Denzel Road Race/Wheels on Willy crit

[JPradun]

Who's going? My cat3 license is pending approval (I just got enough points!), so I will be kicking ass in cat4's and upgrading next week :)

Look for me in the blue University of Illinois-Chicago kit on Saturday riding for fun, and the Wisconsin argyle kit, ready to rock Sunday's race. I have a black Pedal Force bike w/full Dura-ace and Niobium 30mm black wheels w/black Krylion tires that have yellow stripes. I'll be wearing gold sunglasses and driving a white Mazda Protege5 hatchback. No excuse for not seeing me, so say hi and introduce yourself.

[recursive]

Denzer? I'll be there and also WoW rocking the 3s so hard.

Kestrel with the pink tape. There can be only one.

[John Wilke]

Will see you'se guys in Madison then. Will be at Monsters in Chicago Saturday and today I'm going bear hunting in Wauwatosa (Milw. suburb). Someone claims to have spotted a black bear, so I'm going in for the confirming pic ! Shoot and RUN ... that's my plan. http://emoticons4u.com/happy/028.gif

[dave342]

I'm out.

[Speedster22]

Will be in Madison on Sunday. Felt F3C w/ Campy, Ksyriums SLs and in the Team Extreme kit. - Racing 4/5s

[big dane]

I'm going to Monsters but not racing. Working Sunday...

[Frunkin]

I'm hopefully going both days. We'll see what work says (they scheduled me even though I requested off) but I'm definately in for WoW.
Look for the Wheel & Sprocket kit in the 4's. I'm 18 so I should kind of stick out. White Klein with DA and Ksyrium Elites.

[John Wilke]

No, you stick out because you're tall ... and you're at the FRONT!

You'll be up there attacking with Recursive in the 1/2/3's race before long! :)

[tjayk]

I'm planning on going to both. Although I just read the WoW flyer and found out there is pre-registration, so hopefully there is still a spot in the 4/5s. Otherwise I will just be a spectator. I have a stock orange/white '05 Trek 1000 with cane creek volos, and I'll be in the blank white jersey w/red helmet... where is the smiley for "embarassed"?

[JPradun]

I just won the cat4 race :) That was a tough hill. Hopefully I can repeat the performance tomorrow.

[Frunkin]

Race Report:
The race went really well. Not. It started with Andy Crater, an ex pro on my team giving me some tactical advice right before the start. I then manage to miss my pedal 3 times. Awesome 1st impression. Anyways we get to the hill and its friggin steep and long. Much suffering was had. The pack broke up into like 15ish people and lots of stragglers. Nothing else happens on lap 1. On lap 2 going up the hill there is more suffering. Much more. Now the pack is like 10 guys. Nothing happens until the finish. I'm sitting 4th wheel like 300 yards out when some guy jumps. I try to swing over to him, while the guy in front of me swung to grab a wheel on the opposite side. I ate cement. Much road rash, but no tears. lol. I got up and managed to hold onto my 10th place. Yippee!
So I managed to destroy my bibs, jersey, waterbottle cage, and dignity. :(

I'm still planning to be at WoW assuming the 4/5 field isn't filled and I can actually move tomorrow.

[John Wilke]

Wow! Sorry I missed it. I JUST rolled in from Monsters on the Midway. Boy the drive SUCKED! but the racing was great, lots of pics to follow.

[recursive]

Denzer race report: DNF

I bailed in the second lap. I suck.

bah

[fosmith]

^^^ aren't you riding with a broken wrist?

[recursive]

^^^ aren't you riding with a broken wrist?

It got better.

Actually, the second doctor's opinion was that it was only sprained, which its current status would seem to agree with. I can't blame it on the wrist.

[Wiswell]

I saw a little of the women's and 4/5s. Who is the woman (a junior racer) who won the women's race? She was leading wire to wire. Someone standing nearby said she sometimes would race with the men.

[JPradun]

Denzer RR was hard. Sorry for pushing the pace with a few other guys, especially up the climb. I wound up winning it :)

I crashed out of the WoW race after some jackass took himself out in front of me.

[John Wilke]

Denzer RR was hard. Sorry for pushing the pace with a few other guys, especially up the climb. I wound up winning it :)

I crashed out of the WoW race after some jackass took himself out in front of me.

Oh ... so YOU'RE the one! I heard stories about you on the side lines. :p

More importantly, CONGRATULATIONS on the WIN! :thumb:

Frunkin was looking GOOD today in the 4's:

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3589.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3477.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3479.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3596.jpg

But then all of a sudden ... he's sitting in the road!!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3634.jpg

One rider stayed down for quite a while too ...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3667.jpg

... but eventually walked away.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3686.jpg

(Continued ... )

[John Wilke]

At this time, the race was stopped and Frunkin pleaded his case to the officials:

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3691.jpg

Tough racer that he is, he gets back in the race and finishes in the pack!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3698.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3761.jpg

I can't show you the 'win' yet ... I'm going to try an sell that pic! (It's GOOOOOOD)

Later on, in the 3's race, Recursive is tearing up the course! (in his new skin suit)


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3s4878.jpg

Not only that, but he cashes in on a prime!

$$$ KA-CHING!!! $$$

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3s4890.jpg

On top of that $$, he may have placed as well:

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3s4916.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3s4929.jpg

(not sure how deep the places were)

So, congratulations to Frunkin and Recursive for their good performances today :thumb:

(and JPradun, I'll see what I can find of you as well :) )

(Next ... quick report on the 2's )

[John Wilke]

The 2's race had 100+ riders, and the pace was hot right from the gun.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/2s5253.jpg

The field was strong including a whole squad from Grand Performance in Minneapolis, and someone from
Texas Roadhouse.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/2s5118.jpg

... but I'll show more of that later. It's been a long but SUPER weekend, gotta take a break.

