Great Lakes - Wroad wracing wrap up?

Well, I did not hit the WI State TT this morning at 7:30am as typhoon rains pummeled down. Any one go? I also skipped Grays Lake - what's the report from there?

Glencoe Criterium tomorrow - SKIP. Too much work around here to catch up on. Anyone going?

The WCA's final race is next Saturday in Neenah: http://wicycling.org/media/raceFlyers09/2009%20Wheel%20and%20Sprocket%20race%20flyer.pdf which I will hit.

Then that Sunday I'll hit Downer's Grove, but with just a focus on the Pro race: http://dgcycling.com/

August 22nd has the Marion, IN Criterium which (I guess) is supposed to be a big deal: http://www.marionclassic.com/ Interestingly, I don't see any directions on their web page on how to actually get there. :(

Aug 30 is the Indiana State Fairgrounds Criterium - 5 hour drive for me (at speed). NOT.

Sat Sep 5, ABR Delavan Road Race. That looks good.

Tour of Missouri is in this slot. I would be willing to go, but the courses are so long and spread out, I don't think spectators would see much!

Sat Sep 12 IL State road race championships Road race Willow Springs, Ill. I have no idea where that is, but that might be a possibility for me.


Sat Sep 19 Ronald Reagan Criterium Dixon, Ill. That's a haul too.


Sat Sep 26 Fall Fling Criterium No. 1 Criterium in West Chicago (where ever that is)

Sat Sept 26 and Sun Sept 27 is the 'Cross kick off with the Jonathon Page UCI races in Madison, WI :love: If you can make it, this is a MUST ATTEND. A BIG race with BIG 'cross riders attending.

Sat October Oct 3 Fall Fling Road Race, Crete, Ill. (dunno where that is either)

Sun Oct 4 Fall Fling Criterium No. 2 Criterium West Chicago, Ill.

Then it's 'cross season from there on until December. :D

New FELT FC will be here on Monday. I've been off the bike for almost two weeks now. Somewhat depressing, but it's recharging my batteries after a lot of racing this season. Oh well, getting plenty of stuff done around the house, including new paver patio in the back yard.

Wanted to do Glencoe, but frame didn't get here in time. WILL be doing the Fall Fling series. Some new venues this year and like John said, not really sure where the heck these places are, but I'm in!

Some XXX reports (the team) HERE (http://www.xxxracing.org/index.php?) from Grays lake. Look for race reports on the left side.

The rain was a factor for me in this race and I have to get new tires! Even though I took air out, so that I was around 95 psi on both the front and back, I was slipping through the 90 degree turns. I would gap on the two hard turns (actually, they were normal turns but I use, "hard", to compare their degree to the sweeping turns) and had to work hard to get back on. I started with tired legs and the extra work soon had me off the back grabbing any wheel I could. I pickup another rider and we worked together to the finish picking up riders as we went. At one point, we had a group of 6 working together but crossed the line with 4. We were lapped by the lead two and the main chase group. We did sprint to the line just to practice our sprinting. I was determined to be patient and wait for 50-75 meters to start my hardest effort and come from behind the 4. I beat 2 of the 3 to the line. The first guy in our group went out hard on the last turn and I was not about to risk sliding out. For those not familiar with Grayslake, it’s a great course with the last turn shaped like a U. When you come out of the last sweeping turn, you have about 200 – 250 meters to the line.

The lead two held off the chase but the first place rider went on his own for the last lap. The second place rider, John Whipple, held on to keep ahead of the chase group. I spoke with John at Tour of Elk Grove where he finished first in the cat 5 30+. He’s new to racing but has been riding for a long time. He’s a strong rider and will be moving out of the 5s as soon as he can. If he keeps riding like he is, he’ll be a cat 3 in the not too distant future. He rides an old steel bike with the shifters on the tube in front. I cannot recall the manufacture of the bike but the damn thing is heavy!!!.