Category: Miscellaneous

Another weekend of Dan Daly events and another weekend where the (at present) undermanned Cat3 squad continues its good progress. Both races at Eagle Creek and then at Mooresville on Sunday had Cat 3 fields of about 35 and the Tortuga contingent of 3 brave yeomen ( Parry, Parrish, Fryska) rode good races, managing to get a rider in the breaks of both days. Saturday saw Scott in the break of 6 and after the sand-bagging 16yo TxRdHse rider had said his goodbyes, Scott used his sprinting prowess to take the 5-up sprint for second place with half a bike to spare (see photos). Both Adam and myself were active in the bunch shutting some moves down and trying to get in others with success in the former but alas not in the latter. The field sprint didn’t go too well for Adam and I but we could content ourselves with Scott performance.
Sunday was a similar story with the break of the day very much easing off of the front after about 30minutes of racing. With Adam represented in a group of 10 and MAG7 points on offer Scott and I left him to his own devices up front. Unfortunately it seemed the break was being powered by just three riders, one of which was Adam and when it came to the final kick up the pack-splitter Adams knee, which he had been nursing with Ibuprofen all weekend, gave up and he rolled in to complete the top ten. I managed to get myself in a minor move for the last 10minutes of the race to finish in 13th with Scott sprinting well in the remnants of the field. Both Adam and myself were certainly frustrated by the presence of hangers-on in our respective breaks, FOR GODS SAKE, PULL THROUGH YOU LAZY *******!! Those of them who didn’t and then went on the claim the better places in the event are the beneficiaries of ill-gotten gains and will hopefully have their comeuppance later in the year.
As it stands with 4 of the 8 MAG7 events in the books Adam is at least in the top4 overall with myself maybe sneaking into the top10. Next week is the Eagle creek fast crit and likely a Monrovia TT (of which one must be completed for the overall MAG7 standing) before the roads turn decidedly upward with MMSFRR and St Crispian later in the year. Roll on wheelsuckers!!!

24 little hours indeed…but it was a race weekend of contrasting weather and therefore participants at the Anderson Mayors Cup. Saturday was a great day for racing, overcast 60F and organisers Steve Goar and Dan Daly were repaid for their hard work with some 250riders in all events. Largest fied of the day was in the Cat. 3 race which had approx 60 starters including messrs Parry and Parrish. The course profile and a strong wind keep the race pretty much together throughout our 55-mile event and in the uphill sprint both tortugans finished within the Top 20. Our most notables performance was a 5th in the Cat. 5 event for Pat Garner. The large number of racers was exemplified by the womens which had over 25 riders- unheard off for a local Midwestern event! In the 1-2-3 race the TxRdhse got back to winning ways with a 1-2 from Mike House and the POD. Bob and Vic were frustrated to miss the break of 10 riders that established itself on about half distance but said that they worked hard in the bunch for a good workout. It was a similar story for Gary Palmer in the 40+ event.
Then we did a TT and it rained…

…and it didn’t stop raining until sunday evening by which time the Anderson U. crits had finished with unsurpisingly small fields. A 1/2 field of 11 riders with 5 TxRdHse could only have one outcome but I think Tolson et al will have been disappointed only to finish 1-2-3-6! Pat and I were the only tortugans present and whilst I was held up behind a last corner wreck to finish 14th, Pat took the bull by the horns and attacked the Cat. 5 field, eventually finishing solo in 2nd place. A great result for Pat who is just this week turning 15.
All in all the AMC is a marvellously organised race with fanastic police co-operation for the RR and a challenging but safe crit course. However Steve Goar, unlike Dan Daly, has yet to sell his soul to the weather gods and the crit has been decimated by unfavourable conditions for two consectutive years. Lets hope for better luck next year to give this race the participation it deserves.

For years I have messed with my saddle position; had to get it just right. The boys below need marshamallow comfort while allowing for the most optimum thrust angle – for pedaling, that is.

Five score and six years ago, I had my perfect position. It looked like shit, with the saddle shoved all the way forward on the rails and my back hunched like a cat about to pounce. But it worked for me and that should have been all that mattered. NOT.

Over the past six years, I have f….. and f….. and f….. with my saddle to the point where the cut out in the center began to grow hair around it. Did I mention I’ve f….. with my saddle? No doubt my ex-wife would concur, and if you co-habitated with her, you’d wish YOUR saddle grew hair around the cut out, too.

Ah, but I digress. After trying to ride with my saddle centered on the rails, which puts me much further behind the center of the BB, procures the sleek, flat-backed posture of the classic racer, and compromised my acceleration such that I had become slower than our turtle mascot, I’ve acquiesced to my body’s own rationale; saddle high and all the way forward on the rails. Not coincidentally, she returned to her smooth, peachy origins.

I was asked for at the McCormick’s Creek RR by none other than the Druber, himself. Sorry to disappoint you mate. Likewise, I was disappointed in your absence from Ceraland. The saddle needed a shave however, er, rather, an adjust. Actually, with no 1,2 Category our squad chose to save the weekend for our significant others. Repairing hail-damaged windows and flower beds were the order of the weekend. But don’t worry Druber, we’ll race soon. Might wanna put that 53 back on in lieu of the 54…

Speaking of 54s, one contemplates TTs. Last night the first Trader’s Point 7-mile TT took place on the northwest side of Indy. Twenty-five or so ventured out to test their legs and minds against the out and back that featured a big-ring climb on the way out and again, 500 meters from the finish.

I’ve enjoyed TTs about as much as I’ve enjoyed Druber over the last couple of years. But the new, kinder, gentler Druber, who says he is finished bashing Hooterville and was disappointed in my absence from Sunday’s RR, may have opened the door to a more amicable relationship between myself and TTs. It wasn’t first place, but I did finish 3rd last night. Phil Liggett, in his overly accentuated British enthusiasm, was overheard, “Brooks on a TT podium; now there’s a turner for the books.”

Mike Sherman of the Zipp squad, an elite level Triathlete and converted Roadie in the 40+ Category, took the top spot with a time of 15:56. Francis Manfred of MOB Squad, a TT specialist who improves every season, finished 2nd with a time of 16:05. My own 16:19 stood up for 3rd.

I went out a bit too hard, as I was actually ahead of Manfred by the turn around, but paid for my over zealousness on the return. Approaching the turn around, I heard Paul Sherwen proclaim, “Put a guvanah (governor) on it, mate.” Advice I wish I’d heeded.

About that race on Sunday, Great job to Bruce Miller, Adam Rodkey and Gary Palmer for their efforts and high placings. Next up is the Anderson Stage Race, and yes Druber, “When you need a friend, just call out my name, and I’ll be there.”