Hi Guys,
I went to the Computrainer meeting last night at Endure – It. The meeting was informative and well run, David Fix (owner of Endure – It) has added 6 additional trainers (for a total of 14 trainers) to handle the built up demand, and I would guess there were 60+ in attendance. David has also added a plyometric class after each Computrainer class (this class is optional) on Saturdays only. Plyometrics from my understanding is the conditioning of your lower back, abdominal mussels, shoulders and stretching exercises.
I personally feel with the number of people in attendance and excitement I felt last night the classes will fill quickly. David told me you can sign up weeks in advance if you’d like, however, you will be charged if you don’t show or if you cancel with less then 48 hour notice.
Chris Mosora will be coaching all Saturday classes. Chris is a Cat 1/2 racer and has ridden with the Tower group a couple of occasions this past summer. A number of us from Tower worked with Chris last winter, speaking for myself Chris taught me a lot about training and racing.
I think Endure – It is an excellent run bike shop and I will be attending all winter. Furthermore, the Plyometrics classes are something I need and I’m sure most of you could use conditioning in the areas I mentioned above. If you need any further information on this subject please feel free to contact me.
Please forward to anyone I my have missed….
~Style King~
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tony Cacchillo (AKA) Fabian
This is Fabian winning a race after Team Tower did some incredible blocking strategies.
Blocking Strategy
Found and excellent article about blocking strategy which I think everyone should read. It goes into detail of the strategy and some may be surprised how subtel it really is.
http://www.velonews.com/article/84731/the-explainer---why-not-block
http://www.velonews.com/article/84731/the-explainer---why-not-block
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Tower Makes the Podium
Today, Tower hit the podium in a big way as the road/crit season comes to a close. Lori and Pascal both win their respective races with some assistance from Pascal, Lori was able to break away early and stay away.
We had Gary, Tom, Mark, Terry, Don, Charlie (who ran the 50+ earlier), me, and even Lori signed up for the Mens (?) Cat 4. Two Tati women signup up as well.
I go through my typical pre-race 2nd guessing. Did I eat too much this morning? Drink one too many beers last night? Ride too hard yesterday? Did I hydrate enough? At this point, none of it matters, its time to race the last crit of 2008. We line up near each other and hit the start. I follow Tom up the inside to get near the front and try to keep it that way. Somewhere around lap 4/5, they call a prime for sunglasses - I could use sunglasses. If I have a shot, I’m going for it. After turn three, I am in 5th. I see a familiar Tati uniform (it’s that same guy who drove off the front last week) 20 yards off the front. He does not seem to be sprinting just motoring at a high pace. I’m going to try and catch him. No one else challenges except for one, who quickly gives in. Tati looks back and starts to accelerate. I gun it as if the race depended on it. Fly pass Tati after turn 4 and keep going. After a look back to see if the glasses are in jeopardy, I ease up at the line. Hearing Tower Racing takes the prime brings a smile to my face. Tati keeps going. He’s going to do it again. Damn that kid is strong. I wonder if I should follow as we have a good gap at this point. I decide it would be too much effort. I need to work on riding hard while winded (next year.)
I drift to the back and get a great vantage point of my teammates up ahead. Go Tower!
As it turns out that Tati Guy laps us with three to go. I see Tom follow Tati as he drives through the pack a lap up on everyone (impressive). I follow Tati the last lap and a half in 2nd place. Get into a minor scrape when a WDT rider attempts to crowd me out of 2nd place. I’m not moving. He’ll have to move up or drop back. He actually bumps me this time, I push back, fortunately, he backs off this time and drifts back. I don’t like it when this kind of stuff happens. He apologizes later after I call him out.
I decide to leave even earlier than the prime. I take off just after turn 3. I round turn four in 1st. I am doing everything to hold off the pursuits behind, but begin to fade. I get passed by one rider with 25 yards to go and barely hold on for 2nd in the field sprint - 3rd overall. End result: Raced over 26 mph average; Tower is on the podium; I have a pair of sunglasses; $30 goes to Tower Racing Charities (which U.S. Cellular® will match).
