2010 John Fraser Memorial Recap

This past Sunday, racers flocked to the 9th annual John Fraser Memorial Time Trial. As the wind blows, so John Fraser goes. This race very well could be the best mini Paris Roubaix time trial in the Midwest. The weather is always a factor, and after a winter freeze, the roads have their fair share of obstacles as well. On this day, 13-15 mph headwinds punished riders on their outward excursion. Tailwinds on the home stretch made for drag strip like conditions as riders pushed their way to the finishline.

This Wild West affair featured some the most feared and revered gunslingers in these parts. There was Bryce Mead (Texas Roadhouse) and Charles Gerlach (Lamb Little Racing), Jeff Otto (RVCC), and Mark Swartzendrubber (Scarletfire Racing), Debbie Dust (PACT) and Leigh Thompson (Vision Quest), Jim Host (PACT) and Dan Madsen (ABD), Chris Misora (Scarletfire Racing) and Dave Polin (WDT), Pat Beam (ABD) and Robert Beck (Midwest Masters), and the list goes on.

In the end, the last men standing were Jeff Otto (20:10), Bryce Mead (20:14), and Mark Swartzendrubber (20:33). On the ladies side, Debbie Dust (22:40), had the best hand, followed by Leigh Thompson (22:42), and Connie Inks (23:38), who made it a heck of a gun fight.

The JFM rock and chip affair also decided the 2010 ABD Time Trial Series overall champions. Winners in each category received a Cyclops Trainer. Wow, not too shabby for first prize. Congratulations goes out to all the riders who participated in the series. The best of the best are as follows: Cat 1/2 Tomaz Boba (WDT); Cat 3 Curtis Bice (ABD); Cat 4 Joe Bernyi (PSI Net); AM30+ Mark Swartzendrubber (Scarletfire Racing); AM40+ Charles Gerlach (Lamb Little Racing); AM50+ Michael Jones (PACT); AM55+ Dan Madsen (ABD); AM60+ Richard Adamczyk (Midwest Masters); AM65+ Lawrence Huey (Unattached); AM70+ Peter Alexander (Midwest Masters); AM75+ Gerald Beam (Turin); AWO Jessie Prinner (ABD); AW4 Stacey Appelwick (Bouledogue Tout Nior); AW40+ Connie Inks (Unattached); AW50+ Ann Matteson (Freeport Bicycle Co.); AW60+ Nancy Beck (Midwest Masters); AW70+ Pat Beam (ABD).

This 2010 JFM also marked the first time the Mid America Time Trial Series ran a live race feed via the internet from the results table. Athletes at the event and family and friends logged onto the internet could access finish times in real time. This also allowed for any timing disputes to be handled and corrected at the race event exponentially. A big thanks goes out to Gina Wilkins for designing the timing program and to Mike Ebert (ABD) for providing the live internet feed via Verizon Wireless.

The next (MATTS) race on the docket is the Cherry Valley 30k presented by Rock River Oil and the Freeport Bicycling Company on 4/18. Last year, it rained cats and dogs at this event. This year, we are praying for great weather! On-line registration is now open for this event. For further race and on-line registration details, please follow the links below:
http://www.ambikerace.com/2010/flyers/Cherry_Valley_Flyer_2010v2.pdf
https://secure.getmeregistered.com/index.php

Lastly, if anyone needs a partner for the  Scarletfire / Verizon 2-person TT coming up May 8th, please let me know.  MATTS regular Rich Kryszak, a member of the South ChicagoWheelmen, is looking for a partner in the 50+ category for this race. 

Note: Picture is of Charles Gerlach of Lamb Little Racing who won the overall 40+ title in the 2010 ABD Time Trial Series. Photo was taken by Bill Cassidy, ABR Official

2010 ABD Indoor Time Trial #3 Recap

On Saturday March 20th, the Chicagoland, indoor time trial faithful took to Winfield Middle School for the final battle in the Man VS. Machine saga. With prevailing winds and snow falling outside, riders would not be deterred from racing on this day. After all, they were racing inside. ABD Cycling saved the best racing for last treating riders to a 9K uphill climb. The term “splitting paper” would describe the men’s competition on this day. A whopping 14 seconds separated the top three finishers on the men's overall podium. Ryan Freund (ABD) pushed the button on the competition, taming the course in a stellar 14:09 for first place honors. Not backing down to any ole gun fight or a Howitzer for that matter, indoor time trial behemoths Charles Gerlach (Lamb Little Racing) 14:16, and Mark Swartzendrubber (Verizon Wireless) 14:23, made it a heck of battle placing second and third respectively. On the ladies side, the cream rose to the top with Jessica Prinner (ABD) annihilating the hill in 15:56, followed by local women’s standout Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia) 16:20, for second, and  new up and comer Stacey Appelwick (Bouledogue Tout Noir) 16:26, for third. Other MATTS notables turning in good times on this day were: Peter Allen (XXX Athletico), Rob Jungles (ABD), Curtis Bice (ABD), Mike Jones (PACT), Dan Verner (PACT), Jim Rose (Village Cycle Sport), Richard Kryszak (South Side Wheelmen), Jayson Torres (Lamb Little Racing), Patricia Beam (ABD), and Peter Alexander (Midwest Masters).

