Scarletfire 2-Person TTT Recap 5/8!

Scarletfire Racing’s 2-person TTT marked the fourth stage on the Mid America Time Trial Series outdoor tour. While it was Mother’s Day, the race still produced a great turnout. I heard one racer say “I do not care what day it is. If there is a race, I am there!” Yah, that is what you ex-wife said. Anyways, back to the story. The weather was awesome, the roads were mostly smooth, and Mark Swartzendruber and Co. did a stellar job putting on another excellent MATTS event.

As my crew and I pulled into the parking lot for this race, we saw a guy sporting a Cubs hat and aviator sunglasses. Hey, who is that dude, I thought? Oh, it was Mark Swartzendruber of course. He traded in his spandex for race director duties for the day. In fact, most of Scarletfire Racing’s squad traded in their racing kits for the day to help out in the corners

Garden Prairie has gone from a touch and go pavement operation of the past to a time trial with some very nice, smooth roads.  This year's race featured new pavement over 1/2 half of the course, with good older pavement and a 1/4 mile section that needed some patch work.  Riders faced heavy head and crosswinds on the way out to the turnaround with smooth sailing on the way home (speeds reaching close to 40 miles per hour in some sections). A small section of patched potholes just before the bridge on the way to the finish, and it was a wrap.

Charles Gerlach and Jeff Otto (Lamb Little Racing) rode the best time of the day, followed by Fabio “the Legend” Orlandi and Brian Harris (PYOC /Scarletfire Racing). Rob Jungles and Curtis Bice (ABD) rounded the men’s podium with a 52:14.

On the women’s side, Kelly Richter and Leigh Thompson (Vision Quest) rode a stellar 55:10 to take the women’s TTT title. Shirley Crocker and Arietta Clauss (Brazen Dropouts /Mad City) rode a 56:56 for second place.  Candy Chintis and Francine Haas (Abertos) rode a 1:01.14 for third place honors.

Other notable teams who rode excellent times on this day were: Mike Heagney and John Angelatos (Vision Quest), Russ Kuryk and Jason Knaff (Iron Cycles /Burham Racing), Ryan Fay and Jeremy Anderson (XxX), Jerzy Trzeciak and Stanley Trzeciak (PLUS), Alain Villeneuve and Edward Gradient (Well Fit Elite III), Mark Serafin and Doug Peterson (Lamb Little Racing), Tom Kalstrup and Nels Hackl (PYOC/RRB), Darin Steiner and Don Lowe (Team Mack), Bob Burke and Ziggy Demel (PACT Dish-Network), Bob Burke and Terry Martin (PACT Dish-Network / Team IE), Richard Kreutzfeldt and Dave Goetzinger (PACT Dish-Network / Big Ring Flyers), Max Hall and Gina Johnson (Village-Verdigris), Kyle Mindick and Ben O’Malley (XxX), and Elise Kikis and Wendy Gaddey (Albertos).

Thanks goes out to Scarletfire Racing team members Mark Swartzendruber, Michael Zellmann, Chris Mosora, Tom Doughty, Brian Harris, and Ian Lochridge (with help from Stacy Applewick (ABD)) for putting on another great MATTS event.

Lastly, there have been some whispers in the peleton of a new team forming in the Chicago cycling ranks. From what I hear, Jerzy Trzeciak, his brother Stanley Trzeciak, and fomer pro cyclist Krys Wiatr are starting a new team called PLUS made up of Polish, American riders. The team’s philosophy is racing competitively while having fun without drama or politics. I wish them success with their new endeavor.

For those of you who are looking for a time trial this weekend, you are in luck.  This Barstow 20k is a bit of a haul and well worth the drive.  This is the flatest 20k course in the Tri-State area.  The flyer and on-line registration went up last week.  The race is a ROTY, TOI/W event.  Race start is 9:00 a.m. 

Registration is available on-line at: 
http://www.getmeregistered.com/ 

You can view the race flyer at: 
http://www.ambikerace.com/2011/flyers/Barstow2011flyer.pdf

That’s a wrap-DP

Single Bong 20k Results Recap 5/1!

O.K  Chicago area time trial freaks, the wait is finally over.  In this addition of Time Trial Track Chicago, I will be reporting on the Bong 20k.  The Single Bong was held on May 1st with a great turnout.  The weather was crisp, and the winds again were the star attraction of the show with gusts out of the Northwest at 20-30 miles per hour. 

