Category: Races

DaVinci Crit – Saturday

This weekend was the opening of “The DaVinci Code” movie. On Saturday night my son Stephen and I went to it and had a grand time. Earlier in the day I had another “DaVinci” experience down in New Albany, IN. A not so grand time…

Tortuga fielded 5 for the Cat 1/2/3 race at the DaVinci Criterium on the downtown streets of this riverside community across from Louisville. Had the bridge crossing the Ohio had a draw to it, we should have hoisted it up, as the Huns from Louisville came across to Indiana and smacked us around silly. Texas Roadhouse reminded everyone that they are the force to be reckoned with in our racing world, as they swept 3 of the top 5 spots in the main event. POD led the way towing 2 of his own along with 2 Dogfish, 1 Nuvo, and others I cannot remember in an attack just several laps into the race. Steve Spanbauer bridged to make it that much more formidable. The break that formed from POD’s charge lapped the field with plenty left on the clock. In typical O’Donnell fashion, Patrick attacked the break as they integrated into the pack. A hard effort by Spanbauer and his Papa Johns mates brought back the attack and things stayed put to the end. The end, of course, was POD winning with Harry Clark in 4th and CT in 5th. Geez, I feel like I’m doing a race report for TRH…

Tortuga? The top turtle was yours truly in 17th place… Ugly, plain ugly…For those number crunchers out there, my HRM data showed an average speed of 25.5 mph on this 8 turn, 0.7 mile course – and that’s me hanging on in the 2nd group that had been lapped…BTW – 40 started, 20 finished. Tough race, folks.

I know my mates are disappointed in their own and the team’s performance. Perhaps the silver lining in the cloud would be that it’s used as a motivator. Most will tell you that a course such as DaVinci can give even the best rider a bad day…Easy said by someone who finished 17th…

Monrovia TT – Sunday

Clearly feeling the need to punish myself for Saturday’s misdeeds (no excuse for us not being in the break), I ventured to Monrovia to do my first 40K TT this season. Like a surfer searching for the perfect wave, a quick check of the weather Saturday night showed that conditions for Sunday morning’s event were quite promising. Getting up early was easier knowing the drive was a mere 40 mins vs. 2 hrs to my alternative event, the DaVinci RR. Arriving at Monrovia HS there were far less riders than I expected. I believe 15 in total took part, including Tortuga Cat 3 Adam Fryska. Friskie’s virgin ride in the Monrovia series earned him a nice sub hour time of 59:56(?), just sneaking in for an IRS t-shirt. Nice job, Adam! Low time of the day went to Kurt Spoerle, who put in a PR and the fastest time in a good couple of years at 52:54. Man, that’s fast. I ended up with a 56:15 – I’ll take it considering the efforts from Saturday’s race and the sneaking wind that showed up right at the start. I’ll continue to search for the perfect wave…

– CJK

It’s the third season for the Winona Lake Criterium (near Warsaw), and for good reason: this is a race destined to become a regional classic. Set on pristine Winona Lake, mountain bikers and roadies alike discovered the beauty of the area in 2004 and have been flocking there in droves ever since.”  Teammate Chris Kroll (coming off a strong finish from the previous day’s Eagle Creek Criterium in Indianapolis) and I represented Tortuga/Big Brothers in the 1/2 field.  With decent cash, ideal weather, and a healthy field pre-registered – we knew it was going to be a good (but hard) day in the saddle.   The primary teams of focus were Bacardi (Bennet, Beason), TX RH (POD, CT, Clark), and ABD (Athletes By Design – a strong Chicago team) fielding 6 guys lead by the always-strong Puffer.

