Lake Bluff and Glencoe Crits Race Report

Photo by Ali Engin

Kristen Meshberg has been having a phenomenal season, and we're very glad she's rockin' the 312 Spidermonkey jersey this year. Race reports are new to Spidermonkey as a team, but Kristen writes one for every race she does. They're a great way to gauge your improvement, make goals, and learn from every race.

From early June's Lake Bluff and Glencoe races:

When the gun went off I was thrilled to get a great start!  When I hit the first twisty section in great position I knew things were going to be ok!  I was so happy I yelled "F Yeah!"  Sometimes I crack myself up in races.  I settled in and rode the best I could.

Read the rest at Kristen's blog.

Coasting is for sissies!

Chicago 'Cross Cup: Dekalb 10/4/09 4b

So, on lap two I was picking off the last people I was going to get for the race while trying to hold off the guy from Dog Fish. As I was heading through a tight section with a few trees and tight turns right before the start/finish line, this kid yells out to me: “NO COASTING!” and then “COASING IS FOR SISSIES!” That was funnier than me grabbing the entirety of that guy’s “equipment set” along with the dollar dangling from his zipper.

This guy was a total slut...I thought it was my good looks and my terminator like jawbones, but I later found out he liked John, too.

So, I finished 9th and I really, really like this sport. But then again, the weather was awesomely perfect.

I’ve heard ‘cross is like a reverse crit, a time trial, and a circus. I think people have gotten it pretty close to right.

The course was great, really a lot of fun to ride. Some parts were quite narrow and I can understand why some would complain about a bad start position ending your race early. Also, I can kinda understand about not being able to “safely” pass in enough places. However, I never really felt that—at all, actually. Except for the single track section passing was never a problem created by the course, only the rider.

The start was not as nutty as I thought it was going to be. I was thinking along the lines of a triathlon swim start. We line up, they start us off and we’re flying at the first turn. John is like way ahead of me by turn two, and I was thinking about going up there, but then waited...why? Probably because I don't care all that much about a result at this point.

By turn 3 things were getting strung out and the leaders were well in front of me. I was still simply following the people in front of me rather than trying to get ahead of them. By the time we hit the tight technical hill just a few jittery racers had begun to annoy me. It was then that my competitive nature was rekindled and I began to actively try to get past people and make an effort to get to the front. However, getting to the front was not going to happen. The leaders were in view until we saw that tricky hill with 4 very off camber turns for the first time. Then once they went through a single track section behind a baseball diamond, the gap became impassible and it was over for anyone not in the lead group.

The barriers: my first time over was very, very ugly. I forgot what I was supposed to do—unclip the right, no left, wait right? Finally, I swung my leg around, unclipped, carried, jumped…set bike down and got on the damn thing one way or another…I passed the my last three people at the first set of barriers on the second lap and then it became an individual effort, and that I liked.

John and I played leap-frog in the second lap and we stayed closed enough to give each other shouts of encouragement at a few parts of the course. That was pretty cool.

Cross is fun. It was a blast to zip through the park. There was a little of nervousness because it was my first race, but honestly I can't see myself getting too nervous again. It is a super cool atmosphere and ultimately, though you are racing against other people, it is really more of a challenge within yourself. I'm totally hooked cause I had a great time. But, honestly, it really sucked to go over the second set of barriers—what the hell was with the nasty shit smell in those woods? Seriously, it was awful!

Thanks for driving out there John, and thanks Chip for helping me out with my chain before the start!

To Skin Suit or Not to Skin Suit, That is the Question

As rain poured down tonight and the reality of summer's ending settled in, I realized the race calender had only one remaining race-dot. For a roadie like myself, the Fall Fling signals the end is no longer near, but present. No Monkeys raced in last weekend's road race and crit...but this Saturday's Time Trial has attracted a few riders in search of a Skin Suit. (I capitalize Skin Suit in order to not inadvertently discount its formal nature). Yet not as a Pirate is in search of treasure for spoil, these riders in search of a Skin Suit have deeper intentions. I behold: The Skin Suit Challenge...



Discipline: Individual Time Trial in B.F. Egypt
Distance: 12.5km (7.75 miles)

Contestant 1: Dean Okun (SpiderMonkey Cycling)
C1 Bike: Pegoretti
C1 Aerobars: No
C1 Wheels: Deep Dish
Kansas University Alum: `86

Contestant 2: Andrew Zens (SpiderMonkey Cycling)
C2 Bike: Madone-sweet discovery logos too
C2 Aerobars: No
C2 Wheels: Non-Deep Dish
Kansas University Alum: `07



The moonshine lit juvenile quarrels involving story telling and gentlemen bets led to this very challenge: loser wears the long-sleeve SpiderMonkey Skin Suit to the end of the year Formal (did I forget the humiliation factor?). Andrew heads out of the gate 60 seconds before Dean with a racer half-way in between. Both riders have declined comment on whether they will be wearing a time trial helmet.


