Great Lakes - Superweek 2008

And you might end up with a rash.

It's like your first time having sex. You've practiced a lot on your own. You think you know what to do. You're afraid you might show up and find out you totally forgot to do something, or will do something wrong. If you make a mistake someone might get hurt, but mostly you'll be sitting there at the end going, "I could have done that better."


Wow.
All I got.
WOW.

And you might end up with a rash.


already have a rash. so, i guess i just need to toe the line. later.

Uh ... question: How do you pronounce your effin' name? "Sigh-met"? (like the greek letter Psi) or "Piss-eh-met"?, "Pee Sigh-met" ????

You need a 'j' in there somewhere to really throw us off. :rolleyes:

Will do! If I miss you, I'll be the fool on the ratty Lemond wearing number 621 (I think). Blue shoes and helmet... hoping for a pack finish!

Uh ... question: How do you pronounce your effin' name? "Sigh-met"? (like the greek letter Psi) or "Piss-eh-met"?, "Pee Sigh-met" ????

You need a 'j' in there somewhere to really throw us off. :rolleyes:

HAHAHAHAHA! I thought it was obvious, but these last couple of years people have been having difficulty (I used psimet before BF).

It stands for Purdue Student In Mechanical Engineering Technology - PSI MET. psi (like the greek letter) Met (like the crappy baseball team). "Sigh-met"

JT1 and Colorchange were saying it "Piz Met". Someone else was too.

meh... Name's Rob.

Here I'm thinking along the lines of alternate humanoid. Some kind of hobbit or elf.

"Rob".

I like that. :)

HAHAHAHAHA! I thought it was obvious, but these last couple of years people have been having difficulty (I used psimet before BF).

It stands for Purdue Student In Mechanical Engineering Technology - PSI MET. psi (like the greek letter) Met (like the crappy baseball team). "Sigh-met"

JT1 and Colorchange were saying it "Piz Met". Someone else was too.

meh... Name's Rob.

funny, I though you had a comupterized bike pump that announced when your tires were at the desired PSI...god I'm dumb. :lol:

I hope to be out at Bensenville tomorrow, I'll look for you, I'm #322.

Tomasz soloed the last 10 laps and held it. He was hurting today though.

GUESS WHO JUST TOOK 1ST IN THE OVERALL CAT3 STANDINGS?! WOO!

DUDE!...:thumb:

Well I remembered my shoes today. Kinda wish I hadn't. I felt good but you can't race by only coming out a few times a year.

4/5 I held with the pack for 5-6 laps. I went OTB and then "worked" with a guy who basically sat in 99% of the time, would come around and then ride slow enough that I would go back around him. Got lapped somewhere around 12 laps in. Got lapped again with 3 to go. That hurt. DFL

Masters 4/5 - felt better, but knew I would pop soon in. Started on the front and kept near the front for a few laps. Actually was in the lead on lap 4 or 5. :thumb:

....then faded. bad. worse than in the morning.

Pace was faster than the 4/5 field without a doubt. Got lapped twice when I noticed I still had 7 to go. I pulled myself at that point. Went to a corner safety crew and told them to call me in "DNF". Boo.

So....Day1 = no shoes - DFL and DNS
Day2 = DFL DNF

It's so much easier to keep track of without all those placing numbers to remember.

Here's the kicker though....I had fun. :eek:

...

Masters 4/5 - felt better, but knew I would pop soon in. Started on the front and kept near the front for a few laps. Actually was in the lead on lap 4 or 5. :thumb:



Man, I'd be all over that at 6 frames per second!! :love:

Any more races on tap for 'ya? Starting tomorrow I'm at every one. Ripon will be a partial, but I'll show early.

I think that's it for now. Maybe...;)

I think that's it for now. Maybe...;)

You've GOT to be joking! I'd expect to see you out at Elgin. It's the same day as the Elk Grove Village suicide/death race (so all the Tour wannabes will be there), and it's got a Cat 5 only field.

By the way, you were paid about the highest compliment possible early in that race. I'm not sure if you even knew it, but about half way into the first lap you and a couple other riders managed to open a small gap on the field. Some guy in a South Chicago Wheelmen jersey came flying by me yelling, "We've got to pick it up, or they'll get away." You made the field nervous.

My race ended a DNF after my stupid computer sensor zip tie snapped. The sensor kept banging into the spokes. As I suspected, the wheel pit officials wouldn't give me a free lap (makes sense... it was completely my fault). So, I pushed solo until I got lapped, then pulled off.

Bike racing is too much fun. It really is.

Dude..you made the field nervous...nothin' wrong with that!

