Tuesday I went down to Ace Speedway, http://carolinaspeedwayseries.com/default.aspx, again. However, the story doesn’t start there. Tuesday’s races came after a weekend of racing at the Tour of Possum Creek and only one day off. Thus, I started the “C”, Cat 4/5 race on what I thought were tired legs.  The “C” race was 25 minutes with two primes. As I started out I was thinking “I just want to finish in the field sprint.” I took care to make sure I didn’t do much work for the first half the of the race and didn’t compete for the first prime. Nothing exciting happened until the second prime at four to go. As I wasn’t thinking about winning, I went for this one. I hopped on a wheel of one of another rider and then sprinted for the line and took the prime. By this point the two us had opened a gap and I heard Webb yelling to keep going. I briefly looked back and saw that I had about 50 yds on the field and the other
rider was no longer there. Two choices lay before me, 1) keep going or 2) drop back into the field and compete in the sprint. I’d rather risk it all have a good win than play it safe and fight it out in the sprint. On the next lap around I saw two to go. After looking over my shoulder I saw I wasn’t being challenged. With one to go my gap was still strong and I eased up a little to save some for the next race and easily took first place.

“B” Race.
Less than 10 minutes later the 40 minute “B” race got started. I’d told Webb that I would work for him as I was blown from the first race. A few people tried to pull off the front and Webb did a good job of getting in these groups. I tried to block for them, but nothing usually happened as the groups didn’t come together. The race continued this way until 15 minutes to go. Two groups of two had gone off the front and had been out for a while and the main field had let them go. I asked Webb if he thought they’d be brought back and he said yes. I moved up to try and lead a bridge to them, but when I looked back no one had followed. I decided to keep going and joined with chase 1. This time the break was working together perfectly. We then caught the lead group with 11 minutes to go. 8 of us then became 6, and then 4. However, the four that remained lead a textbook break. Perfect rotation with steady hard power. With three to go we caught the main field and
each of us knew we were in the top 4. I found Webb and we quickly discussed out a leadout. I sat on his wheel as he pulled me through the last 3 laps. With a 1/3 of a lap to go he opened it up and pulled me out of the field. Surprisingly, it didn’t seem like anyone had followed!! Webb pulled away and we both crossed the line together, I took first and Webb won the field sprint for fifth, still in the money. The leadout was textbook perfect. Racing with teammates does pay off.

Thanks to Webb for the leadout and tactical advice during both races. I also have to credit SOS Message for helping me get ready for nearly back-to-back days of racing. I’m not sure this will happen again as I’m probably a marked man from winning two races back to back. Rogues should continue the momentum and  put the hurt the Ace Speedway Races the rest of the summer!!

On Saturday, August 15th their will be a family day of a racing at Ace. This is a make up race for an earlier one. The concession stands will be open and other events to make it more family friendly.

The Tour of Possum Creek, 10-12 July, provided for another great weekend of racing. I was flying solo this weekend as teammates where moving, getting married or recovering from each. Saturday started off with a 56 mile, rolling hills road race for the Cat 4’s. None of the hills were worst than the out and back WW course. This was two laps of a 28 mile course. At the pre-race briefing we were told by roads were narrow and to be careful. I started the race on the back to save energy for later. Bike Zoo maintained the pace for the first lap and didn’t allow any breaks to get started. On the second lap the attacks started. Bike Zoo’s sprinter, a Krystal rider, and I got a break started with a few others, but after a few minutes people weren’t pulling through so we fell apart. With no real hill to cause a separation, nothing happened until 5 miles to go. I missed the initial break, but was able to get in the bridge up to it. By the last 3 miles, which were flat to down hill, top riders were fighting for position for the field sprint. We were given the whole road about .5 miles out, but I hadn’t pre-riden the finish line so I wasn’t ready for the all out effort at the end. I finished 10th after gaining back ground I lost for not being ready.

