Traditional Season Openers on Tap

For the past 8 years central Indiana racers have kicked off their seasons with the Ceraland Circuit Race in Columbus, Indiana. Through the years, weather has typically played a role in the outcome. In 2002, heavy rains actually forced cancellation of a race in progress. The soggy course caused numerous slideouts and near-crashes. A temperature of sub-fifty degrees accentuated the term 'white knuckle' racing that day.

More often, however, the wind is a deciding factor in the race's outcome. Strong and sometimes even fierce winds limit the ability of any breakaway to remain separated from the peloton. Except for the Category 1,2 race, most races end in a bunch sprint, so plan your personal or team strategy accordingly. In windy conditions, it's not the strongest rider who wins, but rather, the smartest. Use your energy wisely.

You've trained well through the winter so you can afford to take a little wind in the final couple of laps when the jostling for position reaches its peak. For the Ceraland course, it is better to be in the wind and have a clear shot to sprint rather than being tucked in 8 back. In the latter position, you could easily be boxed in and end up sprinting for 4th, or 1st OFF the podium.

Next Sunday's race takes place in Mooresville's Pioneer Park, the first course ever utilized by the Indiana Race Series. Nearly 20 years of racing action has given the park legendary status among the kyiana racing scene. Unlike Ceraland where the smartest racer wins, Pioneer Park's pack splitter separates the wheat from the chaffe - the strong man or woman wins on this course.

Positioned on the calendar in mid-April, you can bet that every time over the Pack Splitter, you'll be facing a stiff wind from the north/northwest. The strongest riders will separate themselves from the peloton early in the race and continue building their lead throughout the race.

In the event of a pack finish, a great leadout is a key factor in winning this race. If you have designs on winning this classic, you'll need to be about 4 or 5 back coming down the backstretch hill. By the time you hit the base of the pack splitter you could well find yourself on the front. Remember my #1 rule for racing: Hesitation kills. This is no time to be looking for wheels. When you hit the base of the hill on the final lap you better open up all jets and fly up the hill. Usually, the rider who hits the hill first wins the race, so plan accordingly for Sunday's race.

I'll be cheering you all on.

Mighty Mississinewa Reservoir Road Race

It may have been snowing in Flanders this weekend, but warm spring weather greeted Team Nebo Ridge and everyone else at the Mississinewa Reservoir Road Race near Peru, Indiana. This was the season opener for Dan Daly’s Indiana Race Series, and turnout was good in most categories. Smooth roads, low traffic, moderate wind, and an almost flat 15-mile loop made for some very pleasant racing, though a dog or two on the course managed to add some excitement. Team Nebo Ridge was represented by John, Scott, and Michael in the Citizens race, Sally, Mary, and Mae in the Women’s race, and me (Jason) in the Masters 3/4 race. Good results were in abundance for the team: Michael led the Citizens field home in a sprint for first place, and Mary and Sally took first and second, respectively, for the women. My racing education continued with my first-ever entry in the Masters 3/4 event, which turned out to be a fast and smooth 45 miles. The move of the day occurred almost right at the start, when a lone MOB Squad rider casually slipped away in a solo break, never to be seen again by the pack. Nice! I wish I could do that. As the lone representative for our team, I contributed as much as possible to an extended chase led by the well-represented Indy Hand Center team, but the MOB gentleman out front was strong, and he was well-protected by his large and organized team in the pack. Despite some very strong solo riders, the race was dominated by the two large teams, which made the strategy pretty easy to figure out, even for a novice like me. The leisurely pace of the final lap indicated it was going to be a field sprint for second place, so as the pace wound up over the last couple of miles, I simply tried to find a good place in line. I almost got dropped in the last mile as some gaps opened up, but I managed to get back on the train just as we turned into the long finishing stretch across the dam. The two teams drove up the speed, which was good, but my positioning in the pack could have been better. As the front of the race opened up in the final 100 meters, I was able to see that the lead guy was long gone, but there was space for me to accelerate up through the remaining field and take fourth place. I still need to improve my positioning and timing, but this was a good result for me, especially since I’ve never been any kind of sprinter. Big thanks to coaches Bob Brooks and Steve Laflin and their off-season training program at Nebo Ridge Bicycles for all the extra power. Compliments to all of Team Nebo Ridge for a great effort. Hopefully, we’ll see many more teammates out at the Indiana Race Series Ceraland Classic in Columbus, Indiana in just two weeks.

