Monday, June 2, 2008
Spring Prairie Update
The following guy's have committed in some sort of fashion. Pat, Jim H, Doug B, Case, Eddie E, and myself (Don Hanke). I went out to the pre-registration and found that only three have actually pre-registered. Those would Doug Braun, Case, and me. You have three days left to pre-register.
Don't want to sound like a nag, but if you are committed to doing this race I would pre-register. I would hate to drive up there and find out that I drove 2 hrs and the race field limit was met and I couldn't race. Plus you guy's are making me nervous. I am not the best climber and need your encouragement to stay in every lap. The more green and blue in the field will keep me in the mix.
There are at least 12 XXX riders pre-registered so where is the love?
Mountain goats, this is your race!!! You should live for this race!!!
I know Dr. Phil has personal commitments as does Tom M. Where the heck is Greg Sandman? Calling Sandman, and mountain goat Mark!!!
Don't want to sound like a nag, but if you are committed to doing this race I would pre-register. I would hate to drive up there and find out that I drove 2 hrs and the race field limit was met and I couldn't race. Plus you guy's are making me nervous. I am not the best climber and need your encouragement to stay in every lap. The more green and blue in the field will keep me in the mix.
There are at least 12 XXX riders pre-registered so where is the love?
Mountain goats, this is your race!!! You should live for this race!!!
I know Dr. Phil has personal commitments as does Tom M. Where the heck is Greg Sandman? Calling Sandman, and mountain goat Mark!!!
Winfield Criterium Championship CAT 4
Day started cheering Ed, Phil and Bob in the 50+ race. Racing against former world champions, is always a great way to start your racing season, glad I am still in CAT 4!! All three should be commended.
Fantastic feeling warming up with 8 Tower racers for the CAT 4. About 65 racers started, which immediately went into blistering pace. About three laps in, Jim attacks on the base of the hill to see if he could shake things up. After a big groan came out of the pelaton he was covered by a XXX rider. They were able to stay away for three laps. As the pelaton found their prey, the pace quickened again. Two laps later Mark M, launches an attack, however this time the pelaton was ready for the pain to be inflected by the green and blue squad. The next five or six laps everyone just sat in, trying to work their way to the front for the big finish. I was just trying to stay on wheel has my heart rate monitor finally stopped alarming on the crest of hill, as Jim, Tom and I rode together.
Everything was cranked up on the last lap; I dropped 10 spots in turns 2 with a poor line. All the big guns were making their way to the front; the pelaton was eight riders wide going up the hill for the last time. I found a seem on the right and hit the gas and was able to get about 15 positions back to my favor, until a rider blew up in front of me and sent me into the gravel coming out of turn 3. Interesting thing about this course, your position coming out of turn 3 is critical, as it is almost impossible to pass from there to the finish. I hit 36.5 mph in the drops, coming down the hill to the finish but was unable to move up on this very strong field. Finished 19th.
Rode the entire race in my small chain ring (except the down hill sprint finish) and spun a high RPM up the hill which I believed saved my legs. Ran an 11-23 cog, so on the down hill used the 11 cog, got aero and sucked a wheel, this forced me not to pedal. No easy race, avg heart rate 181, max 193 with 10 minutes above my target threshold.
Terry O'Grady
Fantastic feeling warming up with 8 Tower racers for the CAT 4. About 65 racers started, which immediately went into blistering pace. About three laps in, Jim attacks on the base of the hill to see if he could shake things up. After a big groan came out of the pelaton he was covered by a XXX rider. They were able to stay away for three laps. As the pelaton found their prey, the pace quickened again. Two laps later Mark M, launches an attack, however this time the pelaton was ready for the pain to be inflected by the green and blue squad. The next five or six laps everyone just sat in, trying to work their way to the front for the big finish. I was just trying to stay on wheel has my heart rate monitor finally stopped alarming on the crest of hill, as Jim, Tom and I rode together.
