Great Lakes - Grayslake Cycling Classic this Sat 8/9

Who's in? I know MJH2 is going, and maybe a special early morning appearance by Psimet. I just registered for the 8:30 Cat 5 and the 9:00 Masters 30+ 4/5. Not too sure on the wisdom of back to back races like this. I'm just hoping I can recover enough after the Cat5 before the Masters start. My daughter is also racing the 6-7 age group so help cheer on my cutiepie on the pink Roadmaster if you come!

Who's in? I know MJH2 is going, and maybe a special early morning appearance by Psimet. I just registered for the 8:30 Cat 5 and the 9:00 Masters 30+ 4/5. Not too sure on the wisdom of back to back races like this. I'm just hoping I can recover enough after the Cat5 before the Masters start. My daughter is also racing the 6-7 age group so help cheer on my cutiepie on the pink Roadmaster if you come!

Yeah. We're in the same races. Course looks fun.

FWIW, I opted for the early Cat 5 race so I would be warmed up for the Masters 4/5. Based on my experience from last weekend, I'll take warm but slightly tired over slightly rested but "cooled".

If I get really frisky (and the field isn't filled) I may also opt for a 3rd race (Cat 5 #2). I'm going to try to race Sunday at Glencoe as well, though, so that might just be asking for trouble...

Still kicking it around. I may, but I have a TTT with aham the next day and really need to ride the TT setup I have...and spend some time with my family after having done Elgin and then hopped a plane for DC all week.

I may be there in the 4s. Since this is supposed to be a rest week (not very restful) I'm only going to do the 4s and not that and the 4/5 masters. Unless I feel super tough that morning.

Still kicking it around. I may, but I have a TTT with aham the next day and really need to ride the TT setup I have...and spend some time with my family after having done Elgin and then hopped a plane for DC all week.

TTT...cool, where? I want to do some of these next season.

I was considering either the first Cat 5 or Master 4/5 but not both. So, I ended up signing up for the Master 4/5. No way could I do a Cat 5 and then jump right into the Master 4/5 without being the way as they lap me.

TTT...cool, where? I want to do some of these next season.

Herscher, IL - ABR = 2-man 50k Team Time Trial. Flyer (http://www.ambikerace.com/2008/flyers/2008_Annual_Wolfgang_Freitag_Memorial.pdf)

Should be kind of cool.

Also part of my problem is that I went from this:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2725/giantb4ul2.jpg

To this...
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9565/giantafterta0.jpg

After the Elgin crit so if I do Grayslake I'll have to race on this...

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2633/flytebb2.jpg

...and the problem is???? You should drag aham to Grayslake too, you know, to loosen up the legs before the TTT :lol: And now we know why you have spools of brake and shifter housing. You just can't help yourself can you? Good luck to you guys on Sunday at the TTT!

No way could I do a Cat 5 and then jump right into the Master 4/5 without being the way as they lap me.

...another BFNIC sandbagger shows his true colors :lol: See you at the starting line, I'll be the one conversing with the grim reaper, pleading to just wait until the Masters race is over.

i just finished getting my rig TTT ready tonight. how does she look?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/2329426855_fba6ef4423.jpg

:rolleyes:

later.

i just finished getting my rig TTT ready tonight. how does she look?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/2329426855_fba6ef4423.jpg

:rolleyes:

later.

Looks like you need some lightweight wheels for those....get on it. <sorry>

Actually I was thinking of lending you my wheels for this thing so you can get an idea of what they are like.

^^^^ no. i want to make sure i have a bag of excuses for why i sucked it at the TTT.

1. my darn stock wheels slowed me down.
2. i dont have areo bars.
3. i have hairy legs.
4. i partnered with Psi.
5. i keed, i keed. :)

later.

My legs are completely dead today. Could spend tomorrow holding on for dear life.

Other than myself, nvr, and RJBTrek, anybody else on here in the 5's or Masters 4/5?

Am I the only fool on here doing Glencoe (master's 4/5's) too?

I can't think of anything unique to excuse my performance tomorrow so I'll just say I suck. See y'all there for the suffering!

I'm jealous. I couldn't race today, and can't tomorrow. I'm going into Downers Grove only somewhat race ready. Well rested if I can say anything positive about it.

Psi & Ahem, good luck tomorrow! Weather will be nice (not too hot, anyway) and remember if you don't accept the wind, it does not exist. Anyway, yell at each other a lot. in a productive that is.

I'm jealous. I couldn't race today, and can't tomorrow. I'm going into Downers Grove only somewhat race ready. Well rested if I can say anything positive about it.

Psi & Ahem, good luck tomorrow! Weather will be nice (not too hot, anyway) and remember if you don't accept the wind, it does not exist. Anyway, yell at each other a lot. in a productive that is.

Thanks man! Kind of feeling good.