The usual suspects and teams showed up in Kansasville for stage number 3 on the Mid-America Time Trial Series outdoor season.  Jeff Otto (Lamb Little Racing) posted the two fastest  two times of the day.  His first time of 25:24 was stellar enough.  Jeff then went out in heavy winds and posted the second fastest time of the day with a 25:46! Take that to the bank Time Trial Track faithful!  Not to be undone or underestimated, Mark Swartzendrubber (Scarletfire Racing), who is slowly reaving up his jet engine program of his own, posted the third fastest time of the day with a time of 25:56.  Mr. Consistency, Charles Gerlach (Lamb Little Racing) was 4^th with a time of 26:18.  Rounding the podium was new up and comer to the elite TT ranks, Reed Oliff (Lamb Little Racing) with a time of 26:21.

On the Ladies side, Leigh Thompson (Vision Quest) was the winner with a 29:26.  Shirley Crocker (Brazen Dropouts) was second with a 31:36, and Wendy Gaddey (Albertos) was third with a time of 32:30.

Other riders posting excellent times at Bong were:  Curtis Bice (ABD), Brian Harris (Scarletfire Racing), Andrew Toftoy (Nature Factor-Finer Finish),  Joe Berenyi (PSIMET), Robert Burke (PACT), Jerzy Trzeciak (PLUS), Mike Wolfgram (Gear Grinder), Kevin Stephens (Project 5),  Dan Norbeck (Vision Quest), Don Lowe (Team Mack), Doug Peterson (Lamb Little Racing), Richard Adamczyk (Midwest Masters), Marek Serafin (Lamb Little Racing),  Micahel Redlich Jr. (ABD),  Angela Rochester (Albertos),  Marie Couris (Albertos), Elise Kikis (Albertos), Glenda Sunberg (Fitness Pursuit), Diane Roanhaus (Midwest Masters), Ann Mattson (Freeport Bicycle Co.), Lynn Rivier (Albertos), and Pat Beam (ABD).

In the Team Competition, on the men’s side, Lamb Little Racing (by category) took the most podiums, followed by Vision Quest, Scarletfire Racing, and PACT-Dish-Network.  On the women’s side, Albertos was the class of the field followed by Vision Quest, and Fitness Pursuit.

Thanks goes out to Carl Wilkins and his niece, Gina for hosting another stellar event.  I would be remiss not to thank Bob Lundberg, the timer on the day, for not screwing up the 30 second starts.  Bob, you made it look easy!  Last but not least, the series could not run like a well oiled machine without the services of Bill Cassidy at the timer's table.  Results and report for Scarletfire 2-Person TTT will be up shortly.  The next MATTS outdoor event will be held in Harvard on 6/11.  Information on the Harvard 33.3K can be viewed at:

http://www.ambikerace.com/2011/flyers/Harvard_TT_Flyer_2011v2.pdf

Online registration is available for this event at:   http://www.truesport.com/

See you at the next race!

MATTS Outdoor Stage #2 Cherry Valley 30k Recap 4/17

Stage #2 of the MATTS outdoor season brought us to Cherry Valley, Illinois for the Big Ring Flyers, Freeport Bicycle Club 30k. The conditions were again interesting to say the least with 40 degree temps and winds out of the Northwest clocking at upwards of 20+ mph. Oh, and throw in a few unexpected trains coming through, and you have an early season time trial!

Nowhere to run nowhere to hide, riders faced fierce side winds for the majority of the race. At the finish line, Ziggy Demel’s demeanor said it all. In a slightly disoriented state, Demel, of PACT-Dish Network said, “These are the worst conditions I have ever experienced!” Others came over the finish line using adjectives like heinous, tough, crazy, and ridiculous to describe their day.

While some let the conditions meld into their psyches’, others had different plans. The usual suspects JonathanToftoy (Synergy), Chris Mosora (Scarletfire Racing), Reed “Speed” Oliff (Lamb Little Racing), Dan Norbeck (Vision Quest), Andrew Toftoy (Nature Factor-Fitness Finish), and Brian Harris (Scarletfire Racing)where the podium finishers on the men’s side. Shirley Crocker (Freeport Bicycle Club), Mimi Fagan (Big Ring Flyers), Diane Roanhaus (Team RVO), and Ann Mattson (Freeport Bicycle Club) rounded the podium on the women’s side.

Some other desperadoes that the 20 something racing crowd would not want to play with or risk shattered egos on this day were guys like Bob Burke and James Host of PACT-Dish Network who are just incredibility tenacious racers. Throw in the mix of “The Legend,” Fabio Orlandi (PYOC), “The Man from Crystal Lake”, Dan Madsen (ABD), and the former king of the series, Ken Roanhaus (Midwest Masters), and you’ve got some serious horsepower on your hands! If I were the former player caught betting on baseball, I would have these guys on my betting sheets everyday of the week!