Everything was cranked up on the last lap; I dropped 10 spots in turns 2 with a poor line. All the big guns were making their way to the front; the pelaton was eight riders wide going up the hill for the last time. I found a seem on the right and hit the gas and was able to get about 15 positions back to my favor, until a rider blew up in front of me and sent me into the gravel coming out of turn 3. Interesting thing about this course, your position coming out of turn 3 is critical, as it is almost impossible to pass from there to the finish. I hit 36.5 mph in the drops, coming down the hill to the finish but was unable to move up on this very strong field. Finished 19th.
Rode the entire race in my small chain ring (except the down hill sprint finish) and spun a high RPM up the hill which I believed saved my legs. Ran an 11-23 cog, so on the down hill used the 11 cog, got aero and sucked a wheel, this forced me not to pedal. No easy race, avg heart rate 181, max 193 with 10 minutes above my target threshold.
Terry O'Grady
Winfield, Sunday Crit (Cat 4)
You could not have dreamed of a better weather day then yesterday for a bike race. Tower racing was represented in many of the cycling categories. As most of you know the course was pretty tuff along with the competition. The hill on the course took its toll on many of the riders by the middle to the end of the race. I raced in the Cat 4 with 7 other team mates.
I did not see Bob & Kevin’s race but heard you guys did really well, congratulations!
I watched some of the 50+ with Eddie B, BRB and Dr Phil, what a tuff field. All you guys did an awesome job!
In the Cat 4’s I was thrilled to be with so many talented Tower guys plus a field of strong cat 4 racers from numerous other teams. My race was over after the second lap, I’m not sure what happened to my fitness but I could not keep pace with the peloton yesterday. Tony was trying his hardest to encourage me to keep up but I just didn’t have the wherewithal to stay in the race. (Tony thanks for your kind words of encouragement) I felt like I had a 200 hundred pound weight on my back. Strange thing about myself, I’m either on or I’m off not sure why this happens. I pulled myself from the race after the main peloton lapped me. With two laps to go I pulled off the course and watched the finally with BRB and Dr Phil.
Tom McNulty you were my hero yesterday, you haven’t been out riding or training as much as others but you looked like you were on top of your game. Why to go Tom! All you guys did a great job and it was terrific to be with you all yesterday.
I know some of you were concerned with my quick departure and thought I was upset with my performance. That was not the case, last week I had mentioned in an email that after the race I had to leave ASAP. Before leaving home yesterday my wife had reinforced to me about getting home in ample time. I had my wife’s parent’s 57th wedding anniversary which was starting at 3:00 pm at a downtown restaurant. So needless to say, my quick departure was one of survival.
Pat.
I did not see Bob & Kevin’s race but heard you guys did really well, congratulations!
I watched some of the 50+ with Eddie B, BRB and Dr Phil, what a tuff field. All you guys did an awesome job!
In the Cat 4’s I was thrilled to be with so many talented Tower guys plus a field of strong cat 4 racers from numerous other teams. My race was over after the second lap, I’m not sure what happened to my fitness but I could not keep pace with the peloton yesterday. Tony was trying his hardest to encourage me to keep up but I just didn’t have the wherewithal to stay in the race. (Tony thanks for your kind words of encouragement) I felt like I had a 200 hundred pound weight on my back. Strange thing about myself, I’m either on or I’m off not sure why this happens. I pulled myself from the race after the main peloton lapped me. With two laps to go I pulled off the course and watched the finally with BRB and Dr Phil.
Tom McNulty you were my hero yesterday, you haven’t been out riding or training as much as others but you looked like you were on top of your game. Why to go Tom! All you guys did a great job and it was terrific to be with you all yesterday.
I know some of you were concerned with my quick departure and thought I was upset with my performance. That was not the case, last week I had mentioned in an email that after the race I had to leave ASAP. Before leaving home yesterday my wife had reinforced to me about getting home in ample time. I had my wife’s parent’s 57th wedding anniversary which was starting at 3:00 pm at a downtown restaurant. So needless to say, my quick departure was one of survival.