It’s a good day for Tower. In fact, it’s been a good year. We started a race team; we have excellent uniforms; we’ve donated to charity; hosted our first race; won some races; placed in many more and people are recognizing us as an up and coming team. We are much stronger as a group than we were last year. I look forward to our future hammer sessions.
- Ed E.
We had Gary, Tom, Mark, Terry, Don, Charlie (who ran the 50+ earlier), me, and even Lori signed up for the Mens (?) Cat 4. Two Tati women signup up as well.
I go through my typical pre-race 2nd guessing. Did I eat too much this morning? Drink one too many beers last night? Ride too hard yesterday? Did I hydrate enough? At this point, none of it matters, its time to race the last crit of 2008. We line up near each other and hit the start. I follow Tom up the inside to get near the front and try to keep it that way. Somewhere around lap 4/5, they call a prime for sunglasses - I could use sunglasses. If I have a shot, I’m going for it. After turn three, I am in 5th. I see a familiar Tati uniform (it’s that same guy who drove off the front last week) 20 yards off the front. He does not seem to be sprinting just motoring at a high pace. I’m going to try and catch him. No one else challenges except for one, who quickly gives in. Tati looks back and starts to accelerate. I gun it as if the race depended on it. Fly pass Tati after turn 4 and keep going. After a look back to see if the glasses are in jeopardy, I ease up at the line. Hearing Tower Racing takes the prime brings a smile to my face. Tati keeps going. He’s going to do it again. Damn that kid is strong. I wonder if I should follow as we have a good gap at this point. I decide it would be too much effort. I need to work on riding hard while winded (next year.)
I drift to the back and get a great vantage point of my teammates up ahead. Go Tower!
As it turns out that Tati Guy laps us with three to go. I see Tom follow Tati as he drives through the pack a lap up on everyone (impressive). I follow Tati the last lap and a half in 2nd place. Get into a minor scrape when a WDT rider attempts to crowd me out of 2nd place. I’m not moving. He’ll have to move up or drop back. He actually bumps me this time, I push back, fortunately, he backs off this time and drifts back. I don’t like it when this kind of stuff happens. He apologizes later after I call him out.
I decide to leave even earlier than the prime. I take off just after turn 3. I round turn four in 1st. I am doing everything to hold off the pursuits behind, but begin to fade. I get passed by one rider with 25 yards to go and barely hold on for 2nd in the field sprint - 3rd overall. End result: Raced over 26 mph average; Tower is on the podium; I have a pair of sunglasses; $30 goes to Tower Racing Charities (which U.S. Cellular® will match).
It’s a good day for Tower. In fact, it’s been a good year. We started a race team; we have excellent uniforms; we’ve donated to charity; hosted our first race; won some races; placed in many more and people are recognizing us as an up and coming team. We are much stronger as a group than we were last year. I look forward to our future hammer sessions.
- Ed E.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Going for a ride 10/03 Friday
If anyone would care to join me for a ride on 10/03 at 10:00 a.m. get back to me.
I plan on riding N. Frontage to Woodward turning back and going up S. Frontage to Cass then to Madison back into Hinsdale.
Please let me know if you can go.
Style King~
I plan on riding N. Frontage to Woodward turning back and going up S. Frontage to Cass then to Madison back into Hinsdale.
Please let me know if you can go.
Style King~
Monday, September 29, 2008
Fall Fling Road Race Sept 27th
What a great day we had on Saturday at the ABR fall fling road race. The weather was perfect. We didn’t have any huge result, just had a lot of fun. There were 10 of us total. Tom M., Tony C., Jimmy H., Don H., Charlie T., Kevin M., Mark M, & Pat D. Bob B. and Dr. Phil raced in the 50s, with the other in the Cat 4 race. Both races were 40 miles long. The course is a rolling course with no significant climbs.
Our plan was to sit in for the first couple of laps, and then soften up the pack with a couple of attacks and then see if Jimmie could get away. We did all of that, and were by far the most active team. It didn’t work out but we had a blast trying to make it happen. It was fun laying out a plan and executing those plans, even if they didn’t turn out the way we wanted (podium).
