Written by Kerry Werner
I would like to start off by saying the course was very nice. It was rolling with three bigger climbs in it and some decent descents. My only complaint was the road work on the course. It took one of my team mates out of the race and that stinks because it really was a good race. We did 5 laps by the way. Now the race, BOM BOM BOM!
The first thing I noticed was there was only 21 people in the 3/4 race. I wasn’t particularly happy about that. I like a field that’s around 40-50. But I shook it off and put the game face on. The race started out slow. The first thing that happened was Manny got a flat on the first lap when he went over the first section of the course that was under construction (he chased but the wheel van took too much time for the wheel change). Everything remained chill until a cadence kid broke solo on the second lap. He worked up a min plus lead then we decided to do work. NCVC lead the work force followed by Copi (Me and an NCVC and a kelly’s guy tried to break on a little roller but kelly’s sat up and didn’t want to do any work). I sat in and did work when I had to. We reeled him in by the first hill on the third lap. Then things slowed down again. Then the rain came….
There was two to go at this point and I knew the race wasn’t going to stick together. On the first hill of the second to last lap NCVC, another junior (team unknown), and me got a gap on the field and decided to stick it. By the time we got to the lap line we already had a min plus. We knew we were staying away. So we rode tempo the whole last lap, no one tried anything tricky until the finish stretch…
Up the last hill I wanted to go into the final stretch two back from the leader. So I lead out the group from the last hill to the left turn off then pulled off and they pulled through. I knew there was going to be some stupid stuff going down and I wanted to watch it all from the back. Sure enough when I got on the back the three of us slowed up about 5-10 miles an hour and started to play head games. The NCVC got itchy and broke. I let the junior jump on his wheel, and then I jumped on his. NCVC slowed then again and tried to get the junior to pull through. He wasn’t budging. NCVC broke again and sat up but this time the junior pulled through. Everyone sat up and basically came to a coast. We then saw the 1k to go mark and raised the tempo a little bit. I knew someone would get itchy around the 300-200m mark and sure enough from the back NCVC broke and the junior jumped on I jumped on his wheel. Then 200-150m mark the junior broke left off of NCVC’s wheel so I broke right. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen because at first we were both even on the sprint. Then I noticed he was fading so I upped the sprint and put it all out. The line grew closer and closer and I looked back under my arm and knew I had the sprint. I crossed the line, threw the arms up, and then congratulated the other two guys on a good race.
Thanks goes to Manny for making it to the race and the only one from the team able to make it. Also, thanks to Manny for not asking for my wheel when he flatted. Hahahah. Thanks to Rich for the gnar gnar race, and my mammy for bringing me (she’s a balla).
More pictures coming soon!
Written by Kerry Werner
Woke up at 7:30 and left the crib by 8:45. My mom and I loaded up the car for a two hour drive to Bloomsburg Town Park. Two hours later…..
We got to the town park and immediately went to the bathroom (shouldn’t have had so much coffee). After the quick bathroom break I went to register. I registered for the ¾ and 1,2,3 category went back to the car and started warming up (one hour till race time). I found my team and we spun around for a little bit then lined up when the official called us up.
The whistle blew and we were off. There wasn’t too much action during the first couple laps of the race. Team Eastern Mobile controlled the field and reeled in the smaller breaks with ease. It wasn’t until later in the race when Jordan Binkley got in a break with 5-10 guys and had a fifteen second lead on the field. Manny, Noah, and I got in the front and covered the attacks and it looked like it would stick until Eastern Mobile started attacking and reeling the break back. They finally caught the break and the field stayed together until the end…
Then Shirks started to do work. Manny and I got to the front with two to go and started to set up a nice lead out for Noah, I drove the majority of the second to last lap and had the field strung out really nicely. I pulled off and Manny took over keeping the field strung out until the second to last turn of the course when disaster struck. This side of the course was slightly down hill so it was definitely the fasted part of the course. Manny was in the lead followed by Noah and I made and attempt to shoot up the side and take over for Manny so he could get some recovery to set Noah up really nicely. I pulled up next to Manny (surprised to see me) which caused him to veer left a little bit, Noah’s wheel was overlapping Manny’s which caused Noah to veer left. The guy behind Noah (unknown) wasn’t paying attention and didn’t react to Noah pulling over. His front wheel collided with Noah’s rear wheel and his skewer the unknown rider’s skewer snapped a couple spokes on Noah’s rear wheel. Luckily he was able to stay up; however; the unknown rider fell and caused a pile up in the field. The crash caused a small break which had four riders in it (including me). I heard Manny yell out “Go Kerry! It’s all you!”
