Great Lakes - Hillsboro-Roubaix Road Race

Who's interested in this?

http://www.hillsbororoubaix.com/cgi-bin/2008.pl

I am. This year it's in April.

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7558

The rate we are going there still will be 10" of snow on the ground when this road race happens.

Yeah, pretty much the whole team is going. We;ve been training with it in mind for a while. You'd know that if you had joined up, but I assume you eventually heard about it at a Spin Docs meeting....


;)

Yeah, we're going. Depending on what the plans are like we might have room in starship psimet if you want to carpool. The race is within 20 miles of where my mother grew up so if we go down the night before and can't find a hotel room I might be able to find a place to crash.

I might be there if I don't race collegiate that weekend, or can find a ride from milwaukee. It looks like a really fun race.

I might be there if I don't race collegiate that weekend, or can find a ride from milwaukee. It looks like a really fun race.

I've been hearing a lot of stories. All the Cat1/2 guys were telling stories and laughing about it last night using terms like "race of attrition", and "remember when we....oh no that's right you were already out by that lap" - to guys that are monsters.

A new teammate has raced it 3 or 4 times just on his own and was telling us he was always detached within the first few turns.:eek:

I know you'll kick ass (thank god you're no longer a 4), but just wanted to drop the idea that for most of the guys around here it seems like they go absolutley ape crazy about this race. i think it's mainly because it is one of the only real road races on the calendar and it supposedly has some hills.

Lots of people training hard. It will be a leg burner for sure.

I really think I want to do this Psi ... can you keep me in mind. I can't offer any form commitments that early in the season, but I sure want to do it.

Sure. I'll either keep a spot for you in the van or warn you when I have to let it go.

Yeah hopefully my 18 days in Tucson will give me a leg up on the competition. And the fact that my first race is the last weekend of march means I should be running pretty strong by then.

I really think I want to do this Psi ... can you keep me in mind. I can't offer any form commitments that early in the season, but I sure want to do it.

Hey Colorchange...

I'm not trying to pick on you, but I know you have the same perception of Road race vs. Crit that seems prevalent around here. I'm honestly curious to know:

What is it about road races that makes them safer than crits?

This race will have 50 (Cat 5) to 100 (Cat 4) riders all bunched up and fighting for space on HALF of a narrow, twisting, hilly road (partially made of brick) and it will likely be windy as a hurricane, cold, and possibly raining.

The weekend before there is a crit at Blackhawk farms which is relatively wide, flat, smooth (mostly) and no possibility for oncoming traffic.

Not picking on you. I've heard others say the same. Just curious as to how that perception formed.

And, to throw my 2 cents in, I'm going down Friday, and racing the 44 mile Cat 4 race... And, also racing the Blackhawkfarms crit the prior week.

I always thought they were equal considering you're riding with the same folks, just different hazards.

MJH2

I don't think there should be nearly as much fighting for position during most of a long road race when compared to a crit. No?

I am. This year it's in April.

50 - 100 Cat 5's on bricks. Possible rain. Possible snow. So this year your breaking your collarbone in April? :eek::cry:

Sign up for the Masters 40+ it will be safer! :thumb:

50 - 100 Cat 5's on bricks. Possible rain. Possible snow. So this year your breaking your collarbone in April? :eek::cry:

Sign up for the Masters 40+ it will be safer! :thumb:

:roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::lol::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

I spewed water all over my monitor.

Then again CC he may have a point. It's a whole lot safer riding alone off the back.

On a serious note though CC - you know MJH2 is trying to get your goat, but he's right. Racing is racing. You can wreck any time you're on the bike and there is no difference between a RR or a crit with respect to that. Especially considering this RR has more hazards going for it than most of the crits I have done.

Mmmm... the Blackhawk Farms Crit. I'm so there again! I got dropped last time one lap into the race, I wanna stay at least 2 laps in the race this year.

I spewed water all over my monitor.

:lol: Glad I could help! :lol:

I'll +1 the "racing is racing" -- he wrecked last year training -- maybe racing will be safer ;)

MJH2

I don't think there should be nearly as much fighting for position during most of a long road race when compared to a crit. No?


Ok. I understand that.

