My first road race

"They" say better late than never. I have taken this to heart. During my week-long role as support/coach/parent/cycling-buddy for GeeVs, out here in Illinois, I took the opportunity to use my racing license to race in the Sharon Cycling Classic, on July 17, 2013. I registered in the Cat 4/5 race, to be safe, and joined/competed beside/contested with 70+ riders in a 45.6 mile (73 km) road race.

It was hot. It's been hot all week here. 95'F hot. That's 35' Canadian. The course was four laps of the 11.4 mile circuit. We did that in 2 hours and I managed to finished 12th in my category. Here are some pics:

The thing about road-racing in a pack/peloton of 70 riders, on narrow roads, is that you get close to people. And you have to stay on a line, follow the wheel in front of you, and take whatever the road gives you: potholes, gravel, cracks. It was a great experience. I'm not sure I'm up for criteriums out here yet, but I may try them next year, back home.

And how's GeeVs doing, you ask? Check out the next post, or check out her Facebook page.

Dairyland Tour

GeeVs has taken up road-racing. For a PauPs who's kind of sort of always dreamed about doing it, but never hutspahed himself up to it, these are proud, and envious, times. But mostly it's just awesome! This past weekend M and I headed over to Wisconsin to catch a couple of her races in the Tour of America's Dairyland. Before we got there she competed in two road races, on Wed. and Thurs. and placed 10th both days. On Friday's criterium she crashed out on the last lap, when she got tangled up with other racers who were being lapped. 

On Saturday's Downer Classic criterium, racing near the lake and the university in Milwaukee, she placed 26th out of 48 finishers (59 started) - she went out a bit soon to take the lead for the second last lap, but couldn't hold it. 

The start

Coming into a corner

Cornering with the group

Exiting the corner

Out front

On Sunday's East Tosa Gran Prix criterium, in Wauwatosa (a community just outside of Milwaukee) she raced better tactically, staying in the pack at 5th to 8th wheel, rather spending time and energy our front. The result was a little better, 21st.

Up the hill to the start - finish

Digging deep in the sprint

Overall, having raced in only 5 of the 11 races, she placed 26th overall, out of a field of 55. Not bad for having only raced in 5 criteriums total, in her life. There is a lot to learn, and the only way to learn is to race more. Which can be a challenge if you're a women who wants to race road, in Manitoba. 

All in all it was a fine experience. We enjoyed Wisconsin hospitality - these are the sorts of Americans that a person could get used to - and the food. And we watched some people riding their bikes like they meant it. Pretty sweet. 

Debriefing after the race

What Would Jesus Drive? If he was in Minneapolis, it would be this. 

To Walhalla, and back again

I rode 122 kms on the road today. This was the route (I did it as an out and back, though there is a way to make it at least a partial loop (see explanation below)):

The wind was ESE 24 km/h, which wasn't ideal, but not terrible either. I managed it in just over 4 hours. I love this route, although normally it would be about 10 kms shorter because there's a great road between the location "H" and the road from "C" to "D". This road intersects at the hamlet of Leroy, which is so fantastically American it makes me tear up: a bar (Chizzy's, serving Grainbelt beer - awesome!) and just a few lots down a Lutheran church with a steeple, and next to that the community hall. And there are about 10 yards in total. That's the America that's dying, and that's the America that's worth mourning. Other than this gem, there are two decent hills, and Walhalla of course - which is also a classic American small town. The whole farming area is more treed and green than in Canada, and the roads are dead straight. It's quite something what a difference that makes mentally. The ride is long enough, but it doesn't feel that way.