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.