ABR Rule Changes for 2012 Season

Sometimes change can be a very good thing. In my opinion, this is the case with what ABR (American Bicycle Racing) put forth for the 2012 racing season. The 5 year age categories that have been implemented for MATTS (Mid American Time Trial Series ) will hopefully bring in some new faces to the events. Maybe some triathletes and duathletes will start showing up to compete or to use these races as part of their training. I really like the idea that riders who choose to race an age category are restricted from racing down an age group. This change will definitely open up the categories that have been previously occupied by a few riders.Then for those cyclists who choose to double up at an event, it requires that one of their races be in an ability category...not in different age categories. This format should make it interesting for the categories when you consider that there are a lot of good time trialists who race twice at all 18 of the MATTS events. I also like the fact that the overall MATTS award will consist of only a rider’s ten best races.

The old point system has been reinstated (25 for 1st, 22 for 2nd, 20 for 3rd, 19 for 4th…) which will allow for more point separation among the top three performers in each age or ability category. I’m not sure why this point system would have ever been changed, but the move back is a step in the right direction.

The team time trial (2 person and 4 person) changes are definitely a plus. Now riders can race with someone that they previously might not have had the opportunity to because of racing for points in a certain category…whether it be age or ability. Hopefully this will make it easier for riders to find a teammate, so they can compete at these events.This new format might allow for a really fast team to be assembled that previously would not have been possible.  However, I would like to have seen two more combined age categories added…50-59 and 60-69. I realize there is an open category for those who do not make the minimum combined age, but an open category could be intimidating for those individuals who are new to the time trail scene. I think having two younger combined age categories could help with bringing in a younger crowd which is very important for the future of ABR.

ABR's ROTY "Mellow Johnny"

The ROTY (Rider of the Year) requirements I think are the best changes ABR made for the 2012 season. Gone are the days where the time trial specialist could dominate this end of the year award by simply winning or placing high in all of the individual time trails. This old method was even more lopsided when one of the time trials was for the TOI/W (Tour of Illinois and Wisconsin) category. Therefore, the time trialist only needed to finish 4 mass start events. They didn’t even have to place in any these mass start events to win the ROTY. By changing the ROTY requirements to the 5 best MATTS and 5 best TOI/W events, the tarmac has definitely been leveled to make this award more about the quality of races than the sheer number of points that could be accumulated by competing in every possible time trial. Hopefully this new format will bring out more mass start riders to the time trial events. Especially when you consider that they only need to compete in five time trials to qualify for the ROTY.

Personally, I would like to thank all of the individuals involved who helped with implementing the changes to the ABR Rulebook for the 2012 season. I know getting everybody on the same wavelength isn’t easy, but I hope everybody can live with these changes.

BA

New "MATTS" Website Up and Running for 2012

Hi All....I have been diligently working on a new MATTS website over the last week. The new MATTS site is up and running. The home page, schedule, results, links, and contact info. pages are fully operational. I have to complete the" About MATTS" page and our sponsorship links, and we are totally 100% rocking and rolling.

Also, look for color flyers and MATTS posters at your local bicycles shops. We are really ramping up our advertising this year. Also, a new medal will be coming out later this spring.  2012 looks to be the best MATTS season yet.

I do not know how much I will be blogging on this site as the website will take a lot of my time. The new website is www.midamericatimetrialseries.com For those of you who are grappling with the Compu Trainer at the ABD Indoor #2 tomorrow, good luck!

