Time Trial Track Chicago: 2012 MATTS Standings (8/1) and Other Stuff

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"2012 MATTS Standings"

As you can see, Ziggy is laughing in the background. He thinks trying to do an 80K individual time trial in under two hours is absolutely nuts. He just might be right when you consider the Firehouse course. All I hope for is to not see this S-WORKS Shiv flying past me. After all, the man riding this machine has been putting in some stellar times this year, and he is only starting one minute behind me this Saturday. I sure don't want to hear Paul say "the elastic has snapped!"

The gang has gotten together several times this year to train in southern Wisconsin. Bob Burke has been the mastermind behind the rebellious group. For me, it’s the only time I get serious when training. I’ve grown accustomed to riding too many different bikes and too many miles this summer. I've completely missed the boat when it comes to training for time trials. I just like wondering through the country in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Maybe next year I’ll get motivated and follow some sort of training program. That would even have to include eating right. I don’t think pizza, donuts and fermented liquids should be the major staples in my diet. Moving from participating to competing…what a novel concept?

After our Sunday morning training ride, it was time to get some breakfast back across the state line in Antioch.

Have any of you noticed my world seems to revolve around riding a bike and eating? I think I've stated that incorrectly...I eat a lot; therefore, I need to ride a lot. This then allows me eat more...right Dougie!

Hey, it's the first poster I've seen for the Mid America Time Trial Series this year. I think I know that rider.

For those of you competing this upcoming weekend at the Bryce Master 19K TT good luck. I won't be there to enjoy the atmosphere that surrounds the MATTS race. I'm heading north to do the Firehouse 50 mile TT. I know...what a schmuck! I can't even attend the race my team is putting on. Reed and I will leave you in good hands with the three musketeers. The Firehouse TT is one race that I had seen several years back but never took the initiative to head north and participate. I know several of us who are going would like to break the two hour mark. I know this isn't going to be like riding two back to back 40K TT's on the same course which several of us have done in the past. Looking at the previous years results only a handful of riders have ridden a sub 2 hour.

Previous Firehouse 50 mile TT Results

2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

Bryce Master is to the right in the picture.

It'll be interesting to see the times that are put in by those of you racing the Bryce Master 19K TT. Elmer Colyer has been amping up his performances this season. He's obviously looking to drop it at Natz later this year. Last Sunday in Cordova he was only 20 seconds of "Mr. Speed's" 40K course record. That's a serious pounding of the pedals shown by the man who hails from the great state of Iowa. Stacy Mosora's 40K time dropped as well by over a minute. Nice job Mrs. Mosora! Of course her single speed mined husband will put in a solid performance at this event, he always does!

Previous Bryce Master TT Results

2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

If you are here, you're really in the middle of nowhere. I guess you know where I am.

Don't forget that the last MATTS race of the year has a team competition that EMC2 is putting together. I would actually like to see this race be a 40K not a 39K TT. I mean is the "Double Bong" really a 40K? You might want to measure it next month when you race it. I'm sure the powers that be in Garden Prairie could easily do some adjusting of the start, turnaround and finish line to accommodate the extra meters needed. I know it's possible since I ride these roads every so often. Maybe next week, I'll take the time to mark these locations with some bright fluorescent spray paint. On second thought, the last time I applied paint to a road I got a couple days of community service. Nothing like spending some time during the summer painting curbs yellow to pay for my teenage stupidity. The county's juvenile officer liked my art work on the road; however, the state's office didn't appreciate my creativity. Go figure! Who knew I would be putting this talent to good use painting murals for high schools. After all, how else would I pay for all those techno-weenie bikes? Yes Ziggy, I absolutely agree that we all need one more bike!

Check in for the Fort De Soto Time Trial. Race ran on time and overall results were a lot faster than any other race I've ever participated in.

I stopped to take a couple pictures including the one above. I told "sweet cheeks" to go ahead and ride down the road...I'll catch up. When I got done taking the pictures, I clipped in and headed down the road to rejoin her. Since I was warming up on my road bike, I didn't know how fast I was going. Why? Because I like riding naked...no cyclometer. I knew that I was moving at a pretty good pace for starting my warm up. Why haven't I caught up with her yet? Man...where are my legs? I knew I shouldn't have been playing on the beach all day. I'm going to get passed by everybody this evening. When I finally caught up with her, she kindly informed me that she was riding as fast as she could.

This "little devil" was flying down the road. What happened to the warm up pace we previously talked about? She obviously stole a page out of Thomas Voeckler's racing manual.

They actually let me start without a holder a few years back at the IL State TT in Harvard; however, they didn't allow this strategic move last year. Why? It must have given me an unfair advantage when starting. This isn't as unfair as the rolling start I was given last year at the Wisconsin State TT when I showed up to the line at the 3...2...1...GO! "Mr. Speed" was lucky enough to witness that event.

Mr. and Mrs. Doug Peterson shown here on that special day on Lake Geneva. Okay Dougie, the honeymoon's frickn' over, so after you do the dishes, you better get your web page and the MATTS standings updated. If you don't, you're fired!

Checkout the pimped Giro Advantage II helmet.

Illinois State Time Trial Championship will be put on by Northbranch Cycling Saturday, September 1st. The following day the Big Ring Flyers will be hosting the Return to Cherry Valley II Sunday, September 2nd.

Here’s a couple more videos I came across while watching the tour. Some of you might find them to be quite entertaining.