2011 Fall Fling Wrap-Up

Disclaimer...I am writing a wrap-up of races that took place on October 1st and 2nd 2011 as I sit here on March 11, 2012. I don't know why it has taken me this long, but I hang my head in shame.

Anyhoo...

October 1 was the DuPage Tech Park Circuit Race. A 1.8 mile, rolling circuit that us Cat 4s were set to do 14 laps of. This race didn't go so well for me in 2009, as the combination of hills, brutal wind, and burning lungs were my downfall. However, my fitness this year was vastly improved over 2009, and while there was some wind it was certainly manageable. It was also a big mental boost to have my wife and son there to cheer me on (even though at just over 6 months, Ethan wasn't doing too much cheering. He was sitting up by himself, though).

The Cat 4s lined up in front of the 40+4/5 field, which was to roll out a minute or so behind us. The whistle blew and away we went. It was pretty fast right from the start, but I was feeling really good. As we came around to the start/finish, an official was standing in the road, waving us to a stop. Turns out they had started the two fields too close together, and we had to roll to the line and re-start. Oh well, that was a nice warm-up lap.

We took off again at a good clip, and the pace stayed pretty elevated throughout. I was mixing it up in the field, staying out of the wind, and feeling pretty decent...until about 10 laps in. A serious attack was made, and when we accelerated to reel it in, all of a sudden I had nothing left in the tank. I was chewed up and spit out the back, where I rode the remainder of the race alone. I never lost sight of the field, but I couldn't catch up to them, either. Still, it was a better showing than 2009 and I was able to head off for the day with my dignity intact.

October 2 was the grand finale, the Wood Dale Circuit Race, a 2 mile loop through a business park that featured plenty of twists and turns and elevation changes. The points race was razor-thin between Bicycle Heaven and Tower Racing going into this last day, so we knew we had to put in some strong performances to try to take home that $2,000.00 check.

The Cat 4s lined up for 45 minutes plus two laps, and away we went. In the field with me were Scott Bowden, Jim Spanish, and Stephen Pedone. Scott was the man that we were hoping to get on the podium at the end.

I don't remember much about this race, but it was fast. Lots of attacks. At one point, three riders got away up the road and I heard Scott say "you gotta get me up there." I put my head down and started drilling it...and in a few short moments we had bridged up.

I was feeling good for most of the race, but my legs didn't have much for the sprint and I had to content myself with 11th. Scott took 3rd, however, and Jim and Stephen were right behind me in 13th and 14th place.

All in all, the team had an incredibly strong showing that day. Lots of wins and podium finishes. Unfortunately, it just wasn't quite enough to take home the grand prize. By a margin of just a few points, Tower Racing walked away with the $2,000.00. Kudos to them, and mega-thanks to ABD for putting on a great series of races. The friendly competition and team camaraderie that it fostered were pretty incredible to be a part of. And thus endeth the 2011 racing season.

ABD Fall Fling Circuit Race, West Chicago, IL, October 2, 2010

I shouldn't have even bothered. Rolling terrain, a healthy dose of brutal winds, plus a pinch of impending illness made for a very short and painful day in the saddle.

The course today was right across the street from the "Pelladrome" in West Chicago. It was a 1.8 mile paved loop around what had been planned to be an office park. The Cat 4s were on tap to do 14 laps. The east and west ends of the course both featured a fair amount of uphill which in the absence of wind would have been manageable. But not today...

I hadn't pre-registered, so as the wind whipped around me on my walk over to registration the rational part of my mind said "back out while you still can." Perhaps I should have listened to that voice. But I laid my money down, got my number, and headed back to the car for a warm-up on the trainer. As I spun, clouds started to gather and the wind seemed to get worse.

After one warm-up lap out on the course I rolled to the line with 22 other riders. All the usual suspects were there. My nightmare began as soon as the whistle blew...I performed one of the most amateurish clip-ins of my racing career. For the life of me I just could not get that left cleat engaged in the pedal! I felt like a total goob as riders surged past me.

And surge they did. This field had no intention of hanging together to fight the wind...those at the front clearly intended to shatter what little peloton we could have had and turn this into a 25-mile strung-out drag race. After finally getting myself clipped in, and hauling a** to join up with the field, I could tell that this was not going to end well. My legs felt like two lumps of lead and my heart rate was already through the roof.

I soon found myself spit out the back of the main field, but fortunately I was not the only one. I was able to get in a four-man group with Beverly Bike, WDT, and a Purdue rider. Initially there was still hope that we could catch back on to the field, but with each passing moment that hope got further and further away. As did the field.

By now I was in agony. My lungs were burning, and with each gasp it was like breathing in liquid fire. All the while, my heart was firmly lodged somewhere right behind my uvula. We dropped the WDT rider, and picked up someone else, keeping our group at four. But then the uphill start/finish stretch was my downfall. I lost touch with my group, and found myself all alone out in the wind.

I rode another two laps to make for a tidy 7.5 mile "race." I was caught on the backstretch by the 40+ Cat 4/5 field that had been started right behind the Cat 4 field. And on the start/finish stretch I looked behind me and saw the pace car breathing down my neck. As I rode past the official at a mere 22 minutes into the race I made the imaginary slash across my neck and stated "I'm done." As I rode away I heard them announcing over the loudspeaker that 483 had dropped out. Thank you everyone, I suck.

What an ignominious end to the season.