Great Lakes - Tour of Oak Brook - August 23rd Oak Brook, IL

Anyone else going to race this one?

www.tourofoakbrook.com

Anyone else going to race this one?

www.tourofoakbrook.com

This looks fun. I just have to decide if I race cat5 or Master 30/40+ 4/5. I also saw they will install a timer chip on your bike.

I keep going back and forth on this. I could make it my last ride as a 5. I could also do the 30+ 4/5. I might be able to upgrade and do the 4's. Given the way I raced this weekend, though, I might skip it as well... the body seems to be screaming for a rest.

Might depend on how things pan out at DG.

intersting a road race and one that is under an hour drive time for me. im not saying. im just saying. :) later.

intersting a road race and one that is under an hour drive time for me. im not saying. im just saying. :) later.

Well, stop saying and sign up! ;)

There's another one out by Rockford the first weekend in October.

Thinking about it, even though I'm seriously out of shape.

Who among us couldn't be in better shape?

The Cat 5 race is only 22 miles, or so. That's shorter than the Penny Road Pub group rides (with, probably, less climbing).

Might be in, but up in the air. Closer and shorter than the Cream City which is that weekend I believe.

So I am considering the Master Cat 4-5 40+ Male.

ah crap. i cant race that saturday. have a b-day party to attend.

hey MJH2 how about a linky for that one near Rockford?

later.

Colorchange- the pace of that 40+ race will probably be A LOT higher than that in the 5's.

aham- I haven't found a flyer for that October race yet, but I'm guessing it will be in the exact same place as it was last year (2007 flyer here: http://www.abdcycling.com/racesevents/2007/FallFling/07_FlingFlyer.pdf)

MJH, I figured that. What I'm thinking is I can sit in behind some 4's for a nice tow ... as long as I am able to keep up. Then I'll just try to crawl to the finish.

I'm pretty good at wheel sucking if it's flat. Now, if they're trying to flick people off constantly or if there are hills, then I'll be in big trouble.

I'm not set on it. Are you doing the 5?

Do they promise rain ... like on the web photo?? :D

MJH, I figured that. What I'm thinking is I can sit in behind some 4's for a nice tow ... as long as I am able to keep up. Then I'll just try to crawl to the finish.

I'm pretty good at wheel sucking if it's flat. Now, if they're trying to flick people off constantly or if there are hills, then I'll be in big trouble.

I'm not set on it. Are you doing the 5?

I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. I was seriously contemplating skipping it and putting in a good 5 weeks to try and get stronger for my final race in Sept... I'm finding that my Cat 5 fitness seems to run out prior to the end of the Cat 4/5 races. Plus, the Master's 4/5 race yesterday was so brutally fast I'm still sore.

If I race I'll probably end up entering the race that's got the most guys I know in it!

Do they promise rain ... like on the web photo?? :D

I could be wrong, but that looks like a picture from Downer's Grove last year.

MJH, any stats on that race? I'd love to know what I'm getting into.

MJH, any stats on that race? I'd love to know what I'm getting into.

I don't race with a computer, so I can only tell you what I heard from the announcer.

It was chip timed. When I got pulled (at, I think, 36 mins in) the race average was a little under 26 MPH (I want to say 25.7). This is with at least one corner where the field was slowing to under 20 MPH on a .7 mile course (and, I have no idea why... it was tight but not THAT tight). No hills involved.

I was planning on entering this race, then I read the course description.

Course Description: Winding 3.2 Mile scenic road race set within Oak Brook's historic Fullersburg wood area. The course is designed to encompass all aspects of road racing including technical cornering, aggressive hills, winding acceleration, and a blistering two lane 3/4 mile rolling hill finish.

At 210 lbs I dont like hills. :cry:

26 ... I can handle in a group if there aren't frequent attacks and I don't have to stay at the front for too long (but I can normally pull my share). Was there a peleton or did the field brake up into separate pacelines? Were people rotating fairly? How hard was the accel out of the turn?

Aggressive hills? Sounds like marketing to me. I've been in Oak Brook and while there may be some rollers ... I don't think I've ever seen decent hills? Anyone? There is no course map yet to check. Maybe I'll call.

