Cell phone test

Testing

Lake Michigan Cicle Tour

Well today it became official.  My Lake Michigan Circle Tour is officially a go.  I don't really know what to expect out of this adventure.  My main goal is to raise money and awareness for the World Bicycle Relief, a cause in which I support wholeheartedly.  But to complete this goal is going to take an unbelievable amount of work, dedication, sweat, and a little luck.  Right now I'm feeling nervous but also really excited too.  Maybe foolishly so... but I think I can do it... To be honest I don't know if I can... ask me on any given day and you might get different answers, but without trying I'll never know.

I will continue to update my blog leading up to the ride and hopefully provide updates during the ride depending on computer availability.  I will be updating my facebook and twitter pages so you can also follow my progress there in case I can't get the blog updates going.  My twitter pages is @mattbosman and you can use #BosmanLMCT

 Right now the route is almost done and I will post it as soon as its complete.  I am also organizing gear, nutrition, water, rest stops, lodging and all the other thousands of things I need to do in the next three weeks.  Seems a bit overwhelming but either way on 8/31 when I head out the door I will have 10 back to back centuries starring me down so I better be ready.

Cobb Park Criterium 2012

This past weekend I drove down to Kankakee, Illinois for the Cobb Park Criterium.  I have never done this race before so I didn’t really know what to expect from the flyer.  When Heather and I arrived at the park I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was very close to the Kankakee River in a beautiful historic section of town with large old oak trees and nice paved roads.  The course was very short, less than three-quarters of a mile per lap, which made it a spectators dream.  The start finish line was literally 20 feet off the river which had to be one of the coolest settings for a race I’ve even seen.

The weather was partially overcast with a light breeze and threatening rain, but luckily it never rained more than a few drops.  After suiting up and getting in a nice warm-up, I picked a nice spot to watch the finish of the master’s race.  A group of 6 or so had gotten off the front and stayed away until the finish.  I noted this was probably a real possibility for the Cat 3 race as well.  I was going to have to be ready to go right from the start.

Me in the initial chase group

Right from the start I accelerated harder than usual to make sure I got in the top 10 before hitting the first corner.  As I suspected within the first two laps a group of about 8 had formed at the front with myself and another 4 or 5 guys chasing hard.  The pace only increased for the next few laps and after about 15 minutes the lead group had established a gap of about 15-20 seconds with me and a few others in the chase group right behind.  I looked back at one point and saw there was no one behind us but I knew the main peloton was somewhere behind chasing hard.  After about 15 minutes a few guys in my group gave up the effort and refused to work on the front anymore.  With the loss of those extra bodies we were eventually swept up by the main peloton.  The gap continued to maintain at about 20 seconds for another 20 minutes or so.

Great photo of the main peloton courtesy of Elizabeth Rangel



Still trying to catch the lead group

Riding in the main peloton there were only a handful of riders able (or maybe capable) of riding the front and keeping the pace.  It was strange to see no one interested in catching the lead group and it became evident that the only way to reach it would be a solo bridge effort.  One strong rider did make an attempt but the gap had increased and he wasn’t able to make the bridge and dropped back to the group.  It’s always strange knowing your racing for 10^th place before the race is even over but it seemed that’s what everyone in the group had decided on.  Most were sitting in and waiting for the final sprint.  I rode strong at the front and took a few turns pulling keeping the pace high but similarly was thinking about positioning myself for the final sprint.

Sitting in the main peloton after being caught

The course had two tight corers back to back before a long straightaway and sweeping corner lead back into the finish.  I knew moving up in the pack would be extremely difficult going into these corners so on the second to last lap I accelerated and moved to the front of the group and after crossing the finish line on the last lap I hit the gas.  Being on the front I was able to take the turns full speed and really thought I would have enough to carry me through the straight away, but towards the end of the straightaway my legs started to tire and I got passed by two riders. Going into the final sprint I had a clean line but the legs were not quite there to make up much ground and I got passed by another couple guys on the final sprint, finishing 18^th overall. Race Data can be found HERE.

Final sprint

I was pleased with my performance and was happy being able to ride more aggressively than I have previously this year.  This course suited me very well and tactically I read the race well.  My mistake was not making more of an effort to make it into the initial lead group.  I knew they would probably stay off the front, which they did, but didn’t take the risk at the time to get up there.  It seems at those critical moments you have a split second to make the decision and sometimes it’s right and sometimes wrong.  But it was a great day and a really fun race and I am already looking forward to coming back next year.

Hillsboro Roubaix 2012

When the thunder started rolling Friday night I rolled over in bed and knew Saturday was going to be interesting.  Hillsboro Roubaix 2012 did not fail to disappoint in that category.  I drove down to Hillsboro, IL Friday after work which was about a 4-1/2 hour drive from Chicago.  Staying in a hotel is not the greatest thing in the world but I had high hopes that the weather would clear and that I could make a run at the top ten this year in the Cat 3’s.  Eating breakfast and watching the torrential rain come down I knew the weather was not clearing anytime soon.  Skilling’s forecast was for 20% chance of rain and temps in the 70s.  At the start line with no cool weather clothing the rain continued to fall and the temps hovered in the 50s.  Thank you sir!

At the start I was chilly but felt good and prepared for the race but as we rolled out of town and I got hit with the first spray from the wheels in front of me and the cold wind blasting through there is no other way to put it, I was cold.  When we hit the first hill going out of town the speed picked up I tried to see through my wet glasses and pick a good safe line but felt very unsteady on the wet roads and all but blind with the glasses on.  It was here that I got nipped with my first centerline warning.  Because the roads are not closed to traffic the race officials enforce strict rules about crossing the imaginary center line of the road.  Since the county roads have no centerlines this is somewhat arbitrary but strictly enforced.  Fearing for my life on the first hill I went way left over the line trying to stay safe but was instantly reprimanded for going over the line.