On the last lap leading up the hill it was pretty much all together. Or at least there was no breakaway. I am sure there was some carnage off the back, but it was still a very large group intact. This made it a challenge to get into position for the sprint. The centerline rule was being enforced (Mark M. got thrown out) and several riders were pulled. We had a nice lead out set up with me as the designated sprinter. We attacked a bit too soon and when it was my turn to go, we were to far out for me to crank it up. I waited for some wheels and followed several attacks, but didn’t have enough to finish strong. I have never been in a better position to win a race. Thanks to my team mates for setting me up.
A high finish would have made it a huge success, but I think we learned a lot and will be better for it next time. Everyone worked as a team with a well executed plan. We even barbequed in the parking lot which was a great way to talk through what went well and what did not. What a great season we have had, everyone should be very proud of how we did as a team. We had some great results and great experiences that should hold us through till next year. Better train hard, because we have a lot to live up to after the success we had in our first year.
I think I probably finished 30th and Tom and Jim somewhere between 15th and 25th but I am not sure. Everyone else were very close to my result. Charlie Tallard had a great race finishing his first ever cat 4 (non age group) race. He may have finishied ahead of me? Pat, Mark, and Tony had several impressive attacks which I started to describe in detail and it started to look like a small novel. Try and follow Pat when he attacks, I was actually trying to tell him to slow down, but he didn’t hear me. By the way Bob got 5th in his race if you didn’t see his e-mail, Phil hung tough finishing strong in the field.
One more race next week and unless you race cross, we are done. Nice job everyone!!!!
Our plan was to sit in for the first couple of laps, and then soften up the pack with a couple of attacks and then see if Jimmie could get away. We did all of that, and were by far the most active team. It didn’t work out but we had a blast trying to make it happen. It was fun laying out a plan and executing those plans, even if they didn’t turn out the way we wanted (podium).
On the last lap leading up the hill it was pretty much all together. Or at least there was no breakaway. I am sure there was some carnage off the back, but it was still a very large group intact. This made it a challenge to get into position for the sprint. The centerline rule was being enforced (Mark M. got thrown out) and several riders were pulled. We had a nice lead out set up with me as the designated sprinter. We attacked a bit too soon and when it was my turn to go, we were to far out for me to crank it up. I waited for some wheels and followed several attacks, but didn’t have enough to finish strong. I have never been in a better position to win a race. Thanks to my team mates for setting me up.
A high finish would have made it a huge success, but I think we learned a lot and will be better for it next time. Everyone worked as a team with a well executed plan. We even barbequed in the parking lot which was a great way to talk through what went well and what did not. What a great season we have had, everyone should be very proud of how we did as a team. We had some great results and great experiences that should hold us through till next year. Better train hard, because we have a lot to live up to after the success we had in our first year.
I think I probably finished 30th and Tom and Jim somewhere between 15th and 25th but I am not sure. Everyone else were very close to my result. Charlie Tallard had a great race finishing his first ever cat 4 (non age group) race. He may have finishied ahead of me? Pat, Mark, and Tony had several impressive attacks which I started to describe in detail and it started to look like a small novel. Try and follow Pat when he attacks, I was actually trying to tell him to slow down, but he didn’t hear me. By the way Bob got 5th in his race if you didn’t see his e-mail, Phil hung tough finishing strong in the field.
One more race next week and unless you race cross, we are done. Nice job everyone!!!!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Fall Fling - Tower is on the podium
Tower makes the podium.
Case Hultman and I signed up for the Fall Fling Beginner Men Crit on Sunday morning. It is a very short race - 10 laps. But, I am desperate to get a race in as I could not make the road race yesterday. The Wood Dale south course was relatively safe and most importantly no crashes. It had a couple dips and rises that made it more interesting. The race started out very quick with many surges. It settles down after lap 2. I find out later that, unfortunately, Case got gapped out of the gate when he could not get in his pedal at the line at the start during the hammer fest of the first two laps.