Aggressive hills? Sounds like marketing to me. I've been in Oak Brook and while there may be some rollers ... I don't think I've ever seen decent hills? Anyone? There is no course map yet to check. Maybe I'll call.

Just think about how those monster 15 foot rises on Tuesday night can split up the ride.

Then think about nobody waiting at the top.

Boom. Off the back.

Was there a peleton or did the field brake up into separate pacelines?

One big group with people scratching and clawing to get to the front, while others slid off the back. Before I lost contact with the group, I know we had already lapped several riders.


Were people rotating fairly?Absolutely not. I kept hoping for a small break containing riders from a couple of the bigger teams to get away (so the rest of their team would jam things up and slow it down). Didn't happen until the very end (when I was watching from the S/F line).



How hard was the accel out of the turn?I'd say that, for the majority of the race, I floated between being on the cusp of the top 1/3 of the pack and at the back. It was probably from 80-100% of maximal effort each time around the slowest turn.

There is a "somewhat" 3d rendering of the Oakbrook course on the official even flyer (which you can get to through the registration page- http://www.towerracing.net/obrr_2008.pdf). It looks like there are some rolling hills, but nothing too terrible. It actually looks like a fun course.

Man, the more I think about this the more I should just shut up and register.

Colorchange- the pace of that 40+ race will probably be A LOT higher than that in the 5's.

aham- I haven't found a flyer for that October race yet, but I'm guessing it will be in the exact same place as it was last year (2007 flyer here: http://www.abdcycling.com/racesevents/2007/FallFling/07_FlingFlyer.pdf)

If it's the same speed than the chicago criterium downtown. The masters 4/5 30+ was the same avg speed as the cat5 heat A. ~26mph or to put it in words: F'n fast.

Yikes ... the 5 is sounding better. :twitchy:

Yikes ... the 5 is sounding better. :twitchy:

With it being a USAC event this close to Chicago at this time of year, they'll probably all be fast.

To me, the advantage of the 5's race is the shorter distance. Which, of course, means I should go for the Master's race to push it a little more.

I'm seriously mulling over joining a local club and will probably register in whatever race their other Cat 5 rider does... if he does this race.

Yikes ... the 5 is sounding better. :twitchy:

Yup...."crash"-5. It does sound better....

Colorchange...just do one of them. Hardly anyone ever works together at this level - especially without a team.

You will be out of the saddle going 100% sprint out of just about every corner if you are in the last 1/3 of the pack. If you are higher up in the pack you'll be fighting - fighting being the operative word - for lines.

It's not basket weaving....It's not a group ride....It's total balls out "bring it or leave" racing from the second you hear the whistle until you pop.

...that said, I was talking to aham about racing in general this weekend and I think I have some general advice that might help give a good picture:
1. Your first race will ALWAYS be faster than you imagined.
2. You can't train for race conditions - you race in your trained condition.
3. Most of us hack no-talent riders will never reach any kind of racing form without just racing.

My plans for this are up in the air anymore.

With it being a USAC event this close to Chicago at this time of year, they'll probably all be fast.

To me, the advantage of the 5's race is the shorter distance. Which, of course, means I should go for the Master's race to push it a little more.

I'm seriously mulling over joining a local club and will probably register in whatever race their other Cat 5 rider does... if he does this race.

BH?

BH?

Yeah. Bad idea?

Yeah. Bad idea?

No...still think I may join up as well.

Yup...."crash"-5. It does sound better....

Colorchange...just do one of them. Hardly anyone ever works together at this level - especially without a team.

You will be out of the saddle going 100% sprint out of just about every corner if you are in the last 1/3 of the pack. If you are higher up in the pack you'll be fighting - fighting being the operative word - for lines.

It's not basket weaving....It's not a group ride....It's total balls out "bring it or leave" racing from the second you hear the whistle until you pop.

...that said, I was talking to aham about racing in general this weekend and I think I have some general advice that might help give a good picture:
1. Your first race will ALWAYS be faster than you imagined.
2. You can't train for race conditions - you race in your trained condition.
3. Most of us hack no-talent riders will never reach any kind of racing form without just racing.

My plans for this are up in the air anymore.

That couldn't have been stated any better.

May as well make that one a sticky. :)

Do it! Then help me recruit some other guys to even the odds for next year.

I just stopped by the shop to maybe buy the bibs and jersey... Closed early today for a funeral.

