If you’re going to race bikes, you have to become friends with delusion, as delusion is what allows you to continue racing after a dismal performance, it helps you set yourself straight after you screw up and it enables you to leave the house in what amounts to a logo-festooned cropped leotard. And after last night’s race at FBF, I’m going to have to dig deep into my carry-all of delusion and hope that it will get me through.
There was an easterly wind on the course last night, which resulted in a head wind between turns three and four, it wasn’t blowing hard, but a head wind usually serves to extinguish the confidence of those facing it. I wasn’t counting on it splitting up the pack with it’s gusty goodness, though, that would have to be done by those of us desiring a breakaway.
The group for the night’s race included many other potential breakaway partners: the Lone racer was there, Paul Carbonara was back from the rock and roll circuit, and Chris Castaldi would be looking to slip away from the group also. We assembled at the start line and set off, with the wind on our shoulders and our hearts filled with delusion.
The race then proceeded to alternate between bits of clumped slowness and intervals of strung out speediness. If I am to be honest, I am getting to the point in the season where I’m not incredibly motivated to get myself to races. Once there, I will participate of course (delusion dictates that), but the effort to get to the course and the coordination involved is starting to wear on me. Simply put, I’m nearly burnt out, it’s been about 4 months of racing, and that’s when I usually lose some of my inspiration. This circumstance, obviously doesn’t make for exceptional bike racing.
In my own delusional mind, where I am both a snappy dresser and a delightful singer, I like to think of myself as one of the stronger racers in the 3/4ths group at FBF. This misconception is so strong that I tried to race last night as if it were so. I jumped to moves that I thought had potential, and I even did a few efforts to see if I could coax some other racers to join me on the front. At about lap six or so, I did one of these efforts and jumped up to a move of two riders that were off the front. The effort took me about half a lap, and when I joined the duo, I took a brief rest and started to pull through. I noticed right away that one of the riders was just sitting on, and we didn’t have enough of a gap to convince me that working with one guy and towing another would be a successful endeavor. I sat up and drifted back to the pack.
And that’s whens thing went very wrong for me. As soon as I made it back to the group, there was a counter move that included everyone that wanted to slip away from the group. About ten or so riders got away with a slim gap, but they were fresher than the company I found myself in, and they were able to maintain that margin. I collected myself and made an effort to get to the split, I got to within about 200 yards, but I couldn’t summon the delusion needed to get up and finish off the job of getting to the split. I fell back to the peloton like a panting Icarus, covered in wax, feathers and shattered delusions.
This situation was made doubly disastrous by the fact that I really felt like I needed to score points last night—as I am leaving for Iowa (yes Marco, people do go to Iowa voluntarily) for a trip to see family. I will be increasing my capacities for both sausage and Wisconsin beer stuffs for ten days, and won’t be contesting the next FBF race—so if anyone else in contention for the overall series lead wants to take a week off, feel free. Hopefully while I’m away, I will be able to rest, recuperate and restore my delusion to levels adequate enough to make me believe that I can properly pedal a bicycle again.
Last night’s head song was "Sun King" by the Beatles, not exactly the most aggressive song in the world.
What was your level of suck? Methinks it was higher than it has been in a while.
I would guess seven-ish, I dislike being stupid.
I believe your FBF reports should include a post race BBQ eats addendum.
BBQ and bar closed last night!!
I was just looking at expidia. and they have Iowa as their number one destination for the 4th.
look out mid west im coming.
Maybe (not so) youthful enthusiasm. It is the time at Floyd Bennet where the points are getting straightened out and racing is becoming mundane, boring, some might say…negative (racers conservatively racing for a series, not a win). You could wait for all the players to go for a move, get in it with them and ride off into the sunset, or you can try to make the race. Last night, my friend, you tried to make the race. Unfortunatley, anyone willing and capable waited until after that moment. I always was dissapointed when I tried to make a move only to miss THE move, but never unhappy that I tried to make a race, get away without all of the other players and improve a standing. Put that in your delusional bag of tricks and come back from Iowa ready to make another one and barf a sausage all at the same time.
Delusion ain’t just a river in Iowa
While I don’t disagree on commending Schmalz or others on racing to make the race, 6:43 has it wrong:
“Last night, my friend, you tried to make the race. Unfortunatley, anyone willing and capable waited until after that moment.”
Hardly anybody in the winning move was racing negatively before, and hardly anybody in the winning move could be thought to be racing for the series overall. The guys who made that move were the guys who saved their bullets while everyone else chased down pointless moves, felt the winning move going away, and had the legs and the awareness to get in it.
I wasn’t there, so I would have to defer to your opinion on this. From reading Schmaltz report I ASSumed that the main players were in the break. From experience at Floyd and other “series” type races I still stand behind my comments (in general). It isn’t an insult, just fact that anyone in front of Schmalz in points can sit back and wait for him to make a move. He can not leapfrog them without gaining points while they do not. If someone that doesn’t matter (in points) gets away, then so be it. It is how breaks work in grand tours and also at FBF. It is the best tactic, but also considered “negative racing.” It is because riders are going for the overall and not trying to win any one race in particular.
at FBF points are points are points, you get them when you can because better sprinters and double point nights can “put you in a spot of bother” very quickly.