After three indoor events, overall times have been calculated for all riders in each category. With many riders separated by mere seconds, scores will be settled on the road John Fraser Memorial style! For those of you who do not follow time trials, the John Fraser Memorial is the first outdoor time trial of the season this side of the Mississippi. In year's past, “the Fraser” has been as unpredictable as the spring weather that comes with it. Racers have been treated to temps as low as the mid 20’s to highs in the upper 70’s. Three years back, a wind gust blew a rider using a rear disc off the road. Last year, the race was postponed and moved to a later date due to projected high winds. Who will tame this ole rattle snake this year is anyone’s guess. Ted Binion’s Vegas odds makers have the race playing out this way…Mark Swartzendrubber (2-1); Charles Gerlach (5-1); Mike Jones (20-1), and Dan Verner (30-1). On the ladies side: Jessie Prinner (2-1); Stacy Appelwick (5-2); Kimberly Galdini (20-1), and Kristen Meshberg (30-1).

Another indoor season is in the books, and this means for many of us lots of hours in the saddle outside. Say good bye to the indoor trainer!  Hallelujah!  For those of you who have been invited to the ABD Invitational this weekend, good luck! They are handing out some nice giveaways at this event. Otherwise, see you at the John Fraser on April 11th! For further details on the John Fraser Memorial Time Trial see:  http://abdcycling.com/  In order to keep the John Fraser in Maple Park for years to come, please be polite to our guest, and follow parking rules and good etiquette. Happy Training!

2010 Vision Quest Indoor Time Trial Recap

This past Saturday the man verses CompuTrainer Wild West Show found itself smack dab in the middle of Highland Park, Illinois for the Vision Quest Tour De France Indoor TT. This episode stared the likes of Robbie Ventura and his Vision Quest Squad. Notable MATTS riders who made guest appearances where Charles Gerlach (Lamb Little Racing); Dan Verner (PACT); Mike Jones (PACT); Dan Madsen (ABD); Stacy Applewick (Bouledogue Tout Noir); Bob Marshall (ABD); Pat Beam (ABD); and Gerald Beam (Turin). Cameo appearances were made by Brian Akers (Lamb Little Racing) and Debbie Dust (PACT) who took in the action from the sidelines.

Once racers got saddled up and calibrated, they were treated to an extreme uphill start followed by more terrain, speed, and gear changes than a super crit on a hot Sunday afternoon. The racing was brisk, and the atmosphere was fun. Charles Gerlach (Lamb Little Racing), rode the longest distance over the 30 minute Tour De France Stage with a stellar 12.3 miles followed by Dan Verner (PACT), riding 12.2 miles, with Michael Jones (PACT), rounding off the men’s podium riding a distance of 11.9 miles. On the women’s side, Stacy Appelwick (Bouledogue Tout Noir), ripped the course riding 10.7 miles, followed by Erin Finnegan riding 10.3 miles, and Kim Brokhof completing the women’s podium riding 10.02 miles over 30 minutes.

A big thanks goes out to Robbie Ventura and his Vision Quest Team for putting on a such great, well run event. For this author, the Vision Quest time trial was the toughest indoor challenge to date. The next time trial in the Mid America Time Trial Series brings us back to where it all started:  another burner in Winfield, Illinois on March 20th.  This time, the machine will challenge riders to a 9k hill climb.  See you at the next event.  Happy training.

-DP

2010 ABD Indoor #2 Hilly Course Results

The February installment of the ABD Time Trial Series was another rock'em sock'em fest of man verses computers on a rolling, hilly terrain 10k course. On this day, congratulations goes out to Stacey Appelwick. This was her first overall win in a time trial beating the likes of a very talented Jessie Prinner. Will Novak did what he does best as he took the top spot on the men's podium yet again. Meanwhile, Charles Gerlach continued to solidify himself as a legitimate contender for the men's series overall title, while Mark Swartzendrubber cracked the podium for the first time this season nipping Dan Verner for third by a mere 5 seconds.

The racing got so crazy at times that I heard from race control that some rider dropped a chain in the middle of their battle against the machine. I have no idea how one would drop a chain in the middle of an indoor race, but who am I to say? I also heard the usual complaints about calibration. The bottomline is that we may never get the man verses computer saga fully figured out. This is why in the end, the series is usually settled on the road!

The ABD series has been such a breath of fresh air this winter as we cannot quite get a break from the other machines that reek havoc in our lives called snow blowers. Therefore, it is always nice to see the likes of Pat and Jerry Beam, and a lot of the master's riders that really make the ABD races competitive yet fun, social events.