At about 20 mph for 60 secs Andrew should have about 500 meters on Dean. The wind will play a definite factor as well as cornering ability. Weather could be bad so I assume both will race with virtually no skin on their body getting air during the race; something they haven't done since Super Spring Crit in Beloit.


I wish I could say that the the coverage starts at 10am with Paul and Phil then onto the sweet shots of the team buses with Ben Stiller breaking time trial bikes and guys with ice vests drilling it on the trainer, but I can't. However, Andrew and Dean will be rockin' an iPod on respective Cyclops' having a Zym under the 312 tent while I enjoy a few 312s myself...


Something tells me they will be joking when they start warming up and then the reality of the Skin Suit sets in.




-CaCAW

3/4 National Championship

Today was the USA Cycling National Championship criterium race in Downers Grove, IL. The course was a textbook technical crit with 8 corners, a climb, and a beautiful Chicago Suburb setting. All the major players showed up for the 3/4 race slotted for 45 min + 1. Rider registration didn't hit the maximum, but 153 racers creates a sweeping spectacle that stretched from turn-to-turn.

With a technical course and fieldsize like today's, a good starting position is imperative; I slotted myself near the course entrance with 20 min left in the previous race. They called us to the line and I managed to be in the front on the left-side. Theeeeeeeeen the official dictates a mandatory pre-lap before we start. Some riders bitched and attempted to refute the officials request--I didn't want to sacrifice my good position, so I followed suit--and watched a herd of riders start to take their lap. After a not-so-pleasant exchange with the official, we were forced to take our lap and boom, i was in the back row of the start.....brutal.

With my recent upgrade to the 4s, I was apprehensive about testing the waters of the Cat 3s. But a fellow JJPeppers fan and recent Glencoe Grad Prix Masters 1/2/3 winner Jason K (Burnham Racing) was nice enough to give me some words of encouragement at the beginning of the race near the Port-a-John: "I'm gonna work your ass today"

The pace started fast and the war of attrition began on lap 1, riders were constantly being dropped. I did everything I could to move up on the climbs, take a few spots on the descent, grab a wheel during the front stretch, and it just wasn't enough. I was dangling off the back of the pack or chasing to catch a wheel after every burst that came from the front.

When the announcer proclaimed '8 to go,' you could feel the group turn on the jets. As I crested the climb with 7 to go, I couldn't match the intensity of the group, POP, and proceeded to get the 'we'll see ya' sign from the official and watched the final laps from the sideline of turn 8. When all things were said and done, I had survived the war of attrition better than half of the field...when i got dropped it looked like only 60-70 riders were with the group.

The cheering section rocked, as always. Andy, Trent, Jake, Keith, Keith's wifey, Katie, what appeared to be some older father figure looking dude with Katie (i don't know, i was dying out there), Chip, and Ken's wifey: THANKS!!!!

Dan Pollard, John Lyon, and Ken Mitchell all gave valiant efforts. Jordan Ross managed to stay with and finish with the group, hell yea.

Until next time, I love bike racing...
-Bryan Witry

Spring Paririe Road Race: our first win of the season!

About a month ago I wanted to get a few of my fellow Spidermonkies to do the Spring Prairie Road race. We managed to get 6 people signed up. Somehow it went from lets do the Spring Prairie, to lets get Jake on the Podium (it actually came from an email written by Mike Shea). Okay, thats not a lot of pressure.

For the past few weeks my training had been consumed with hill intervals. Anywhere I could find it sufficed. the Dominicks on Chicago parking garage, that one tiny footbridge on the lakefront, a few boat ramps here and there.... I have even had nightmares about this race with all the pressure I was under having my team work for me.

Race day - The weather man predicted scattered storms. There was not a rain cloud in sight, finally I am happy the weatherman lied. 5 of us alond with about 50 other riders rolled out from the neutral start. Thats the hill we have to climb six more times. Mike shea and Dan Pollard did an amazing job keeping a presence at the front and not letting me do much work at all throughout the whole race. At one point Shea even disapeared from what looked like a sugar bonk only to reappear in form. On the second to last climb, I was feeling good--so good that I was having trouble getting comfortable with the slow pace the peleton wanted to go up the hill. I knew I could climb it with about twice as much power next lap.

