Monday, August 30, 2010

You are so beautiful you should be guarded by monkeys

I am accepting submissions/nominations for the year end Beehive Books/ Breakaway/ A World of Pain cycling awards 2010. Email them directly to me: corroto@earthlink.net or write them on a $20 bill, tie the bank note to a rock and toss into my backyard.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

2010 Canadian-American Games

I participated in the Canadian-American Police-Fire games this past week and it was very cool, but let me tell you it is kind of odd racing without any teammates. Here's the short story:
Thursday night was the crit in Dublin, Same course I broke my shoulder five years ago. Gulp....We had 17 in my Master's race. Majority team there was Chicago Firemen and some guys that never raced crits. So, I did what Chairman Fred would do, sprinted from the gun and led most of the race. I felt pretty good, breaking some legs on that short steep uphill. After 1 lap to go was called I jumped right after turn two, hit turn three with a gap and no one followed me up the last climb, there was to be no sprint for 1st. Gold for Pantani. Podium questions were about exorcising the Ghost of the collarbone. 



Friday Night was street sprints. The course was 500 meters long (built with Farmer John in mind) with competitors required to maintain lanes for 250. Kind of strange racing, because 500 meters is too far to sprint and breaking from lanes at 250 doesn’t allow for drafting, so it was pure power then almost coasting to the line. It is however a great spectator sport, with guys cranking like madmen for less than a minute. I finished third, and of all the events, this hurt my legs the most. I’m guessing I have to work on my above-threshold riding.
Saturday was a road race in Zanesfield, where we have raced before, except the course hit a steep and long climb a half mile from the start. I think we had 20 racers today, and all but 6 were blown out on the first climb. Round we go and I get pipped at the line by the Ramon Colon, a cop from Wash. DC who beat me in every heat Friday night in the sprints. 
So I finished with Gold, Silver, and Bronze, and had a great time. 

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Abbey Scores a Lake Hope Podium

Hey, even the women on A World of Pain cycling can kick your ass. Yeah, I'm talking to you Mr. Couch Potato-head. Abbey Trimble podiums in her very first race! She's out training while you are surfing the internet. Shame.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Garrett Wonders Weekend

Friday and Saturday included racing in the 7th annual Garrett Wonders race, this year expanded from the downtown Westerville crit to an Ohio Statehouse four corner with a cobbled climb. Yes sir, the Pain-meisters in attendance included Cadillac George, Dave “I Am Curious Yellow” Chambers,” and Marco Pantani for the masters race (along with some Cat. 1 who had once rode the Olympic trials), Farmer John in the 3/4, and Dan ”man o’ God,” and Brian O! Finishing his career as a Cat. 5. 
Where were you? Just fill in the blank, “I did not have________________, today”
Here’s the poop, short and sweet, They do a fantastic job with these events. Volunteers and more volunteers, closed well swept roads, and enthusiastic fans. Always a pleasure to race in those conditions. 

The masters race Saturday in Westerville was all about chasing the Olympian (no one could) then holding on for some prize money. I did both and 7th place finish. Cha-ching No. 1. 
Sunday’s race could turn into a future classic course with a trip up Town Street that is paved, European-style, with those small mis-shapened cobbles. Without an appearance by Mr. Olympian, da Godfather and I had to just follow the moves of Chris Grisvard and Uncle Fester. 
But sometimes you follow the wrong wheel. Neither of those two won, it was this guy from Stark Velo that I chased up the climb every lap (well, a couple times he followed me), rattling several tooth filings loose. 
This was to be a 5th place finish and another check for both Conti and me. Cha-ching No. 2. Hey, I love racing for free.

You ask Farmer John about his yearly big race crash, no way I'm putting myself in that imbroglio. Also ask Brian O! about his tough as nails cobbles race, kinda like a little Fabian Cancellara.

And a big thank you to all the World O' Pain fans that turned out this weekend