Other racers turning in good times on this day were: Jerry Trzeciak (Polish Mafia Racing), MikeWolfgram (Gear Grinder), Dan Dotson (W2 Racing / Freeport BC), Mike Redlich Jr. (ABD), Michael Norton (JVC), Gene Nozicka (Alberto’s), Richard Kreutzfeldt (PACT-Dish Network), Jack Patterson (Midwest Masters), Marek Serafin (Lamb Little Racing), Ellen Daroga (Big Ring Flyers), Don Lowe (Team Mack), Karen Drennan (Team Kenda), Ziggy Demel (PACT-Dish Network), Doug Peterson (Lamb Little Racing), Pat Beam (ABD), and Rich Vichotka (Midwest Masters).

Thanks goes out to Rick Green, Big Ring Flyers, and the Freeport Cycling Club for putting on this great event! Rick and his team did an excellent job! The race has received a lot of positive compliments!

MATTS Outdoor Stage #3 takes us to the legendary Bong course. For those of you who do not know, in the 1950’s this area was slated for a U.S. Air Force base named after local World War II Ace Richard I. Bong. The base was partially built before it was deemed obsolete and abandoned to make way for the recreation area it is today and of course the best time trailing roads in the area. See you 5/1! Please check out this site for more information:  http://www.ambikerace.com/2011/flyers/Bongs_TT's_Flyer_2011v2.pdf

Mid America Time Trial Series Prologue aka JFM 4/10 Recap!

After braving another brutal Chicago winter locked into our trainers, the 2011 time trial season began last Sunday with the kick off the John Fraser Memorial Time Trial. In Chicagoland, we call spring the duel between winter and summer. The kicker is that on some days not even the Vegas odds makers can make any sense of our weather. To the delight of the athletes participating in Sunday’s event, the temperatures were in the 80’s with sunny skies. The thermals kicked up the winds, and some with discs thought they had signed on for a Lake Michigan sailing expedition. Get this; some even claimed their discs were creating negative drag.


Anyways, back to the race. Riders fought wind, terrain, and a few choice turnarounds to complete the Mid America Time Trial Series Prologue. On the men's side, Jeff Otto (Lamb Little Racing) scorched the course with a 19:48. Ryan Freund (ABD) and Bryce Meade (ABD) were second and third respectively, just breaking the 20 minute mark.  On the women’s side, the wickedly, fast Stacey Appelwick (ABD) turned in the fastest women’s time of the day with a 22:07, followed by Jennifer Harrison (unattached), and Ann Matteson (Freeport Bicycle Co.) to round the podium.

Other interesting developments on this day were Charles Gerlach (Lamb Little Racing) and James Host (PACT) taking home dual titles in the 30+, 40+, 50+ and 55+. You would think these two desperadoes won the Grand Prize Game on Bozo Show or something. Both men each walked away with two brand new top of the line indoor trainers for their efforts. Charles asked me to help him take one of these trainers to his car. When I went to put it in my car, he said, “Not your car, over here, my car!” Well, I tried anyway. In the 30+, an anomaly of sorts also occurred with Lamb Little Racing capturing the top four places (Otto, Gerlach, Oliff, Peterson).

Other series regulars turning in fast times on this day were: Curtis Bice (ABD), Jack Arnold (North Branch), Joe Berenyi (PSIMET), Reed Oliff (Lamb Little Racing), Bob Burke (PACT), Brian Harris (Scarlet Fire / Verizon), Mark Serafin (Lamb Little Racing), Dan Madsen (ABD), John Westergaard (Magnetrol), Jerry Trzeciak (Polish Gangsta Cycling), Stan Trzeciak (Polish Gangsta Cycling), Rob Jungles (ABD), Andrew Tschampa (PACT), Ziggy Demel (PACT), Richard Kruetzfelt, (PACT), Don Lowe (Team Mack), Richard Adamczyk (Midwest Masters), Mimi Fagan (Big Ring Flyers), and Patricia Beam (ABD).

It is too bad that we do not have a team award for the best overall team in MATTS. Right now, it looks like Lamb Little, PACT, ABD and Scarletfire / Verizon Racing are posting some impressive times and taking many of the top spots in the series. Well, being that I am the MATTS Coordinator, this may be something I may have to look into for a possible surprise award at the end of the season. For those of you who do not know, besides handing out trophies, we will be raffling a Leader TT frame at the 2011 awards banquet.

