Post date: Mar 08, 2011 4:54:7 AM
Leading up to the race was inevitable the car ride there. The highlight of the ride would definitely have to be the hour long stop at Steak and Shake that involved huge milkshakes, Guacamole and “Royale” double burger meals, followed with hotdog deserts (which Ian smartly chose to save himself from). We had been listening to the audio book of Jurassic Park on the way to L-dubs last weekend, and we continued the book (finished it on the ride back to Chicago) - we all unanimously wanted to kill Alex off.
The Road Race was exciting (and very rainy). The races started at noon on Saturday, so it gave us a chance to sleep in a bit. We chose to wake up at 6 and get some free “continental breakfast” at the Super8 where we stayed. After realizing that we had almost 4 hours left before we had to be there, we decided to pass out again. As we pulled into the parking lot, the rain let up, so, as per newly found tradition, we opened all the doors and the trunk and blasted some ridiculous music to get psyched for the race. We set up all three trainers to warm up in front of the Sub in the trunk, but sadly no one was able to capture that moment in photographic history...
The RR itself was comprised of two laps, with one big hill up front and a few rolling hills mixed in. There was however a hill leading to the finish line that Ian clocked himself coasting at 45mph. Talking about it later, we were all scared as shit on that hill, but tried to push the limits to gain some time.
So that’s the course, but the race for me was rather tragic (sounds pretty Emo). I finished my first lap pretty strong, pulling for a good 20 minutes – picking guys up from Ian’s group ahead that were getting dropped off - trying to decrease the gap. Just before climbing the first big hill again, a few guys breaking away destroyed the group that was created and I couldn’t see anyone anymore. As I came to the first fork in the road, there was no one directing traffic or any signs or anything, so I figured I would just take a right and hope that was the correct way. Well, it wasn’t.
After seeing “new” parts of the course on my second lap, I began to think that I had taken the wrong turn. Then after seeing the women’s group coming at me on the opposite side of the street, I knew for sure I was going the wrong way. A few minutes later I was descending the big climb after the start, and then a few minutes more, back at the starting line. I was PISSED. My race was going so well! I had a reserve of energy left and I was totally ready to throw an attack at the riders in front of me. To top it all off, I had given Ian the keys to the car (he has been continually finishing before me, so I didn’t want him to wait around in the cold rain). He crossed the finish about 10 minutes later. Yay for fuck-ups...
The Crit was called (or rather Iced out). After raining all day the day before, and snowing a bit in the ice, the race didn't take place. We drove the race anyways and drove the course. If it would have happened, there would have definitely been a pileup in one of the corners due to ice and a steep angle. So we were able to get back home pretty early.
And most important of all:
Happy Birthday Bryce! (it was his birthday on Sunday)
Catch phrases from the weekend (not in any particular order):
*WUB-WUB*WOMP*WOMP*
“Fuck them guys,”
“Naw Meen,”
Chinese Buffet,
and of course: "don't make me put that in the race report!"
Nuf Said
-Marc