Grayslake Cycling Classic
Race #48
Short report: I raced. I kind of raced. I sat in. I blew my load and then I hung on the last 4 laps.
Well done ICA! It was a beautiful day to race and the setting was great, low key, relaxed and not blazing hot. Good stuff. I really like this race and the course.
It is amazing how much mental energy can waste away ones physical get-up-and-go energy. Grayslake was my first full race after a season of the highest highs and the lowest lows. Starting off the season with a win means a few things, immediate joy and excitement followed by everything else—averages being what they are, half of which is not too good. Or, its all (mostly) downhill from here.
While that was mostly not true, this season it still kind of was. The slide began when I crashed the sprint at Vernon Hills taking out a few guys at +30mph. Unable to do the next few races I decided to upgrade so I can squeeze in a few races in my new category before heading out to race the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic, a 4 day stage race in Massachusetts. In my first race back, at Fox River Grove, I finished DFL. Humbled, I set out on six more hardcore weeks of “Fitchburg” training and by the time the end of June rolled around I felt ready…like really, really ready. Stage 1: after the first 50 min of a confidence building circuit race I was crashed out of stage 1 and subsequently the whole race. I damaged enough equipment that starting the “queen stage” road race the following day at 9am would have been very difficult (not to mention that the chief ref would not let me start the next stage because I didn’t finish the first stage). So that was it, 18 hrs drive and months of preparation down the drain. After a bit more than a week off the bike I needed to rebuild (literally) and decided to boycott ICC-Superweek. Why would a guy expecting his first child (and not filthy rich) pay $40-60 to get his ass kicked back into race shape? My common sense told me he shouldn’t. So I didn’t…I looked ahead to the August races—all of which are competitive and well run. I was also looking ahead to cross season, and in my delirium to ride in the dirt I went to Palos with a few guys the day before Elk Grove and dinged up my shoulder pretty badly. Luckily I kept some pain medicine from Fitchburg and was able to sleep pretty well for the week leading up to Grayslake, but I had to scratch racing at Elk Grove.
The accumulative effect of all the events, bad decisions and luck/bad luck I created led to one potent outcome: I was very, very nervous to race at Grayslake. I had not finished a race since mid May (remember, I finished DFL!); I had crashed out of two races; possibly broke my collarbone at Palos, and above that was in the best shape of my life (second to peaking perfectly in early July!). Everyone else, I’m sure, had done more than a dozen races since May, like I had in my previous two seasons, so they were probably not diverting their energy to nerves.
T1 Report: perfect leading up to my warm-up. I ate about 30g Ch too much which led to elevated BGs during and after the race. After the race, not ending in a full-on sprint for me, I was more than 300! That sucks. (but I finished. In one piece. And I didn't think it bothered my racing too much).
Race: I felt good for the first half of the race. Burnham worked the front. Attacks and surges were the order of the day. I went off the front for about 1 min with a guy who I thought was Nick R (Burnham), but it wasn’t, and one other guy on my wheel who said we had a gap (never saw who it was). Then when I pulled off the front there was a string of riders where I had hoped to slot back in third in a three man break. So, I drifted back and recovered. Then after a few more laps I found it more and more difficult mentally to maintain my position. Then some surges and a few more attacks brought about the suffering. I kept getting squeezed to the back, each lap. It was then that I really missed my race fitness. Then the crash happened. Because of my super fantastic ability to maintain position I was gapped off the back and blew my load chasing back to the field. Then, luckily (or not), the officials neutralized the race. I didn’t come back from that very well. The 4-lap sprint didn’t go well for me. I didn’t have the mustard to move up…but I think that was by design.
I’m not terribly proud of my effort, I know I am stronger than what I felt and the way I raced, though I am thrilled I respectably finished the race mid-pack and in one piece. Happily, I've got the fire back, just in time for the off season!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
KAWOR: NRAKAWOR
Not-really-a-kick-ass-weekend-of-racing.
So, listen people, its the 21st century. Some things have remained the same: cubs still suck, sox suck even worse. But it's a new day and men are now supposed to go to baby showers.
And that is what I did on Saturday. So, lads shoulder your responsibilities and quit laughing at me.
...they had good food, and good beer. And that one-thingy was really cute.