Shorewood Crit Thursday: If I get there in time I am supposed to fire the starter's pistol on stage to start the pro ride at 6-ish.

Jdub...get me a 'shot' of that!

RIGHT!

10 megapixels, 2.8f 400mm zoom, image stablization of Canon glory ... all focused on you, baby!


http://www.freedomcrowsnest.org/forum/images/smiles/dance.gif


I'll be there.

You've GOT to be joking! I'd expect to see you out at Elgin. It's the same day as the Elk Grove Village suicide/death race (so all the Tour wannabes will be there), and it's got a Cat 5 only field.

By the way, you were paid about the highest compliment possible early in that race. I'm not sure if you even knew it, but about half way into the first lap you and a couple other riders managed to open a small gap on the field. Some guy in a South Chicago Wheelmen jersey came flying by me yelling, "We've got to pick it up, or they'll get away." You made the field nervous.

My race ended a DNF after my stupid computer sensor zip tie snapped. The sensor kept banging into the spokes. As I suspected, the wheel pit officials wouldn't give me a free lap (makes sense... it was completely my fault). So, I pushed solo until I got lapped, then pulled off.

Bike racing is too much fun. It really is.


Oh, I'll be in Elgin, but this is most likely it for Stupid Weak - err...Super Week. I'm all over Elgin. Kind of set my year up to ride the Elgin Crit. New course this year. Haven't scoped it out, but I believe that it is flatter than last year's.

That's awesome. I was feeling good, and I felt like we could gap everyone pretty well if it had gotten really going.

"For the perfect balance of energy and performance we take exhaust and recycle it...."

...sorry catching up on the Tour. WAY behind. Think I'm on Stage 7.


I saw you OTB right after I told the corner guy I was out. I half wanted to get back out there. Getting lapped 3 times is my limit though... :(

"For the perfect balance of energy and performance we take exhaust and recycle it...."

"For the perfect balance of energy and performance we take exhaust and recycle it...."

Sorry I missed you. I was in the orange Spidermonkey kit with the knickers (don't ask).

btw, one rider in the 4/5 masters race is ranked #1 in the nation (cat 4)...so, you raced against one of the best! he's also over 50.

Oh, I'll be in Elgin, but this is most likely it for Stupid Weak - err...Super Week. I'm all over Elgin. Kind of set my year up to ride the Elgin Crit. New course this year. Haven't scoped it out, but I believe that it is flatter than last year's.

Here's what I found when I went over there on Sunday:

I'm not sure what direction they are routing the ride, but if it's clockwise, the little jog from Grand at Lillie over to Linden is going to be a doozy. It's a funky left turn into a downhill into a hard right turn into an uphill and another right turn combo. The north end on Franklin is fresh pavement on a divided boulevard. Kind of narrow if they make everyone stay to the right. Otherwise, a tight little course on residential streets. It's much shorter than last year's course

Check it out when you get a chance.

just registered for humboldt park tomorrow, depending on how that goes i may do ripon and/or waukesha. if anyone from madison wants to carpool for the cat 4/5 race pm me your phone number.

i decided that any money i win will be invested in gas/race fees so if i do well i will race more.

Here's what I found when I went over there on Sunday:

I'm not sure what direction they are routing the ride, but if it's clockwise, the little jog from Grand at Lillie over to Linden is going to be a doozy. It's a funky left turn into a downhill into a hard right turn into an uphill and another right turn combo. The north end on Franklin is fresh pavement on a divided boulevard. Kind of narrow if they make everyone stay to the right. Otherwise, a tight little course on residential streets. It's much shorter than last year's course

Check it out when you get a chance.

Not worried about the corners. I corner well. You should have seen the crap we just had in Bensenville. If this doesn't involve curbs, riding over man-hole covers and bike trail transitions then I think it will be fine.

It's the hills.....

Sorry I missed you. I was in the orange Spidermonkey kit with the knickers (don't ask).

btw, one rider in the 4/5 masters race is ranked #1 in the nation (cat 4)...so, you raced against one of the best! he's also over 50.

I'm sure I saw you. What is up with the kit BTW? ;)

I was in the stealth kit....which end up standing out because it's so plain.

Who is the guy you were talking about racing for? Who was the dude in the total Phonak kit?

I'm sure I saw you. What is up with the kit BTW? ;)

I was in the stealth kit....which end up standing out because it's so plain.

Who is the guy you were talking about racing for? Who was the dude in the total Phonak kit?

I'm guessing he's talking the guy from WDT who finished 2nd today... Voytek something or other. He's a chronic podium finisher at the races I've been to.

I just assumed Mr. Phonak was Floyd Landis.

