Leland Kermesse

Leland Keeremesse demonstrated everything a great bike race should be, a tough course, unpredictable weather, great sportsmanship. 180 brave souls traveled from far and wide to race an unknown race. I may be biased in my opinion, but I will say it was an extraordinary event. We will be posting pictures and writing reviews shortly. If you were part of this spectacle and would like to comment please leave a comment here or email me or any member of the team.

Thank you to all the sponsors, The Town of Leland IL, and all who raced.

(pics by ted)

Down to the wire

It has been a few days since our last post, mostly due to the fact that we have been working like Santa's elf's trying to build a bike race. We have a great interview on www.chicagobikeracing.com today featuring Chicago hart-throb Ted Burger, this will help calm some peoples nerves, or get some people more nervous.

As we sit 5 days before the race we are in need of volunteers, anyone willing to help race can race for $10.

I think the Beatles put it best; Help, I need somebody, Help

Please email me at biturbotech@yahoo.com if you can help out.

Hillsboro-Roubaix wrap-up

Well, 2 races 2 podium finishes, I am proud to be on the same team as Leah. Here is her report;Hillsboro Roubaix. 4/4/09. I could really get used to this. A weekend in the RV with the family. Great weather. Great friends. Banana bread (Thanks Cathy!) And a spot on the podium. It was an awesome weekend for sure. The women's cat 4 race was short (one 22.5 mile loop) but it was fairly dynamic. We rolled out with 34 riders. My goal was to stay near the front and cover any attacks. That is easier said than done on these roads. With the center line rule in force, and a stern lecture from the start official that if we cross it and advance we get the boot, we were all boxed in to a narrow slice of road that allowed riding 3 abreast. Molly Godlewski (Chicago Cutting Crew) and I talked about trying to work together but we got separated at the start. I found myself about 10 riders back and boxed in. The pace was very erratic with lots of speeding up then braking. Then, true to her aggressive form, Liz So (Team Tati) jumped shortly after the 1st turn and we were off. She set a good hard stiff pace that ended up leaving over half the field behind us. She eventually folded back into the field to recover and our lead pack of about 14 kept a pretty respectable pace with me staying near the front. There were a couple of attacks, one which lasted a few minutes but I was too boxed in, and too focused on avoiding the sketchy movements by some riders, to notice or respond. I got a sudden itch with about 3 miles to go to hit the gas. I went past Molly and said "let's go!" but we both petered out pretty quick. Too hard and bad timing. Now it was just a wait until the finish. I knew the final climbs were going to hurt. I don't climb well. So I snuck to the front before the start of the hill to minimize the damage. Imagine my surprise to find myself still near the front after the 1st climb. But, dang that 2nd hill looks steep. I dug real deep and it hurt but I crested the hill in about 3rd position. The screaming descent onto the cobbles and the next couple turns were fast and furious with multiple changes in position. I got on a wheel before the last turn and didn't let go. There were 2 riders a second or 2 up the road then me sitting 2nd wheel in a trio, trying hard to catch my breath. I was seriously hurting and thinking "4th place is good" but I had to try. At the last second possible I popped out and glacially slowly crept past the rider in front. There wasn't much left in my legs but it was just enough for 3rd place and a chunk of brick to call my own.

It was great being able to help support Kristen Meshberg and her new team (Team BH USA) and provide some exposure for The Bike Shop that sponsored the Women's 123 race. Ted, Sanda and mini Burger were all looking happy and healthy. Jason Meshberg was "the man" all day, helping the BH girls and communicating with them on their race radios. Lest I not forget my awesome hubby for getting the RV ready, schlepping my butt and gear around all weekend, dealing with my usually pre-race snippiness, taking great pictures, making sure I ate and being his generally helpful self.

Great job!!!!

Hillsboro-Roubaix

I would like to extend a wish of good luck and a safe race to Ted and Leah who are signed up to do this weekends Hillsboro-Roubaix. Also to Team BH Womens Cycling, who are making there midwestern debut. The weather looks to be mid 50's with no rain at 11am. Good Luck!!!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

This Sunday we will be doing a recon-ride of the course. We plan on getting to Leland at 8am, road bikes. Car pooling is a good idea. The address is, 370 N Main St
Leland, IL 60531. Email me if you want to be part of this. biturbotech@yahoo.com

Leah wins Burnham Super spring(??) crit

Yes folks we have our first win of the season. I am very happy for Leah, here is her race report;
Burnham Super Spring Crits, Saturday 3/28. Weather was looking sketchy all week but the day ended up being dry (at least for the morning races). It was cold and WINDY, however. Luckily I had my new Flatlandia heavy wind vest which kept me warm and stylish at the same time! My 1st race was the Women's Cat 4. The cold and a collegiate race in MI kept the field small at 6 riders. I lead it out at the start, trying to decide if I would play nice and go easy or let 'er rip and see what happened. I played nice then rounded the 1st corner and BAM into the head wind. Enough of that. I pulled off and let the rest of the girls enjoy the wind. We continued to play nice and take turns. I thought about attacking but decided to wait and see what the others would do. On the prime lap, Cathy nicely pulled us all the way up the front straight and I sprinted, and took, the prime. (I don't think Cathy was trying to be nice!) It ended up being a pretty tame race. We kept a respectable pace and eventually lost 2 riders off the back. The other girls seemed strong but I knew Molly (Cutting Crew) had won Thursday night at Calumet Park so I decided to sit on her wheel the final lap. She surprised me by taking off hard after the last turn. It's a long stretch into a strong wind up the front straight and I thought she'd gone too hard too soon. I let her go a little then I jumped and put in a super hard 20 second effort that overtook her as she faded. Win!

A 50 minute spin on the trainer and I lined up for the women's open race. True to form, Jessica Prinner (ABD) attacked early. I was asleep at the wheel and didn't get on it right away. A group of 4 was off the front, I was sitting alone in no man's land and another group of 3 was a ways back. I decided to try and finish bridging up, and I did, but couldn't make it stick. I slid back and regrouped with the 3 girls behind me. We had a solid pace line working but then we lost 2 off the back and it was just me and Tamara (XXX Racing) trading pulls. I started feeling fatigue accumulate and I lost her wheel with about 20 minutes to go. With no one in sight behind me I rode steady tempo alone for the rest of the race, finishing 6th out of 10. A good day and some more upgrade points for my cat 3 quest.

Leah.

It is the first, but hopefully not the last!!!!

Flickr pool

Josh has created a Flatlandia Flickr site It is a place where we can put photos we take, bike races, kids, family, our garden anything we would like to share with each other. It will be private until you create an account and Josh lets you join.

I hope everyone has a safe weekend, on and off the bike.

Photo of Ted Burger by John Rowland, Bike by BH, Photo of Dave Pilotto by Ed White, Bike by Jason Wagner.