It was the first race weekend of the year, and I went into it with the intent of using these races more as training than to improve tactics and what not.

Saturday’s race was the Burnham Super Crit: 75 minutes on a flat race track with a fair amount of wind. Waylon [Janowiak] was also in attendance and pre-race we had a conference call with Ebert to talk about the plan (gotta love that Verizon network). We agreed that we should be aggressive and try to get both of us into the break. The race started with the announcement of a prime on the first lap, but no one seemed too eager to have a go at it so I went for it on the back side of the course- it didn’t work out. Shortly after that the attacks began. Waylon made the first major move of the race which was a split of about 15 riders. The group chased hard and shortly after everything came back together. I attacked, but with no success. As they brought me back we slowly made our way to the front straightaway into a pretty stiff cross wind. I was at the front so I figured there was no better time to put the hammer down and see what happens. I ended being off the front with some chasers behind- and a group of 3 quickly joined me. A few laps later 3 more joined us. We were really getting after it and normally I may have been inclined to ease off a little because everyone else was doing more than enough work- however, I needed the workout so I pulled through just as hard as anyone. I waited until 3 or 4 laps to go to start launching attacks. However, every attack was followed by a viscous chase and no counter attacks. I kept attacking in the hopes that the group would start to splinter but no luck- there were no other instigators. I was caught in my last attack going into the penultimate turn I didn’t really have anything left for the sprint. I ended up 6th.

Sunday’s race was hosted by the South Chicago Wheelmen down in “southern Illinois” (for me at least), just south of I-80 at the Joliet Autobahn Club. Waylon and Ebert both made it out for this race. The course was another flat, windy, wide open race course. Pre-race, Ebert predicted that the race would start aggressively until something got away- and that’ pretty much how it went. However, today’s break was created with raw Verizon p/b ABD power. Small groups were splitting off the front and Ebert told Waylon and me to grab his wheel as he was going to put it in the gutter down the front straight. We followed and Ebert lit it up. On a side note I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ebert go that fast on a bike. I’m actually starting to believe that he used to race. Anyhow, back to the action. After Ebert takes it down the front straight, Waylon pulls through and goes hard- real hard. I’m now in the red but I’m know its time for me to pull through, so I pull through and notice we have a gap so I give it everything. A couple others have hung on and rotate through however we are now in the cross wind on the back side and after their huge efforts Ebert and Waylon find themselves a little further into the red than they should be. However, the break has been established and I instantly regret not having Waylon in there with me. I’m flashing back 24 hours to Saturday’s race- all alone in the break with no one else to instigate. This time I decided to start attacking with about 7 laps to go (14 miles). I get away a solo for a couple of laps hoping someone would attack and join me, but they were happy to see me suffer alone out front. I went back to the group, only to start attacking and counter-attacking myself. In the end it didn’t work out and I kinda got gapped off in the sprint and ended up 5th…I think. [Ed. note: Ryan finished 6th.]

I’m really looking forward to having everyone together at Hillsboro.

Ryan

John Meyers decided to come down to Bloomington for a week of training during his spring break, and we both arrived in Bloomington late on Saturday night after departing from Team camp up in Winfield. Despite it being a 25 mile trip each way, Sunday morning we decided to ride out to the Brown County Road Race from my house. John was not up for racing but I was ready to roll- it was my first race of the season.

Brown County State park is nestled in southern Indiana right between Bloomington and Columbus. It is home to some of the biggest hills in the area. The course was a 5 mile loop featuring 500ft of elevation gain each lap. The Pro 1/2 field tackled 12 laps of this brutal course. The course was actually used for the Pan American games back in the day.

The race started off nice and relaxed, but it wasn’t long before people tried to get things moving. Nothing seemed to stick and I knew from years past that the course was demanding so I planned on doing as little work as possible to conserve my energy. Lap after lap went by with a few riders dropping out every lap. On our 8th lap the s#!t hit the fan and the race blew apart. I stayed in the front and after the splits were made and made I was in the lead group of 4. On the final lap the previous leader of the race throttled it up the climb and I was the only one to respond. We made it over the top with a small gap but were soon caught by the other two riders. Attacks where thrown and covered all the way to the line and I stupidly led out the sprint because I thought it was a lot closer than it really was. Two riders sneaked by me at the line and I ended up finishing third. It’s not bad for my first race of the year and John and I decided it would be a good idea to ride home. It ended up being my longest day of the year: six hours and seven minutes in the saddle, 112 miles, 4400 calories, and 8000 feet of climbing.

Looking forward to the next one.
-Mike