FBF 3/4ths race 7/29/2008

I am almost done with the season. I’m just limping through these last FBF races because I have been able to place pretty consistently, and to be honest, I really enjoy the atmosphere at FBF. If it weren’t so cordial out there, I’d be spending my Tuesdays watching "Flipping Out" and drinking beer, as it is, I slap on the lycra and then post-race drink beer in the parking lot at an abandoned air field.

The wind last night was slight, and from the classic south westerly direction. That meant breakaway prospects were slight, but that doesn’t mean that you try a shot at the head for the race. And try we did. The moves went off the front, I was keeping an eye on James Buttler, as he was the only motor in the race that has been in the top two for the last two weeks. Results like that will attract attention to yourself – and James had plenty of attention. I usually reacted to his moves, as I couldn’t afford to let him go, but nothing ever materialized at the front. And if any moves lacked the presence of Wonder Wheel racers, they chased. So if a move got a shuffle without a Wonder Wheeler, it was doomed a little.

It was just a mater of ticking away the laps after that. I saw the sprint writing on the wall, and on the last lap, I was careful to hold my position near the front. There were some guys dangling off the front of the race on the last lap, but I was pretty sure that either United or Wonder Wheels would bring them back. And they did. I was third wheel going into the last corner, but the sprint train went up the right side, led by yellow engineer James Joseph. I jumped, but didn’t catch the train. I came in 6th – ending my streak of 5th place finishes. I hate the "one out of the money" place, it’s just first sister kisser. Which is nice if you’re James Haven, I suppose, but not so great for everyone else.

Side notes from the night

Last night was front-end loader practice at FBF. Before the races started, about a dozen big Tonka Toy type tractors slowly made their way to the parking lot in a single file line. They then started weaving and turning in precise arcs in the lot. It was like an above ground synchronized swimming routine – and it was mesmerizing – like watching a heavy-industrial version of Cirque du Soleil.

Schmalz race report

Like I’ve said before…A six – for sixth place, the sibling-smooching spot.

Last night’s head song was "Looks That Kill" by Motley Crue, a song so rad – it almost made my head pop off of my shoulders.

FBF 3/4ths race 7/22/2008

 

Last night had to one of the strangest weather nights at FBF. The wind was blowing from the east, and during the first part of the race, it was raining on one half of the course. The finishing straight had rain, while the opposite side of the course was dry – it was absolutely bizarre. We had a head wind between turns three and four, and a cross wind on the finish. The unusual weather made it seem like we were riding the course backwards.

 

I am at the point in my season where both my body and my bike are in serious need of an overhaul. I had a big old creak in my bottom bracket on Saturday, and when I went to take my crank off using the handy self-extracting bolt, the entire little screwy assembly came right out of the crank. It seems that my crank has become fused as one with my bottom bracket, and no turns from the little bolts on the self-extracting bolt will take the cranks off. I will now one day have to somehow get my crank arm off my bottom bracket spindle. But I figure since the parts are fused together, I won’t have to worry about my crankarm pulling off – so I have that going for me. I was able to squirt a little Tri-Flow on my bottom bracket – so the creaking has gone away. Problem solved!

 

My body on the other hand is getting to the point in the season where I have to ice parts of myself. My left heel has a slight burning/soreness sensation at times – I think the tightness in my hamstrings is trying to pull my heel straight up my ass, causing some pain. I have been stretching, and doing some self-massage (non-erotic even!) and treating the pain with liquor, but the heel probably needs rest. Alas, there’s no rest planned for a few weeks yet, so I will have to limp my way to the end of the season. It’s the price you have to pay for mightiness.

 

But back to the race. We started under some raindrops, and in the early part of the race, I was active near the front. About half way through the race, I went off the front and was away with Rob Brown of Major Taylor and Jackson from Wonder Wheels and a guy from Chelsea Bikes. We were working well, and we were almost caught by the entire pack at some point later on. I decided to try and keep things going, so I pulled into the windy section to see if the split would hold. It must’ve worked, because we soon had a group of about 9 guys or so. I don’t know how it happened as I was at the front and didn’t have time to look around.

