Breaking! News: Back Racing Cx!

Lots of fun this weekend at Indian Lakes Resort for the CCC race!!! Capt. Tony was there both days as well representing BBVP. Tony and I took turns yelling, cheering, and jeering for each other during our races. The encouragement helped me to keep focus and keep pressing. That's what the team is all about! Thanks Tony!

Fortunately I was able to start racing again this season, although cautiously, after having a surgically repaired clavicle. Witnessing Rich's break didn't help the psyche either. I was eagerly anticipating racing again, but in the first few races I couldn't help but sit at the back (almost literally) until the pack thinned out before making any moves to pass. I was overly cautious not to spill again and get re-injured.

A certain amount of aggression and fearlessness is necessary for success in racing, yet I was easily giving positions away to stay upright. Little-by-little, after a few more races, my confidence has come back and this weekend I was going to do my best to suppress any anxiety about wrecking and race aggressively from the whistle. Although I still lost positions at the start both days, I held on, battled, and settled in the top third instead of near the back. Once the field was thinned-out, I was able to pick up several more spots both days and finished 13th and 16th out of 80+ respectively for the weekend. Although still no where near the podium, those finishes feel a lot better than the feelings from a month ago in Carpentersville sitting in 84th place ahead of only one rider on the first lap.

Maybe the best thing that happened this weekend was wiping out... Yes, wiping out can be a good thing! I took a turn too hot and lost it, spilling onto my "injured" side. I had done what I was fearing! Another trip to the emergency room? Surgery? Time off the bike? Again?!? I got up, after losing a position of course, got back on and finished. Shoulder in tact. Only a small scrape and bruise on the knee. It's good to be back!

Mike

BBVP Happenings

First off I wanted to thank everyone that came out and raced in the Day Ryan Woods, were hoping that all of you had a good time. We are already looking forward to putting on next year’s race, with some slight changes to the course. To hopefully add some more challenges to test your Cyclocross racing skills.


Just to bring everyone up to speed From the BBVP Team. We have started to put together next year’s team roster. We are hoping to have 4 riders racing in the Cat/123 & Masters 123 races, along with our newer riders in the Cat 4/5. Last year we demonstrated that we have the ability to race well on all levels of the local race seen. So the plan is to capitalize on our achievements, and raise the bar for next year.

We will be having our next team meeting on December 2nd, if you are interested in the team come on out and see what’s going on. The meeting will be at 6pm at the Beverly Bike Shop.

"Off" Season?!?!

Well, as I write this, I am enjoying (believe it or not) NOT doing CX workouts in Dan Ryan Woods. I just completed my longest run in about three years yesterday (8.1 miles near Swallow Cliff). AND the assorted mix of seasonal harvest ales never tasted so good at the side of a fire in 58 degree weather. But, alas, I do miss my bike. There really is no off season when you ride for the blue flash that is Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak.

By this time years past, I was happy to ditch the 23c wheels for watching Sox games, running a few days here and there after school, and chasing my dog for a bath after she was sprayed by a skunk. But, and I hate to admit it after riding almost seven days a week from December 'til mid July: I do miss my bike.

Especially now that the leaves are falling on the ground and your wheels make that trademarked CRUNCH sound that almost resembles a big wheel of years ago. Especially now that the wind is really ramping up, and I do enjoy a tailwind almost as much as a headwind. Especially now that I can get on the saddle and hammer out as many miles as I want without feeling too sore the following day. Especially now that one of the most anticipated times of the year is upon us (or so I'm told): Cyclocross season! Especially now that "wind chill" is more often thought of than "heat index." Especially now that it doesn't seem like a job.

Yeah, riding so much and racing so much can get a podium dreamer toasted more than a broken broiler (or something like that). But what I think I'm trying to say is that while I do miss throwing my right leg over the top tube, I do miss riding with the Wackos of Western that make up the BBVP team. The best I can do at this point induce temporary hearing loss with a cowbell at the weekend CX races so my teammates know how much I appreciate their efforts this late in season, and how thrilled I am that it's not me suffering through a sand volleyball pit, 23% inclines, mud puddles, etc... Enjoy this time of year, boys, until the next "off" season!

Sully

SuperWeek Day 2. Homewood Masters 4/5

This one goes out to Pat and Ron. I will post a report latter

Super Week, Day 1 Geneva Master’s 4/5

The race didn’t start the way I was hoping it would have, I was lined up in the back dead last. I knew that passing was going to be hard. The course was tight for the last 3^rd of the lap do to the 4 turns, so there would be no way to pass without taking risks in that section.  You would have to do it on the false flat after turn 1 or on the back side after turn 2.  Well it took 6 laps for me to work my way to the front, and usually I would be gassed by this time from all the work I just did. Today was different I felt really good so I went to the front and started doing a lot of work. I kept taking long pulls along with Patrick Meyer Nick Venice and Arron Hampton. We kept this up for the next 10 laps. Now were sitting with 5 to go when Sully comes up next to me and tells me I’m doing too much work, I gave him the OK and he drifted back a few places in the pack. Now was the time to just sit in, we had covered all the brakes and I’m sitting 2^nd or 3^rd wheel. That’s when there was a big attack. With one rider 5seconds ahead, Pat comes to the front and just drills it with 3 laps to go. Pat was racing like a madman chasing down the single rider and dropping me off with one lap to go sitting second wheel behind Patrick Meyer. Patrick had no choice but to keep pushing or the pack would have engulfed us. If we could make it to the last 3^rd of the lap I knew I had a chance. We made into the tight section with me still holding 2^nd, Now it was time to look for the big move, or come out of the last turn and just give everything that I had. We came in and all I saw was daylight, so I just pushed on the peddles as hard as I could. I was in shock when the line was coming and no one was passing me. I raised my arms up and let out a yell. Sorry for that, but it’s been a hard year for me and I have worked so hard, Spending a lot of time away from the family training. Thank you Charleen and Amber.  

I owe this win to Pat Sullivan, for giving up his chance at a really good finish, so I could have a chance for the win.

Bob Murray