I honestly wasn't busting your chops. I know I've thrown my opinion out there plenty of times before. I think it has more to do with the individual course. Like, I'm not doing that silly race up Spring Road in Oakbrook again. Nor would I probably do the Batavia crit course (although I might... it's borderline).

I think that a lot of the crit courses (ie. Wooddale, Blackhawk, Blue Island) are as open and safe as any road race. That's just my opinion.

I'm probably most curious because I'm intrigued by reasons many would-be racers don't get involved in the sport. I'm not sure there's another sport out there that seems to do as much to intimidate people who would otherwise be more involved. I mean, take, for example, auto racing. Many of us have dabbled in it, and were probably less concerned than when they clipped in at their first bike race... even though it's exponentially more dangerous.

Now back semi on topic:

Hillsboro is going to suck. Completely. I can't wait!

Edit: For fun I did a search. The 4's will be squeezing 100 guys down HALF of this road:

http://www.bikingillinois.com/photos/HRCourse2.jpg
(image from: http://www.bikingillinois.com/hillsboro.html)

I really think a 60 mile road race is gong to be vastly different than a 8 mile crit for 90% of the time. People are fighting for position on every turn and fighting to stay near the front. In a long road race, I don't care if I'm near the front of the pack or near the back of the pack for all but the end of the race. At the end of the race, it's a crit.

I really think there will be a big difference but then again ... I've never done it. Your point on Oak Brook is correct, that to me was basically a long crit and I sure wasn't thrilled with it.

So that being said, I'm not a big fan of crits for a number of reasons:

1. Too short - I don't want to spend 3-4+ hours prepping for 20 minutes of racing.
2. Safety - more risk in crits than training rides and I'm too old to get hurt
3. They don't match my strengths (I have no sprint)

So, I'm not a big fan. I'll do some this year, but many more TT's and many more long rides/centuries.

Edit: For fun I did a search. The 4's will be squeezing 100 guys down HALF of this road:

http://www.bikingillinois.com/photos/HRCourse2.jpg
(image from: http://www.bikingillinois.com/hillsboro.html)

Nah, it will be gravel to gravel with guys trying to move up on the outside. :)

Then once you get around that far turn, there will be a cow standing in the road. :D

Nah, it will be gravel to gravel with guys trying to move up on the outside. :)

Then once you get around that far turn, there will be a cow standing in the road. :D


I don't know about the gravel to gravel. Looks like several DQ's reported last year. I'm assuming for centerline infractions.


Colorchange- I appreciate your opininon. As much as I'm tempted to post some to the contrary on some of your points, that's not what this thread is for.

Looks like PSImet, myself, and possibly some others are headed down there on Friday. My goal would be to check into a hotel Friday afternoon, kit up and take a spin around the course. I'm guessing that Friday evening will find some or all of us at some sort of local food/drink establishment. If you can commit by the sign-up date, you should go for sure. I think it's going to be a lot of fun.

That reminds me that all the stories that I have been hearing are that this fills up uber quick. Especially for the 4's and 5's. Only 50 5's let in so have your computer ready to fire when that opens up.

There is no center line on that road, too narrow, no way they're gonna cite you here.

There is no center line on that road, too narrow, no way they're gonna cite you here.

They did last year. Looks like, maybe, 10 guys in the 40+ got DQ'd. Searching through race reports from last year, atleast some (if not all) were for centerline rules.

Won't matter for me, though. When you're solo off the back (as I will be a mile or two in) it's easier to keep to the right!

They've got a web page up with some additional info:

http://web.me.com/iccc_stl/Hillsboro/Welcome.html

I officially will not be ready for this.


http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/6960/sandbagwhjz1.jpg

I officially will not be ready for this.


http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/6960/sandbagwhjz1.jpg

Please. You've got 4 weeks (atleast) of threshold training under you. I'm off the bike (again) until next week. I'm really starting to wonder if Hillsboro is going to beo worth the ride down for me.

Please. You've got 4 weeks (atleast) of threshold training under you. I'm off the bike (again) until next week. I'm really starting to wonder if Hillsboro is going to beo worth the ride down for me.

.....you can't miss an opportunity to kick ass or even to get your ass kicked.

I'm much more able to miss that opportunity when it involves 9 hours of driving, taking a day off of work, hotel fare, and whatever other misc. costs are included. We'll see.

I'm in for the 3's. Anyone else in the ultimate cat?