Upon quick survey of the ½ mile course and investigation of how the 1/2 race unfolded last year – – – our goal was simple:  DO NOT MISS THE MOVE!  The race started off very quickly – almost without Chris (in his ritualistic pre-race deep meditative state, Chris almost missed the start of the race – – that would have really sucked).  Anyhow, 15 minutes into the 60 minute race POD launches a wicked attack with Puffer, another ABD guy, Clark, and some FRED in tow.  At this point I am thinking to myself “this is silly early for a power move to go like this” followed by “for sure Bacardi or someone is going to bring this bad boy back or can take me up to it”.  Well, I was wrong.  Before I knew it, I was doing something very atypical – – I launched from the field (just before a semi-technical turn) and was clear – in pursuit of the break.  Now I remember why I despise TTs so much.  The 10 or so seconds it took me to bridge the gap seemed like an eternity in a lactic-acid filled hell.  But, I made it!  Yeah that’s right, check it.  Although the odds were against me (2 ABD, 2 TX RH, and some FRED) – – I felt good about my chances.  Once in the break, I thought I can just sit in and recover for a good bit.  Wrong again.  ABD and TX RH were driving the break pretty hard.  I took all of my pulls (yeah, that’s right) – although, not at the pace nor for the length of time the others were pulling (in spite of POD’s kind efforts to get me to do a little more work – he really was kind).  Come on, don’t be silly, I was out-numbered by two very strong teams (what did you expect?!).  After gaining 40 seconds on the field I am thinking “ok, lovely, the pace will settle and we’ll cruise into the finish line with all six guys intact – since the wind was brutal off the lake”.  Wrong again.  All hell breaks loose as an ABD guy (with Clark in tow) attack the break.  With Puffer and POD still left from the original break – my ass was staying put.  Realizing that Puffer was not going to do much more of the pace setting (since he had a teammate up front) and that the field is starting to close the gap – POD unleashes a series of attacks (attempting to bridge to his teammate and the ABD guy – and loose us mortal cyclist).  Puffer was not letting go of POD’s wheel nor was I of Puffer’s wheel.  Before you know it, we were catching the two escapees and the sixsome was back in business again (with even more momentum building).   With 20 minutes left in the race we begin catching dropped riders from the field (we clocked 1:07 on a few of the laps – ½  mile course – do the math – we were cooking).  Two laps later, the main field was in sight.  A lap later, we are on the heels of the pack.  A corner later, POD accelerates on the right side of the field as Puffer and I lose him (since we were accelerating to the left of the field).  An ABD guy (that was with us in the break) follows POD with CT, Bennet, and some others guys that were down a lap in tow.  At this point I had two choices 1) go solo again and risk blowing a gasket or 2) take my chances in the field.  I picked the later (wrong choice).  Despite Kroll’s heroic efforts in trying to bring the 10 seconds POD’s group had on us, we could not catch them.  The race was now for 3rd place.  With 7 minutes to go, I begin setting up behind Puffer.  With half a lap to go, CT (who came back from POD’s group due to illness) begins his tempo in hopes of taking Clark to a good finish.  Clark was no where to be found, so Puffer was obliged to take CT’s wheel with me in tow.  Puffer rockets around CT in the last turn with me tow.  Unfortunately, I could not pass Puffer due to the day’s efforts.  ABD guy won, with POD 2nd, Puffer 3rd, and yours truly in 4th.  Special Kudos go out to my mate Kroll. Although Chris worked his ass covering dangerous attacks from the field (while I was in the break) and spent himself trying to bring me back to POD after we lapped the field – he still managed to finish a solid 9th.  BTW – My ass-neck (muscle region just under the cheeks) was so sore after the day’s effort, it took me a good four attempts to get into Kroll’s car seat (without cramping) for the journey back home…need to figure out some exercises to strengthen that muscle group. All in all, it was a wonderful day in Winona.

Man-up or get the hell out of the way,

Karim

Cat 3 report:

Parrish back on Podium –

Congratulations to Scott Parrish for a well deserved 2nd place in the Cat 3 event. The venue bodes well for the folically gifted one as he won the Cat 4 event in 2005. After a mid season crash at the District Crit last season, Scott has been working to find his form and it certainly showed up Saturday. Well done!

Cat 1/2/3 report:

A good sized field of 40 or so (I’m not good with numbers) to start, with Tortuga, Dogfish, a small contingent of Roadhouse, and a sea of red with Bacardi-Nuvo mixed with a multitude of collegiate/independent riders. Daly starts the event and we’re off with Nuvo quickly moving up to the front and Al Senft attacking solo. Al’s dangling out front it seems for the longest time when the group finally reels him in. A few faux moves and finally Jason Sonneborn rolls off the front near the start-finish. I jump from the same side and catch him at the turn, along in tow come a Dogfish guy and 3 other independents. A lap or so later Bennet V. from Nuvo joins and I’m thinking “ah oh….” So it’s two B-Nuvos and the rest of us. We’re working pretty well and with injured Patrick Delisle and Bob Brooks on the sidelines, I’m getting word that John Kelly is coming up. Good news thinks I…I then try slowing the break, and it does come down oh so close, but then bam – back up again. With not long to go and enough time on the field that we won’t be caught, I’m thinking what needs to be done to finish well. With 3 to go and pulling through the group I mention to the strongest independent, a collegiate rider from Colorado, that Bennet will attack with 1.5 to go (thinking Ceraland all over…). He nods in understanding. All set for the finish as I look for support, but guess what? It doesn’t happen. On the last lap our pace comes to a crawl just before the turn leading to the base of the “climb”. At 17 mph Sonneborn launches with Bennet in tow and the Colorado collegian behind him. My sorry butt sits in 6th from this as I’m on the wrong side from where Sonney goes…Up the hill and on it as hard as I can…The Col Collegian takes Bennet at the line and I roll up in 4th. Yes, Horus, I’m a work in progress on the sprint…But I did pick the right stranger as the strong one…

Fireworks afterward –

For those witness to our parking lot “celebration” of a top 5 finish in this event, everything is in fine order with our squad. The in-love turtles post event e-mail solidified that we’re clicking along just fine. No worries regarding our gelling as a team. I know some competitors may have been concerned as to our well being. Thanks for your support.

Manning up and getting in the way –

– Chris