RacerOne

Do with them what you'd like, if you'd like higher res copies I can email them.

MJH2

Should be interesting to hear the Sherman park reports trickle in. Racing isn't even over yet and it sounds like lots going on. Smashed car windows? Stolen bikes? Lots of lost/torn skin and a broken bone or two?

Scummer

Sherman Park was a bit bumpy. Seems like some racers couldn't deal with that and the 5 or 6 times the Masters 4/5 crashed, every time the field was decimated by at least 5 riders or so. I pulled out of the race while sitting in the pack with 3 or 4 laps to go. I had seen enough and just wanted to save my skin.

In the 4's A BH rider went over his handlebar on the back stretch and was pretty heavily banged up. Like his left bottom lip was flapping around in the wind.

I had to walk past him because I flatted my front wheel in the next lap. At least he was sitting up.

So two DNF's for me. One voluntary and one involuntary.

sickmtbnutcase

I won't offer much for details as the sun is finally out and I need to get out there and soak it up...but raced at Menomonee Falls today. First time ever racing for me, so it was a very educational day.

Managed 8th in Cat4/5 and not sure about how I placed in Masters 30+ 4/5 yet as I had to leave right away. Ended up in the 20th range probably. Pretty big field.

Lots of fun and glad I decided to give this racing stuff a go. I'm hooked

MJH2

That was Mike with the face incident. Did you see how it happened? He's still at the hospital and I guess it's pretty bad.

I heard a few complaints about the racing from the early races. If you read the race reports, it seems the same every year, though. Not sure why people are expecting different.

xXx twitter (thanks for the updates, btw) made Tim's Cat 3 race sound like a top class ride. Good to see.

MJH2

Congrats for racing twice on your first day! Ain't it fun?

Wisconsin racing is weird. There seem to be so many 4/5's who do the masters stuff but don't double up with the other 4/5 races. I don't quite get it.

Scummer

The Masters 1/2/3 was fun to watch. Very animated, lot's of attacks. Field sprint in the end.

Scummer

No, I didn't see it. I only heard the spokes rattle and at that point I was only thinking: Oh **** oh **** oh ****

I was scooting by on the outside as I saw some bodies flying, but I heard later on that Mike hit the guy in front of him who was going down and endoed over his handlebars.

At that point I was like, OK.. 2nd crash and we haven't really started yet.. this is not good. Low and behold a lap or two later another series.

aham23

sherman park - the oval was in terrible shape. more so then what is considered the norm. 5 minutes into the 30 4/5 race i sorta got t-boned as a rider went straight into my rear wheel. odd and i dont really know what happend behind me. i stay up cause i got skills. the rear wheel is toast. PSIMET originals, i think number two of his production line, gone...... i will miss you. i doubt i do SP again with all the issues. later.

MJH2

That's the third time I've heard that this weekend. Too bad, too.

Mayonnaise

I think I've raced Sherman Park every year they've had the race and am not certain I'll ever return. Every year it's bad but this year was the worst. When I saw all the fluorescent markings on the course during a pre ride I knew we'd be in trouble.

I was glad to get caught behind a crash and get separated from the group: it gave me a reason to quit and save my pride.

I don't think you can blame the skills of the racers for causing all the crashes. The course was in such bad shape that inevitably crashes will happen, particularly will full fields.

It's great to have a race within the city limits but I'd rather be at work Monday with both collarbones intact and no shattered carbon fiber in the basement.

MJH2

Looks like that masters 4/5 race had 28 DNF of 76 starters? Whoa.

Psimet2001 

I'll be doing a full race report on my blog, but it was NASTY. Probably the most dangerous crit I have ever been in and when you think about it that kind of says a lot.

As MAtt said - we all know this one s going to suck but we still end up surprised every year when it does.

Mike was toast. Ryan H separated his shoulder. It wasn't from the pavement so much as the reactions when people moved or touched. I have never seen so many people go down without being touched before in my life.

I wanted both races to be over. I raced both near the front and pulled up short on both sprints thinking only about the carnage (well honestly in the first race I thought we had 1 more to go).

I don't think I will be back. Sad really.

I think everyone who is learning to crit race should go though. Baptism by fire. One day we'll all be saying, "oh yeah, you think that's something? well i used to race Sherman Park."

MJH2

I'm interested in reading the report. Mike has, thankfully, no broken bones. I guess it took a couple hours to put his face back together. He will be able to ride again someday, though.

My gold standard for unraceable races has always been the Olympia Fields Superweek race. Never done Sherman, but Olympia was nasty.

Scummer

I'm sure most of those DNF's are injury or crash related.

Scummer

I'm sure the pro's are going to use SP next year for Paris Roubaix preparation

nixternal

Saying this to who? Your hipster friend who just had his $50 Schwinn fixie stolen and is crying while you cowboy up and tell him about your $4000 carbon racer that was ganked from you while you were on it? Bike jackin' ain't easy!

MJH2

My Leland options seem to be getting even more grim.

Either do the 1/2/3 at 150k and likely be the last one on the course (probably finishing around dark).

or

Do the 30+ 1/2/3 which is now also combined with 45+ as well as Women's 1/2/3. So, a shorter race, but it includes the certainty of losing to Cat 3 women.

All in the rain/snow.

What to do?

nixternal

Stay home and drink beer!

carlosflanders

Do the 30+ 1/2/3 unless you're looking for IL Cup pts. Losing to cat 3 women is cool.

A late April Fool's joke: A certain cat 1 CXer has registered for the masters 4/5's race. I guess you gotta take your wins where you can get them.

Mr. Scrooby

Nevermind.

Psimet2001 

u guyz....

MJH2

What did I miss?

Whenever I need a pick-me-up, carlosflanders has my back. Here, I was worried about getting dropped by the Cat 3 wimmens and he reassures me... that there's nothing wrong with that. Love it!

I'm leaning towards the Masters/Womens because I'm less likely to bail on a 60 miler than I am on a 90. And because I'm a baby. And because I do think that losing to the Cat 3 ladies will be kinda cool!

carlosflanders

Been there several times in CX last year. Was a pleasant experience, especially in the sandpits.

nixternal

At least it gives you something to look forward to when chasing.