The last lap we managed to be at the front nearly the whole lap. Coming into the final climb, we lost a few positions but still stayed close up. I took the turn wide and stayed in a 39-19 gear. After a few quick spins, I had the diesel engine going and within 5 pedal strokes, I had passed all of the 10 or 12 people in front of me. As I danced on my pedals and crested the hill for the false flat, I was one the front with a gap of at least 10 meters behind me. All the pressure was finally lifted. I shifted into the big chainring, got in the drops and drilled it to the finish. I gave a modest one finger in the air, Lance time trial style. I crossed the finish with almost a 30 meters gap behind me.

The spidermonkey team effort payed off. I got my first 1st ever and my first podium in almost two years.

-Jake

Snake Alley

The Snake is for real.

The switchback climb up a brick paved street, thefast, tight downhill section following the climb, this race doesn't let you ease up until you cross the finish line. Leading up to Saturday, everyonekept telling me how tough it was going to be, and they were not lying. Ihaven’t been racing for long, but right now I don’t have any qualms aboutsaying I will be hard pressed to find a harder criterium anywhere in theMidwest. Signing up for this race was a last minute decision that involvedmailing my registration overnight to make sure I was on the start line (atthe back of the start line, too, since starting position was determined bywhen you registered). But having received excellent advice before hand, Iwas not worried about where I was starting.

Prior to the start I was able to ride the Snake a couple of times, and Iknew that I would have no problem finishing the race, the question was justhow well would I place. Riding in Chicago we obviously don’t get the chanceto bomb any downhills so the back end of the course after the Snake was whatworried me, and I was extremely happy that the 5s race did not have to dealwith the wet streets that some of the races later on in the day wouldexperience.

Like I said, I was one of the last to register so my starting position wasin the last row. When the race started, my only thought was to make up 10-15positions right away before the start of Snake Alley, I didn’t want to getcaught behind any riders dropping chains or falling over on the climb. Bythe first turn up the street towards the Snake, I had made up around 10spots and was careful to avoid the 1 or 2 riders who dropped their chainsbefore the climb up the bricks began. My goal was to stay seated during theclimb to maintain the best traction over the bricks (which are tiltedupwards), causing your rear wheel to bounce over them, which I was able todo for the first couple of laps. By the 5th lap, I was standing on thepedals the whole way up, my legs experiencing an entirely new kind ofburning.

I don’t really remember a lot of the specifics about the different laps, butI do know that this was the only crit so far that I have been able to keeptrack of what lap I was on, mainly since I was counting down how many moretimes I had to climb the Snake. By the third lap I would feel despair eachtime I would shift into my small ring after the Start/Finish line, knowing Isoon had to start another climb up the Snake. Dealing with the switchbackswas interesting as well, since there always seemed to be one more then youwanted there to be; I got tricked on most laps thinking I was done only tolook up and see another brick paved switchback, laughing at me.
By the 4th or 5th lap my lungs felt like they were on fire as it wasextremely hot with no breeze as we were making our way up the climb.However, it was about this time that I really started having fun on thedescents, railing corners, rarely touching my brakes, and hitting all thelines that I wanted to in and out of every corner; this allowed me to makeup a couple places on every lap, not to mention the passes I was makingwhile on the climb up the Snake.

In a race like this, it’s very easy to lose track of the lead group sinceyou are essentially strung out single file around the course after about twolaps. I knew I had been passing people the entire race, but I was not awareI was in the top ten until one of the local riders I had met the day beforesaw me fading a bit on lap 6 and yelled at me to keep going since I wassitting in 7th place (fan support is HUGE at this race). I knew thesuffering was going to end soon, so I just put my head down and concentratedon staying in the middle of the alley on the way up and hitting all my lineson the way down. On the eighth and final time up the Snake, I crestedalongside two other riders and my only thought at that point was “Hammer.” Ishifted into my big ring and attacked the descent, quickly putting somedaylight between myself and the other riders; I don’t think I touched mybrakes on the final descent and I was able to hold off the hard chargingriders behind me for 4th place.

This is definitely a race I will be signing up for next year; I just won’twait until the week before to send in my registration.

Sitting on the hill afterwards, cold Miller High Life in hand, screaming myhead off for the riders who were suffering like I had a couple hoursearlier, was a great way to end the day. Even if you don't ever race theSnake, experiencing it in person is worth the drive.

Dan Pollard - Cat 5

Leland Road Race 4/25

What do you get when you mix water with kool-aid mix? Kool-Aid, duh.

What do you get when you mix 40 mph gusts with open farm roads and packed gravel? The Leland Kermesse Race Report.