I immediately knew there was something happened and upped the tempo. At that point a Break Away rider sprinted past me so I latched onto his wheel. He carried me and the two other riders to the 200m to go mark and the sprints started. I took off and noticed to the left a Hot Foot rider pull up in contention for the win; however, he started to fade. Then another Break Away rider pulled up to my right. So it was me sandwiched between two Break Away riders sprinting for the win. I felt myself pull ahead but at that instant they started to come together on me. I let up a little bit as we neared the line and they ended up one, two, and me at third.
More Bloomsburg Town Park Criterium Cat 3/4 Photo’s!!
Again, Noah was all alone in the category 4 race in Baltimore with a full race of 100 riders. At the start of the race, things were fast with many attacks on the slight uphill finishing stretch along with the long flat back straight away that led into a round-about. After 6 or 7 laps, things started to settle into a comfortable pace. Everyone knew that nobody would be able to get away with the severe wind (15-20 mph).
With about a lap and a half to go, a Kelly Benefit rider attacked off the front in a solo attempt for the win. Noah played it safe and tucked in towards the front of the pack again, and let the other riders start to reel the escaped rider in. After the round-about, the field was strung out with everyone riding single file. Coming out of the final corner, Noah was about 6 places back, but caught onto a rider flying up the side of the pack. With about 200 meters go, the all out sprint began. Noah cranked it up a gear and went out in the wind to get around the riders ahead. (At about this time, the pack flew past the Kelly Benefit rider who had attempted to get away) It was an all out drag race between the Shirk’s rider, and two others. It came right down to the line for the finish. Noah forced the bike forward at the last second and managed to take the win by about half a wheel length. And the crowd went wild. Ok, not really, but at least his parents were cheering.
After both wins on the weekend, Noah finally decided to apply for his category 3 upgrade so he will be able to race and support the other teammates. Soon, each race will have 5 or 6 Shirk’s racers. This will make for an awesome season to come.
Conestoga has a super hilly profile so we were expecting a difficult race from early on. Only 33 brave souls started the race and more riders dropped out with each lap - only 15 finished! Kerry managed to keep contact with the front group and was able to pull out a 4th place in that race as well. Manny stayed with the race and came in at 11th in spite of needing to go back and pick up his shades :-). Hey, the man has his priorities! All in all, a very hard, but great, course and one we hope will return in the coming years. Thanks to All That Is Good race promotions for holding these excellent races!
This past weekend was exciting for the Shirk’s Team. Each of us made it out at least one day this weekend to shake things up in the races.
Saturday morning started early with everyone arriving at Smoketown Airport a little before 7am to help set up and prepare for the criterium on the runway. Shirk’s Bike Shop was a co-sponsor for the event along with International Christian Cycling Club.
After moving some cones, hay bails, and directing traffic; the races finally started. Noah was the first to race in the category 4/5 race. There were about 50 racers, but only 1 Shirk. It took a few laps for everyone to get settled into a pace and navigate the sharp final corner (180 degrees). For most of the race, the pack stayed together. There were a few small attacks but nothing stayed out. With 1 lap to go, Noah worked his way towards the front and about the 5th spot back. After making the sharp final corner, things started to heat up. Riders were already winding up their sprints with at least 400-500 meters to go. Noah played it safe by drafting and staying on the wheels in front of him as long as possible, but found himself sprinting in the lead at about 300 meters from the finish. Even with the slight head/crosswind, he managed to stay out front and cross the line in first. This was a great start to the day.
The race started quickly for the 3/4 with Jonathan and Barry Klien getting break established. The course was fast and smooth and the other riders wanted a chance too so they were pulled back and another larger group, with about 15 riders, started to form. Jordan, Manny, Kerry, and Doug made the break and held off the pack until the finish. Manny and Binkley set up an excellent lead out for Kerry and he was able to take a 4th place. We finished with 4 of us in the top 20.
More Smoketown Airport Criterium Cat 3/4 Photo’s!!
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June 19, 2009 10:05 am | 
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