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Good Things Come In Threes…

Yes, I admit I’ve been a bit lax on my race reports and so far this year I’ve raced three times. Twice on my ‘cross bike in the Barry Roubaix and Lowell 50 gravel road races, and then today at the Fort Custer Stampede on my mountain bike. Each race had it’s own “personality” and given the Winter/Spring season we’ve had here in Michigan, to say that I’ve actually raced three times is a treat.

#1 Barry Roubaix – March 22nd

Named after the Spring Classic, Paris-Roubaix, I raced the BR again this year on my trusty ‘cross bike along 36 gravel roads throughout Barry County. I debated about using my studded tires due to ice the week prior, but ended up putting on regular tires for the race and didn’t regret the decision. We had a great turnout from the team and we had a great crew of racers representing WSI Cycling. The temps were chilly, but not as cold as last year (fortunately). The good news is that the cold weather kept the gravel roads relatively firm, so the course was fast. I finished mid-pack and the best part was I didn’t cramp (like I did last year). However, little did I realized that a few weeks later that would be a different story at the Lowell 50.

#2 Lowell 50 – April 5th

While you’d think the length of this race would be 50 miles, I did the 32 mile version. Temps were not as cold as the Barry Roubaix, which on the onset you’d think would be a good thing. However, there were more gravel roads on this race than in the BR, and due to the warmer temps, the surface was “smooshy” (as best I can describe it). That made it feel like you were riding with flat tires and there was always resistance… making constant pedaling a must. We had another great showing from the team and also got a few podiums. The good news is that for the first 27 or 28 miles I was hanging in there pretty good, but then the “wheels came off.” Ok, not really my wheels, but the legs started cramping and made the last few miles “uncomfortable” (yes, that’s a bit of an understatement. I know I lost several places at the end as I simply could not get the pedals to go around without pain in both legs, but I came across the finish line with a smile (ok, maybe it was a grimace), but I was happy to be done. One of the best parts of the race… Krispy Kreme donuts and hot coffee before the awards ceremony! Gotta maintain my Clydesdale status…

#3 Fort Custer Stampede – May 4th

Unfortunately the temps were still a bit on the chilly side and the wind was blowing like crazy, but the good news is that today I was going to be in the woods on my mountain bike… not riding gravel roads (which is brutal when windy). I raced Expert today, yet traveled quite a bit the week prior and had not been on my bike for over a week. Sure, I tried to keep the fitness up with running, but that’s not the same so I was reserved to chalk this one up to a nice, long training ride for this Summer’s Lumberjack 100. Our group did 36 miles (two Red/Green loops) and the trail was hooking up quite nicely. Last year, I ended up getting a soft front tire (slow leak) that took me down (into a tree) on the first lap, so I was also hoping for a crash-free race.

Hamming it up at the start... yes, that's me photobombing my teammates.
Hamming it up at the start… yes, that’s me photobombing my teammates – right in the middle.

The good news is that I got both of my wishes, although my right shoulder did lose a battle with a tree that got a little close on one of the corners and I’ve got a nice raspberry to show for it. However, not nearly the “battle scar” as the one guy that did a flying endo over one of the “camelback” humps on the first lap. He went down right in front of me, taking up the entire trail with his carnage. I stopped and decided to be the good samaritan, helping him get un-tangled from his cables and twisted handlebar. He was really wound up and as people were flying by us, it was all I could do not to snap at the riders complaining that we were in the trail. Did they not see this guy covered in dirt with his leg twisted up like a pretzel?

Good news is no long-term damage and he got up and was able to continue the race. Must not have fallen too hard, since he ended up catching me later and passed me by. You’d think that he would have given me a courtesy follow and let me stay in front, but that’s racing! Coming into the second lap, I started to feel a little better, although the rest of the field had pretty much gone by and I was riding solo. There were a few stragglers that I picked off as I got closer to the finish, so that made me feel a little better. The good news is that I finished on two (fully-inflated) tires this year and was in a considerably better mood than last year.

Another great part of the race, since this is WSI Cycling’s “home turf” we again cooked burgers and hotdogs for everyone. But this year we did something different, and set out a collection jar to help raise money for a great cause from racers willing to donate for the food. One of the guys on the team works with local Battle Creek youth and started a bike program to get them into fixing bikes and learning a skill. Thanks to the generosity of everyone that attended, we raised over $200!

Finally, and since it was a bike race, the good news is that we had several WSI Cycling racers make the podium. We’ll be posting photos on our Facebook page (be sure to stop by and “like” us), so click-on over and check ’em out. It was a great time and I was proud of everyone for their effort and making it a great day together.

Eric Cook

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Back in the Race

I am back home sipping on a beer and noshing on some potato chips, my side hurts and I am the happiest guy in Michigan.  I was racing again today.

My new Trek  Superfly put 25 year old legs under me (those are younger legs for me, for those of you who are in your 20s), I was pushing the limits, had more power, and was low and flowing in the turns.  It was great, I was racing the sport class 50 to 59 Custer Stampede and I knew where the leaders were, was nagging at the guy in front of me and was pretty sure we were about 5th place.  After the start, there were some guys who needed to be passed and were done so unceremoniously (felt kind of bad for the guys getting yelled at, but the front 5 were hitting it pretty hard).  We gapped the rest of the group by the time we hit the camel backs and needed to get around some less experienced racers who were doing a good job making their way around at a slower pace.

By the time we were in Granny’s Garden, the slower riders were standing on the hills and letting us by (probably educated by the groups in front of us) but the guy in front of me had been gapped enough that I could no longer see the leaders in front of him.  Seriously, this hard tail did everything I asked it to and had no problem climbing, turning, weaving—just a great bike (and made up for engine issues!).

As we made our way around the lake, a guy (who was not racing) stopped in the middle of a climb and caused me to stop and start to walk around the turn (where the monument is at the top of the hill).  At that point, my buddy Neil Sharphorn came by and I pushed his 70-plus year old back side so he could stay ahead of the other guys behind him (pretty sure that would not qualify as an illegal assist if he is a god!)

We were working our way around the pines and I noticed that my front brake was a lot more sensitive than my back brake and figured I would have Skittles take a look at it when we got back to Team Active.  It turned out that it was not the front break that was too sensitive, it was that the back brake was losing pressure.  I attacked the guy in front of me on a downhill and when we reached the bottom and started to turn, all I had was front brake and I did an end-o.  Knocked the wind out of me and hurt my ribs badly enough that I could not take deep breaths on the ascents.

Screw-it, I knew I could still climb and hit the flats hard, I would just have to take the downhills easy since my back brake hydraulics were completely disconnected.  I got passed by EVERYONE.  As it turned out, I got 14/23 and was happy to be racing again.  Mike (our new team EMT) said ‘cowboy up and grow a pair’!  Actually he did not, but he told me I only had bruised ribs if anything at all.

GREAT frigging day on the course.

Jack Miner, WSI Team Active RACER.