Kenosha Road Race 7/25...In the Money!

Wow, what a day filled with all kinds of unexpected events!

Have you ever heard the saying about what assume means... how it makes an ASS out of U and ME, well I ASSumed that because the last two Super Week Races were 15 laps so would this one. Boy was I WRONG, or in this case an ASS!

I though going into the race that is was 15 laps, not really listening to the official at the start explain that it was a 50, yes 50 lap race, I jumped up front right off the gun! Well, at these races they have lap counters, and they count down from the max lap to zero laps. I was working up front to push the tempo hard and drop some of the weaker riders off. I lost track of the laps in my head so on the next lap I check the count........45 laps....WHAT! Next time around 44 LAPS....you've got to be kidding me! So, I settle into the pack and start thinking to myself, (self) "I have a mountain bike race on Sunday, do I really want to do the entire 50 Laps. (Self thinks for a few laps) "Sure what the hell, it's only 50+ miles geezzzzs!"

At this point we are down to 30 laps to go and I just want to sit as close to the front and go with any big breaks as I can, basically doing the least amount of work as possible. I managed to do exactly that for 28 laps. The final two laps is where the game really begins, as a single rider with out teammates you have to really watch what the other teams are doing. Are there riders from teams in the group making single breaks without their teammates? You can let them go, they are only bate for others to chase and get tire for the final sprint. Are there small groups of the same team blocking, meaning three or more guys for the same team sitting up front while the stronger of the team sits back and waits to sling-shot around his three teammates and the rest of us have to fight to get around the three amigos!

Well all that was going on, I had the XXX team sitting up front ready to block, there were some other teams sending guys off to see if any one wanted to chase. I just made sure I was up front and tried to stay clear of the blocks. As we turned the final two corners I knew if I was right up front I had a chance of a good finish. On the last two corners I knew I could go on the outside of the turns wide because everyone else was cutting them on the inside and that I could end up ahead of many riders. So I took the outside and ended up fighting for the final sprint to the end with a big group of riders and finished 18th.

And, this time the payout for the race was 18 deep, meaning I WON $20 bucks, my first winnings of 9 years of racing, I can't wait to see that Money!

Pictures from the Subaru Cup MTB Race

The Hand Off!

RR 2008 - Evanston 7/20

Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Grand Prix of Cycling

What can I say, other then I finally had a good Road Race (RR)!

I didn't feel all that great in the morning, and if you ask Aimee, she will tell you that I was a little pessimistic.

The race started pretty close to on time, and one thing I wanted to do was get a good spot on the start line. I was riding laps to get warmed up and was planning to stop on the start/finish at the first sign of the race actually starting....Well when I came around there were the 75 racers all lined up! Damn it! Well, I kinda weaseled my way up to the middle of the start shot. The air horn sounded and we were off!

I quickly got around the not-so-talented bike riders that couldn't quiet clip into their pedals. (The 4/5 category is for the beginners but COME ON!) A small group of 5 riders got off the front right away. I did all I could to get in the group of about 20 riders chasing the 5 riders down. Once I pulled myself to that group, I sat in the draft and recovered for a couple laps. Then as I started to make my way to the front of the group of 20, the race was stopped for a crash. On the restart they gave the 5 riders a 30 second head start then the entire remaining field would take off. This was a little unfair I felt since the remaining 70 riders were not all together at the time of the crash, so some people that were in the hurt got back in the race.

No fear though, I made sure I was very close to the front of the main group on the restart. Once they sounded the air horns I again shoot around the not-so-talented riders and was again in the front chase group. I felt real good, I pulled the group around the 1.08 mile lap and then settled back in about 5 or 6 riders back to rest and get ready to attack on the final lap.

On the final lap and the final corner, I was sitting pretty good, I felt like I could really go for-it on the 5 city block sprint to the FINISH! I made the corner with about 5 guys ahead of me, and we all took off for the finish. Man, I have never sprinted on a bike so hard, I felt my calves, thighs, and abs all ready to explode! Only one guy got around me!

And that is my greatest Road race YET!

14th out of 75!

Road Racing 2008 - Waukesha

I have finally completed a couple road race this year! I was beginning to wonder if I would get one in before the year ended.

Waukesha, WI -- July 19, 2008 I showed up for the race scheduled to start at 9:30 with plenty of time to register and get warmed up. I didn't wanted to race if it was raining or if the pavement was wet, just to risky for my taste. The crew setting up the race parked the truck with all the barricades, banners, etc in the middle of the course and lost the keys to the truck. Well, they had to get a tow truck in to move the truck and they had to carry all the equipment around the course in a pickup. Which the pickup belonged to a good friend of our families, Kelly Papenthien, I BIG thanks to Kelly for helping set up a great race.

Once they figured that out we started our race about two hours late. Even though I wasn't going to race if it was raining I had so much time already wrapped up in waiting I decide to just go for it even though it was raining pretty good when they started us. It was slick out there, I watched 7-8 people crash right in front of me. I was pretty much out of the race on the first corner, I was in the back of the start and all the fast people got around the first corner while I was steering around bodies and bikes that had piled up in the corner from all the "not-so-talented" riders. I eventually was pulled from the race in 22nd place.

No Race Last Weekend Becus....

Aimee and I were out hiking in the Mountains in Idaho!

I decided trail signs are helpful when hiking in the woods.

Super Weeks in the Midwest!

It's that time again where all the US Pro-Cycling teams converge on the Milwaukee and Chicago area to do some of the best Road Racing there is to see (in the US) in a 16 day span! Between July 11 to July 27 there is a Road Race every day. (TO BAD I HAVE A JOB!)

I am Signed up for four race right now, the first is in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Carl Zach Cycling Classic presented by Couri Insurance Agency on July 19th. I am not sure of my start time but once I get it I will post it here. The next race is on Sunday July 20th in Evanston, IL. Looking forward to a day of racing and drinking! The Evanston Northwestern Healthcare GrandPrix. Should be a great weekend!