So at 6am it was 45F and raining- not the greatest conditions to motivate getting out of bed and racing a bike (alone and for 40km). However I’d been psyching myself up for the Monrovia 40k for the last week so I got up and drove up to the meeting place a convienient 45mins from Bloomington. Six other brave souls were present including 4 other debutants- pretty remarkable on such a nasty day. By the time of the start we did have some good fortune as the rain had stopped and the new very fast road surface was mostly dry. All in all it was a pretty good TTing day with a light headwind on the outward leg and the damp road reducing rolling resistance theorectically making things faster. It was a trip into the unknown for me as it was my first ‘25’ since the 1995 BUSA championships (British Universities Sports Association). Therefore I took it pretty easy on the way out (for which the uphill and headwind helped) and then tried to pick it up on the way back. I has a modest goal of a 1h05m so was pleased by posting a 1h04m30s for 4th place on the day. I was certainly glad to get out and ride after too many days of rain and maybe (maybe) I’ll go again later in the year.
News
Gelling together nicely.
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!!!
Ahhh, Wonderful Winona
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