DP

2012 MATTS' Indoor Series, Rules, Gerlach Update

The 2012 MATTS Series is on!  The first event of the 2012 season took place on January 22nd.  Mark Swartzendruber and Dan Verner ended up in a virtual tie for the top spot with Verner beating Druber out by a few hundredths of a second (14:19.13, 14:19.24) .  In other words, the fastest time of the day was decided by splitting atoms.  This would be about right as Fermilab is just down the road.  The consensus was that Verner used an aero wheel while Druber used a boxed rim.  I do not know if this is true?  This is a blog, so I am not accountable to the journalistic standards set forth by the professional media out there.  However, as a good politician once said,  "I do try to utilize best journalist practices when made available to tell my side of the story."  For those of you interested in the ABD indoor #1 results, they can be found at:   www.abdcycling.com 

Hold up on that car wash ladies and gentleman! (This was the line Jackie Gleeson used when confronting a few  juvenile delinquents stripping Junior's car in the epic 70's classic: Smokey and the Bandit).  ABD has three more "man verses machine" indoor races to go before the series is decided at the John Fraser Memorial outdoor event in April.  JFM is a total game changer for those racers having difficulty transitioning from the security of the  "no drag factor" on the Compu Trainer to unpredictability the outdoor elements present.  The elements can be really tricky during springtime racing because riders never know which weather they are going to get:  sunny and balmy or windy and cold.  Throw in a little rain or snow flurries into the mix and things can really get interesting in a hurry.  JFM is a great race, put on a by a great club with excellent turnout year after year.  I look forward to this event each year as the kick off to outdoor racing in the area.

As many of you know, I coordinate the  MATTS series. Each year, I work with race directors and riders to come up with best practice to improve our series.  This season, we changed our rules to make the series more competitive and to attract more racers to the series.  I am working on a MATTS specific website that should be up before the outdoor season, and MATTS color flyers will go out to all bicycle shops in the month of February. You will be happy to know that we also added the 4-person TTT to the MATTS schedule as well as stealing Bartow away from Tour of Illinois Wisconsin to make it a MATTS event in 2012!

In 2012, a rider's best 10 races will be used to calculate overall awards.  Many of our racers have families.  That being said, things for our athletes come up during the season, and he or she may not be able to make a race.  Thus, to promote competition and not penalize our customers for having to attend a family event or work on a race day, MATTS went with the "10 Best" rule this season.

There have also been changes made to age and ability categories for 2012.  To attract a broader customer base, MATTS is going with age categories in five year increments, and ability categories:  Open 1,2,3 and Cat 4/5 for men and women.  Racers will not be able to race down in age and must race in his or her ability category.  Racers competing in team events will be awarded 15 points each for entering these racers.  Team events will be scored on a combined age bases with an Open Category and Mixed Category included in the mix.  MATTS made a change to the team rules to give racers more choice in finding a partner for these events.  The last change was to the points.  In 2012, points will be awarded as follows:   25 for first place, 22 for second place, and 20 for third place.  Fourth place on down will be pointed in one point increments 19, 18, 17....    Medals will be awarded  5 places deep for all categories.  The revised 2012 rules will be posted on the ABR website in February:  http://www.ambikerace.com/forms.htm


Changing gears for a minute:  Charles Gerlach Update:  As you know, Charles Gerlach is my teammate and friend.  He is doing a lot better after his accident.  Physically, he looks great.  He is slowly progressing each day.  If he is not back racing his bicycle by the end of 2012, I am sure he will be making a comeback in 2013.  He is pushing some decent wattage in his basement for a guy who cheated death just a few months back.  He is very grateful for all the support the cycling community has given him since his accident.  He has won just about every race he has entered.  This is a bit of a marathon road race for him.  When he is ready, he will attack the field, and win this race as well.  We are all rooting for you Charles!

Lastly,  I will do my best in 2012 to keep up with my blog.  I will have a link to this blog on the  MATTS website, and / or have a blog within the MATTS site.  I hope to keep this blog going with help from one of my teammates.  I wish you all a happy and safe 2012 cycling season.  Please wear your helmets, especially in the city.  It is crazy out there. 

Be Safe,

DP

2011 Scarlet Fire 2-Person TTT Recap

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

2011 Single Bong 20k Results Recap

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!

2011 Cherry Valley 30k Recap

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

2011 MATTS JFMTT 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