A Tati riders pulls to the front on the inside launching a teammate. This is where it’s nice to have teammates along for the ride. (Anyone up for next week for either the 4s or 40+?) I was about 6 or 7 back when I saw this happen. No one jumped. I considered it, but hey, its only one guy on lap 2, we’ll see him again. Even his coaches on the sidelines are saying “Not Yet.” I stay near the front following the teachings of BRB. A couple more attempts to jump, only to get eaten up within a lap. On lap 8 I am getting excited, I see a Tati uniform up ahead; we are back into a race for 1st place. We swallow up the Tati rider. Throughout the race, I see some team tactics at work from a couple of Teams. I do my best to bypass the blockers and stay up front. The effort pays off; I am riding 3rd on the final lap. After turn 2, I am riding 2nd. Before the race, I had planned on hitting it on turn 4. However during the race, I think back to the Chicago crit. – go earlier. I hit it shortly after turn 3 into the wind. As soon as I gun it, I see a line of 4 blue jerseys to my right who were in the process of passing on the outside. The first blue pulls off, I am about even with the rear wheel of the new leader now and gaining. I am feeling fresh and there is no way I am losing to this guy. I round turn 4 and give it everything and sprint the final 250m to the finish line thinking I have to keep this up just a little while longer. I pull away for a 2 length win. I did it. I won my first race. I give Case an update after the race – Tower wins. Pasquale asks how I did, I coolly mention that I won.
I wait for the results only to see a 2nd by my name. Oops! That’s not good, Turns out the Tati jersey we passed on lap 8 was a dropped teammate of the winner who had successfully held us off to the end. Kudos to the winner, he TT’d 80% if the race. My biggest regret is not finding Pasquale in time to correct my blunder. Oh well – I won the field sprint anyway. 2nd is not so bad.
P.S. Case and I had commitments and cound not stay for Pasquale's race. I am sure she did well.
-Ed
Case Hultman and I signed up for the Fall Fling Beginner Men Crit on Sunday morning. It is a very short race - 10 laps. But, I am desperate to get a race in as I could not make the road race yesterday. The Wood Dale south course was relatively safe and most importantly no crashes. It had a couple dips and rises that made it more interesting. The race started out very quick with many surges. It settles down after lap 2. I find out later that, unfortunately, Case got gapped out of the gate when he could not get in his pedal at the line at the start during the hammer fest of the first two laps.
A Tati riders pulls to the front on the inside launching a teammate. This is where it’s nice to have teammates along for the ride. (Anyone up for next week for either the 4s or 40+?) I was about 6 or 7 back when I saw this happen. No one jumped. I considered it, but hey, its only one guy on lap 2, we’ll see him again. Even his coaches on the sidelines are saying “Not Yet.” I stay near the front following the teachings of BRB. A couple more attempts to jump, only to get eaten up within a lap. On lap 8 I am getting excited, I see a Tati uniform up ahead; we are back into a race for 1st place. We swallow up the Tati rider. Throughout the race, I see some team tactics at work from a couple of Teams. I do my best to bypass the blockers and stay up front. The effort pays off; I am riding 3rd on the final lap. After turn 2, I am riding 2nd. Before the race, I had planned on hitting it on turn 4. However during the race, I think back to the Chicago crit. – go earlier. I hit it shortly after turn 3 into the wind. As soon as I gun it, I see a line of 4 blue jerseys to my right who were in the process of passing on the outside. The first blue pulls off, I am about even with the rear wheel of the new leader now and gaining. I am feeling fresh and there is no way I am losing to this guy. I round turn 4 and give it everything and sprint the final 250m to the finish line thinking I have to keep this up just a little while longer. I pull away for a 2 length win. I did it. I won my first race. I give Case an update after the race – Tower wins. Pasquale asks how I did, I coolly mention that I won.
I wait for the results only to see a 2nd by my name. Oops! That’s not good, Turns out the Tati jersey we passed on lap 8 was a dropped teammate of the winner who had successfully held us off to the end. Kudos to the winner, he TT’d 80% if the race. My biggest regret is not finding Pasquale in time to correct my blunder. Oh well – I won the field sprint anyway. 2nd is not so bad.
P.S. Case and I had commitments and cound not stay for Pasquale's race. I am sure she did well.
-Ed
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