A Wise Man Once Told Me

"You cant expect to finish 22nd every time."

7.31.2010 Tour of Elk Grove, Mens CAT 4, 35 minutes.

This isn't going to be all that complicated. I Did Not Finish the race. First DNF of the year and my fresh racing career.

I have been chasing something for a while and ignoring the obvious. The wife could see it, the mom in law could see it, the four year old could see it, but not me. Too much chart staring and confusion as to why the damn blue line wasn't going upward.

Eight efforts in Nine days leading up the race had me getting pulled with about 3 laps to go. I got the throat slash from USAC & pulled with 3 other riders despite working my arse off, 25 mph & 275w. I didn't take that very well. We weren't getting lapped or going to be lapped AND I like to finish.

However, I get it. I sucked today no matter how many laps I finished, or didn't, and a safe finish for the pack is more important.

This course requires a fresh set of legs and clear mind. The surges out of the tight corners were massive for me. The U-turn was, well, a U-turn and I never figured that one out. What hurt the most was the acceleration coming out of turn 2 & 3 onto a slight uphill back stretch. Not really my kind of course. No, I don't know what kind of course suits me best, but it aint Elk Grove Village. :)

A couple days off and a couple Fat Tire beers have been jotted down for this coming week. Up next for PSIMET Racing is the Grayslake Cycling Classic.

SSSCSF

July is fast moving. the door on July is about to hit us in the face. done, closed, finished.

Superweek is almost over, but there is plenty of racing yet to be done. in fact, one more Super effort today, up in Kenosha, then the Tour of Elk Grove, then Grayslake Cycling Classic, then the Ronny Reagan Crit, then goodbye August.

my year is missing something. something close to my cycling heart.

100 miles.

i got my start as a super century domestique. 5 to 8 centuries a year. last year, at the Bicycle Tour of Colorado Bangert, & I knocked out several in one week. good times.

i need some solo self supported century sufferfest.

2009 SSSCSF

2006 SSSCSF

2010 _______ book it.

Just Got Paid

YES there were more participants than payout slots this time around.

Evanston Grand Prix (Superweek), 7.18.10, M35+ 4/5 Field.

Going into Geneva I felt great. Nervous about the technical course, but everything else was lined up. It was a difficult race and while my final spot doesn't reveal this, I rode well. Going into Evanston everything was not lined up. It is not my style to sandbag or under estimate my form, but I really wasn't feeling "it" yesterday.

A quick thunderstorm postponed things for a bit and allowed us to get in several warm up laps. Uh, wow, 6 left turns, 1 right turn, several that seemed tight, and several with manholes occupying the optimal line.

My PT wasn't working, which made me made (likely dead hub batteries). I had a kid in tow and while she had excellent race day sitters (Team PSIMET significant others RULE!) I still worry that she is OK, behaving, listening, not swimming in the local fountain :) and so on. Plus, when the rain cleared it got super hot. I think I covered it all.

Race Quick Hitters

1. Started at the back. Like all the way back.

2. Missed my clip in, but hey I was already OTB.

3. Once again, took me 5 or six laps to get comfortable.

4. PSIMET for the $50 prime...almost...nice effort Boss.

5.The only right hand turn was killing me.

6. Moved up gradually this time around.

7. Never saw the one man break who stayed away for the win.

8. In the drops, on the saddle, worked best for me & that right hander.

9. Bell lap, sitting 3rd, turn two crash, jumped on it hard to get a gap.

10. Got squirrelly in 5 on squishy asphalt, lost momentum & 2nd place.

I was going , but wanted to make a move coming out of the right hander when the crash behind us dictated otherwise. We were racing for second and I likely don't win that sprint, but I have a much better chance sitting 2nd wheel coming out of the last turn as opposed to first. Second, went around early, then 3rd, then 4th, and I was crapping out. I pushed through it, arse on the tip of the saddle, funny pain face on full display and grabbed me some 5th place.

Still plenty of room for improvement.

Willow Springs Road Race....

.....Road Race, Criterium, Circuit Race, Short Group Ride. Whatever it officially was I enjoyed it. I mean racing on Tuesday with perfect weather is much better than being tied to a desk on a Tuesday with perfect weather.

Keep in mind this is my first year of racing. It is all a new experience for me. From the events to the terminology to fellow riders comments to almost hitting a barricade while attempting to grab a water bottle at 25 mph, and so on.

I pre rode the course a week ago, but was interested to see how it would be officially set up. Meaning which roads of the three, if any, would be closed. Willow Springs was the only one. At least we could trudge uphill in both lanes. Archer & 95th were single lanes, center line rule enforced, with either barricades and/or cones.

Despinte being 20 minutes behind schedule I think Superweek put on another fantastic event.

I don't want to drag this out. I mean a CAT4 race report isn't appointment reading.


Quick Hitters: 7.13.10 Willow Springs Road Race M4/5 20 miles

1. Neutral Start was interesting. I wasn't ready to just dart out of the parking lot like that.
2. The only potential brake of the race was shut down, by the ladies race in front of us.
3. A flat can derail strong legs.
4. Braking at the front on a downhill back stretch seems odd.
5. Due to above Joe B. went down hard in the ditch (OK & finished).
6. You can crash hard going up hill.
7. I am getting better @ spotting the contenders for the day.
8. I still cant hold those contenders wheels.
9. Gassed @ the top w/ 1 to go cost me a top ten.
10. 26th out of 75 starters.


The last two efforts we good for me. Good right up until the end. I need to work on the end.

Good luck PSIMET Racing out at Lake Geneva today. I am back to work, tied to the desk and computer.

Same, but Different...

Superweek(s) is here. 17 consecutive days of bicycle racing in the Chicago Burbs and Southern Cheeseland. This is my first Superweek(s) and I only know, what I know, from others in the know. You got that?

It won't be 17 races for me, but I'm paid for four with the potential of 2 more. Six would be a lot for this old man in two weeks. I'll try to keep the race reports short and sweet.

7/10/2010 @ Geneva, Masters 35+ 4/5 Crit, 40 Minutes; I raced and I didn't win.

You want more? Cool.

Geneva is new to Superweek for 2010. I thought it was/is a great downtown area and setting for a race. The historic business district is fantastic and lined with mature trees providing shade. Parking was easy and registration was a breeze. Plus, the Coffee and Ice Cream was a plenty.

Pre race talk was all about crashing, oh and the crazy technical course, oh and the heat. It was hot, but that is never really an issue for me. I took my warm up lap and rolled through turns 2, 3, and 4.............wow this should be interesting, if not really dangerous.

I was in the second row for the start. Off we go and after three attempts to clip in I am at the back of the pack. Real nice Clark. I stayed back there the first 6 laps trying to figure out the course. It was pretty much single file, with braking, through those turns. Then it was surging at 500 to 600 watts up a slight hill to hang on. My Spider Senses were telling me this was not good for me.

Six laps in and the pack is fracturing even more. About 20 guys are going forward and 20 guys are going backwards. I moved forward and continued to do so the rest of the race. Well, most of the rest.

While I was OTB the winning break of 2 got away. I had no idea who was in that break. Not knowing caused me to burn one to many matches attempting to up the pace or jump on a chase group. The breakaway'ers had teammates in the pack doing their job to contain it. We were racing for third, which I realized right after I lit up that last match.

I rode well. After lap 6 I was in the top ten each time around. I was on the front way too long, but hey at least I was on it. I went into the last two turns up front............ect, ect, ect.......I finished 22nd.

Same, but different.

Willow Springs Circuit Race is up next. I hear there is a hill involved. I like hills. Later.