The 12 mile TT was later in the afternoon on a course with similar terrain, rolling hills. Even through it was in the evening, temperatures where still in the upper 80’s with no cloud cover. Coupled with too much of a warm up, this was very tiring combination. This was my first long TT with my new aero bars and helmet. However, due the hills, I didn’t spend as much time in my bars as I wanted to. The first half the of course had 4 hills had got me out the bars and on the hoods. We did have one railroad crossing on the top of a hill at which most riders got air as they crossed. I got passed at mile 4 by a Krystal rider and then again at mile 9 by the Bike Zoo sprinter. The last 3-4 miles were mostly down hill and were fast. The bars and helmet definitely paid off there as I was hammering just for the sake of finishing. In the end, I finished in 35 minutes and took 7th.

The Crits took place Sunday afternoon. After Saturday’s races and heat I decided I was better off skipping the Master’s 30 race and focusing on my Cat 4 crit. Due to a last minute decision by the Gale City, VA mayor, the crit was moved to a highschool parking lot with 2 hills, 4 U-turns and little distance between to work with. By the trip we showed up 3 juniors had wrecked out and the races were behind schedule. The 4 field set off for 30 minutes. I quickly found out that my legs weren’t ready from Saturday’s efforts and my nerves weren’t up for the course. I held on the best I could for 20 minutes. After that it turned into a windy TT for me. In the end, I finished without wrecking and in 12th.

Overall, I took 7th in the Omnium. This weekend also proved Rogues are not unknown. I parked next to one of Matt L’s coworkers who was heading back for the wedding. Sunday, I was asked about John M. and told how he put the hurt on the 4’s last year. I think people are looking forward seeing us out there later this season.

Webb completed in the RR but flatted.  Other notable resutls from Blacksburg, Cora took 1th. Andrew took 1st and last in the Pro’s. Ben won enough primes that he could now open his open sock shop.

Rogues had a good showing at Tuesday’s, 23 June, Ace Speedway crits. Sam H. and I rode down with Reid. It was unexpected surprise to run into Matt L. once down there. He had the same plan that I had. Combine two races into one drive and claim points for a Cat 3 upgrade. We both entered in the 4/5 and 3/4 races. Turn out at Ace was extremely high this week with 58 in the 4/5 and 63 in the 3/4 race.

The 4/5 was challenging race due to a very unsteady speed. However, Matt and I were able to get in and help a break pull ahead by one whole lap and rejoin the field. Efforts where made to break again, but the field wouldn’t let us go. The race finished in a confusing sprint as both lapped riders and leaders went for the finish. I lost count of the laps and wasn’t sure if we were on the last lap, thus my sprint was pretty poor. Regardless, Matt L. finished 4th and I came in right behind in 5th.

10 minutes later the 3/4 race started. Matt, Sam and I were in this one together. The race pace was steady, with minor acculerations, and mostly stayed together. Matt and I talked about positioning and making sure we stayed behind the front, but not lost in the back. We managed to work together a little helping each other stay out of the wind, but no real tactics to speak of. About half way into our 40 minute race we were about 14 and 15 back when three guys made contact and went down in the middle of the group. I was right behind this as it happened, but was able to go high and miss it. Matt got slowed down a little as they were sliding towards him. Luckily, none of us went down. However, nerves were shot a little. The next lap, the race picked back up. About this Sam took his leave to save up for the Pro 1/2/3 race. This race I was much more aware of lap count and time left. With 2 laps to go the acculeration started and the sprint took off on the back
straightaway one the last lap. I was on the outside to get a clean lane. I was able to move around the group in the last turn and took 10th across the line. Matt finished 19th.  This leaves me with 3 tops 10’s towards my Cat 3 upgrade and Matt L with 13′ish points towards his 3.

Sam raced the Pro 1/2/3 next. I missed part of the race as I was changing, but when I returned I saw Sam working with the first of two breaks that were trying to catch the back of the main group. He dropped from the first break and quickly intergrated with the second group. A few minutes later this group caught on to the back of the main group. Sam slowly worked towards the front as the lap count started dropping under 10. While I can’t remember his exact place, he did finish well within the top 10 in a mixed field sprint.

Who woulda thunk?