A Midwest Classic to Start the Season

Last weekend's Hillsboro Roubaix was road racing as I have often dreamed it to be. In my dreams, though, I didn't get dropped off the back of the group after 20 miles to ride the last 46 miles alone. I have much yet to learn, and the men's Cat3/4 field was an uncompromising teacher. Many others apparently shared my pain, though, as I stubbornly persisted to finish 49th out of 50 in a field of 100 starters. The hills, wind, and brick streets unrelentlingly separated the weak from the strong, so I must say "hats off" to the winners and to the few others who finished in the front group of my race. This is surely the kind of experience that inspired poet Stephen Dunn to write about "the sincere if onlys of grown men in short pants." I can only say that I hope to return next year and try again.

Bismarck

A great showing for team Neboridge at the Morgan-Bismarck-Monroe road race! No, there were no podium finishes for the team, but it was still a great showing. The race was named for the famous World War II battleship the "Bismarck." After completing the race, I can definitively state that the moniker was appropriate. It was indeed a battle! A fight against the hills! There were some very tough climbs stretching over the last 3 miles of the course. Depending on the category that one raced in, you had to battle these climbs 3, 4, or 5 times! Ouch! Plus there was one radical, fast, bumpy descent that gave the course a real thrill-ride feel.

New team members Scott Yates & Mike Buechler did us proud. Chris Jackman was hanging tough with the lead group in his race and Jason Pope was leading a break late in his event. As for me, well someone has to guard the rear to prevent a flanking manuver by the enemy during the battle! But, this just provides more motivation to train harder, ride more hills, and do more interval training. Then maybe one of these days, I'll actually ride like a racer!

Larry

Congratulations Sally!

Next time that you see Sally Yuska, be sure to offer her congratulations on achieving the first win for the Neboridge road race team. Not bad for the team's first year! Sally won the women's race at the Zionsville Grand Prix on Sunday August, 5th. The bricks on the main street in Zionsville made for a bumpy course, but Sally was the class of the field (although many of the other Neboridge women participated and provided strong performances - so congratulations also to Sarah Beth, Bette, and Jennifer).
Great job!

RAIN

At the start of the year my 2 main goals were to finish a century and race in one time trial. Well, the time trial may come later in the season, but I am very pleased that I have been able to do a century ride (and more). For those of you not familiar with the event the RAIN ride is a ride across the state of Indiana (hence the acronym RAIN). I was blessed to be able to ride the RAIN with the help of 5 great teammates (some from the actual Neboridge team plus some other good guys). Without their encouragement and work it would have been a miserable slog. But, with the team (Dave Fouts our fearless leader, Sally Yuska, Jason Pope, Hans Kraabel, and Scott Yates) it was hard but fun - great fun in fact. 160 miles from Terre Haute to Richmond is indeed a long haul and there is a suprising amount of climbing (over 3,000 ft according to the Garmin GPS) but it is a great event and provides a great sense of accomplishment. I am still pumped!
Larry

Eagle Creek Fast Crit.

Yes, its halfway through the race season, but I fianlly got a opportunity to race. All the stars (family, work, on-call schedules) were aligned! And, it was great! My first criterium race was a bit like a roller coaster ride - a little bit scary but a lot of fun. One does have to be heads-up at all moments. In a pack like this, even a second's lapse in concentration or a small bobble can cause a crash. My goal was to finish with the pack and not get dropped. I made this goal and even had a little bit of energy left for a sprint to the finish! I can't wait to race again.
Larry