Mid Race Descent

 After the climb out of the river valley I ditched the glasses and settled into a nice pace with the group.  The rain let up a little and the peloton rode comfortably through the first lap.  The course is hilly with some flats that can be quite windy at time…  today was no exception.  Riding through the wind and rain I rode steady with no real action happening at the front.  Coming into town after lap one the peloton accelerated at the base of the climb and I was gapped and had to race to catch up.  Going through town for the start of the second and final lap I was struggling to regain contact with the pack after the acceleration through the brick sections.  I finally managed to get back into the group and settle into a rhythm again

Peloton Rolling Through Town

As the pace picked up more and more riders started taking risks to get to the front.  I saw numerous crashes and guys ditching to the right off the road so I chose the opposite and rode on the left near the center line knowing I was risking a DQ but thinking safety was more of a priority.  Near the 50 mile mark I made a big mistake and tried to move up the left side near the center line.  As soon as I started moving forward I knew it was a mistake but the peloton was so tight I couldn’t find a way get back in.  What I should have done is drop back to where the peloton was less dense and regroup… but I didn’t.  The official rode up alongside me and flagged me to the back.  I rode alongside the official and he said that since I had already been warned earlier I would be DQ’d.

At the time I was mad but in reflection it was the right thing to do.  I made a bad move and got busted for it.  Notwithstanding being embarrassed I was very disappointed to be riding well and then to have that result but I did learn a valuable lesson out of the experience.  I stayed in the pack and rode back into town but without any motivation to sprint or risk life and limb on the descents I took it easy rolling into town and finished with the pack.  There were many crashes and dangerous moves in the final couple miles and I was satisfied to avoid those and make it to the finish safe and sound.

Cat 3s on the Final Descent into Town

Final Downhill into Town
note: the tricky asphalt at the bottom of the hill lost a waterbottle and bar plug to those bumps

 In the end the race was disappointing for me but I learned a valuable lesson and got a nice 2.5 hour ride in.  Leave it to me to always look for the silver lining.  Full race data can be found HERE.  The rain was really a game changer for me because I felt some of the corners and descents became infinitely more dangerous with the wet conditions.  I wasn’t willing to put it all on the line and take the risks in those situations and my result reflected that.  I’m hoping for better results as the rest of the season progresses, and I am certainly glad to have this one behind me.

Me Post Race

Burnham Super Spring Crit. 2012

Cleaning Glasses Before the Start

“Let’s kick off racing in 2012” were my final words before the whistle blew starting the Burnham Super Spring Criterium on Saturday (3/24).  I was lined up in my first Cat 3 race and feeling a bit nervous despite a long winter of training.  I knew many of the guys on the start line but there were also a lot of new faces I didn’t recognize.  That always makes it hard when you don’t know who to mark or who to watch out for.  It was really nice to chat with some old friends at the start line that I hadn’t seen for a whole winter but when the whistle blew it was game on!

The nerves for these events are not really about performance but the utter pain that the next hour is going to be.  From the moment the race started and my heart rate went from 60 to 180 in about 10 seconds this race was on a new level.  Not only was the pace faster but the teams were more organized and all the riders were much more experienced at spotting when and where to make the right moves.  Overall this made the margin of error very small and the increased my focus and attention to the race as it unfolded.

A few attacks off the front never materialzed

 The Burnham course is very easy.  It’s basically a large oval with wide sweeping turns and no hard corners.  A bike racers dream… However, the lack of technicality creates a new tactic all by itself.  You can’t bank on making moves at critical times in this course.  You can move to the front or back at almost any time throughout the race.  As the first few laps unfolded I sat in the pack judging the other riders, the wind, and the conditions to determine what was going to make the difference in this race.  After a few minutes I concluded what I have for the past three years.  This race will come down to a pack sprint. 

As the laps ticked by the pace remained high but all the riders rode comfortably and without any incident.  I was surprised at how aggressive some of the moves were early but no one made any attempt to attack or put riders up the road.  As the lap counter signaled 3 to go I moved up into the first 15 places and began to pace myself for the sprint.  The pace increased steadily and with two laps to go I was in great position in the top 10.  However at the start of the last lap a rider in front of me suddenly braked hard and I also had to brake and swerve to avoid a crash.  The slowing was due to the riders at the front all wanting to rest and recover briefly before the final push to the end.

Cat 3 Finish (white arrow is me)

But this sudden and unexpected brake and swerve caused the riders behind to surge and come around those in the front and I was swamped instantly by 20+ riders going from top 5 to 30^th in seconds.  From then on it was a struggle to gain back the original position… the push was on to be in the top 10 on the final spring.  When we finally went around the last corner I was in no better position.  Trying to find a line to sprint through 20 riders was nearly impossible and when a dude leaned over and puked right in my line I knew it was over.  I did manage pick a line and get a decent sprint to put me just out of the top 20  finishing 21 overall.  But the margin of 1 to 20 was very narrow and probably no more than a second or two. 

Overall the race was a success and I did accomplish my goals of the race to test my fitness and get the Cat 3 monkey off my back.  I know this season is going to be great, my fitness needs to improve a little but overall I felt really good and am looking forward to the next big challenge down in Hillsboro on 4/14.

FULL RACE DATA HERE