Brooks Spring Omnium

by Trish Albert

Race: Brooks Time Trial
Date: 3-22-2003
Place: Brooks, GA
Speed: 18.8 mph
Time: 22:03
Distance: 7.2 miles

Sun and high temperatures of 65 degrees greeted riders at the Spring Omnium in Brooks, GA. Saturday saw the time trials and road race. The time trial course was a 3.5 mile out and back for a total of  7 miles. The first ¾ mile was flattish before the 90 degree left hand turn where the road ended. A 2/10 mile climb across a bridge challenged riders as they came off the flats at over 25 mph. The climb had a false top and slowly 
went up about another 2/10 mile before turning right. The final stretch before the turn around was very rolling. On the way back, riders descended the climb and came to a steep, unexpected hill before the 90 degree right hand turn. The 
last ¾ mile was very fast along the flats. 

I started out the morning for my first Cat. 3 event. I chose a time trial because I knew that I could not get dropped, and I was racing only against the clock, not other riders. I had never done a time trial before but had heard how 
much fun they were. I purchased aerobars a few weeks ago but had not had a chance to use them because of all of the bad weather. Tuesday night I put them on before I rode the trainer. Finally on Friday I was able to get a quick spin 
on the Silver Comet to get used to them. I felt much higher up then when I put my forearms on the handlebars like I had been doing; I was also much more stable. It would be interesting to see how I felt. I had not done a race effort 
since mid December when cyclocross ended. Being sick or having a migraine most of February really cut into my training. The horrible weather this spring has not helped any. I can ride the trainer as much as I want, but it does not seem 
to help very much. I gain most of my fitness by being on the road. 

The morning was a little cool, so I opted to warm up with arm warmers and no water. By the time the race rolled around, I took the arm warmers off and on several times and wavered even more whether or not to carry a bottle. In the 
end, I opted to leave the arm warmers off and carry half a bottle of water. I was a little antsy because the officials ran about 30 minutes late, which gave me time to think about things. Thinking before a race is not good for me. I 
lined up with the other Pro/1/2/3's. They all looked so fit! I suddenly became self conscious and realized just how out of shape I was! Thank heavens for our black team jerseys. I looked around and saw a few of my friends were there to 
see me off. The "Go Trish's!" got me off to a good start. When the official said "3-2-1-GO!," I was off. I stood up and sprinted to get up to speed as quickly as possible. I thought to myself "up, up, up!," which is a saying at 
the track to remind you to stand up to get the speed up quickly. I settled down into my aerobars and looked around to make sure that the dogs that chased us during the preride were not around. I did not see either of them. I put my head 
down and concentrated on turning over a big gear. My legs were screaming as was my back, which I'd pulled earlier in the week while lifting a monitor at work. I could feel the entire left side of my body searing in pain. It was like the 
beginning of last year when I could barely move some days. The pain was robbing the engine of its power. I made the 90 degree turn but wasn't paying attention and nearly wiped out on some gravel. I tucked my head down again and got 
comfortable on my bars. I hit the hill in my big ring but quickly shifted into my small ring. My legs burned. My lungs told me to quit. I dropped into a smaller gear and concentrated on spinning a higher cadence up the hill. My 30 second rider passed me. "Come on Trish, just a little more!" I told myself. Stand and sprint. I made it to the top of the false flat. I sat back down and rode on the brake hoods trying to recover a little bit before the next turn. I got into my drops and hit the turn at full speed. My 60 second rider passed me. This was not a good sign. I did not despair, however, because Julie is a seasoned, fast rider. I refocused on making it to the turn around. It seemed like I crawled to the turn around. I saw my 90 and 120 second women. They were flying and passed me as we made our way back to the first road. I dropped into my aerobars and tried to make my legs turn circles faster. They only screamed more and refused to do so. Only in an easy gear could I get my cadence above 90, which was not good for my overall speed. I made it to the left turn and saw the volunteer stopped traffic. I made a clean, smooth turn and punched the gas hard. Finally! My legs responded. 
Brain to legs….we are going downhill. Legs…got ya brain! We hear ya. Whoo hoo! Downhill; it's our speciality! I got into my drops and hammered. I managed to spin out in my 53x11 on the downhill. I was finally having a little fun during 
this painful race. The fun was rudely interrupted by a steep hill before the final right turn. I found myself back in my small ring standing to try to make it over the hill. Struggle! My legs decided not to cooperate. I looked back and 
saw another rider bearing down on me. I tried to force the legs to go faster. They were out of gas. I turned, this time avoiding the gravel. I got back into my aerobars and spun in the big ring. My legs were absolutely dead. They had no 
more energy. I got into a good, albeit slower than I would have liked, rhythm and spun my way towards the finish line. About 50 meters out. I stood up, got in my drops, and sprinted with everything that I had left. I finished strongly. 