Pat.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
ABR 50+ Criterium Sunday
Having hammered 70 miles saturday a.m. and then racing that night I decided anyway to show up for Sunday's 50 + race. Like Gary in his post, at my age this is as much about comraderie and fun as it is racing. The race was definitely hard but having the short climb helped me. I was in a group of 5 off the main group of 12 or so and we tried to bridge for 4-5 laps but maintained around 15 sec back. There were 2-3 of us that did most of the work especially a guy from Vision quest who I later learned may have placed 2nd in the race last year. Eventually we got within about 40 yards and he said " I've got them" and blasted it up the climb with me on his wheel. Took everything I had to hang on. We gaught the lead group and things settled down into the last lap. On the final climb I think my hard riding on Saturday caught up to me (as well as the chase to get back to the main group). I got crampy at the last turn and had nothing for the final sprint so I coasted in at the back of the group. In all I was pretty happy as there were some major names at this race. I also wanted to say that I definitely could hear all the encouragement from the Tower Racing Team and fans! It gives you extra incentive to push yourself to the limit. I echo Gary's comments, we have a great group. Now if we could only get a tent and a grill..........
ABR National Criterium Championship
Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to let everyone know how great todays race was for myself and tower racing. If I did nothing else with this group, I would have accomplished everything I set out to do today.
The race was in Winfield on the south course, a long rectangle with good climb on the third turn. It was a beautiful day with awesome temps. I was excited, because I would be out there with multiple teammates. This is an extremely calming feeling. There is something to be said about having the guys that you train with out on the course fighting for the same thing. I believe we had 8 or so riders in the 4'S race. I am not sure if any other team had the kind of representation we did. Fantastic is what I say. Not to mention 5 other racers entered in other events.
As for the race.......... it was tough. The climb lap after lap wears on you. I hung in there and did what I could for the final sprint. I made a mistake and hit the breaks too hard in the final turn and made it difficult to connect with the top 20 or so riders for the final sprint. I figure if I could finish in the top 20 I am happy. I was outside of that by 12 or so riders. Oh well.
What I will take away most from this race are the things that did not have much to do with racing. Our caravan to the race. Having familiar faces to talk to and get ready for the day. Lining up for the start with 65 other riders, but all you could see are the familiar Tower colors. We had a rider off the front at many points during the race. Jim you should be pleased with your effort. In my opinion it shows how strong you really are and not to worry sir, your efforts have already paid off and will continue to. I saw a bunch of tower guys trying as hard as they could, doing something that is difficult to do. What sticks out in my mind most is the time I spent with some pretty cool people enjoying a great day, some beverage... chips if you wanted and conversation post race. This to me is the real juice......I had a great day to say the least. Thanks to all that showed up, tried as hard as they could and hopefully had some fun.
Remember there is only one winner in these races, for everyone else it is personal victories, accomplishing goals and looking back and feeling proud of what you attempted. If things did not turn out as planned, it is back to the drawing board. Time to reevaluate and get back on the horse and start working again. Tower was represented well today. Nice job to all, and thanks for a great time. I appreciate being on this team.
Have a great day
Gary C.
Winfield Sunday Crit
Bob and I did the Cat 5 - Heat 1 race this morning. It was a pretty good crowd of only 25 to 30 riders. The course was approximately 1 mile lap with a short steep hill. Not too bad though. Bob and I stayed competitive throughout. Prior to the last two laps we were hanging between the 2nd to 10th spot.
With 1 and 1/2 laps to go I said to myself, "I had enough of this" and decided to make my move. I pulled out in front and started giving it my all. As I was cruising along in first place a thought came into my head -it was Fran of all people. The thought was Fran pulling out early during one of our Clarendon Hills weekly morning sprints. What usually happens when the first person makes a jump early? Well you know how the story ends....I could only keep it up for a one lap and blew up. I ended up 11th and bob came in 13th. We had fun though and would do it again.
Kevin "impatient" McCann
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