last lap, time to HTFU. We jockeyed for position on the down hill side of the the course, I was sitting top ten as we entered the final turn into the first of three uphill sections. The attacks started up the first hill, I mashed my gears to stay glued to the bryan's wheel through the first and second hill, at this point i am pretty sure a gap of about 5 or 6 riders was established. As we crested the final hill I turned the pedals with everything i had in order to maintain contact with the group. The group remained together as we came down the hill and the sprint began. I was sitting on bryan's wheel but i couldn't come over the top, Kaleb of IS Corp took the sprint ahead of Bryan. I rolled across 4th, my best result in quite some time. The car ride home was fun (got to love when Journey comes on the radio, right?), its always good to come away from a race with two top 5's and (hopefully a couple of upgrade points).

The course was awesome the repeated hill climbs really took it out me today, registration was smooth and the races were on time, thanks to Team Wisconsin for putting on a fantastic event.

Next week, its time for Vernon Hills, lets hope we can have some more results.

"Did you just call me fat?" Kenosha Velosport 3-14-10 Cat 4's and Cat 3's

(picture credits: Liz Wolfson Kimezich)

Its Sunday, we ain’t got shit to do, we might as well race right? That's right the 2010 Road Racing Season kicked has started.

After a day of green beer and jayhawk basketball (rock chalk, who is the number 1 overal seed again? oh yeah we are) Sunday started off a little hazy, but after a cup of coffee and some girl talk on the speakers I knew I was ready to go race my bike. Three spidermonkeys made the trip to kenosha to take part in the 31st annual Kenosha Velosport training crit. Andrew Zens and Bryan Witry took part in the 4's and the 3's (you got to love ABR) and Ben Levitt took part in the 3's (thanks to ben for the video of the 4's). The course was a flat .7 mile loop around an industrial park (with a sweet smoke stack to boot).

The 4's race started with racers attacking off the front to test their legs (including bryan on lap 2 and me on lap 3), all attacks had the same result, they died on the back stretch as they went straight into the 20mph wind. The race progressed and for the next 20 mins the same routine repeated its self, speed up with the wind at our back and slow down when we hit the wind. With about 5 laps to go racers, including myself, started positioning themselves for the finish. it was about at that time this conversation took place:

One of the junior IS corp riders asked me: " is the wind was tough with those zipps?"
I replied "no"
he said  "i am getting blow all over the course"
i replied, "i am not really having that problem"
he commented "well you have a little more weight than i do".
I replied "did you just call me fat" and then he rode away. That’s right a 14 year old told me I was a fat kid, wow!

With two laps to go I made sure to tuck in to the front of the pack. With a half lap to go I attacked into the fierce head from about 8 wheels back and yelled at bryan to grab a hold of my wheel and come for a ride. Little did I know this violent attack had split the group. As I peddled in anger the gap grew and then i finally exploded and pulled off as i yelled to bryan  "attack" i hoped my efforts would pay off. Indeed they did as spidermonkey cycling notched its first top five of the season as Bryan crossed the line 4th. Teamwork was the key in this race and to accomplish a team move in March in a 4's race was a big accomplishment. Can't wait to do it all again next week, maybe we can even convince Dan to sober up and come race too…..

The Cat 3's started 10 mins after the 4's, i hung for 20 mins until the legs said 'no mas" it was a good plan to race twice but the attack in the 4's emptied the tank.

A big thanks to Kenosha velosport and ABR for a great day of racing.