Rogues racing is primarily a road racing team (with a little cyclocross thrown in), but apparently they can race off-road just as well. Six of us showed up at the Rowdy Dawg mountain bike race held right in our back yard along Poverty Creek, Gap and Brush mountains. Dan, Matt, John, and Cole showed up with a glistening stable of new 29rs, 69rs and 96rs. Brian and I were racing in the vintage category. The conditions turned out to be great. The rain left early enough on Sat to leave the mud dry and tacky. Really perfect conditions. After we got our instructions (follow the little tiny green arrows scattered about the forest), we started going in circles immediately, down the road the wrong way and back through the parking lot. While I was trying to remember how to shift my mountain bike (has it been a year since I have even touched my mountain bike?!), the rest of the team barreled down the road at the head of the pack. Eventually I got going and settled in at a steady pace trying not to bounce off the never ending boulders in to the woods somewhere. Don’t let anyone convince you to buy into this retro, vintage crap. Rigid bikes with cantilever brakes are complete garbage and a leading cause of rigor mortis before death. I still don’t think the feeling has come back to my hands. Eventually the course led across the road to the Brush Mountain side, home of fast smooth trails. I finally started passing some people on the long ascent to the top of brush mountain. This was actually starting to be fun. Unfortunately, the trail turns down again and all those people passed me while I was holding on for dear life. Finally back to the road at the bottom and I am thinking, “this wasn’t too bad”. Then the marshalls point back to the Gap side indicating another lap through rock garden hell (Queen Anne). At this point, my bike is starting to think this is all a bit too much. First my saddle starts to fall off, and then one of my tubes fails. I wasn’t even riding my bike at the time. I was pushing up some hill and then pssshhht, no air. After rattling along for a while I did actually reach the finish to the cheers of most of the Rogues who had already finished and changed and eaten lunch. Strangely, Cole wasn’t there. It appears he went into the woods and was never seen again. If anyone is riding along and sees a hulking man beast running through the trees, no it is not Saskwatch. As it turns out, Rogues scored 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the sport class. (Matt P, McKenna, and Dan) Not bad for a couple of roadies.

The event was organized really well (courtesy of Ben Brown and Montgomery County Parks and Rec. ) and the barbecue from Professional Catering was fantastic.

Someone might post a recap, but the greater recap is the visual one where you can see the blood, sweat, and tears and then judge for yourself. Congrats to everyone.

Living on the east coast, you get used to the variable weather that the summers bring. Each of us Rogues are very familiar with the spontaneous thundershowers that ruin bar-b-ques, postpone lawn-mowing, and cause race cancellations. Five of us were faced with that very same predicament for the last Dixie Classic Crit of the month. We wanted to race, but a 50/50 chance of thunderstorms had us on edge. Still, we made the drive down south to Winston-Salem, gambling our race-eagerness with some Mother Nature whims.

We made the right choice because Mother Nature had a soft spot in her heart this Tuesday. Only the third vehicle in the parking lot, we arrived just in time for the officials to debate the race – some light rain having begun falling at that point. Minutes later, the rain ceased, the sun came out, and the wind was just as terrible as it was before. So, let’s race.

Actually, let’s race after an hour of warming up. The first crit, Cat 5 & citizens, began almost an hour late due to the tardy people registering. The course was an old go-kart or small auto track – dead flat with dozens of surface imperfections and regular bumps throughout. Warming up on the track at speed, it was an uncomfortable track, to be sure. A warm up under our belts, we watched as the Cat 5 crit rolled off the line.

Matt Cage was representing Rogues in the Cat 5 race. Sticking to the pack for most of the race, he made several attacks resulting in some exhausted pursuers. At least from my perspective, it looked like a great race. He finished in the main field.