Lastly, I hope to be more consistent in my reporting this season. My teammate, Mark Serafin, was really upset that I neglected my blog last summer. He said he is going to keep me honest this season. With the physique and cunning of a juice loan collector, what else was I suppose to say to him?  "Mark, I will do my best to keep my blog updated for 2011. Please don’t break my knees!"

I wish everyone a fun and safe season. My condolences go out to Mike Jones (PACT) who has just had some plain bad luck with city traffic. Just when we thought he was back, another 3,000 pound projectile (aka an automobile) took him out again. Heal up Mike. We all miss you at the races!

Next Race:  Cherry Valley 30K  Sunday April 17th.  See this link for race details:
http://www.ambikerace.com/2011/flyers/cherryvalleyTT.html

2010 Mid America Time Trial Series Standings 7/7!

Turn the heat up! With only five time trials left this season, point’s battles are tightening up, and series titles are on the line. It will be a drag race down the stretch with many categories being decided at the MATTS finale in Garden Prairie at the end of the 2010 season.

The 2010 season has seen some new riders rise to the top of the heap. Specifically, Charles Gerlach (Lamb Little Racing) and Bob Burke (Pact Dish Network) come to mind. These two desperados have been tearing up the pavement and the field all year long with Charles winning most of the races and Bob finishing consistently on men's overall podium each week. Heads up young whipper snappers, these two gentlemen are Master's and Grand Master's riders. If you think you can beat these two cats in a strength contest at your local fair, be my guest. 2-1 odds says these guys ring the bell first.

On the ladies side of things, Debbie Dust (Pact Dish Network) has been the gold standard of the women's division turning anything she touches into gold this season. Her offseason diet of serious training has paid her huge dividends this season being crowned the women's overall winner in all but one race she has entered this season. The most improved rider in the woman's division is Stacey Appelwick (Bouledogue Tout Noir). Stacey's times have improved exponentially this season, and she will be a force to reckon with for seasons to come.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Mike Jones (Pact Dish Network) and Brian Harris (Scarletfire / Verizon Racing), who are two of the very finest and fastest riders in our series. Both riders were injured badly in separate incidents over the spring. Brain was hurt in a criterium crash, while Mike was involved in a traffic incident involving a car while riding his bicycle. The rumor from rummormill.com is that Brian is back on his bike, and Mike is slowly healing up. As a true testament to one of the classiest and fastest guys on the circuit, Mike is still in contention to win both the Cat 1/2 and 50+ categories even after missing four races! We are not dealing with some sort of mamby, pampy personality here. This dude is tough, and I would not be at all surprised if Mike is not back on his bike racing this season!

As we look on to the last 5 time trials of the year, Reed Oliff (Lamb Little Racing) has a good chance of winning the overall Cat 1/2 men's title, with his teammate Doug Peterson (Lamb Little Racing) looking to win his third and final men's Cat 3 title before moving out of the category next season. "The Polish Jet" aka Mark Serafin (Pact Dish Network), coming off of two years of back injuries, is having a spectacular outdoor season. If Peterson misses a race down the stretch, the Cat 3 title could go down to the last race in mid-September. Stay tuned for further details. James Flechsig (Athletes by Design) looks to be in total control of the men's Cat 4 category, while Debbie Dust (Pact Dish Network) has all but wrapped up the women’s open division. If Stacey Appelwick ( Bouledogue Tout Noir) does not miss a race, she will have the women’s cat 4 title in her grasp.

On the Men’s Master's side, Charles "Gerlacher" Gerlach (Lamb Little Racing) has taken total control of the men's 30+ and 40+ categories, while Bob Marshall (Athletes by Design) is closing in on his first 50+ title. The men's 55+ category is a barn burner with Richard Kreutzfeldt (Pact Dish Network) winning the category by a mere three points with Dan "Danimal" Madsen (Athletes by Design) in high speed pursuit. If Dan were to win again this year, this would be his third MATTS title in four years! Bob Burke (Pact Dish Network) has the men’s 60+ category wired, and he is in the running with Charles Gerlach for the most improved rider of the year. Rich Vichotka (Midwest Masters) is leading the men’s 65+ charge while Peter Alexander (Midwest Masters) and Edward Wang (Unattached) are leading the men's 70+ and 75+ categories respectively. Ray Putman (Midwest Masters) is in a league of his own winning the men's 80+ category. On the recumbent side of things, former National Cyclocross Champ, Tyger Johnson (Cars R Us) is leading this division.

