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Dog Days Burnout - Where Was Everyone? This week Druber will use his forum to chide fellow bike racers for not turning out in droves for two of the most well run, well-supported races of the season. My hometown Hommies, C-U Racing put two races together this year on challenging courses. The Saturday criteriums were raced around West Side Park in Champaign. On Sunday C-U Racing was able to secure Kickapoo State Park near Danville, IL for a scenic and challenging road race. The crit course was a basic 1k square with one block of brick pavement to shake things up. The road circuit in Kickapoo State Park featured long false flats and two 15% climbs, that while only 100-200 meters each were enough to break the spirit of the crit monkeys and allow the road racer or power climber some opportunity for a Vee. Day one turned out good crowds of spectators but disappointingly small field sizes for the Masters, Women and Pro 1,2 fields. The3's and 4's had good fields. However, what the fields lacked in numbers, they made up for in depth. My question is, where was everyone? Those of you who didn't show up for the road races in Danville missed one of the best courses of the year. But then again, crit monkeys typically don't like a road that slants upward for more than a few degrees and more than a few meters, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the fields on Sunday were paltry. When the opportunity to suck wheel is ruined by a steep grade, and a lack of ability is exposed, I guess it can become a bit embarrassing. One is not able to convince oneself of the ability to race at a 28 mph average when one is not being sucked around in a giant vacuum of riders on a flat course, right? You know who you are. Rob Parker, who did an excellent job overseeing the efforts to put on the race (with a lot of help from the club) securing primes and sponsorship assures me that next year, two races will be held again. My suggestion to him is to make the races in Kickapoo longer - 100k vs. 40 miles for the Pro 1,2 event for example. Hopefully this will draw some tough guys and gals out to race. With the crit purse at $1100 for the P, 1,2 race and the RR purse at $500 the races warranted better turnout. That said, even without the money, it's worth the effort to turn out and race on a challenging course. My opinion. Champaign Criterium Old Guys Race: Unusual that out of the 15 or so that lined up for the 40+ race, only 2 were wearing the red and blue. RastasMACK and HeadsMACK were representin'. McLerran of Turn made the trip to his old home town to race on what used to be his paper route and the rest of the field was made up of loners except for the Proctologists from Peoria, lead by Lenny (don't call me Kravitz) Clapp - all good riders and good racers - who had 3. We went slow then went fast and 8 guys lapped the rest and then we slowed down. We went fast again and 3 got popped and the 5 lapped the 3 that got popped. Todd Metz won the sprint, Mike Moles got 2nd. HeadsMACK and Lenny (don't call me Kravitz) followed. Druber, who is unable to finish a race right unless he's alone, was stuck in traffic and finished last in the break. 1,2 Race: The Hushpups had a full squad. Freshly off Fish -n- More dinners with extra malt vinegar, they were aggressive from the gun. The Proctologists represented well keeping things together with help from Johhny Knoxville Puffer. Druber was actually able to win a prime sprint for $25 to one of his favorite local restaurants. Before retiring exactly 1:05 into the race with butt spasms. It seems that when food or donuts are given for primes, I'm able to find a sprint. Otherwise I generally get swamped 50m from the line. I digress. Eventually
a promising move was off the front. Newly crowned IL TT champ Hushpup
Schroetlin and IL RR champ Sachs were up the road. Druber - newly
crowned IL TT silver medalist bridged. We were able to stay away
but only for 5 laps, during which we all suffered greatly. Eventually
Shroetlin, Sachs and Scott (I attack you until you vomit) Pearson
formed the winning move and Schroetlin pulled the energy from some
chicken planks he was stowing in his rear jersey pocket to sprint
away from Sachs and Pearson. Danville Road Race It's just a shame more of you didn't race. Despite the small fields -Pro 1,2 with 11, 30+ with 7, 40+ with 8, C-U Racing paid full purses to their fields. Everyone raced well. I thank on behalf of the hometown club all of you who traveled to the races and challenge those of you who didn't, not to miss these great races next season.
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