Some minutes later, the Cat 3/4 crit began. I was in this field along with Tim Ciarkowski, John Webb, and Eric Carlson. The field was a huge mix-match of ability and steadiness and, fortunately, the half-dozen of uneasy moments never resulted in a crash. Without any change of grade with which to shine on, I was fine with the knowledge that I wasn’t going to win in a group sprint so I prepared to work for the other Rogues. In order to keep my other teammates safely back in the pack while exhausting some eager riders, I attacked off the front on two occasions. Just like all of the other breaks that made an attempt throughout the 45-minute event, no one ever seemed to want to rotate with me in these breaks – a complete lack of cooperation that was the order of the evening. So, after running near threshold for a minute, I would reduce my pedaling and allow us to get pulled back in. Eventually, I succumbed to the field and just rode in the slipstream of other riders to the finish. Oh, and Tim won a mid-race $10 preem. We all finished at various points in the pack.

The flat course was nice to no one but the sprinters. A field of 47 riders and some narrow turns meant that moving up the field over a half-mile track was practically impossible. As the pace of the 3/4 crit picked up, it was clearly impossible to make it to the front unless you had already found your spot there. And, without inter-team cooperation in the breaks, the 3/4 field was a mess.

Anyways, the Pro 1/2/3 crit rolled out shortly after the 3/4s had changed back into street clothes. Tim and John Webb were feeling lucky and decided to go out for round two, there Cat 3 classification providing that opportunity. The lights above the track were turned on as the sun set, fulfilling the promise that these Dixie Classic crits would occur “under the lights”.

The Pro 1/2/3 race was a beast. The pace was fast. The cornering smooth. The breakaway of three Time Pro Cycling riders was the highlight of the race. Watching the pace of the main field made be weak in the knees, but then seeing the Time riders lap the main field twice could have made me vomit my Clif bar were I not careful. Tim finished in the field while John Webb knew better and pulled back.

Afterwards, IHOP. It’s where a cyclist properly refuels. I’m really glad we took the chance against impending weather and I hope we venture out for some of the remaining Dixie Classic crits this year.

This weekend (May 10th and 11th) the Rogues taveled to McMinnville TN to do the Highland Rim Cycling Classic. John McKenna and myself (Tim C) went.  The race promised to be a paradise for climbers; a long mountain climb during the road race followed by rollers, an uphill time trial later that day, and a crit the following day. I have learned one important thing from the first day. It is only fun being a climber when you aren’t racing with climbers. If you race with climbers, things tend to hurt a lot.

Road Race — A nice 3 mile uphill section 10 miles into the race sorted things out nicely in the Cat3 race. I was in a lead group of 10 after the climb and were joined by two others about 20 miles later. So, this lead group of 12 was the group going to be soup sandwiching themselves to the finish. Twas not to be. Two riders decided to touch wheels and cause a four person pile up. Luckily, I had just finished my pull up front and was away from the crash. 8 riders left. The pulls hurt. I definitely don’t feel up to snuff this weekend. I have found myself to have some extra time to ride lately and have been doing a lot of miles and now my legs feel it. Alright– fast forward to the finish– I am in good position until the rider in front of me decides to sit up/explode in front of me. I have to swerve left a bit and end up 5th. Ehh, not terrible… I have to learn how to win sprints.

Uphill TT — My race. My race? It was very similar to Harding Rd, but with 55 miles worth of racing already in my legs it was going to be tough. The length was 2.5miles with a 8% grade. I finish in 12:21…. was it good enough for first? No. I came in second. Not bad, but still. I fancy myself an uphill TT specialist. Ha. Is there anything more useless than an uphill TT specialist? I’m not going to be training for that kind of stuff anymore… I’m going to start focusing on my weaknesses.

Tomorrow — I think I’m sitting in about 3rd place or so for the overall omnium points. The crit should be pretty tough. It is 0.6miles for the loop and is pretty technical. Fun Fun Fun

————————————————————end of Day 1—————————————————

The day of the criterium. It was an eight turn crit that was 0.6 miles long, very technical and the wind was gusty. Gusty enough to knock over a port-a-jon and it did. No one is in it.

Coming into the race I was tied for 3rd overall in the omnium with another rider a mere 1 point behind.

