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Well, I tried to post this last night, but evidently the cycling gods not only did not want me to be first across the line yesterday, they also did not want me to be first with the printed word. so here goes effort number 2.

Like the storms that tore thru Indy and other parts of the state Friday night, Saturday’s 1,2,3 race was ferocious. All the staple IRS squads were well represented. Bacardi/Nuvo and Texas Roadhouse were the animators of the race. Tortuga and Dog Fish were active, but clearly not as animated as the two aforementioned teams and that was reflected in the final result.

Congratulations to Bvg of the Bacardi/Nuvo squad for a hard earned win to open the season. Attacks and counters occurred for 54 minutes of racing when a group of 7 finally broke the elastic of the pack. The break contained BvG and Declan Doyle for Bacardi, a TRH rider, John Kelly (JK) of Tortuga, a Dog Fish rider and two others.

BvG, Doyle and the TRH rider escaped the other four with about a lap and a half to go with BvG powering to the line for the solid V. Unfortunately, the 4-some, which included JK, got swallowed up with about 300 meters to go.

The TRH rider took 2nd and Doyle just crossed the line ahead of the hard charging pack, led home by Kevin Atkisson of TRH in 4th and K-Man, Karim Abdelkader of Tortuga in 5th.

For the Tortuga Armada, the squad accomplished our modest goal of placing a man in the top 5, thanks to Karim’s crafty riding and fine sprint finish. Being our first race together as a full squad, the team realized going in that there will be some growing pains. Based on yesterday, the growing should not include much pain, as everyone gave great effort.

Chris and Vic were superlative in their continuous efforts to cover and go off the front throughout the race. Patrick Delisle also acquitted himself nicely by covering and providing a Tortuga presence whenever necessary. JK showed he still has what it takes despite riding less this season – he made the move that mattered near the end of the race.

Sean, Riggs, Brauner, T.Heff and Tim Davis each contributed as needed. Unfortunately, T.Heff suffered some injuries and equipment damage due to a crash with three laps to go. Crashing was rampant during the race. With so many teams well represented, tempers flared at times, causing certain riders to ride dangerously, which ended up costing some riders flesh and carbon.

My own performance yesterday was sub-par. While the effort was there, the savvy was severly lacking. I did not necessarily work any harder than I would in a Masters race. The difference however, is that the efforts I made in the 1,2s were merely to gain position rather than going off the front in an effort to set up teammates or create a break.

I did make it to the front once, after having spent two laps of energy wasting movement AROUND the pack rather than going through it. When I arrived in position, I found myself on THE Man, CT’s wheel. He launched, I followed, a few others bridged, and then I sucked phlegm for several laps.

The white knuckle, final 3 laps were nothing short of Nascar intense as riders surged the front every time the leaders let up, even slightly. The battle for position created more near and actual crashes. Karim is to be commended for holding position well enough to garner the 5th place.

As a team, the rest of us, especially me, can improve by working on positioning to better serve our teammates.

A big “great job” goes out to Geraint Parry who kept the crowd interested with insightful and colorful commentary as the MC for the 1,2,3 race. Nice job G.

This Wednesday is the upper paragon loop. Hope to see many of you there.

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Categorized as Races

Wednesday Worlds #2 – “Lost In Translation”

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.

2 For 2sday

The Indy World Championship takes place twice a week, same course, same bat time, every Tuesday and Thursday. Speaking of bats, plenty of Bacardi present at last night’s ride, although Hubbell was conspicuous in his “Lilly” jersey with bright red shorts, a fashion faux pau only topped by the former Citgo/PBF kits of red and orange. Nonetheless, with bat wings flapping, dog fish snapping, Mr and Mrs Clark (TxRdhse) drafting, Zipp gasping, and a smattering of other local teams jamming, the Tortuga Armada could not be denied.

The 46th and Central route is timeless, having been utilized since velocipedes first inundated the Circle (velodrome) City in the early 1900s. Traversing the north and near west side, the route demands good bike handling and quick thinking to avoid the rush hour traffic and numerous pot holes. Many riders were observed last night with arms shaking as violently as any seen on the Roubaix pave. Furthermore, the route this year must take a detour thru a sketchy part of town in order to avoid construction on 38th Street. Phil might comment, “Goodness me, Paul, I hope no one flats on Clifton Avenue.” 

“Right you are, Phil. That part of the route is so sketchy, I’m not even going to try an analogy today.”

From the outset, along Riverside Avenue, Tortuga had riders off the front, with Vic Emond leading the way across Kessler, onto Illinois. Again, it was Emond opening a gap thru the Butler University campus. Unaware of the detour this year, Emond rode alone down 38th Street and south on Riverside E. Drive to 30th where he met up with the bunch and promptly rode off the front again.

Turning west onto 18th Street, Hubbell punched the accelerator with Brooks on his wheel. the surge strung out the pack and created a slight separation until the red light on 30th Street. After the light, the group jogs west and then north again on the Riverside W. Drive, toward the infamous Velodrome mole hill.

A Zipp rider charged at the base of the hill, but faded quickly by the midway point. Several others jumped too soon and also faded. Remaining seated, Brooks powered up the climb and jumped at the top, taking teammates Delisle and Riggs with him, opening the first significant gap of the night. A string of slowed traffic put the brakes on what might have been an epic move….

Regrouped again, the bunch was ignited by Hubbell and Doyle, along with Delisle, Abdelkader and Pederson of dog fish. The bunch tempoed thru Leiber Road, across Kessler, before resuming the hot pace, this time set by Riggs of Tortuga. Charging up Hoover Road, the Barcardi’s captured Riggs near 64th, where a general re-grouping occurred. Sensing the group’s hesitation, Brooks broke clear of the pack.

Noone of Bacardi led a small chase group containing Gaerete (Indy Hand Center), Delisle, Pederson and a few others. The red light at 73rd foiled the escape, as it most often does. Hard charges across 75th and south on Pennsylvania set the tone for the final sprint. Mr. Clark finally made his lone appearance on the front as the bunch wound its way along the canal before the final turns onto the infamous College Avenue pave.

The bunch were having none of the solo act and quickly closed, setting up a mass sprint to close out the evening. Turning right (south) onto College Avenue, the course grades up an overpass before descending full speed ahead toward the invisible line near 64th Street.

Led out by teammates Delisle and Emond, King Sprint, Karim Abdelkader made it two Tuesdays in a row (having won in Austin last week) by taking the Tues World’s last night. Nice job K-Man. On his success, the K-man said, “I think it’s the new white helmet and the new white shoes.”

For most, last night was a final prep. before Saturday’s season opener at Ceraland. All teams look strong. This weekend will, no doubt, produce some exciting racing.