Congrats to all who did so well.

:thumb:

[recursive]

Race report: I stepped in poop. Seriously.
Also, I won a prime, as pictured above. I got 7th.

[John Wilke]

Recursive -> :giver:
Frunkin -> :bike2:

:lol:

[fosmith]

jdub...did you get some pics of the women's open or the master 123 race? i think i saw during my race, but my tunnel vision was in full effect...

did anyone else find it hard to pass on that course? seemed like the gutter on the back stretch or up the hill was about it....

[recursive]

jdub...did you get some pics of the women's open or the master 123 race? i think i saw during my race, but my tunnel vision was in full effect...

did anyone else find it hard to pass on that course? seemed like the gutter on the back stretch or up the hill was about it....

A team mate of mine said he was never able to move up much during the entire race. He finished mid pack. I'm not sure what my secret was, but I didn't find it too difficult to move up. I started in the very back, but worked to the front within a couple of laps. The pack would sometimes narrow out of corners, at which time I could usually pick up 10 places or so.

[fosmith]

you probably got more cajones than me. at the start i felt pretty crappy then the last 20 min i was feeling pretty snappy but everytime i would pull out to move forward i'd get pinched in the turn and lose about half the positions i gained. i probably could have just stuffed myself in line if i wanted to get yelled at, but since no one knows me, i figured i wouldn't be "that" guy....yet.

[Speedster22]

Speedster22's Race Report --> :giver:................................................... :giver::giver::giver:

Stayed on for the first four laps mid field, but then got gapped after turn 2 and couldn't get back on. Finished 40th out of the 57 person field in the 4/5s. This was my 2nd race ever. Better than my DNF at Menomonee Park.

John any pics of me in a blue/white/silver Team Extreme Kit - red Giro helmet and Felt F3C?

Thanks!

[tjayk]

Denzer:
I got dropped on the first hill, but wasn't too far back. Myself and the guy on the cf colnago took turns pulling for a long time, but I never could catch the pack. I did end up passing quite a few of those that were dropped, but I'm not sure how I placed yet. I'm used of short, steep hills that I can charge up, that one was way too long...

WoW:
Started at the back of the group. Stayed there for a while, but got sick of hitting my brakes in the corners. So I pulled out of the group and passed everyone except for 2 guys in front of me, and it ended up being a prime lap. I should have stayed in the pack b/c I didn't have the burst needed to win the prime, and I was out in the wind. Then I slowed down and let some people pass so I could wheelsuck for a while. I ended up towards the front by the last lap (after the pause from the crash) and I must have finished top 10 or 12.

Oh yeah, and that crash was RIGHT in front of me, and I narrowly missed it. Frunkin was a good 4 or 5 feet in the air, going over the bars as I went by. Part of me wanted to stop, but I knew there was no use really...


John: I see myself in a couple of the pics from the 4/5s. Did you get any good shots of the guy in a solid red l/s jersey, red helmet, and black knickers? They would be much appreciated.

Could you briefly describe what you look like? I was trying to find you, but after asking some guy if his name was John, and him saying no I decided not to go up to everyone with a camera... Right now I imagine you looking like your avatar.

P.S. Frunkin, I hope you and your bike aren't too messed up. Maybe you cursed yourself by wearing the skinsuit instead of your last kit. Heal fast.

[Frunkin]

Denzer:

Oh yeah, and that crash was RIGHT in front of me, and I narrowly missed it. Frunkin was a good 4 or 5 feet in the air, going over the bars as I went by. Part of me wanted to stop, but I knew there was no use really...


P.S. Frunkin, I hope you and your bike aren't too messed up. Maybe you cursed yourself by wearing the skinsuit instead of your last kit. Heal fast.

I'm actually fine. I managed to hit the side of my nose on something and scratch and bruise it, but it doesn't hurt or anything.
I didn't realize I launched that high. I actually got back in the race and finished mid pack. My bike and my kit were unharmed as well.

I think talking to Andy Crater before my races is bad luck. I never met him until this weekend, where I talked briefly with him before both my races, and I went down both days. :(

[John Wilke]

Speedster22's Race Report --> :giver:................................................... :giver::giver::giver:

!

How creative!!!

To all: I'll be jamming on getting pix from all races posted tonight. I just wanna ride 30 - 45 minutes because I haven't ridden in a week, then I'll be parked right here, uploading. I really haven't gotten a chance to look through most of the pix yet - I shot 8+ Gb worth at W.O.W. and almost that much in Chicago on Saturday.

Next time, look for the big, old guy with a red backpack that has a "Spam" water bottle in the side pocket - that'll me!

[tjayk]

Next time, look for the big, old guy with a red backpack that has a "Spam" water bottle in the side pocket - that'll me!

Alright, cool. I'll say hi if/when I see you at the next race. So don't be surprised if some random guy comes up and asks if your name is John.

Also I got my official results:

15th @ Denzer
11th @ WoW

I thought I did worse at Denzer - turns out before I finished there was that group of 10, and then a group of 4, and then myself solo.

[John Wilke]

Okay, I see 'ya on the right side of the final sprint:

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/May%2019%20WILLY/3761.jpg

I'll see what I can find. Hopefully the Willy pics will go up tomorrow, I'm trying to learn how to organize the pics by catagory in Smugmug ... but like anything, there's a learning curve. Once I learn what you guys look like, I'll be able to zero in on 'ya as you go by at 40 mph. :lol:

[recursive]

Whoa. Check out the socks on that dude.

[John Wilke]

Whoa. Check out the socks on that dude.

It's a diversion, don't let them fool 'ya when he's in the 3's ... he's faaaaaaaaast.

[JPradun]

He wasn't that fast -- he was pretty smart, though. I think the holes in the back of those socks slowed him down somehow.