The race was really fast. I thought that something was going to go off the front and the pack would let them go because the pace was so high. Maybe the pace wasn’t that fast, maybe it is because this is one of my first cat3 crits. Well, I stayed near the front for the premes just in case something went off the front after the sprint. I even attempted to win a preme, but I didn’t. Nothing went off the front. Of the 35 or so riders at the start about 15 riders were able to hang onto the front. Coming into the last 3 laps I started jockeying for position. I sat in 8th wheel. The last lap was pretty much all out and there wasn’t any moving up. I finished in 6th, being able to pick off a few riders. I’m alright with getting 6th. I think with better positioning I could have placed much higher. I guess that will come in time. It was a much better race than I was able to do in Athens, GA.

Overall I was able to beat the rider I was tied with, but not able to hold off the rider right behind me in the standings. I received 4th place in the omnium.

I picked up 3 upgrade points (all from the road race) during the weekend and 2 more from the GC standings. So, I need 20 more to upgrade to cat2. I think it will be close. If I can get in a few more road races this season it will be easier than doing a lot of crits, that’s for sure.

——————————-McKenna——————-

John was racing in the Cat4 events and ended up finishing 6th in the road race, 4th in the uphill TT, 2nd in the crit, and 2nd in the overall.  He looks to be in great shape and looking to grab a few more upgrade points at the Knoxville Omnium and then move up to Cat3.

I went to the Sonny Hutchins crit in Richmond, VA with a few teammates: Cole, Matt Cage and Matt Lester on Sunday, March 2nd. We enjoyed nice weather and fast racing.

The first race I participated in was the 3/4 race. The race was full with 50 riders that were ready to go. A number of small attacks went early one but none stuck. My legs were feeling good so when I saw a break that looked promising I went. Matt Lester went with me, but given that our break was about 10 people large the field was anxious to pull us back and they did in a hurry. I then saw a break of two riders go, they looked strong and I was feeling antsy so I bridged. We were making time on the field, but one rider blew. He wasn’t pulling through and since we still had half the race left, I wasn’t about to pull through for him. We gave up and got sucked back by the field. At that point I realized that I should conserve for the bunch sprint finish. When the laps started getting into the single digits I kept myself in fifthish wheel. On the last lap to go I was in third position when the two riders in front of me pulled off. We had about 300 or so meters to the finish line and I was in a tricky position. I knew I didn’t want to maintain position and lead some joker out for the sprint, but I also knew that if I slowed up I would get swarmed, so I jumped as hard as I could and luckily no one got on my wheel. I crossed the line with my arms in the air. Number of crits entered at that point in the season: two, number of wins: two.

I also entered the Pro/1/2/3 field and despite trying to make the break, I was pack filler. Those boys have some power.

Thanks to demoncats.com for the excellent photos.

I went to Raleigh, NC this weekend with a couple of teammates, Matt Cage and Dan Repella. We had a road race on Saturday in rural Chatham county and a crit on Sunday on the NC State campus in Raleigh.

The 55 mile cat. 3/4 road race was on rural NC roads. Saturday’s results were pretty mediocre with me finishing in 18th place and Dan just a few spots behind. Not great, but better than mid pack. This was Matt Cage’s first race (he raced the cat. 5 race) and had a solid, pack finish.

We had fantastic weather for February and raced in short sleeved jerseys and shorts.

After the race we retreated to our luxury hotel, The Raleigh Hilton, and enjoyed the evening. The Rogues normally don’t travel in such style, but priceline came through with a rate of $45 ($58 after taxes and such).

The Sunday cat. 3/4 race was a 45 minute criterium on a back corner of the NC State campus (in or near their research park) with 42 starters. The course is a one kilometer D shaped loop with one hill and a technical back section that contained an S turn. From the start I felt good and held my position near the front of the race. I put in three attacks but was never able to get a group off the front, so with 12 laps to go I started conserving energy. I put myself in third wheel into the last corner and when I saw the finish line I punched it as hard as I could. It was enough to win by a good margin. I’m now five points closer to category two, $80 richer, and full of early season confidence.

John McKenna won the overall Master’s 35+ Mud, Sweat, and Gears series last weekend. McKenna was the top or one of the top finishers in each of the six races in the series and clearly won the overall, series podium. Nice work.