So what happened to the guys at Grayslake?!?!!

Today's race was jam packed with racing lessons for me. Guess that's why you start in Cat5 ;) Here's my summaries.

First race - Cat5 Mens 8:30am

The course was a nice, flat, 1.1 mile, 8 turn (or 6 plus a 180 u turn) course . I didn't put in a real effort in getting a descent warm up. Lesson 1 learned. When the Cat5 race started I was somewhere near the middle of a pack of 32 riders. The pace wasn't bad, it's the turns that wear me out. The one time I looked down (on a straight) we were doing 29mph. Taking the turns seemed a lot more crowded than last weekend in Elgin, and holding your line through it became more critical. I didn't freak out, but I need to stop holding my breath through these turns. I kept thinking someone was going to swerve into me, or hit the brakes in front of me. I was too tense. Lesson 2 learned. I did end up pulling up front for the last 1/3 of a prime lap, which I sadly didn't win. I promptly got reabsorbed by the pack. Sometime during the race I lost my focus to move up the field, and hold/reaquire position. Too easy to just let others pass. I became pack fodder. It's not a group ride, it's a race! Lesson 3 learned. MJH2 was looking good out there the few times we seesawed back and forth, but I'll let him tell his story. Coming around the last turn to the finish line, I knew I didn't do great, but I still sprinted and moved up two spots to take 17th. (2 spots better than last week :rolleyes:)

9.9 miles
24:11 minutes
24.56 avg
17/32

Second race - Masters 30+ Cat 4/5 9:00am

This one started right after the first race I did. BIG mistake for me to sign up for this one. One cool down lap, and a few minutes rest before this group shot off like bullets. I think the finish line sprint during the first race completely killed me. That's lesson 4 (save a little something if I'm racing again). From the time the whistle blew I was immediately OTB. I hung on for dear life. There were two riders behind me, but they eventually passed me. A gap opened up somewere on the 3rd lap. I had the displeasure of experiencing the accordian effect as told to me by a few people. Man, that crap really kills momentum, and drains energy. I was hard pressed to catch the group after each turn. At least I didn't have to slow down for the turns anymore. I watched the pack slowly fading away, and got to battle the wind solo. The spectators were great, and kept cheering me on ("go catch em", "keep it up", "HCYS" :D). They had to be for me, there was no one else around :( By the end of the 5th full lap, I was completely wasted. My head was pounding like my brain was going to explode, and I couldn't feel my legs. I pulled off after the second turn, and told an official I was pulling myself out. I watched the racers pass a few times and headed back to watch the finish. Again, MJH2 was looking good out there. A lot better than I felt. I stuck around and chatted with MJH2 and one of the xXx guys I met last week before heading home. The Masters race, as fast as it was, seemed to me to be a lot smoother and fluid (while I lasted) than the Cat5. I still have this pounding headache 13 hours later. Food, water, tylenol is not helping.

5.6 miles
14:42 min
22.86 avg
DNF I'm so ashamed


Last and final race - Kid's 6-7 race

I went home, washed up, and came back with my daughter for the 1pm kid's race. Her group did a 375 meter race around the U turn. I've never seen a kid's race before, and seeing her pedaling her heart out among the other kids, well, there's no describing what a great sight it is to see. All the kids were so happy, and having so much fun! She, along with the other kids, received a medal, that she wore ALL day. She wants to do more races now, and "be like daddy" :love: Don't break the kid's heart, and tell her I suck :D


All in all, not a terrible day. I finished one race, learned some lessons, and now we have a medal in the house ;)

MJH2 - good luck in Glencoe tomorrow!
Aham and Psimet - good luck to you guys at your TTT tomorrow!

I rode the Masters 4/5. The pace was good from the start but at times it did slow down enough to get some recovery. It was smoother than other Cat5 races I have been in. I started up front and soon was letting riders in front of me so I could draft. I seem to pick the wrong wheel at times and on a couple of turns ended up toward the back as the wheel in front slowed for the turn. As they announced 2 laps to go, I wanted to move from the back to the front and on the south straight the field relaxed a bit and a gap opened on the left. I pushed hard to get to the front before it closed. My momentum carried me past the lead riders. I looked back and had 10 feet or so with no reaction from the group. I work a bit harder to create a bigger gap and still no reaction. So, stepped on it and opened a good gap of 20 yards with 1.5 laps to go. At some point there was a reaction from the group but I was still out front when I crossed the finish line and heard the one-lap-to-go bell. I pushed hard but then hit a wall and slowed. I was at 24-something mph and knew I had to take it to at least 26 or 27 to keep out front. I tried to pickup the pace but my heart rate was at 184 bpm and my legs were burning. I normally do not go above 175 bpm. I was swallowed up by the pack with about three quarters of a lap to go. I was done. I finished 19th. I'm glad I did not race the cat5 prior to this race!