Rollo Tommassi
07-27-2004, 06:08 AM
Wisconsin in July. Bratwurst. Beer. Ufdah! And really, really fast racing. After years of waiting, Otto put together a 5 race series for Cat 3/4 Women. If only this had happened ten years ago, when I was ten years younger and perhaps a little fitter. In 1993, when I first did a Superweek race, I lined up behind names like Demet, Wenzel, etc. and would be promptly shelled within minutes. Now I would expect to finish the races, perhaps even on the same lap.
De Pere (Green Bay): A great course! Thirty miles, 40 laps (all the races about this length, double that of any other racing in the Midwest!). Got dropped halfway through, but worked well with my buddy Eve and stayed in. Got back on the tail of the group about 10 laps to go and all was fine. Last lap - we go into turn 1 - someone went a little wiggly, the girl in front of me wiggled, and then I wiggled, but not enough room to avoid! My front wheel got taken out from underneath me, and I laid it down (drive side up!) going 25pmh. Came off saddle, got rear wheel wedged up into my crotch, and WHAM! rear wheel hits curb and WHAM! rear wheel lodges itself in my a$$. Rear Kysirium Elite now has distinct flat spot. Determine that nothing is broken (plenty of padding in said a$$) I finish race, wheel completely rubbing frame. Men's 40 field lined up when I cross line, much oo-ing and ahh-ing at trashed wheel and bloody left shin. Eve drove to hotel as I could not flex leg too well. 38 starters, 32 finishers.
Sheboygan: Another great course, the race where the children are always begging for water bottles. Dickensian atmosphere as we glide around on million dollar machines and covet our $2 bottles away from street urchins who live in a town with no movie house. I actually felt very good, not stiff at all, though I must say that the sewer lid between turns 2 and 3 reminds me that I had a wheel crammed up my a$$ yesterday. Every other lap I hit that damn bump, proctology is not a massage. Almost came off a few times, but grit teeth and grip bars to dig in and stay in. Alas, the primes kick in about 15 to go, and sore a$$ and leg complain, I come off with only 8 to go. 38 starters, 28 finishers.
Kenosha: Awesome course! Brand new pavement, perfectly smooth. A$$ likes this much. Stay in field entire race and finish 28th in sprint. Feel great! 42 starters, 35 finishers.
Lakefront Circuit: Let me make this perfectly clear: I cannot climb. Course starts on Lake MIchigan level, then zooms up to bluff overlooking Lake at 12% grade. Me, being the Boat Anchor, am immediately off, but decide to ride 'easy', as there is an awesome descent back down to Lake level. Must take advantage of 11 tooth at some point in my life, yes? Glad to report that I was Not Last, as there were two others who, unbelievably, were slower than me on the climb. 40 starters, 29 finishers. Glad to meet Treebound, fellow RBR-er, who meets me afterwards.
Whitefish Bay: Course not to my liking. Out of turn one you must bear left to avoid grass median. Out of turn three, there are two traffic islands. Urgh. Am tired and cranky, more so after much braking in corners and traffic furniture jutting out into my way. Bail it 10 laps in.
Overall, we had a good time, the organization is great, the weather was perfect. Am now ready to kick a$$ at Arlington Heights, Winfield, Downers Grove and Sherman Park!
De Pere (Green Bay): A great course! Thirty miles, 40 laps (all the races about this length, double that of any other racing in the Midwest!). Got dropped halfway through, but worked well with my buddy Eve and stayed in. Got back on the tail of the group about 10 laps to go and all was fine. Last lap - we go into turn 1 - someone went a little wiggly, the girl in front of me wiggled, and then I wiggled, but not enough room to avoid! My front wheel got taken out from underneath me, and I laid it down (drive side up!) going 25pmh. Came off saddle, got rear wheel wedged up into my crotch, and WHAM! rear wheel hits curb and WHAM! rear wheel lodges itself in my a$$. Rear Kysirium Elite now has distinct flat spot. Determine that nothing is broken (plenty of padding in said a$$) I finish race, wheel completely rubbing frame. Men's 40 field lined up when I cross line, much oo-ing and ahh-ing at trashed wheel and bloody left shin. Eve drove to hotel as I could not flex leg too well. 38 starters, 32 finishers.
Sheboygan: Another great course, the race where the children are always begging for water bottles. Dickensian atmosphere as we glide around on million dollar machines and covet our $2 bottles away from street urchins who live in a town with no movie house. I actually felt very good, not stiff at all, though I must say that the sewer lid between turns 2 and 3 reminds me that I had a wheel crammed up my a$$ yesterday. Every other lap I hit that damn bump, proctology is not a massage. Almost came off a few times, but grit teeth and grip bars to dig in and stay in. Alas, the primes kick in about 15 to go, and sore a$$ and leg complain, I come off with only 8 to go. 38 starters, 28 finishers.
Kenosha: Awesome course! Brand new pavement, perfectly smooth. A$$ likes this much. Stay in field entire race and finish 28th in sprint. Feel great! 42 starters, 35 finishers.
Lakefront Circuit: Let me make this perfectly clear: I cannot climb. Course starts on Lake MIchigan level, then zooms up to bluff overlooking Lake at 12% grade. Me, being the Boat Anchor, am immediately off, but decide to ride 'easy', as there is an awesome descent back down to Lake level. Must take advantage of 11 tooth at some point in my life, yes? Glad to report that I was Not Last, as there were two others who, unbelievably, were slower than me on the climb. 40 starters, 29 finishers. Glad to meet Treebound, fellow RBR-er, who meets me afterwards.
Whitefish Bay: Course not to my liking. Out of turn one you must bear left to avoid grass median. Out of turn three, there are two traffic islands. Urgh. Am tired and cranky, more so after much braking in corners and traffic furniture jutting out into my way. Bail it 10 laps in.
Overall, we had a good time, the organization is great, the weather was perfect. Am now ready to kick a$$ at Arlington Heights, Winfield, Downers Grove and Sherman Park!