Great Lakes - State RR

Observations from a fat, old, mid-pack Cat4:

1. I don't understand what the advanatge of pulling the pack up to your teammate (who is solo off the front) is in a race like this. I doubly don't understand why a team would do it twice in the first 20 miles.

2. If you've been wearing your favorite kit all season (or even longer) it would not hurt to put it on, bend over and look at your hindquarters in the mirror. Lots of see through/threadbare bibs out there, and nobody needs to see that.

3.The evil nameless, faceless USAC officials are actually nice, friendly people who put up with A LOT in trying to get that race scored.

4. Road races make me want to race more crits... Thankfully there's one next week.

Good time out there today. Except for the "wide load" trailer that put the scare in our group, seems like as good a venue as you will find in the middle of the Chicago metro area.

Glad to hear that you had fun. :)

Glad to hear that you had fun. :)

We won the 30+ 4/5. Gotta love it.

There was a noticeable lack of top shelf photags at this race, Wilke. You missed your chance to get carlosflanders ripping up the 40+ 4/5!

It's September man, road racing is over ... it could snow! :eek:

Psyched for 'cross though. No more telephoto lenses, from here on it's
in your face flash shots!

http://www.peloton-pix.com/photos/414329494_YGDGb-M-2.jpghttp://www.peloton-pix.com/photos/414489231_x9Dxs-M-2.jpg

It's September man, road racing is over ... it could snow! :eek:

Psyched for 'cross though. No more telephoto lenses, from here on it's
in your face flash shots!

http://www.peloton-pix.com/photos/414329494_YGDGb-M-2.jpg]

I think that by the time I got to the top of those stairs, 3 of those guys behind me had run right by. That was a very frustrating half-race for me.

You crazy cheeseheads race in the snow March through June. Why not sept! ;)

Well, as there isn't anything in the course to create a separation, the cat 4s decided to create their own.

Saw 4 crashes up close. roughly a dozen bottles lost on the first lap in the masters 4/5. Sketchiest sprint ever for the finish. Amazing how 2 or 3 guys can take up both lanes. Was seriously scared for my life to risk coming round until I got a clear shot with 50 yards to go. Guy I had just passed went down, broke both his bike and wheels (by the sound of it) and brought down 10 other riders with him. MJH2 came upon it a couple minutes later and said it was pure carnage, bodies everywhere.

Snuck into the top 10, but, like several others, should have been sprinting for the win. More to come.

http://www.xxxracing.org/index.php?/site/reports/pro-cat-1-illinois-state-road-race-champion/

http://sethmeyer.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/procat-1-illinois-state-road-race-champion/

Good time out there today. Except for the "wide load" trailer that put the scare in our group, seems like as good a venue as you will find in the middle of the Chicago metro area.

Wide load?. Would that be Psimet's rear or little P's trailer?

Seriously, Psimet was a chick magnet out there today. Mrs P should never let him out alone with the kid again because all he does is lap up attention from every woman in the vicinity.

It was a great venue for the race. I rode the 40+ 4/5 and got stuck behind the crash in the first lap just after we crossed the Finish. We had about 1 mile of less racing and the group was split. I worked to catch up but there were only two of us doing the work and I ended up in the second group. At least I was the first guy across the finish out of that group. Not sure where that put me since I did not stick around for the results. Carlos, how many were in your group?

Tower racing did a great job on this race. There is always little nits but, the course, uphill finish, Irish Pub on the course, lots of parking, great registration process all made the race great. I even saw them apply the yellow-line rule this year!!!

About 35-40 made it into the first group. I was about 5 riders behind that crash. Endured some serious pain for a couple of minutes trying to get back on but there was no way I was going to let them get away. Caught them just before turn two. Only about 3 of us managed the bridge. I think that one rider sat out a lap and and jumped back in, but I presume he had the grace to pull out before the finish or at least inform the officials.

Good job on leading the second group. Be thankful that you weren't contesting the first group, the carnage could have been a lot worse with 75 riders weaving all over the road.

About 35-40 made it into the first group. I was about 5 riders behind that crash.
You were closer to the crash than I was. Glad you were not in it!! Yeah, I work real hard and was closing on them but the group seemed to surge between the second and third turn.