Nothing beats racing in 20min from home!

Chicago Criterium (Cat 4), 7/26/09
Race #30

6th/125

After the race on Sunday the Spidermonkeys had the privilege to hand out and drink many Goose Island 312 beers. And that position of privilege made it possible to chat with people I’ve come to look forward to seeing at the races. No one was in a rush to go home. Nice. The one subject that came up most often was how disappointing it would be for the Chicago racing community to loose the Chicago Criterium should our bid for 2016 go sour. Regardless of your position on Chicago winning the Olympic bid, we’ve got to find a way to keep this race going.

Personally, I’m planning on writing a few letters to my alderman (I’m sure he really does not care), to my congressmen, President Obama, Mayor Daley, his wife, and every major media outlet that will take my letters to print praising this event.

For the two or three people that may read this post, please do the same.

The race organizers did a great job heeding the complaints from last year and that is a generous sign of respect. The layout and logistics were also improved, which allowed the races to go off more or less on time. And frankly, though I’m not “overjoyed” with my result, I can’t look to anyone but myself for any missteps that occurred yesterday. I know there were some (there always are) and I’m sure someone has something to complain about (not sure what?), but I give it a solid two thumbs up.

So, on to the race report.

Type 1 report: diabetes was easy to manage today and my BGs were spot on. As a result, I felt great. My CGMS was cherping during the race and I wasn't able to turn it off...yes, that was me...sorry.

As we were waiting for the officials to let us onto the course, my wife suddenly appeared smiling which totally relaxed me. I knew she would be there, but I didn’t expect to see her before the finish. It was great to see her before the race, it put me in a really good mood.

My goals for this race were simple. I know I’m strong enough to finish well but my weakness are, as shown through all the Superweek races, my field position and passivity. So, I planned on getting a good starting spot on the line, and holding a position in the front of the field for the duration of the race. Also planned to take a few pulls on the front, get my ass in the top 10 with two laps to go, mark the strong finishers, and jump just before cresting the Balbo overpass and bury myself in pain for the final 350m. If I did that, I knew I'd get a good result and secure a few upgrade points.

The race started very awkwardly for me. We get onto the course and +125 guys all immediately line up. I was expecting a free lap and so my start position was once again terrible, second from the back. As we stood there, I chatted with the guys around me for a few seconds then I hear a whistle…oh, we’re racing now. Its funny how Superweek shapes your race expectations: for the last two weeks we'd generally sit on the start line for a looooong time and listen to the pre race lecture from the official. Perhaps because there were 100 riders in front of me I may have missed it. So, with the whistle, I clumsily began to move to the front of the peloton with little problem.

IT was so great to hear the Spidermonkeys cheering from the sideline. We had great representation at the race in both the fan and racer categories. Thanks for showing up!

(here I am, on the front 10 min into the race in turn 4)

The pace was not too tough, though I felt that my legs needed a brief working over so after two or three laps I went on the front. Not an attack, just a pull for a bit short of a lap to see how the legs feel. After I dropped back a few positions, and recovered I felt pretty good. The riding and bike handling was normally bad and at times terrifying. I was almost taken out only a few times by people chopping my wheel near the Congress “chicane” or by a few knuckleheads bombing the inside of turns two and three. Lots of riders; lots of fresh 4s. Heads up!

The call for 2 laps to go also surprised me—once again, an effect the Superweek. I quickly moved to the front 10 or 15 and avoided all the foolishness around me. In the bell lap, I had good position, was ready to go, got on a good wheel on the backside and going up the overpass at Balbo a bunch of riders shifted thier lines and, as result, I lost the wheel I was on. That was the one I wanted. He made it though a gap that closed right behind him and like magic he was gone at the top. I slowed to avoid riding up another riders slowing, flailing ass; was forced outside and couldn't take the inside lane of turn 4 and lost a precious 2 seconds in that place but was able to out sprint a few riders to regain some positions for the finish. I finished 6th. I was pissed after the results were posted because there are no upgrade points for 6th. Well, that’s racing...the best laid plans...etc. etc…Bummer.

To compensate riders, like me, who had glorious aspirations for this race, the payout for 6th was a very nice $75…I didn’t expect to collect any checks the day of, especially after last year’s payout fiasco. But they had checks on hand! Nice.

My parents were out watching and my brother saw his first bike race and was very impressed. I think the Chicago Crit is a great example of what bike racing could be.

I hope it lasts.