Time Trial Track Chicago: 2012 Paw Paw-Apache TT- IL State Recap

Still waiting for the results just like the rest of you desperadoes. When they become available, I'll get them posted! Hopefully, this can keep you occupied for a while...I'm heading out for a ride.

For the narcissistic time trialist, Paw Paw is probably the most challenging course that MATTS puts on the schedule year after year. It’s a great venue with its nicely paved roads and very little traffic on a Sunday morning. One small exception was the white farm truck pulling a flatbed of hay that barely missed me, as well as, another oncoming rider today. How in the world did we escape this mess? Jaminator, I didn't know I would be in need of those cameras you have. I needed to get some live footage of this situation. When the driver and his son realized what had happened, they pulled up beside me saying...better yet, yelling, that they were sorry. I kindly gave them the finger...no, not the middle finger! It was my pointer finger ladies and gentlemen. I was waving it back and forth at them as if we were ready to "get it on" in the octagon on pay per view with "Big John McCarthy" refereeing the bout! Yes, at that moment, I was full of piss and vinegar. It soon subsided when I realized I was participating in a race.

Once again, the winds on Monday through Wednesday were howling with the temps rising into the 90’s. However, by Thursday and Friday, the winds had died down and the temps were back into the mid 80’s. Just a bit more suitable for training…thank goodness! I was getting really tired of riding into 20+mph headwinds.

Now it’s Sunday morning and the weather was looking pretty darn good. Mother Nature wasn’t crying on the roads like she did last week at Garden Prairie, but the roads were a bit more grippe here in Paw Paw for those of you carrying a few extra kilos in the saddle like myself. At times, it felt like there was glue on the road. I guess I must have become a bit delusional wearing that cool helmet. The weather was pretty consistent all morning with the temps in the 80's and a SSW around 10mph. Therefore, I would have to say it was a fair fight for everyone who clicked in and got aero. The times that were recorded today clearly showed that to be the case.

As the riders left the start, they were faced with the SSW wind which made the first section of road slow. That is until they made a right hand turn and reached the section with rollers that was even slower than the first stretch. After the second right turn, riders found themselves heading north and picking up speed with the tailwind on the false flat heading to the turnaround. However, after the turnaround the wind once again slapped them right in the face going south. For many, it was a relief to make that first left hand turn back onto the roller section. Heading back east on this stretch was incredibly fast with the tailwind. The last left hand turn onto the final section of road was difficult for many riders. Hammering up those small rises in the landscape took what little they had left and spit them out. I'm sure that the 1 mile to go sign was a welcoming sight for all riders. From there to the finish, the course was pan flat and the tailwind became quite helpful, once again, as everybody ignited what kerosene fumes they had left in the tank to get to the line.

It was good to see the course marshals at each of the turns. Yes, I heard about last year’s fiasco of stolen signs and no course marshals. Don’t forget, many of you really need to ride or drive the course to get that visual before you show up to the start line. You can still have people marshaling a corner who are completely oblivious and fail to signal the direction you need to go. Obviously, this will cost you time waiting for them to put their cellphone away and get back to the task of directing you in the correct direction. I heard it through the grapevine that this happened last week at the Garden Prairie Team Time Trial. These situations are absolutely unacceptable for any type of race against the clock.

"Margaritaville Madness" right here in river city the night before Paw Paw with newly retired Mr. B. Mrs. Beam, I'm gonna need some fresh squeezed Wolf Berry Juice! Dougie D, you could have used some of Pat's concoction last weekend after your bachelor party.

You know you're getting close to Paw Paw when you start seeing the Mendota Hill's Wind Farm from 53/39. These turbines stand 214 feet tall with three 83 feet blades and tips the scales at 110 tons. The 63 turbines that makeup this wind farm are capable of generating enough electricity for approximately 15,000 homes per year.

Everything you ever needed to know and more about Paw Paw, Illinois can be found right here on this sign. Thanks to Jim Saplis, Doug Johnson, Team Apache, Bob Kuttler, Bob Lundberg and Bill Cassidy for putting together another great MATTS event.

As Bob Lundberg and Bill Cassidy were decorating the pavilion for the awards presentation, registration was running rather smoothly with Bob Kuttler in command. Guys the sign looks a little off, but I'll give you an A+ for effort!

Bryce, you are in a class all your own leaving the rest of us in the 16" softball league bustin' a twelve pack of "the high life" after every weekend's event! Nice set of wheels with the pro graphics for your shop! Can I get a replica of this in a matchbox car? If any of you are out in the Sterling area, you need to drop by his bike shop, it's awesome! Here's the link: Mead's Bike Shop

While the racers were waiting to get started. I overheard the following conversation among the ABR Officials. "What about your parents? Love 'em or want to mail them back to Walmart? Costco, actually!" Fabio Orlandi and Jon Lafontant (PYOC) are looking completely confuzzled at the situation that's developing right in front of them, and they are seriously contemplating snagging those two chairs if this goes on any longer. "Sweet Cheeks" could you get those boys a drink while I warm up...temps are rising, and it might be a while.

Elmer "The Destroyer" Colyer (Brones Bikes) taking off at the start. Bob Kuttler was the MATTS start official for Sunday's event. Don't forget that Bob is putting together a time trial weekend in Cordova, Illinois July 21st and 22nd. Check links to to the left or at the bottom of blog for flyer info.

Chris and Stacy Mosora (Scarlet Fire Racing) looking quite happy after the race. Check out the single speed that Chris rides...can you say "STUD" boys and girls! Who drops a 54 and small change with wind and hills on a 40K course like this? Sorry Chris, I need some gears, but even they can't help me hold your wheel. I'm gonna need to invest in a bottom bracket motor. Any silent sponsors?

The next MATTS event is the Midwest Masters Wolfgang Freitag Memorial 2-Person 50k TTT on Sunday, July 8th. Here's the link to register: Get Me Registered. After that...MATTS will take us out west to the Mississippi in Cordova, Illinois for a weekend of time trialing sponsored by Stray Kats Racing. On Saturday, July 21st it will be the Barstow 20K TT at Cordova. Then on Sunday, July 22nd you'll have the Dr Craig Schultz Memorial 40K TT at Cordova ("ABR Midwest Regional Championship Time Trial"). Here's the link to register for both: Get Me Registered