Master's Weekend? (Wood Dale / Batavia, IL)

[John Wilke]

Anyone racing this? I've gotta work all weekend, so there's no way I can make Iowa ... but Chicago is just doable for me (I work nights). I see that it's sponsored by Athletes by Design ... so with Gear Grinders just grinding up the Masters 123 race every weekend, how can I NOT go to shoot pix???

[Psimet2001]

I thinking about racing Saturday and/or Monday. Most likely Monday because it is within 10 miles from my home.

Can't figure out the flier though. This is ABR but they list a Cat 5 field....which they don't have. The Batavia course whould be good. Pretty flat with an slight uphill finish.

[CyLowe97]

The family and I headed down to Batavia this morning to watch Psimet race in the Cat 5 race. We got to the start line just as they were rolling off, so I snapped this photo. See if you can spot Psimet. First one to spot him wins a prize!

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%2005%2025%20Batavia%20ABD%20races/DSCN2242.jpg

Don't see him? Well, how about as the field comes by the first time?

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%2005%2025%20Batavia%20ABD%20races/DSCN2251.jpg


I keed, I keed! No Psimet, but a nice morning to watch the races under warm sunny skies. More pics here (http://s216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%2005%2025%20Batavia%20ABD%20races/) spanning the first four races.

[Psimet2001]

I've kind of burnt out already this season. Some tough riding early and some recent work and family related setbacks had me questioning the alarm when I woke up. I decided that the rest was worth more than the 15 minutes ($1/minute) of "racing" that I would have gotten.

CyLowe....you're right though....I could have owned it. :(

[CyLowe97]

CyLowe....you're right though....I could have owned it. :(

No worries. It was a fun outing for the family and has me contemplating finally pinning on a number in the near future.

As for owning it, yeah, you'd have been near the front for sure. I might not have won the 10 lap Cat 5 Masters (30+), but I would have been somewhere near the front, I would like to think.

Then again, I can't really talk until I take to the starting line someday.... :o

[John Wilke]

Just get a number and line up.

It's easy.

:)

[SmokinMiles]

I came to see you too. Mom and I rode over at Fermi and then got over hoping to pick you out of the crowd. Had a great time watching the festivities. Stayed for the kids' race which was too cute. Cy, were your girls in it?

I saw an awesome bike like aham's being sported by a youngin....she had upgraded though to add a baby doll seat on the back. :) Adorable.

I've kind of burnt out already this season. Some tough riding early and some recent work and family related setbacks had me questioning the alarm when I woke up. I decided that the rest was worth more than the 15 minutes ($1/minute) of "racing" that I would have gotten.

CyLowe....you're right though....I could have owned it. :(

[RJBTrek]

I raced Sat and Sun Cat5. Sunday they changed it to 10 laps. Wood Dale was a great course since it was recently paved. The Cat5 field was small both days but it gave you a chance to try things. Sat: With 1.5 laps left I jumped up when the pack slowed going up hill and opened a good gap. It lasted 1.3 laps and I blew up. Yep, 1.5 - 1.3 = .2. Went from 5th to 1st to 8th to 7th in 1.5 laps. Sun: jumped again at the same spot but this this time in response to a break. Made it into a 3 man break that stayed away for the 1.5 laps. Missed a gear on the sprint and stayed in 3rd. Since I have been in only a handful of races, the finish was not the big thing but actually planning an attack and/or jumping onto a break was truly the fun part. I could not make Batavia due to a soccer tourny for my daughter.