I used to see a guy in a Disco kit a lot, but he was actually on the team. Phonak....*shakes head*. I just can't believe they let him ride in that.

Well I remembered my shoes today. Kinda wish I hadn't. I felt good but you can't race by only coming out a few times a year.

4/5 I held with the pack for 5-6 laps. I went OTB and then "worked" with a guy who basically sat in 99% of the time, would come around and then ride slow enough that I would go back around him. Got lapped somewhere around 12 laps in. Got lapped again with 3 to go. That hurt. DFL

Masters 4/5 - felt better, but knew I would pop soon in. Started on the front and kept near the front for a few laps. Actually was in the lead on lap 4 or 5. :thumb:

....then faded. bad. worse than in the morning.

Pace was faster than the 4/5 field without a doubt. Got lapped twice when I noticed I still had 7 to go. I pulled myself at that point. Went to a corner safety crew and told them to call me in "DNF". Boo.

So....Day1 = no shoes - DFL and DNS
Day2 = DFL DNF

It's so much easier to keep track of without all those placing numbers to remember.

Here's the kicker though....I had fun. :eek:


okay. As there is no affect in these I hope this comes out right, I'm saying it with love.

What the hell are you doing pulling us around for 2 laps? Or was it 3. I sat behind you the whole time and watched you burn all your matches.
About 4 laps in you had a bit of a gap with 2 other XXXers (or was it just Jeff Holland?, can't remember). Figured we better jump on that, it was probably me that said we better chase them down. It would have been right in the chicanes just before the line. Jeff with 2 helpers is very dangerous.

That's the last I saw of you.

Don't take any pulls unless you're absolutely positive you've got the suds to finish the whole race, and even then think twice. Voytek was never at the front and he hasn't been most of the week. He's smart and knows when to be invisible and when to be aggressive.

Stay invisible in 10th place or so and keep your eye on the guy in second position, when you see him accelerate, you accelerate too, even if the guy in front of you doesn't.

You did fine. No one is laughing at you or pointing fingers. You may have noticed my teammate arrived lated, and fell off the back in less than a lap. He's been racing forever, won Monsters one year.
We have all been there. Again, we have all been there.
Factor in the heat, and it being your second race.

You know what, some of it is my fault. I knew your number and was right behind you during your pulls, I should have told you to drop back and take it easy for 5 laps or so.

Don't give up.

Mayo....a delicious condiment and race coach as well.
Excellent.

See you at Whitnall again this year?

okay. As there is no affect in these I hope this comes out right, I'm saying it with love.

What the hell are you doing pulling us around for 2 laps? Or was it 3. I sat behind you the whole time and watched you burn all your matches.
About 4 laps in you had a bit of a gap with 2 other XXXers (or was it just Jeff Holland?, can't remember). Figured we better jump on that, it was probably me that said we better chase them down. It would have been right in the chicanes just before the line. Jeff with 2 helpers is very dangerous.

That's the last I saw of you.

Don't take any pulls unless you're absolutely positive you've got the suds to finish the whole race, and even then think twice. Voytek was never at the front and he hasn't been most of the week. He's smart and knows when to be invisible and when to be aggressive.

Stay invisible in 10th place or so and keep your eye on the guy in second position, when you see him accelerate, you accelerate too, even if the guy in front of you doesn't.

You did fine. No one is laughing at you or pointing fingers. You may have noticed my teammate arrived lated, and fell off the back in less than a lap. He's been racing forever, won Monsters one year.
We have all been there. Again, we have all been there.
Factor in the heat, and it being your second race.

You know what, some of it is my fault. I knew your number and was right behind you during your pulls, I should have told you to drop back and take it easy for 5 laps or so.

Don't give up.

HAHA....I was't up there that long. I was almost always behind someone else. I wasn't paying attention to the gaps behind, I was just riding. I only "pulled" (if you want to call it that) for about 1/4 of a lap.

I'm a wheel sucker. Massive one. Ask anyone. I hate doing any work. It was never my intent to be at or near the front, but....when in rome.;)

Just got home from work. Gonna relax for 45 mins then head over to Humboldt Park (about 5 miles from here), camera bag in tow. (don't tell my boss why I'm not at the staff meeting right now. :D )

Good luck to all!

7/18 Ripon Red Hawk Criterium.

New course map. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2085945

I shall be in attendance. Masters 4/5

Staff meeting?
What staff meeting?

Heck, I'm working right now while reading here and watching le Tour....how about that "Cobra", huh...holy crap, when will they learn?

Hey! I'm only on like stage 8 or 9. No spoilers.

^^^^ dude, you dont own BF. do you? :)

later.