The next race in the ABD series takes us to Winfield Middle School once again.  On March 20th, racers will be treated to a 9k hill climb challenge. Check out www.abdcycling.com for details. The next MATTS event will be held on 3/6 at Vision Quest in Highland Park. Racers will be racing the 2008 Cholet Tour De France 29k course. Racers have 30 minutes to see how far they fair. See you in Highland Park in two weeks for the second to last episode of "Man Verses Machine" before all heck breaks loose as we cannot take another day of snow...all bets will be off as things get dicey and fueds are settled rock and chip style!
-DP

2010 ABD Indoor TT #2 this Weekend (2/21)

Sparks will be flying and rubber will be burning at this weekend’s second installment of the ABD Indoor Time Trial Series. This time, participants will be challenged by a 10k rolling hills course. The last race saw Will Novak scorch the flat course in a time of 13:57 besting “2009 Indoor Champion,” Dan Verner, by seven seconds. On the ladies side, the competition was fast and furious as well with Kristen Mesberg (16:01) and Jessie Prinner (16:10) leading all women on the flat 10K course.

Will another Compu-trainer malfunction again keep Mark Swartzendrubber from securing another top three overall podium finish? Will Charles Gerlach and Christain Waterstraat show they belong in the class with the indoor behemoths? Will Leigh Thompson or Debbie Dust make cameo appearances? It is anyone’s guess. If you are going raging mad riding your indoor trainer in the doldrums of your basement or the cold has you down, come on out to Winfield this weekend and check out an indoor time trial.

The next race in the series (Race #3) is a 9k hill climb. Here is the breakdown for this race: 1k flat, 1k @ 2% grade, 1k @ -2% grade, 1k flat, 1k @ 1%, 1k @ 2%, 1k @ 3%, 2k @ 4%. For more information visit: http://www.abdcycling.com

Vision Quest 2008 Cholet Tour de France Indoor 29k TT course is the next race on the docket. For more information on this race visit: http://www.visionquestcoaching.com This race is part of MATTS which is giving out $5000 in cash and prizes this year. Check out www.ambikerace.com for full series details.

2010 Vision Quest Indoor Time Trial Tour de France Style 3/6

O.K. all you Tour de France want tow bees....here is your chance to race on a time trial course that the tour pros use right here in Chicago. Well sort of. Riders will be racing on the "infamous 2008 Tour de France Stage 4 time trial course in Cholet" at the Vision Quest Coaching Highland Park Headquarters using a Computrainer setup.

At 29k long, this will be a unique challenge for cyclists and triathletes alike to break up the winter training season. The event is part of the Mid America Time Trial Series (MATTS). Visit the VQ website for registration and event information at: http://www.visionquestcoaching.com/general.php?id=1325

MATTS 2010 IS ON!

Hi everyone. The editor of this blog has been gone a while. Found a new girlfriend at the end of the season, and well this is my excuse. Some may call it lame or otherwise. I think I can handle the abuse! The phrase is "I think." At any rate, I have taken on the Mid America Time Trial Series Coordinator Position.

We have roughly 17 races on the schedule this season which is just plain awesome! Robbie Ventura and his Vision Quest Squad are putting on a 30k simulated Tour de France time trial on March 6th. Bryce Meade, pro racer (Jelly Belly) is putting on a new 23K race near the Iowa /Illinois Border in Coleta, Illinois on June 5th. (This course will most probably be the toughest on the circuit this season with many hill climbs involved.) Mark Swartzendruber, a time trialing legend in these parts, will also be involved in putting on two races. His Verizon Wireless Cycling Team will be putting on a 2-person 39k TT in Garden Prairie on May 8th. Mark will also be involved in putting on a 40K in downstate Champaign the following weekend (May 16th) with Wild Card Cycling. Please visit http://www.ambikerace.com/2010/flyers/2010%20Mid%20America%20Time%20Trial%20Series.pdf for a full copy of the MATTS 2010 racing schedule.

The Midwest Time Trial Series has been going strong for over 25 years. Thanks goes out to the many sponsors, teams, race promoters, and race officals that make the series successful year after year. Our sponsors on board for the 2010 season are Profile Design, Sram, and Park Tool USA. Teams hosting races this year are Athletes by Design, Verizon Wireless, Vision Quest, Rock Valley, Oil, Wild Card Cycling, Tempo Velo, Apache, Midwest Masters, DICE Training, Windy City Wheelmen, and Verdigris Racing.

The series is still actively pursuing a title sponsor for the upcoming 2010 season to help pay for printing costs associated with flyers that go out to bicycle shops and help with either merchandise or money to pool for overall rider awards.

Since I took on this role so late in the season, I want to grow the rider participation in the series over the next few years. I want to do this by adding sponsorships and adding swag like wheelsets, groupos, etc. to our overall end of the year prize lists.

I am open to any and all suggestions to improve the series. Any changes must be made at WIL meetings. Any rider wanting to make a suggestion or change should attend these meetings.

Lastly, I will be doing an upcoming article on the ABD Indoor Time Trial Series. Mark Swartzendruber and Dan Verner are going head to head in this series as usual. However, there is a new Sheriff in town, and his name is Will Nowak (Unattached) who turned in the best time in the first installment of the ABD Series held on January 24th. He turned in a time of 13:57 over the 10K flat course besting series notables Drubber and Verner. The next indoor TT is on February 21st. It is a rolling 10k course. Will an apparent computrainer malfunction ruin Drubber's day again, or will Verner and Drubber square off like Man Verses Food eating a 10 pound Philli Steak with Cheese. May the best man win. That's a wrap -DP