 

A big split like that has its positives and negatives. You can, in theory, get a lot of rest before you have to pull at the front, but that assumes that everyone there can or will work – which isn’t always the case. We had lots of gaps opening in the split because of fatigue or because guys were hoping for a tow to the line. I sensed we had some passengers in the break, but we needed to keep the move rolling, so the passengers weren’t dealt with. We kept together in a clump at the front and rolled in towards the line.

 

As we came to the last corner, I was sitting at about 5th wheel or so, when James Buttler (who won last week and was second the week before) jumped, one guy on the left reacted, and Rob Brown jumped too. For reasons I don’t understand, the two guys in front of me didn’t react to these moves – they didn’t get up at all. Maybe they were gassed or tired, but to not even react by just standing up and giving the old college try really threw off my strategy. I was expecting them to race to the finish, by jumping on surges and such. No such luck. I had to come around them. I hit the wind and went for the line. One guy passed me and I held off everyone else and finished fifth. Not bad, but it felt like it could’ve been better. Next time, I will have to take care of my own business at the finish, as I can’t always rely on the race to act the way I expect. So I had a nice learning experience – have you ever enjoyed a learning experience? Me neither.

 

Side notes from the evening

 

Paul Burrowes won his first 123 race at FBF Tuesday night, it’s hard to believe that he hasn’t won there before. Congratulations to Paul, and it looks like he’s getting the yellow jersey.

 

 

 

 

Tonight’s head song was "Hey Jack Kerouac" by 10,000 Maniacs, what can I say – I’ve been listening to my wife’s ipod.

 

Schmalz Race Report

 

Like I’ve said before…A five – for fifth place when it could’ve been much more.

CRCA Power Points A Race July 19, 2008

My chances in a points race are so slight that they barely warrant a mention, yet I feel compelled to describe the race anyway – as I am a myopic bike racer like any other. It was a warm Saturday morning that greeted us as we lined up for the race. The July heat that has been smothering the region recently was present and accounted for, making my optics fog with anticipation for the race. A race scheduled for 8 laps with sprints on each ascent of Harlem and Cat’s Paw hills. Many might be fooled into believing that having the sprints on the top of the hill in Central Hill might make this a race for climbers – but that notion is dead wrong. Fit sprinters can flatten out the hill at the north of the park to bring themselves the same glory they find on the flat finishes – it’s a fact – an annoying, frustrating, seemingly unfair fact. Damn you, sprinters!

And off we went. The thing about points races is that they are never comfortable – especially with two sprints per lap. Empire was aggressive early with Dave Wiswell, getting off the front of the race in a small group. The group was brought back by the teams that missed the break, and other move went away with varying degrees of success. I can only really guess as to their make up, as I was tail gunning the field, to save myself for what, well, I can’t say. I really didn’t have a plan or strategy – I was baggage. Brightly colored baggage – but I am easier to spot at the airport – so that’s a plus.

With about 3 laps to go or so, a group rolled off the front of the race. The field had taken so much abuse, it was as if we just let them go so they would stop harshing our mellow. They scooted up the road to continue to abuse one another, and we in the laughing area relaxed – our races thankfully clipped short. I’m at the point in my season where I’m allowing myself the luxury of not caring what happens in races, I just show up and roll. I’ve also started allowing myself the luxury of foregoing regular bathing to preserve my natural musk, a wildly popular decision in our household. Is this the mindset of a champion cyclist? Probably not, but do champion cyclists have a finely developed musk trail? I think not!

The marshals of the race cut the field’s race short by one lap (to our shame), and Jeff King cannily saw an opportunity and sprinted for the win from our rag tag band of leftovers. Alex Bremer won the real race in a fine solo move. I would say the race was like what I imagine a first date with Courtney Love would be like. A flurry of furious early activity followed by some nausea and self doubt, a period of near dead inactivity, and then a ride home alone in shame.

 

This morning’s head song was “Here It Goes Again” by OK, Go. Perhaps the most awesome video in the history of videos.