On the Women’s Master's side of things, Connie Inks (Unattached) has a firm hold on the women's 40+ division while Marilyn Powell (Athletes by Design) is dominating the master's 50+ division. Nancy Beck (Midwest Masters) is on her way to another 60+ title while Pat Beam (Athletes by Design) has the women's 70+ title locked up. Pat was elected into the Senior Olympics Hall of Fame this past June! This is an awesome accomplishment for one of the finest and kindest athletes in our series. Way to go Pat! Until next time.... That's a wrap. See you in Herscher, Illinois for the Wolfgang Fietag Memorial 2-Person Time Trial on July 11th . Check out www.ambikerace.com under the calendar section for further details.

Champ Pain 40k Flicker Photos Click Here!

If you competed in the Cham Pain 40K over the weekend, check out your photo!  Four hundred and fifty three (453) photos were taken in all. Click on  the link below to see your pictures.  Photo left: Peter Allen, XXx Athletico competing in men's 30+

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ragfield/4612809818/in/set-72157624072940738/

Cham Pain 40K Recap 5/16

Welcome to Tolono, Illinois, a slice of life in the middle of nowhere with one gas station, a café, flat, nicely paved roads, and non-existent traffic. One would think this would be an ideal place to hold the first 40k time trial of the season. “Hold up on that carwash gentleman!,” Jackie Gleason a.k.a. Sherriff Buford T. Justice exclaimed to the young hoodlums stripping his son Junior’s car on the side of the road in the 1977 epic Smokey and the Bandit. In other words, everything was perfect except for the weather. There were a handful of riders who rode excellent times, but I suspect that these times would have been much faster had the spring weather cooperated just a tenny bit more.

The weather at the start of the race was in the low 60’s with winds out of the West. During the race, the winds picked up, riders experienced a steady, soaking rain, and the temperatures dropped into the low 50's.  Are we cookie cutting, or are we time trialing, I heard one say?  For the third week in a row, racers faced inclimate weather with a strong tailwind going out to the turnaround followed by a coarse headwind to the finishline.

Also, for the second time in just a few short weeks, Charles “Gerlacher” Gerlach, racing for upstart Lamb Little Racing, posted the fastest time of the day ripping the Tolono pavement in a whopping 54:09. PACT-Dish Network racers took the second and third spots respectively. Mike Jones smoked the course in 54:44 followed by Bob Burke (showing more than a few, young whipper snappers how its done) rolling a 55:59. Brian Harris (Scarletfire / Verizon Racing), slowly showing his form of a year ago, posted the fourth fastest time of the day riding a 56:25. Peter Allen (XXx Athletico), showcasing a new aero rig this season, made it a race finishing fifth and in the money riding a 57:25.

On the ladies side, Debbie Dust (PACT-Dish Network) was easy money as she yet again posted the fastest women’s time of the day with a 1:01:11. Tara Flaig (Unattached) rode a stellar 1:12:05 for second place honors. MATTS tour regular, the ageless Marilyn Powell (ABD) rounded out the women’s overall podium hammering the course in a 1:18:01 for third place honors.

Other riders who produced fast times on this day were former U.S. Cyclocross Champion, Tyger Johnson,  (Cars R Us) 56:24*; Michael Redlich (ABD) 34:43**, Graham Clark (ABD) 39:13**, David Orion (Endure-IT) 57:35, Mark “the Polish Jet” Serafin (PACT-Dish Network)59:24, Richard Adamczyk (Midwest Masters) 59:34, Scott Dahman (Wild Card Racing) 101:04, David Goetzinger (Rock River Oil) 1:01:55, Richard Vichotka (Midwest Masters) 1:14:05,  Edward Wang (Unattached) 1:12:09, and Patricia Beam (ABD)1:25:54.

Next Sunday takes us to Barstow, Illinois for the fastest and flattest 20k TT in the Midwest put on by DICE /QCBC. This is a ROTY point’s race. MATTS points will not be awarded for this race. On-line registration is available. Check the ABR website for race results for the current race. Links to the ABR website as well as the flyer for the Barstow 20k, and online registration are listed below.

http://ambikerace.com/
http://www.ambikerace.com/2010/flyers/2010_Barstow_TT_Flyer_-_Rev_2%5B1%5D.pdf
https://secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=3298

Picture is of Charles Gerlach (Lamb Little Racing) overall winner of the Cham Pain 40k.  Other pictures show the Wild Card Racing logo and the crazy weather Tolono experienced on 5/16.  Look at the flag for reference.
*   Fairing Vehicle
** Junior 20K