Mike Shea and Cali-John road the 4s and all of its 40 mile windy-mess. Shea earns the 'He's such a nice a guy award' for his actions after an unfortunate event involving bumping, crossed wheels and asphalt. After a fellow rider kissed the pavement and didn't get to his feet as the group rode away... Shea flipped a 180 and rode the rider back to his senses.... Sportsmanship, enough said.

Dave, Bryan, and Andy represented the new comment grabbing kits well for the Flemish-style 30 mile wind-fest. The mile stretch of packed gravel was brutal EVERY TIME (3 times for the 5s, 4 for the 4s) as flashbacks of George Hincapie's latest mishaps were added to 25 mph headwinds...

At the end of the day, we kept the rubber side down and enjoyed some beers afterwards as we mumbled to ourselves about how much fun it actually kinda was...

Shake n Bake!
-Bryan

Thanks for the report, Bryan!
-Mike

Kevin's Crit: Thursday

here's a photo from Tuesday...I think Dan may be smiling. Oh, wait...after a closer inspection, that mug has definitely twisted into a grimace. mcs

After Monday and Tuesday's suffer fests, I was looking forward to another relatively calm day of racing without 30 mph gusts coming off the lake. The race actually started off the slowest of any of the days this week, which I was fine with, my legs felt trashed during my warm up and I wasn't real confident that I was going to be able to stay with the pack the entire time which was my goal for the week: just hang on, get some experience and get as many starts as possible.

After about 3 laps the inevitable attacks started and the pace began to get whipped up, pushing the race average to around 24.5 MPH. None of the attacks were able to stay away though since the group was really focused and working well together to bring everyone back to set up for a sprint at the end. Throughout the race I was really concentrating on positioning and trying to stay in the top 15-20 spots in the middle of the pack, using the slipstream as much as possible.

With about 6 laps to go I realized that my legs felt the best of any day this week and I started thinking it might be possible to set myself up for a top 10 finish. On the following laps I kept testing my legs to make sure I would have enough left for a sprint and just tried to maintain my position in the pack. As soon as we started the bell lap the pace picked up and the pack started to get strung out heading into the second to last corner; coming out of the corner I moved to the inside because I wanted to be on the inside coming off the last turn. I was able to hold my line and position through the final turn and gave everything my legs had to snag 7th. Thanks to the loudest one person Spidermonkey cheering section (Vanessa) who I heard on every lap!!

Looking forward to some more racing tomorrow (Saturday)

~Dan Pollard


Here's a photo of Vanessa taking a fast corner in the race on Tuesday (that's the one she finished 2nd!) The rider in black, just behind Vanessa, was the winner.

Kevin's Crit: Monday

Riders Ready!

A few Spidermonkeys were down in Calumet Park racing on Monday evening.

Congrats to Dan and Keith on entering the fiery world of road bike racing! Sorry guys, there is no going back! Your life will now be consumed by this sport...

Here's Keith's race report:

As many of you know, this was my first foray into bike racing, so there were a lot of firsts and surprises. The first surprise was how quick the race started. The whistle blew and we were off. By the time I clipped in, I realized that this was not going to be a race to slowly dip my toe into the water and get used to racing in a pack and bombing corners in a group. This was going to be an actual race. And a fast one at that.

To set the scene a bit, the course was a counter clockwise loop in Calumet Park. The wind was pretty stiff, with a 20 to 25mph headwind on the homestretch. 46 riders took the start line.

As I mentioned earlier, the race started fast, and I had to go full steam from the whistle to keep up with what I knew was going to be a pretty quick split in the field. By about the fifth lap, the selection had been made, and luckily I managed to make it. The rest of the race played out like a broken record. Rest/Recuperate in the tail wind, then bomb the corner into the headwind, go all out, then succumb to the wind and settle into a fast, but manageable pace.

The wind nullified any potential breaks, and anyone that went up the road was brought back pretty quickly, so the pace was pretty consistent throughout. I spent most of the race in the back half of the front group, taking full advantage of sitting in the slipstream and slowly becoming more confident taking a corner at 26 mph in a group. For once, being short was a huge advantage, as I positioned my diminutive 68-inch skeletal frame in between bigger riders and made them do most of the work.

As the race went on, I became more confident moving up, and even ventured up to the front of the group a couple of times. At the bell lap, I was able to work myself up into a good position for a sprint, but the confidence to fly into the final corner at 30mph was not there quite yet, so I played it conservatively, which set me back toward the middle of the front group coming into the last 200 meters. I unleashed my meager sprint to the line, and breathed a huge sigh of relief that race one of hopefully many this season was under my belt.

At the finish line, I counted seven guys in front of me, but the race official said they were only scoring the top seven because that’s all they could see. The official results have a top 10 today, but it was full-on night by the finish with no street lights, so I don’t blame the officials for not catching all of the numbers at the finish. All in all, it was a great race and I had a blast. This was definitely the low-key entrance to racing I was looking for to test the waters.

Can’t wait to give it another go on Wednesday and Saturday.

Sherman Park Criterium, 6/14/08
Race #8

4th place/50

xXx AthletiCo did a great job, from what I can tell. I was (and still am) pissed about my result but my prize was by far the nicest trophy I have ever won for anything. Thanks, guys! Trophies like this make it easier to justify so much time and compulsive training on the bike to non-racers, people like my wife.

I really didn’t care about going for a result in this race until it started. These last two weeks I have been tired, bordering on exhausted or suffering from possible burn-out. Instead of obsessing with riding, I had been trying to focus on the end of school (I'm a teacher) and being responsible there rather than preoccupied with my rather serious whims on the bike. Shirking my responsibilities for the bike must be mediated by some kind of maturity.

So, I spent little time on the bike and it felt pretty damn good.

Report:
This was by far the sketchiest race I have entered. Iowa had crushing wind causing people to loose their line, today many riders just couldn’t hold their line. I was in midpack and in the back for most of the race so I saw nearly everything bad happen. I also got to quickly identify the nuts I should keep behind me and then moved to the front half as the race progressed.

The course was a ~1 mile loop around Sherman Park at 55th and Racine. Nice park. Built in the same era as Humboldt park with separate changing rooms for men and women on either end of the park pool. Several Spartan cement pedestrian bridges linked the pool area with the playing fields banked by the park’s lagoon. The course was a closed park drive that circles the lagoon, with a slight downhill start and a slight uphill final 50m to the finish. There were no corners and just a few minor spots of rough pavement. The soft edge of the course caused a few close calls and the drenching rain we’ve had put a bit of mud in my eye. All in all a nice course, I’d rate it 8/10.

Short version: The race was not eventful. There were a few attacks, none stuck. From midpack I kept an eye on any breaks and they were all 1 or 2 riders and were eventually sucked back in. I felt pretty strong and with 10 min to go, I was confident I could earn a place. With two to go I was quite sure I could get a podium at least, on the bell lap I got caught out front and lost the sprint for 2nd and got toasted at the line for 3rd. I placed 4th and got a damn nice trophy for the effort.

Nice shot of Grant throwing the bike for 2nd and me about to finish 4th. After closely examining the photographic evidence, Grant must have been moving at light speed because he was pretty far behind me in the previous shot and then is more than a length in front in this one. I must have been more dead than I thought. (Thanks to Luke for taking a perfect finish line shot!)


So the last lap is all that really matters for me. As the bell rang, I was 3rd wheel crossing the line and before I knew it I was on the front. Fuck. I pulled off and grabbed 2nd wheel (perhaps I should have dropped back a few more, but I was concerned that everyone would have been too guarded). This guy was on the front for like 2 seconds, so I’m on the front again. Fuck.

Now my options were jump and go for it/try to hold ‘em off for 1k; not pull and hold for a bunch sprint; pull off and see what happens. I did the stupid thing: stayed on the front and didn’t do anything. I let the pace drop just a bit, but then nothing. The winning move came from a xXx rider who jumped at 200m and pulled away so damn strong and smooth that even as the race was happening I couldn’t help but admire it. It was so strong decisive that I knew it was the win. I tried to jump on his wheel but didn’t really "try" to jump it, I just accelerated a bit and held a higher pace but not enough to keep with him. Looking back, I think I had the strength; I didn’t have the -- I dunno, the blood lust, I guess. With 75m to go I jumped and thought I could hold for 2nd but at ~50m Grant (xXx) came around my outside. I was not holding my line too well because I was reaching my limit and we bumped shoulders while sprinting out of the saddle, but not badly enough to knock him off his momentum (congrats Grant!). I came into his lane and after the race joked that it was because I saw him coming around. That was not true, and not funny--though I didn't realized it until I was riding home later on. That shit can be dangerous. I didn’t do it intentionally. Another xxx rider who was way on the inside took 3rd, we both threw the bike, he won the throw. (edit: he had me by a wheel, at least...damn. Two Half Acre guys were watching the finish (thanks for the beer!!) and one had me for 3rd, the other 4th. I guess it was pretty close.)

Once again, I was the lead out man for 2nd. I’m starting to feel like the horse that xXx rides in on.