Hmm... maybe I join too. What the hell. Can't get worse than being pulled twice like in the Chicago Crit. Being pulled with 2 laps to go f'n sucks.

This will be my first race, expecting to get dropped, but that will only make me try again next time...I hope.

Team BikeForums?

We certainly could employ some team tactics, like forming a chase group after everybody got spit out the back and start chasing hard so we don't get pulled. Hehe.

MJH2 - You mentioned in a post that Master 30+ 4/5 was fast but I read that this is the first time for the tour of Oakbrook. Is this just a ref in general or did they have this last year?

I'm planning to race in this but not sure Cat5 or Master 4/5. Also, I have no team mates in Cat5. I would like to have the chance to work with other riders. My jump in Grayslake at the end went no where when I had no one come with me. There have been no other VCS riders in the Cat 5s all year.

No racing for me in Downers. Did that last year but have a surprise 60th b-day party for a friend so Tour of Oak Brook is the next race for me. The Road Race in Rockford was one of the toughest races I was in last year. It is part of the Fall Fling. This is a fun race. I missed the time trial last year but made enough points on the other 3 stages that I took 9th. This really tests your ability to recover. Sat stage race followed by a Sun crit was tough.

IMHO it's a toss up. Cat 5 you have a mix of talent - us old guys giving it a go, and a bunch of 20-something's on their way up to Cat 1/2 fame. Master's 4/5 is usually a nicer race, but you are assurred to be racing against core cat 4's who WILL race faster than 5's when pushed by 5's to go faster.

If we all enter the 5's and lock the field then we can fix the race and make sure it finishes in slightly less than supersonic speed.

I'm leaning towards the Master 4/5 since the last 2 of 3 that I have been in have been smoother and I have been able to keep up. Yep, the one out of three I was dropped. With the m4/5 you don't have the crazy 20 something next to you that figures he's still on the parents insurance plan so go for it!

OK guys ..., let's get a group for Masters 40+ Cat 4/5. I am not looking to do anything (I am out of shape and I know it ... ask the Tuesday night guys, I'm definitely HCYS [right now ;)]). So, this is a learning experience only and if it's that, let's get some additional training in on the longer ride (assuming we get that far ;)).

Masters 30+ 4/5 for me. I'm not an old fart like ColorChange :D

Damn, can I race in a younger class?

And now for the bad news ... at least for me, there are two hills, one about 70 ft and another about 50 within about a 1/2 mile. I'm absolutely toast. My only hope was a flat (think pool table) course. Let the pain begin.

Here's a shot of the bigger hill.

http://www.pbase.com/image/101556895/original.jpg

Being a road race, it will be much less frantic and even slower than a crit. And if you get dropped, you still get a nice ride out of it. If you're thinking about racing, by all means do it, or you will spend the entire winter regretting it.

The hills aren't so bad. Try to position yourself near the front before they start so you have room to float back. And if you're, ahem, on the clydesdale side, know that you have a distinct advantage on the downhill, so don't write off your chances if you get gapped.

Be fast, be safe, have fun!

Oh I do descend like a demon ... using a three pronged attack (get it?) part Cervelo&Zipps, part speed freak, part fat!

Damn, can I race in a younger class?

I'm doing the Master 40+ 4/5. The Master 30+ 4/5 and Master 40+ 4/5 race together but scored separately. The pace will be slower than a crit for the first part but by the end, it will be pushed. With a 3.2 mile loop the chance of being lapped is lower.

Excellent RJB ... we can do a team BF. I'm willing to work for someone.:giver:

Psyco .. you up for a team lead out? (Can you race 4 or would you have to be a 3?)

Psi, do the masters and "coach me along" OK?

The best laid plans... :lol:


I'll be out of town, or would have considered giving this a go.

Good luck, everyone.

I've got a USAC license but haven't renewed it this year. Since it's so late in the season, can I just renew for a day fee instead of the $60 annual renewal?

I've got a USAC license but haven't renewed it this year. Since it's so late in the season, can I just renew for a day fee instead of the $60 annual renewal?

yep...$10 day of the race. Sounds like a plan!!!

Just registered for the Master 30+/40+ 4/5. Field limit is 75 and there are 38 registered. 22 are in the 40+:thumb: