Cyclocross Heckling
As most of you have noticed I have had little time to effectively blog. I have missed it to be sure.
I have been busy setting up the computrainer studio I have put in at 11 Jackson St in East Dundee (front section of the Bicycle Garage) - which is operational and ready for indoor racing and classes (most of the classes starting next week are filled). We also played a very active role in the setup and operation of the Woodstock cross race last weekend.
On top of that I got the chance to finally support Mrs. P at the hot chocolate run last Saturday....sleep...highly overrated.
So instead of playing catch-up on old races I thought I would do a preemptive thing. It seems that with my poor shape, but high support level, I have had the opportunit to get out to the cross races early. Very early. Early enough that I was able to heckle the 40+ fields. They are not used to this, but it is enjoyable nonetheless. Over the last few weeks I have taken heckling on as a personal mission. So much so that I thought it appropriate to make this entry a bit of a primer for those who are new to heckling but want to try it, and a bit of a warmup for this 2 day race weekend....
DISCLAIMER: This is heckling. I heckle because I love you guys and gals. You are out there hoofing it on the course - not sitting on your couch watching men play with balls on TV. Therefore please take no offense to any of this and please let me know if you are pictured here and would like it removed. Photo credits are mixed - Bill Draper, Luke Seemann, myself, etc. i give credit where I can remember.
Also - feel free to submit photos to include in future heckle posts.
To start it off let's go to Woodstock:
Photo - Mike Seemann
Poor Bill Barnes - my "cross nemesis" - is tackling the sand. In this situation I would probably notice th guy in front.
"You're that guy who wears the shirt of the band when you go see that band aren't you?" or "how's that visor working out for you? Is it keeping the 'suck' out of your eyes?"
This brings up a good point. The best heckles are questions. Please phrase your heckle in the form of a question for full points.
- as for poor Bill (the xXx rider in the center of the shot) i would probably say the following:
"You're my nemesis...that means you suck. you might as well hop back on that bike and ride through the sand - it's your only hope at making the highlight reel."
As you may have noticed this was not formed as a question. It therefore is filled with sting. I actually like Bill a lot so I would probably take a different tact: "Bill does it really hurt as much as you are making it look like it does?"
Bob Murray by Thomas Reich
OK - where to start..... Bob Murray in the front:"Bob - come on - we know it's not the wheels slowing you down. It's hard to hop those barriers with short legs isn't it?"
Thomas Reich - bad Santa right behind him - "We get it! You're German!"
Lew Chin - dismounting with the white helmet in the back far right - "You're losing to 2 mythical creatures - a fast Beverly Bob and a guy in a black Santa suit!"
Photo by Luke Seemann
Pick the obvious - the focus of attention - "Just EAT IT! You grabbed it now EAT IT! It's not like it's a SLOW - ER pill or something!"
By Luke Seemann
Hmmm...where to start. To the new heckler this one almost seems too much to take on. There are too many things that a typical "Road Nazi" would go after - but that's too easy. You have to dig past the surface - look for the deeper statement you can make about the current state of society. Something like, "HEY! Mountain Biking called....they want their WEED BACK!" This way you are not passing judgement in any way....just pointing out what could be interpreted as an un-biased fact.
Photo - Luke Seemann
Another easy one. Always look past the foreground to get the entire picture:
"You're about to get beat by a ball punching, self-loathing, pile of Fail....but we like to call him 'Zens'."
Jesus called - by Luke Seemann
With all due respect to Cory - "Jesus called, He wants his burger back! He said you could keep the beard though!"
Photo by luke Seemann
Woman racing in the 4's....good thing. Therefore we don't want to say anything normally considered mean. Then again the attire is slightly tri-athlete-esc. The easy target is the arm warmers. A comment could be made about how their slow movement has hypnotized the other hecklers, if they are moved fast they actually blend into a new color - we like to call 'grey suck'.....but no....in this case it's better to say something like "HEY! I thought Zebras were supposed to be FAST!" - you can also say "Your bike looks a little surly." - more cerebral meaning you won't see them laugh because they will laugh half way around the next lap.
By Luke Seemann
OK when you see your own teammate in great position you can only say what I am saying here and that is "GOOOOOOOOO!!!!" This is my new favorite picture as well.
Photo By Luke Seemann
Again - don't go for the obvious here. I would go with "NICE WHEELS!" 
Photo by Luke Seemann
Trick one - you can go with "WHY AREN't YOU RIDING YOUR NICE WHEELS!" or "DAVE you're just smiling because you haven't broken this frame.....YET!"
Photo by Luke Seemann
I just don't know where to start here. For those that know the back story - this is priceless. When faced with this you simply smile and take a drink.
Photo by Luke Seemamn
Easy - regardless of position this one goes into the "I've never seen such an expensive bike go so slow!". I would also accept "A Custom Bike just let's you SUCK in STYLE!"
Photo by Luke Seemann
Easy, "HEY KYLE - CAT 4 Called - they said 3 years of callups is enough!"
Photo: Luke Seemann
Picking on Bill again - "You're all alone....you can cry now Bill!"
Photo by luke seemann
"You know why you're smiling? Because you're KATTIE F'n ISERMANN!"
Photo by Luke Seemann
The correct one here is "GO Mike!" but I would also accept "WTF! Did you tattoo shin guards on? this isn't mountain biking!"
Photo by Luke Seemann
"ATTENTION CHICAGO! THIS IS JOE BERENYI. HE KICKS ASS. THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU!"
By Luke Seemann
"Hey! Football called: They want their player back!"
Photo by Luke Seemann
"YES! TAKE A DOLLAR FROM THE FAT MAN! One day you'll be old enough to hand out dollar bills....yo...."
Photo by Luke Seemann
"*cough*SANDBAG*cough*"
Photo by unknown
"You make breathing look painful!"
So....hopefully you've enjpyed this and you've decided you need to show up early and heckle the old guys tomorrow. Enjoy your cross.
2010 Carpentersville
As we have come to expect from Jeff’s hard work the 2010 version of the Carpentersville was once again one of the best events on the calendar – cyclocross or road. This event was actually the first cross race that I ever saw – 4 years ago...I think.. At that time little PSIMET was only a few months old and Bangert and I watched, what was then, tiny fields ride around in circles. I remember wanting to “be where the action was” so sitting in the playground watching the handful of participants navigate the sand. My, how things have changed.
Little P at his first cross race 4 years ago
At least there were a few of us watching the race
This was the starting grid for either the 1/2/3 or 40+ 4 years ago. Seriously.
This year there was a beer garden, pump section, dancing grandmothers, crepes, bounce houses and packed fields were the flavor of the day. This event marked a lot of firsts for our expanding cyclocross team. Karrie Ozyuk threw down as our first woman crosser in a PSIMET kit, and we also fielded our first Junior.
The pump section claimed Scott Knoepke as a victim (check about 0:54 left)
In general I thought I got a good race in but nah. I faded hard. Conditioning. I counted and I gave up 8 spots on the last lap. Seriously. That's sick.
It was a long and great day. One of those that goes down as one of the best in the series. Being that it's been a week since the race though....poor to no race report really. I sucked wind and saw stars - I did it right but finished poorly. It was time to have fun.
Jared Craft offering up Little P to racers as a 4B handup.
Karrie Ozyuk Grinding it out in the Women's 4's. Her first cross race. You'd be amazed at how much attention that pink frame draws.
Jared Craft looking good int he 3's
Matt Archer surviving in the 4B's
Steven - Our first junior fielded
In addition I grabbed some decent shots of some of my friends.
Rich D running the 3's
Eric Christ in the midst of another double back to back
John Whipple in his natural position....in front
James Sneddon in the 4's
Psycho Cross 2010
Once again I find myself wishing I had blogged more often than I actually have recently. It has been my intention to write up every cross race as it happens and yet I have failed in that endeavor. In an attempt to rectify it I will try to at least cover this last weekend - as well as a product I have been reviewing.
This was the first 2 race weekend in Chicago Cyclocross Cup series this year. The Saturday race was a first at this new venue - Psycho Cross at the Golf farm in Wauconda. Nice location, plenty of parking, nice facilities, all out grinder of a course.
When I got there I kind of chuckled to myself. It had been my recent plan to convert my cross setup to a single ring up front and to build myself another set of cross tubulars using 34 Fangos instead of my 32 Grifos. It turns out my overloaded schedule has actually helped me and I had a great setup for this course.
The one thing my overloaded schedule has not helped me with is the very large situation I have developed under my jersey. It seems somehow that when you only really ride your bike 1-2 times a week and that instance is usually a race your body just doesn't want to work with you. That combined with stress and a total lack of self control has contributed to my heaviest weight in a couple of seasons. That being said excuses are like button holes and I stink…wait ….wha?
I was so uncomfortable in my jersey that I had to wear my normal shirt until time to race. That’s just sick. While lined up the requisite 40 minutes in advance of our race we got to witness the tail end of the 1/2/3 race. While the results seem to be a foregone conclusion I still find entertainment in watching the race un-fold. Brian Conant was not where I expected to see him and just really had a look of pain on his face that seemed to say, “this f’n hurts.” After they finished he came by our grid to pick up his bottle and I mentioned that he made that look painful. This comment would come back to bite me.
So – Tim Speciale was coming off of a good finish the week before. This was to be his second cross race ever and his first 4A race. He was hoping for good things. The start went about like normal. I didn’t get a great spot but I don’t really care. I am not gunning for the hole shot and I have a natural talent for climbing over bodies in the first few corners. It satisfies the aggressive “fight” side of my fight or flight response.
As usual I found myself in a decent (read 20-something) position coming out of the first couple of turns. At this point I get to embrace the pain as my heart and lungs go into perma-burn and my system reacts to the brutal shock that a cross start is. I would guess that it is similar to that split second feeling you used to get as a kid when your head would hit concrete. “where am I, how do I make the pain stop, why do I taste blood, who can I make pay for this”.
By the time we were to the mulch area I was past the red and into shutdown as I kicked the rig into reverse.
“1 spot, 2 spot, 3 spots, 4. Pretty soon I’m not gonna be in this race anymore.”
By the gravel and back stretch I was cashing in and holding on for the recovery that comes for me allowing me to cook with gas for the rest of the race. Coming around the bend by the big tree I saw Speciale sitting along the edge of the course looking dejected.
“What do you need?”
“I have a flat”
“Come on!”
We swapped wheels and I rode a flat rear clincher *gasp* for the rest of the lap to the neutral support. So far off the back it was sad. What’s worse is that all of the spectators that seem to know me just assumed this was a normal race for me and that it was my natural lack of skills that let me languish off the back.
Was the swap Kosher? No. We know that. It didn’t matter though. Tim pulled out of the race and after swapping for a wheel in the pit I raced the rest of my laps alone and only in hopes of not finishing last. I passed last place on the final lap.
Not so "fly" on the flyover. My poor fitness combined with a flat rear clincher made that like a rollercoaster.
The only good thing that happened is that Tim was able to get into the 4B race with 2 good tubulars….that and I got to say hey to Jose A from SRAM while getting the eye from Taco Ed.
Coming around the final section on my last lap Conant was standing there – already changed – with a big smile on his face just in time to see me and say something to the effect of, “now you’re looking like me. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.” You know it’s bad when the entire cat 4B field gets to heckle you. Being the one of the last riders of the race I got their full attention and focus as I finished.
Most riders would probably pull out when in my situation. I am not sure why I don’t. Just can’t. I don’t really ease up either. I’m not racing anything or anyone at that point, but I’m racing. Can’t explain it and I am sure there is something to it, but if I was ever able to have enough self control and time to train….hmmm…..maybe I will…..
Richard Lenski made his debut in PSIMET colors. This was the result of, honestly, 2 years of recruiting. While it is always difficult to make a team transition – especially between two teams that genuinely appreciate each other – I have found that he’s always been a great friend and competitor and it’s a real pleasure to have him on the team. Finishing in the top 10….well that’s just nice. :)
Lenski lets his colors fly on the flyover
Starting the 4B race it seemed like Tim had something to prove. I’ve seen him get like that before. Usually this ends with an amazing finish or a crash that does either body or gear damage. I was hoping for the good finish.
Pretty early on Tim and Bryan Witry from Spider Monkeys made a go of it.
Tim leading Bryan into a corner on lap 2 of the 4B race.
I figured Tim had the victory, but got to watch him lose it in the final barrier and stairs. Lesson? Practice, practice, practice. If you ever see my fat butt passing you in barriers you only have yourself to blame. Bryan did a great job and held Tim off, claiming the victory. Chapeau to Bryan and Tim for a great and entertaining race. PSIMET podiums…I like them.
Congrats to Bryan on his win and to Tim Speciale for nailing another PSIMET Podium
The next day in Carpentersville….next blog entry…:)
ButtonHole used in 2 johns
Get your mind out of the gutter and go read the latest good review about Enzo's here.
Worth noting is that is was also featured in the latest issue of VeloNews in the cyclocross section. I picked up my latest copy while at Interbike and my regular subscription has yet to show up in my mailbox yet so maybe not too many have seen it.
I am proud to be one of the few, if not only other official, internet retailers of Enzo's ButtonHole Chamois Cream. I have inventory on hand...well....not literally....at least not right now.... and can ship to order the same day. As always you can bu it here: http://www.psimet.com/Cycling-Products/Enzo-s-ButtonHole-Chamois-Cream/flypage.tpl.html
I will by trying to put out an Interbike update soon as well as some classic blog activity coming up with the start of the regular cross season.
Yup
Nervous chatter. Sugar and caffeine fueled questions. Gear discussions. "What pressure should I run?" "Where are we going?"
WHIRRRRRRWHIRRRRRRWHIRRRRRWHIRRRRWHIRRR
"LEFT" - "BRANCH!"
"OK. We'll start here. Take this section like this. Hop off here. Barriers there. We'll start with 2 warmup laps then we'll go race pace for 40 minutes. Questions?
Riders ready....GO!"
The pain is almost instantaneous. Suddenly you're going faster than you ever thought possible over grass. The initial push starts to wear off as your heart starts to come up to speed. Pain as you blood vessels start dilating to cope with the back pressure. This is where normal - regular people stop. We just started.
"HAHA - Rob you suck!"
Can't breathe. The terrain is blurring. God I hope I remember my lines. Hmmm...never been through that turn like that before. Here come the barriers. This is going to hurt.
"HUPHUPHUPHUP"
I can get him. I swear I can get him. HAHA He stopped to remount there. Hup! Back on - get the pedals....NO....come on.....YES! GOGOGOGOGOGO.. Yes! Got him.
Lap 1 down....9 more to go.
Cyclocross season is here. I am a proud sponsor of the series this year as well. The opener is tomorrow. I have spent the last couple of weeks in the basement sniffing tubular glue. I am out of shape but not as bad as last year I don't think. Unlike last year though I have no secret goals to do well. I am going to be driven to compete. Sad shape and all. I want to attack every race I can and go as hard as I can. My goal - along the same lines as J from Tati and Ben Popper - I am on my single point quest this year. I will earn 1 point in 4A's.
It's sad and pathetic but I think this year it's going to be harder than it would have ever been before. I saw the fields increase get much more difficult last year and I think this year is on track to do the same.
I will ride the 30+ as well. Mainly as a chance to get some more time in early in the season. My goal there? Make it 1 lap before Wayne Simon passes me from the 50 plus group starting behind us. Again...this too will be a near impossible goal, but I will do it....maybe. :)
Those who have listened to my drivel about those who can succeed in this sport know that I believe there are two types of riders who excel: Type A and B. A= Aggressive, cocky, looking for a fight - turn the pedals in anger and B=Zen. I seem to do well when I can turn my pedals in anger.
Get your heckle on and come jeer me. Tell me I can't do it. Tell me I am fat and slow. Tell me that I am an embarrassment to my company, my team, and may family.
Just have a beer waiting for me when I get done.
Here's to suffering. It's on. See you tomorrow.
Glencoe
Supporting a community that brought a race like this year's version of the Glencoe Grand Prix should be at the top of every Chicago cyclist's list. When Downer's dropped the Nat Crit this year they basically put the nail in the coffin for the midwest. Luckily the Glencoe organizers snagged the nat crit quickly - expanding a "good" course into one that was not only leaps and bounds better than the Downer's course, but also one that instantly became the favorite of the flat land natives I call "my people".
This year has been a busy one. The wheel queue is unreal. Unfortunately - still at the level where I need to go to work at my "real job" m-f. That or stop eating - which could improve my race results so.....maybe.... I digress- I was trying to say that's the reason I haven't been posting a ton of race reports. Then again - excuses...I hate them. So....make your judgments and move on.
Glencoe....
Heading into the race I have been experiencing a low like no other. In general I am horrible in the summer. The heat that is. It naturally makes me want to stay indoors. Coupled with a good few weeks of heavy wheel work and my "fitness" level - at least according to WKO+ - is back to where I was int he spring. Sucks but meh. I was starting to out climb some goats too before I imploded. I peaked around the end of Superweek and then...
Since then it's been the story of the pulls. I have been yanked in so many races it's sad. At this point I have to recognize Dave Fowke's fine ability to pull someone in possibly the nicest way you can. So nice I usually have to tell the rest of the group that they got pulled. I don't mind though. I'd rather spend 100 yards convincing another piece of cat 4 pack fodder that they just got pulled instead of having 4 hours of people coming by saying - "yeah - I saw you get pulled."
As you can tell - this is where this report is leading. I expected nothing from myself. I raced Glencoe because I wanted to support the community and I just can't miss an event like this. Showed up in time to see the Chuck Norris of Chicago Cycling (Wayne Simon) win not only his race but the sprint prime where - if I am not mistaken - he won a tub of his own Enzo's Buttonhole Chamois cream. That's how you do it folks.
I tried a meager warmup as I sweat my ....uh..buttonhole off. Jumped on the course with the rest of the 4's to take a lap before our race. WTF - is that a "hill"??!! It wasn't the hill as much as the false flat after the hill that lead all the way until the final turn. I knew I was in trouble but figured I would put some hot laps in and pack it in for the day.
By the time we rolled around to the start some sleepers had snuck into the front on the line - result....we were in the dead back of a 100+ field. You HAD to know that this was going to get strung out from the gun and we'd probably get slapped in the butt by the leaders before we ever got dropped off of the pack.
This was one of those races where you could hear the whistle, wait....wait.....wait some more....and then clip in as you saw the leaders take the first turn. Good people in the pack. Lots of familiar faces. Someone convinced someone that the race was won on the first lap so we had a cyclocross start - sprint at the start. The Chicago cat 4 scene is like a club that everyone talks about going to but never does because they think it's too dangerous. These are my people though. As much as I love these guys though sometimes you just want to smack them. For the love of God please learn how to take a f'n corner. It's funny how I am always on my brakes when in the pack, but wide open when I finally fall off.
I think I made it 1 lap before I was looking for the back. My mind wasn't in it so I was just looking to have fun - and not look like a total jackass in front of my wife. I fell off. Mixed with a few groups, but actually got better - again - after warming up and getting rolling. I threw in the towel so many times I felt like a housekeeper in Vegas during the Adult industry convention.
Just about the time when I felt like Dave was about to step in and provide some relief I heard a familiar voice come up from behind - "CURTIS! F'n LATCH ON! I have a line of guys. Jump on the back!" I turn right to see Bryan Fuller slide by.....with no one in tow. He's flailing and yelling, "COME ON CURTIS! DON'T PUSS OUT!!!!" while I'm still waiting for the line of guys to come by....well....he dropped them.
Luckily I jumped in on his wheel once I realized what was going on. It ended up being Bryan, myself and a xXx yet to be named. We traded pulls and generally looked like working men through the dregs of the race. At one point we were cruising throught he few corners after tha hill and all 3 of us at the same time noticed a particular local celebrity sitting at the apex of the turn and taking pictures - Luke S. At the same time all 3 of us said, "hey Luke." If you've ever ridden hard you'd know that the fact that all of us said anything at all means we were doing it wrong.
We didn't give a crap though.
As we came around I spied Dave Fowkes hanging on the line....oh noes.....he didn't do his trademark star at the crowd or officials table....he looked down. That's our sign. Sure enough he looked up and gave us the sign. Dave - I don't care how many horrible things I have no doubt said about you in the past - you have my respect. Thanks for throwing some love to the perpetual cat 4 OTB fodder. We show up every week, pay our fees, and are given that little slice of respect from you every week - thx!
After getting pulled it was all about the team love and the community support. I dropped a ton with the Rotary/312 setup. I got to watch David Jaggi destroy the 3's. Yelling splits while eating a brat and drinking a 312....yes please.
Little P took 3rd or 4th in the 4-5 group - finally turning the pedals in anger and making dad shed a tear while running behind him in carbon soled shoes. Mrs. P was, once again, teh awesome. Glue, family, all that stuff, etc.
Great race. Great course. Great people. I could have spent the whole weekend hangin out at home drinking beer and mowing my lawn.....thank God we had Glencoe. See you all this weekend.
I received this email today....
"Aug 31 XXX is having a 2 man challenge race. I am going to get someone from the team to ride with me. So be prepared, I will be throwing down the gauntlet to you. The time has come for me to start crushing you with your own wheels.
BBVP-Bob rides again!!!!"
*standing up to go sniff some tubular glue*
I’ve thought about it
Seems like every year I get to around time for superweek and I start dreaming of cross. Maybe it's because superweek reminds me that I suck on a bike. Maybe it's because, as I have finally conciously stated - I have a real problem racing in heat.
Either way I was cruising through bikerumor and found this video from our own cross series last year. I am sure i am in it - although I didn't watch too closely, but the sounds struck me and brought me back.
Check it
I've got some things cooking - like always. Much to Mrs. PSIMET's displeasure I always have about 20-30 different ideas grinding along. some highlights:
- PSIMET Custom Wheels will be a sponsor of the Chicago Cyclocross Cup series this year
- PSIMET Racing will be helping the boys from Beverly as well as the good doctor Kearns put on both the Dan Ryan Woods and the Woodstock Cyclocross races this year
- New Cross specific PSIMET logo is in top secret development in the mountains of Colorado
- A shopping cart is coming to the website to help facilitate easy sale of some specific key products and accessories - Chamois Cream, PSIMET Hats, T-Shirts, even waterbottles
- Looks like I might be going to Vegas in September
- AeroCat isn't going to support cyclocross this season so we've taken to looking into Giant and Specialized rigs. Good local people
Other big ideas are in development. stay tuned.
Enzo’s ButtonHole Chamois Cream
I got an early lead on a new product coming to the chamois cream market and it peaked my interest. Let me shed some light on the subject of chamois cream for those that don't know or who don't use it:
Cycling is an endurance sport. Unlike other "sports" that can be started or finished in an hour or less with multiple opportunities to catch your breath or regain your composure cycling requires that you plant your soft bits onto an over-glorified and awfully expensive piece of plastic, carbon, steel and leather. Some might actually pay "professionals" to subject them to that kind of torture but in general cyclists aren't the kind of crowd that need to memorize a safety word before the Tuesday Night World Championships. When one becomes a little serious with their cycling habit one of the first things they do is go buy some "bibs" or lycra shorts with padding.
Considering this same crew likes to shave their legs, dress in lycra and spend hours on end staring at another man's lycra clad buttocks a foot or so in front of their face - IF they're "lucky" or if they are wheel-"sucking"....I might need to revisit that safe word comment - but I digress.
The hours of pressure and movement, even with good tight fitting shorts with a modern elastic chamois (padding - yes it used to be made out of real chamois....and once upon a time I used to ride a bike without a helmet) can cause certain "things" to happen that should never happen "there". Being the techno nerdy crew that cyclists tend to be various solutions have been tried and implements with varying degrees of success. One - usually one of the last addictions a rider tends to pick up - is what we affectionately refer to as chamois cream.
This is a fancy name for taint lube/lotion. Nice, right? In the early days it was simply Vasoline. Some use various lotions or homemade concoctions. A while back a few cycling specific formulas started becoming popular. Chamois Butt'r was probably the start of the equipment centric naming trend. Then Assos (no really that's the name of a great Swiss clothing company....not a reference to their obsession with our butts) and finally DZ Nuts being the heavy hitters. Most of the dyed in the wool junk yard juice users used to single-handedly (not that hand) agree that Assos was the reining king of the realm. At some point though the precious Assos formula was changed. No longer would the masses enjoy that famous tingly heat.
DZ Nuts became the defacto dictator - spreading it's influence across the foundations of the community. While a great product in and of itself the near $25 price for 4 fl oz of product was enough to make the ever budget conscious racers stand up and take notice. I mean after all the people need to save their dough for important things....like wheels and power meters. ;)
Around this time the Chuck Norris of Chicago Cycling (my favorite in that link is the one about filling gaps) spent a great deal of time and resources researching and developing a product destined to fill the void between Asso's change and DZ's price. The result? Enzo's ButtonHole Chamois cream.
Keep your ButtonHole happy.
Attractively priced at $19.95 for 8oz (Double that of DZ's) it seemed well placed to move into the market.
Personally I had a long history of NOT using chamois cream. I found that most high quality bibs with nice chamois would be fine for the type of riding I was doing - without the need for added "lubrication". I held to this belief until the "one" day. This was the 2 man TTT Arron Hampton and I did 2 seasons ago or so. At that time I found that what I recall as a 60k TT was a LONG time to spend on a TT bike with that much pressure put in places it shouldn't be. Add to that I don't spend much time in a TT position and it becomes apparent that the pressure was being put in areas that never usually see it. By the end I was "torn up" about the situation and decided I needed to do something about it.
Before my next TT I went out to get some Assos. The shop was out and only had DZ's. After using it for the TT I was a convert. So much so I use chamois cream on every ride now. When I became aware that Enzo's was about to come out I had to get in line. It was with eager anticipation that I received my first samples to try. On first impression it smells delightful. Kind of a mix between a mint chocolate chip ice cream mixed with a brownie smothered in Girl Scout Thin mint cookies. Can you tell I haven't had lunch yet?
Application yields the same kind of warm tingly that I have become addicted to, and long term performance in the saddle - where it counts - has thus far been everything I had hoped it would be. So much so that I have now decided to become a dealer. The large 8 oz tubs are in stock and ready for shipment. The pricing is $19.95. Feel free to inquire with your custom wheel inquiry or simply e-mail psimet at psimet dot com for an invoice.
Cobb Park
So - riding down in Florida was like it always is - Hot and flat. I did get over 200 miles in that week but then followed it up with a week of near nothing. Between the business and work and supplier shortages on both fronts ...anyway.
Needless to say I was looking at Cobb Park as an opportunity to push my body back into "oh...yeah this is what it's like" mode. I decided to only race the 30+ 4/5 instead of the multiple races I could have done. I got there in time to see the end of the 4's. On their last lap someone washed out in the last real turn before coming down and around to the finish. Our man Joe got taken out but a majority of the guys I was watching made it through.
Joe tore up his hand and was under the impression that he had broken his collarbone....so he decided he was good to race the next race.
The field was a little thinner (in count - not weight) than normal. Can only guess it was because of ToAD action up in Cheeselandia. The wreck in the 4's must have taken out the really sketchy guys because our race went fairly smoothly...mostly. 1 or 2 laps in I was chatting with Bryan Fuller when a Turin rider moved right in the tight left hand turn 2 and caused a chain reaction that ended with Bryan getting pinched on the curb there - going down in slow motion and at low speed. Kind of a, "hey....hold it....wha?....nOOooooo...OOOOumph! <crack, crackThud>".....so I accelerated. It's like instinct.
As I came around I saw Bryan's wife sitting there and was able to yell, "Bryan WENT DOWN!" then realized I should add, "BUT HE's FINE!"
He re-joined after his free lap and we went back to the do-si-do that is midwestern crit racing - riding around and waiting for the sprint to happen. I felt fairly good and chalked it up to an easy crit. Turns out i don't think it ended up being slow it was just that it was fairly smooth. Whomever was missing from that race that is normally there.....you might be the one that's been causing all the problems this season. Just sayin...
It seemed to be my day to be caught behind wrecks. I saw a few small ones here and there. A guy clipped the curb in that little chicane thingy and went down hard in front of me. Still not sure how I made it around him but I did. Smelled my brakes for a while after that. As we started to ratchet it up in the las 4-5 laps guys started going down with a little more frequency. At one point someone overshot a turn and ended up riding over the grass/sidewalk. typical cat 4/5 stuff.
These little stutters combined with the driving on the front made for some accordion in the last few laps that claimed quite a few victims. I sat up a few times thinking..."this is it" but found I came back. ended up finishing right off the back of the pack. Same place....different week.
Joe nabbed 3rd after getting pinched at the line.
Joe with his payout. Nice.
After that I stuck around to see Scott Knoepke race the Cat3 race. He mentioned to me before that day that there would probably be a break. I was all, "no....not on that course...." shows what I know. There wouldn't be a break in any category I race in but with the 3's Jason K. attacked from the start. I knew Scott wanted to be in a break but he figured he was going to wait until about 30 minutes in before looking for one. This one was Jason though and the field was all black riding on the front. I knew he was going to have to go and catch it or be stuck racing around in the pack.
Sure enough he bridged up a few laps into it and the break was whittled down to 3. I started tracking time splits and was yelling them out. I could see Jason turning his head to hear so I was never really sure how much info was getting to the group or not. A couple of times the field tried to organize a chase - a guy here or there - but nothing was going. Lots of yelling in the pack from what I could hear. Lots of unhappy chasers. Simple numbers though - 2 guys in the break wearing black and the majority of the field....black jerseys. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what's going on when they come through the "fast" section 4-6 wide and sitting up-right with all black jerseys on the front.
Scott in 2nd position in the 3 man break at Cobb Park. Photo: Luke Seeman
Whipple was still in the pack and if it was going to get shut down Whipple would be just the kind of guy to get it done. It seemed like he went after it early but then sat up. Turns out he's been sick all week and just didn't have it in him (get better John). I watched the splits go from :30 down to :25 when they were trying to chase and then they just worked their way up to :40-:50. With about 5-6 laps left when I yelled to the pack they were :50 or so back a couple of guys on the front just sat straight up. They were done. I yelled to the front group that was it and they were in with no chasing - ride smart and have fun and enjoy it.
I had a feeling Jason would launch. I have never watched him race but I am sure there aren't many who want to sprint against Scott - just from sizing him up. It's funny because he actually has a vicious TT motor....and can sprint when he needs to. Sure enough Jason went with a few to go and came in 1st. Scott had a great 3rd and a huge victory. Essentially he is still a brand new cat 3 who is still recovering from his surgery he had early this season.
In late reporting Jeff Bernaeyge nabbed wors race #4 3rd place sport single speed:
Far Left - Jeff Bernaeyge - WORS Race #4 - 3rd Place
Sponsored rider Debbie Dust also nailed a 5th at Grafton Pro 1/2/3 women's race - riding PSIMET 50mm carbon:
Debbie Dust riding PSIMET 50mm to 5th place at Grafton
To wrap up the rest of the updates I have missed recently - Sherman park, etc:
Raviv Wolfe - Wonder Lake - 2nd 4/5 masters, 4th cat 4. **upgraded to a 3**
Tim Speciale - 1st place Wonder Lake Cat 3 - Hells Yes.
Scott Knoepke - 3rd Sherman Park Cat 3, 8th Wonder Lake cat 3
John Low - 7th Wonder Lake Cat 5
Rubber side down. Let's go racing!