Fox River Grove
Race #44
DFL, but not DNF
Nothing like a tough course to humble even ones modest ambitions. My race was over before it started. I learned a lot. In particular, I learned that I have work to do.
I've never felt my lungs hurt like they did on Sunday. Actually, they hurt more than my legs.
I also should NOT have done that race in a 12-23 cassette; even though this was a "C" priority race it was still my first race as a cat 3 and I think could have put in a better showing-in particular by being able to spin a bit more and thus getting dropped with two or three laps to go rather than two or three into the race. But I don't have the legs for that kind of hill. Yet.
Lessons learned; next time.
So, listen people, its the 21st century. Some things have remained the same: cubs still suck, sox suck even worse. But it's a new day and men are now supposed to go to baby showers.
And that is what I did on Saturday. So, lads shoulder your responsibilities and quit laughing at me.
...they had good food, and good beer. And that one-thingy was really cute.
Fox River Grove
Race #44
DFL, but not DNF
Nothing like a tough course to humble even ones modest ambitions. My race was over before it started. I learned a lot. In particular, I learned that I have work to do.
I've never felt my lungs hurt like they did on Sunday. Actually, they hurt more than my legs.
I also should NOT have done that race in a 12-23 cassette; even though this was a "C" priority race it was still my first race as a cat 3 and I think could have put in a better showing-in particular by being able to spin a bit more and thus getting dropped with two or three laps to go rather than two or three into the race. But I don't have the legs for that kind of hill. Yet.
Lessons learned; next time.
Monday, May 3, 2010
43 races; first crash
Vernon Hills
Masters 30+
There are two groups in a typical race: protagonists and the fodder. In this racer I knew I was fodder, but I was interested to see how well I could do. So, after half the race two get away and I was feeling pretty good so I decided that I'd go for the field sprint.
At times sitting in was not easy; at other times it was.
Last lap I made two mistakes. After turn three I made the first. I moved up the outside and the wheel in front of me slowed and so I slowed. I should have kept the momentum going and gone farther into the top 10. But I decided to be conservative.
Mistake two. As we arced to the right, into the wind, with about 250m to go, I waited. I leaned to the right to dodge the wind a bit more and as I did I overlapped wheels with a rider moving to the left. At least, that's what I think happened. I don't even know who's wheel I touched.
I touched the ground. PM read 33mph then 19mph then 0.
Two others go down. Sorry guys. I've been in that position 43 times and each time I've adjusted. Luck ran out yesterday.
I'll be back as soon as some skin grows back.
Masters 30+
There are two groups in a typical race: protagonists and the fodder. In this racer I knew I was fodder, but I was interested to see how well I could do. So, after half the race two get away and I was feeling pretty good so I decided that I'd go for the field sprint.
At times sitting in was not easy; at other times it was.
Last lap I made two mistakes. After turn three I made the first. I moved up the outside and the wheel in front of me slowed and so I slowed. I should have kept the momentum going and gone farther into the top 10. But I decided to be conservative.
Mistake two. As we arced to the right, into the wind, with about 250m to go, I waited. I leaned to the right to dodge the wind a bit more and as I did I overlapped wheels with a rider moving to the left. At least, that's what I think happened. I don't even know who's wheel I touched.
I touched the ground. PM read 33mph then 19mph then 0.
Two others go down. Sorry guys. I've been in that position 43 times and each time I've adjusted. Luck ran out yesterday.
I'll be back as soon as some skin grows back.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
2010 C.O.U.G.A.R. Omnium
Spring Super Criterium; 2010 COUGAR Omnium Day 1
3/27/10
Race # 38-41
Masters 30+: 11th/50ish
Cat 4: 1st/70ish
Burnham Racing did an amazing job, yet again, putting on one of the best run events of the year: easy registration; quick & accurate results thanks to the new equipment from the ICA, lovely officiating and I got myself a win...
Last season I was very frustrated by my finishes. Race after race I was subjected to either one or two mental mistakes or “that’s racing” situations which dampened my results.
In this race, luckily, things happened that did not damage my chances. That said, this race was far from perfect and I really didn’t race with any style—if not for one particular situation, I raced this like a sprinter: don’t crash, don’t crash, don’t crash…sprint. However, I think that I earned this one in the last lap.