I'm looking at the results for the 4/5 for the past week of the series... what's up with the tiny fields? Or are they justing posting top 20 or so? Kinda makes me concerned for this weekend...

They only post who placed. They don't place everyone who starts. The small fields were nice. If they had been bigger in Bensenville there could have been some really bad stuff going on.

You also have to consider that not many citizen racers can take off a couple of days in the middle of the week to go race their bicycles. I have a feeling that Evanston will be pretty packed.

Yea I was figuring that, but even the weekend races didn't appear to be that much bigger. I'm living the life with 15 straight days off of work for Superweek :-) Racing and hosting some racers. This is the life!

I'll be at Waukesha and Evanston this weekend. Our team may have a decent turn out for Waukesha so I'm excited. Look out for the blue train!

Just in from the morning session.

- HOT. 90F
- Pretty good turnout, I'm guessing min. of 50 in each field. 3's and Masters 1/2/3 were biggest, I'd say.
- FAST. Many, many out of state riders (Cali, Utah, Texas)
- High rate of attrition. More than half the 3's dropped out.
- A few crashes noted by seeing fresh bandages walking around.
- BF well represented.

Details and war stories later. Must rehydrate and cool off for the evening session.

:)

Just in from the morning session.

- HOT. 90F
- Pretty good turnout, I'm guessing min. of 50 in each field. 3's and Masters 1/2/3 were biggest, I'd say.
- FAST. Many, many out of state riders (Cali, Utah, Texas)
- High rate of attrition. More than half the 3's dropped out.
- A few crashes noted by seeing fresh bandages walking around.
- BF well represented.

Details and war stories later. Must rehydrate and cool off for the evening session.

:)

Storms moving in....hope it holds off....and hope I can get there and out of this studio in time to drive over there and start the men's pro race at 6:00.

Looks like it'll hold...hopefully. Going NE from LaCrosse / Madison area and appears to be weakening.... Cross your fingers! See you there!

Just asked our weather guy on the air...says IF it holds...not until nine tonight or later....should be good!

Yea I was figuring that, but even the weekend races didn't appear to be that much bigger. I'm living the life with 15 straight days off of work for Superweek :-) Racing and hosting some racers. This is the life!

I'll be at Waukesha and Evanston this weekend. Our team may have a decent turn out for Waukesha so I'm excited. Look out for the blue train!


The 4/5 fields from Blue Island and Olympia Fields (sat. and sun) were significantly larger than Richton Park and Bensenville.

At the Olympia Fields race, I signed up for Evanston. The registration lady made it sound as though Evanston was almost full already... although she seems to hate my guts, so she might have just been playing around.

Looks like it'll hold...hopefully. Going NE from LaCrosse / Madison area and appears to be weakening.... Cross your fingers! See you there!

Just asked our weather guy on the air...says IF it holds...not until nine tonight or later....should be good!

Where you guys going to be? Start/Finish area? I may try to head up after work since my other plans would require there to be no rain (painting some trim) and thus, I have a free night . . .

The 4/5 fields from Blue Island and Olympia Fields (sat. and sun) were significantly larger than Richton Park and Bensenville.

At the Olympia Fields race, I signed up for Evanston. The registration lady made it sound as though Evanston was almost full already... although she seems to hate my guts, so she might have just been playing around.

If it was the same lady in Bensenville I think she hates EVERYONE's guts.

Where you guys going to be? Start/Finish area? I may try to head up after work since my other plans would require there to be no rain (painting some trim) and thus, I have a free night . . .

St/Fn to the first corner....roaming with my camera....blue Italia shirt on...Campy hat....

Where you guys going to be? Start/Finish area? I may try to head up after work since my other plans would require there to be no rain (painting some trim) and thus, I have a free night . . .

You're not supposed to paint the trim.

If it was the same lady in Bensenville I think she hates EVERYONE's guts.

That was her. Same cheery disposition and pleasant demeanor.

UGGGhhhhhh! Some of the guys at work knew I was racing in Bensenville....so they attacked Google and found my results. They just posted a "Congrats 4 Last Place! We're proud of you - loser!" sign on my office window. In small print at the bottom it said, "where were you in the other races?"

UGGGhhhhhh! Some of the guys at work knew I was racing in Bensenville....so they attacked Google and found my results. They just posted a "Congrats 4 Last Place! We're proud of you - loser!" sign on my office window. In small print at the bottom it said, "where were you in the other races?"

Where I come from, it takes more stones to enter a race and not finish than it does to not enter a race and mock those who do.

I assure you they had smiles on their faces.

I assure you they had smiles on their faces.

Well, then, that's not so bad. My co-worker just keeps asking how about how I ruined my entire race over a silly zip tie!