Ok not as cool as Buzz Lightyear but on the move none the less. It has been a while since the not so eventful Masters Nats RR and thought I would get back to what I do best C R I T S!
Ft Wayne Parkview Cycling Festival
Headed just up the road from Mel’s parents house to Ft Wayne, IN or Hooterville as it is common referred to here. There was a new race there this year and the venue and city were both top notch. I jumped in the Masters race to get in a good warm up for the P1/2 $2500 a few hours later. Unfortunately, I initiated a move in the 3rd lap of an hour crit that stuck and I ended up lapping the field with a guy that can roll a 52 40K TT. OUCH. He was from Ft Wayne so I offered up the win which he gladly accepted in front of the home crowd. Tried to recover for the big race but just did not have legs after the 50 min TT effort. There were 2 teams that made up half the 40 man field and after numerous attacks 3 guys got away. Tried to bridge several time but always had 3-4 guys from said teams glued to my wheel. That’s racing. After some CRAZY riding by a few guys a near wreck and chasing hard in the last 3 laps..I came in for a very disappointing 18th.
Results: 2nd Masters/18th P1/2
http://www.truesport.com/rzone/racereports/report.asp?recid=1271
Champaign, IL Tour of Champaign
Headed over Sunday to a $3K race and decided to forgo the Masters race and just concentrate on the P1/2s. Another great venue and race. The Pre-Reg only had 19 guys registered BUT when I got there and looked at the results from the day before it read: 6 Roadhouse guys, 5 Panther guys, and 6 Nuvo guy not to mention Huff and Mead from Jelly Belly showing. In total 60 guys lined up and my thoughts of easy money soon disappeared. The race was easy to sit in but hard to get away. I was in a move of 5 for about 7 laps that was brought back. Sure enough the counter with only 3 went away and stuck. Everyone including yours truly was then content on marking the JB guys moves. Then 2 more ride off. Again everyone looks at JB to bring it back. This continues until the final laps and all 5 stay away. I start fighting for the TXRhouse sprinters wheel with about 2 to go. Get pushed to curb that I bunny hop to stay upright and then about get taken out again in the sprint. I came through for another disappointing 17th.
http://www.truesport.com/rzone/racereports/report.asp?recid=1277.
I stayed in the a delightful establishment in Champaign called the Lincoln Lodge. I think Abe actually lived though do not know if the pool was there in his day or maybe is was from the looks of it. There were also some very interesting inhabitants that were there permanently. The Conti breakfast was one loaf of white bread and a toaster that smelled of feet. Jimbo would have not eaten there.
Richton, IL Superweek
OK back to racing
I elected to the Masters 30+ race in order to get back to IN at a resonable time. Lined up with 20 guys, yes 20 in a superweek race?????? There were some strong guys but felt good about my chances for a win. About 3 laps in I countered an early move and got a big gap that I held for about 6 laps. When I did get caught, there was counter and I had to jumped again. Rolled with 4 guys, though one guy was not pulling at all and eventually from the other 3 trying ride him off the back, 2 more guys came up. The 6 of us eventually lapped the remaining 14???? LOL and going into the last lap one strong guy jumped and I was 2nd wheel, thinking this is it I am going to get my W. Waited to LONG to sprint as there was a head wind and 2 guys went by me as I was jumping…UGGHHH! Though the one guy that should have clearly won the race sat up right before the line and got pimped by the other guy..so I guess it could have been worse.
Good luck to GB p/b Catoma at French Broad.