Can someone link a course map with S/F line somewhere?

Because http://www.hillsbororoubaix.com comes up:

NOTICE: This domain name expired on 02/12/2009 and is pending renewal or deletion

Can someone link a course map with S/F line somewhere?

Because http://www.hillsbororoubaix.com comes up:

NOTICE: This domain name expired on 02/12/2009 and is pending renewal or deletion

Official web page (with course map):

http://web.me.com/iccc_stl/Hillsboro/Welcome.html

You making the trip down?

Oooo, that is a haul but the next day is Madison which is an easy drive. Will check my work schedule tonight and see. I could always call in sick (they owe me SO BAD. :rolleyes: )

Anyone down in the 5's? First year of racing for me and some of my team mates. Should be a fun first race, not to mention the weather is holding out.

I'm in Milwaukee all weekend shooting gymnastics. Yippie...

Anyone down in the 5's? First year of racing for me and some of my team mates. Should be a fun first race, not to mention the weather is holding out.

We have a few guys going down for the 5's. MJH2 and myself are int he 4's. We're leaving tomorrow morning.

We have a few guys going down for the 5's. MJH2 and myself are int he 4's. We're leaving tomorrow morning.

You racing?

Yup. 4's in Hillsboro. May do the TT on Sunday if the weather holds.

Yup. 4's in Hillsboro. May do the TT on Sunday if the weather holds.

Sweet.

Weather for Sunday looking iffy. Saturday looks ok.

National Weather Service (http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hillsboro&state=IL&site=LSX&textField1=39.1631&textField2=-89.4844&e=0)

May have to make my way down from Springfield to observe. Have to check my son's track schedule.

Best spot to watch?

Weather for Sunday looking iffy. Saturday looks ok.

National Weather Service (http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hillsboro&state=IL&site=LSX&textField1=39.1631&textField2=-89.4844&e=0)

May have to make my way down from Springfield to observe. Have to check my son's track schedule.

Best spot to watch?

Off the back. You can see all the action from there....

Do you think it would be a good idea to run a little wider tires for this? I have some 25c GP4000's that I can put on, or 23c 4000S's.

I was wondering that as well. I have some PR2's in 25, but they won't clear the brake bridge on the bike I plan on racing so I am pretty much stuck with what I have. If you have race quality 25's then I would use them. If not I think the 4000S's would be pretty durable as well.

I have worn PR2's that I will be racing instead of the less durable PR3's at least.

FWIW I'm running "garbage quality" (read: $20 per tire, wire bead) 25's on there.

I put on my 25's. Mine were $20 a tire too, but I managed to get GP4000's for that. Yay Bonktown!

Anyways look for a dirty white Klein with blue tires and a tall kid with too much hair in a Beans & Barley kit.

This in after a quick lap of the race loop:

This will be one hard, hard race. Hills. Dogs. Dodgy pavement. Narrow, twisty roads. It may be a little too much pain for this early in the year.

It will awesome!


PS- Psimet just told me to tell you all that he misses you. I think he may have had one too many gels on the ride.

good luck tomorrow! Man, I wish I could be racing too! Well, theres always next year.

Good luck folks.

I'll be spending the day photographing gymanstics. Yippie...

Early report: brutal. Seriously. Very, very hard race.

Our guy Joel took 2nd in the 5's. No other highlights.

Early report: brutal. Seriously. Very, very hard race.

Our guy Joel took 2nd in the 5's. No other highlights.

The 5's don't work together at all...I was like oh I don't feel like bridging to them right at the beginning of the race..but the "pack" did nothing to speed up. Ended up coming in 5th but probably would've been in the top 3 if I had played my cards better, but hey it was my first race so I won't complain about lack of knowledge on my part.

Oh and if whoever hit their brakes going down the first hill out of town is on here...don't do it, you almost caused a lot of damage, it's a straight road...the pavement is fine...what the hell could you need to hit your brakes for..jeez

I need to corner better. MJH2 needs to train more. XXX and CCC needs to try working more.

I need to corner better. MJH2 needs to train more. XXX and CCC needs to try working more.

Correct. If I can't get the training up to 8-12 hours a week, I might as well take up something else.

Carlos, you were having a nice little ride until it ended... Including not panicking when I bumped your bars (sorry again about that- completely my fault).

You doing Leland?