Type 1 report: bad. Being the first race of the year, nerves were a little high. That “stress” released a bit of cortisone (adrenaline) which ensures that the body has a supply of energy by dumping glucose into your blood. So, my blood sugars were elevated all damn day. I was not below 225 since 5am (normal= 70-100). Nevertheless, I felt ok…so, no complaints on that front.
Race report:
The race was nice and smooth, and a few got away immediately, so I could expect a nice and steady pace. There were a few slowdowns and odd situations, but by and large it was a safe race. I wanted to sit in, warm up and get used to the peloton again, then launch a nice sprint, open up the legs and not care about a result.
Cat 4:
Everyone knows that the peloton is subject to “group think”—this happens when someone doesn’t pull through and the cacophony of cussing from the rear unanimously demands “someone” do some work. It also happens in bike handling. I am far from perfect, and everyone makes mistakes—but with experience people don’t freak out. This race, mistakes happened and people freaked out causing everyone else to tense up and ride herkey-jerkey for 40 min. I was a nervous wreck for 40 min.
In the bell lap, there was a big crash just after turn 1. I was unfortunately behind it and had to veer into the grass, about 10 feet, to avoid a flying bike. Something grazed my leg, but I made it through. I got back on the track, was over-geared and slightly gapped off the back with 1.5 miles to the finish. Echo of last year when the race took off up the road. In both cases I was faced with two choices: sit up or chase.
Luckily, I’m not too bright and so I didn’t need to think too long. I caught straggler after straggler and then began to work my way up the main group pretty quickly. Headed into the final turn, I took the inside edge of the track and moved into the top 20. I stood up for a few kicks to get up to speed, sat back down, got on a wheel, looked around and then with about 300m to go magic happened: a nice wide space opened up in front of me. I surged, moved even to just in front of the leaders. With 200 to go I shifted, stood and moved in front by a length or two. I was able to hold that to the line, and threw my hands in the air.
John Wilke at Peloton Pix got a fantastic shot of it…
First pic on his splash page.
Even though we planned out how to set up the finish, the result was the same. It was still encouraging to talk to my teammates during the race, knowing that we are all working toward a common goal. They did their job and I was lucky enough to improvise and be able walk away (literally) with a top result.
South Chicago Wheelmen,
COUGAR Omnium Day 2
3/28/10
T1 Report: fine. nerves were not as bad as yesterday. Didn't bring enough water. bummer.
Masters 30+: Hast makes waste. I got off the trainer, heard the call to the line and quickly threw on my skewer. Result: an off center rear wheel--my rear break was rubbing up against the rim. But I didn’t notice right away.
So, at the start line there were 20 something guys I don’t recognize. Not good. Whistle. Attack. Wind. Surge. Wind. Attack. Wind. I chase. No one would pull through… Oh. Wait. These guys are trying to hurt me. So I was appropriately hung out to dry for nearly a lap, or something. When we got the tail wind they surged, I jumped on the back and tried to recover. Could not. Gap. Legs broken; race over. DNF.
After rolling around in the parking lot, I heard it rub.
Motherfucker.
Cat 4: 5th/35ish
Fun race. Felt a bit more like a road race than a crit. The wind made it hard. Superman flies away in lap 2 (or something like that) and is gone after 1 lap. I mean gone, as in not visible around any turn. Wow.
A few other guys try to get away, there is the appropriate chasing. I chased a few down on two occasions, and did my fair share of work at the front. But one must recognize when recognition is required: Ted Ramos did more than everyone but the winner (Ted, NOT doing that much work is the best way to improve your sprint! You’re a beast.).
I finished 5th.
I think I’m the cat 4 2010 C.O.U.G.A.R. champ.
3/27/10
Race # 38-41
Masters 30+: 11th/50ish
Cat 4: 1st/70ish
Burnham Racing did an amazing job, yet again, putting on one of the best run events of the year: easy registration; quick & accurate results thanks to the new equipment from the ICA, lovely officiating and I got myself a win...
Last season I was very frustrated by my finishes. Race after race I was subjected to either one or two mental mistakes or “that’s racing” situations which dampened my results.
In this race, luckily, things happened that did not damage my chances. That said, this race was far from perfect and I really didn’t race with any style—if not for one particular situation, I raced this like a sprinter: don’t crash, don’t crash, don’t crash…sprint. However, I think that I earned this one in the last lap.
Type 1 report: bad. Being the first race of the year, nerves were a little high. That “stress” released a bit of cortisone (adrenaline) which ensures that the body has a supply of energy by dumping glucose into your blood. So, my blood sugars were elevated all damn day. I was not below 225 since 5am (normal= 70-100). Nevertheless, I felt ok…so, no complaints on that front.
Race report:
The race was nice and smooth, and a few got away immediately, so I could expect a nice and steady pace. There were a few slowdowns and odd situations, but by and large it was a safe race. I wanted to sit in, warm up and get used to the peloton again, then launch a nice sprint, open up the legs and not care about a result.
Cat 4:
Everyone knows that the peloton is subject to “group think”—this happens when someone doesn’t pull through and the cacophony of cussing from the rear unanimously demands “someone” do some work. It also happens in bike handling. I am far from perfect, and everyone makes mistakes—but with experience people don’t freak out. This race, mistakes happened and people freaked out causing everyone else to tense up and ride herkey-jerkey for 40 min. I was a nervous wreck for 40 min.
In the bell lap, there was a big crash just after turn 1. I was unfortunately behind it and had to veer into the grass, about 10 feet, to avoid a flying bike. Something grazed my leg, but I made it through. I got back on the track, was over-geared and slightly gapped off the back with 1.5 miles to the finish. Echo of last year when the race took off up the road. In both cases I was faced with two choices: sit up or chase.
Luckily, I’m not too bright and so I didn’t need to think too long. I caught straggler after straggler and then began to work my way up the main group pretty quickly. Headed into the final turn, I took the inside edge of the track and moved into the top 20. I stood up for a few kicks to get up to speed, sat back down, got on a wheel, looked around and then with about 300m to go magic happened: a nice wide space opened up in front of me. I surged, moved even to just in front of the leaders. With 200 to go I shifted, stood and moved in front by a length or two. I was able to hold that to the line, and threw my hands in the air.
John Wilke at Peloton Pix got a fantastic shot of it…
First pic on his splash page.
Even though we planned out how to set up the finish, the result was the same. It was still encouraging to talk to my teammates during the race, knowing that we are all working toward a common goal. They did their job and I was lucky enough to improvise and be able walk away (literally) with a top result.
South Chicago Wheelmen,
COUGAR Omnium Day 2
3/28/10
T1 Report: fine. nerves were not as bad as yesterday. Didn't bring enough water. bummer.
Masters 30+: Hast makes waste. I got off the trainer, heard the call to the line and quickly threw on my skewer. Result: an off center rear wheel--my rear break was rubbing up against the rim. But I didn’t notice right away.
So, at the start line there were 20 something guys I don’t recognize. Not good. Whistle. Attack. Wind. Surge. Wind. Attack. Wind. I chase. No one would pull through… Oh. Wait. These guys are trying to hurt me. So I was appropriately hung out to dry for nearly a lap, or something. When we got the tail wind they surged, I jumped on the back and tried to recover. Could not. Gap. Legs broken; race over. DNF.
After rolling around in the parking lot, I heard it rub.
Motherfucker.
Cat 4: 5th/35ish
Fun race. Felt a bit more like a road race than a crit. The wind made it hard. Superman flies away in lap 2 (or something like that) and is gone after 1 lap. I mean gone, as in not visible around any turn. Wow.
A few other guys try to get away, there is the appropriate chasing. I chased a few down on two occasions, and did my fair share of work at the front. But one must recognize when recognition is required: Ted Ramos did more than everyone but the winner (Ted, NOT doing that much work is the best way to improve your sprint! You’re a beast.).
I finished 5th.
I think I’m the cat 4 2010 C.O.U.G.A.R. champ.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Time to start obsessing again!
I'm already done with Base 1. I'm ready to register for Hillsboro on monday. I'm excited that the Super Crit is only 8 weeks away. I'm already having race fantasies while sitting on the bus and train on the way to work. My legs are starting to get that familiar tight feeling.
The weather sucks.
But I'll ride in this shit anyway.
Cold is only cold.
The weather sucks.
But I'll ride in this shit anyway.
Cold is only cold.
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