Category: Miscellaneous

The inaugural McCormicks Creek RR was blessed with great weather and a new challenging but not too challenging 4.5mile loop just 20minutes from home base in Bloomington. We had good tortuga participation in most races which was matched by some measure of success. The fields were good in all races with a max of about 40riders in the 40+ and approx 30 in both 30+ and Cat3 race. The dirth of RRs in the midwest today meant there were a few visitors from both IL and MO all of whom greeted the new course with some significant enthusiasm.
Back to the racing and in the early races we saw an excellent victory from Adam Rodkey in the Cat4 (a category Expert MTBer Adam is clearly too good for!). In a competitive 40+ race, Gary Palmer got in the first break of the day and finished a strong 3rd whilst Tom Saccone got in the days second break and finished 10th. Sean Bauer, just using the first race as training for the later race, crushed the bunch sprint for about 12th place. In the Cat5 race both Pat and Isiah performed well but the plaudits must go to Bruce Millar who survived a 25mph+ crash with not a scratch on him and finished strong for 3rd place. In the later races Sean finished off a 4hrs of racing by sticking with the highly fragmented main field for a good day of work. The Cat3 race was a battle of attrition and after 40+ reasonable hard miles Adam Fryska took a great 4th whilst I hung on for a 9th position. A good day for Tortuga all around!! Next stop Anderson…

Well in stark contrast to what was an exciting Cat1/2 race the Cat3 race at Ceraland from my perspective was anything but. Tortuga started with 5riders (Fryska, Palmer, Parrish, Parry, Saccone) in a good 60+ field so controlling the day was a little unlikely. I judged that as usual the race would be settled in the last 20mins so I bedded in toward the back with occasional jaunts up to and off of the front. Mssrs Palmer and Fryska were detemined to make something happen though and as I poked my head above the straining bodies I oft time saw them off the front in a variety of groups. As expected though the race was all togther with about 15mins to go at which point Tom and myself were going to move on up and try play a part in the end game. Sadly this wasn’t to be as inexplicably the race completely shut down for the last 4laps and we proceeded to dawdle around at 20mph (with a few crashes) until the literally half a lap to go when the full on dash to line commenced. Fryska managed to weave his way through into the top 15 but those of us without the ability or the balls (good or bad thing- you decide) to work our way through were left to wonder why we all raced like a bunch of pussies. Suffice to say if I had been up front I would have attacked the 20mph ‘race’ but couldn’t find a way through the kerb to kerb gutless wonders. A disappoinintg race all around!

Our 2nd edition of the 2006 Worlds was as squirrelly as the prevailing winds this evening, as I title this post for numerous reasons…Calls this afternoon indicate some confusion as to the route selection by our GRC (group ride coordinator) and I end up finding out that the route is 2 laps around Morgan Monroe State Forest, not the Lower Paragon Loop that I had mentioned to a least a half dozen riders during the week. Even at the start of the ride the question came up again; forest loop? or lower Paragon?

Doesn’t matter, really. Both have some good climbs and fast sections; should be a good workout no matter what, right? That is the purpose to the Worlds – if you’re riding back into town from one of these and you’re not spent, that’s your problem, no one elses. I’ll stop there, for I could rant further…

We roll out tonight without any encounter from the local gendarms (a problem last week on a ride for some) and keep it civil as per instructions at Sample Gates. 25- 30 in the group (I’m not good with numbers). I heard “neutral until the Forest” – a bit long I think before revving it up, but I go along with it. Not until North on Old 37 before Anderson Rd do I have yet another translation issue – apparently it was to be neutral up the first hill nearing the “Orchard” – I won’t go into geographical detail. Somehow I find myself chasing after chatting too much in the first 2 miles of the ride – the pace is upped to 25+ and we’re not close to the “revving” point of the ride. Not sure what was up with that, but it did settle down a bit.

Things get stretched out a bit on the first climb as a group of 15 or so push up and along Old 37 entering into the Forest. A select few reach the turn in first, but soon after it regroups and we’re hammering along…We reach Beanblossom hill and head flying down. The Artesian Hammer has warned of utility cuts at the base of the hill and sure enough it’s pretty rough. The group stays together onto Anderson as we head back to Old 37 to end lap one. As we near the end of this section, a sprint unfolds to the imaginary spot that I’ve never been clear for a finish. My next search for translation – where is it? Is it a sign? A pole? A mailbox? That road that intersects Anderson? Anyhow, the pace speeds and a rider sprints lone to this spot…

We continue to roll past and a counter attack occurs, Patrick Delisle (surprise Indy mate of the evening) reacts and I go as well. At the turn onto Old 37 Patrick continues up ahead and I short bridge to him. Heading into the climb Patrick puts down a wicked pace with me in tow along with 2 Little 5’ers and the lone Nuvo of the night, Jason Sonneborn. The 5 of us continue to pull away from the group and we’re gone – into the forest and back down Beanblossom. As we’re nearing Anderson, we spot some of the original group – my next losing of translation – did we lap them? Where did they come from? Odd.

Yes, I am going to conclude this post – We did pull through the group and continue at a solid pace to the imaginary sprint area (spot, place) with Patrick leading out, Sonneborn in tow and myself lying third. Sonney and I did come around Patrick and he claims the mailbox while I claimed the pole beyond. Where is that d&#n sprint line? This is my translation and I’m sticking to it.

Thanks to Patrick for coming down tonight and putting in an awesome effort. I was hanging on for dear life up that climb! Training ride or race, there’s no better feeling than being up in a break with one of your mates.

Next up is Cereland, our first big event of the 2006 season. From what I’ve seen so far, it’s going to be a battle royale.