I must say that I'm a little disappointed in my performance. I keep reminding myself that it was my first hard effort of the year. This is the time of year that I usually have only been doing intensity for about 3 weeks; whereas, a lot 
of riders have been doing intensity since February. My goals are later in the spring and summer. I'm right on track to be where I want to be in May and June. I had "fun" for my first time trial and can see myself doing better later in 
the year when I have more intensity under my belt.

Road Races

The 26 mile Brooks course is relatively flat to rolling with two small hills. The course is open to cars except for the last 200 yards, which were completely closed off during the finishes. 

Boneshakers had a good showing in the Cat. 5 crit. Jim Burt, Eric Anderson, and Chad Pepper represented the team in the Cat. 5 road race. They started near the back and worked their way up throughout the race to the front. They encountered a wall of riders at times and could not get through. Near the end of the race, several riders crashed in front of Chad. He immediately veered to the left, went around, and moved up several places. The pace was high as the field completed one lap of the 26 mile course. One rider commented that it was the fastest he had ever done 26 miles. Eric placed 8th, Chad was13th, Jim finished safely in the main pack at 24th. 

Before heading to his car to take a nap, Chris Jackson said that he was mid pack in the Pro/1/2 race. No one could gather further details. 

Several crashes marred the Cat. 4 men's race. Breakaways went but were always  reeled back in. The flat course does not lend itself kindly to those that try to get away. Bryan Holloway commented that "the squirrel factor was high." Racers are always nervous the first few races of the year. Mitch held on to a solid placing of 17th in a field of nearly 70.

The women's 1/2/3 race was dominated by Candice Blickem of the Genesis Scuba team. She broke away on the first lap and had 2:20 on the field going into the second lap. She maintained the lead to win the race. Christina Underwood (Fuji) won the field sprint for second.

In her second year of racing, Cat. 4 rider Elizabeth Gallo (NARC) has been riding strong during the Greenville Training series. She confirmed that she is 
here to stay by taking the field sprint in the Cat. 4 Women's race by several yards. What a great first win for Elizabeth!

Sunday, the Boneshaker’s Team had a strong showing. In the Cat. 5 crit, both Jim Burt and Chad Pepper placed in the Top 15. Chris Jackson hung in for the entire Pro/1/2 race that would see many strong riders quit. Mitch Askew rode well in the Cat. 4 crit with a placing in the Top 15. Trish gave it her best in the Women’s 1/2/3 crit, but Genesis proved too strong. About half the field got dropped when Genesis put the hammer down about 10 minutes into the crit. 

The Men's Cat. 4 crit was won by Cycleworks rider Chance Regina. The Cycleworks team put on a great effort to deliver Chance across the line. Mountain bike team Atlanta Pro Bikes was also at the front a lot stirring up the action. Several primes were announced. Going for what he thought was a "tachometer" prime, stunned Eric May learned that he had won a $100 gift certificate for a tatoo parlor in Griffen, Georgia. He is in negotiations to get $25 cash instead of the gift certificate. 

The Women's 1/2/3 crit was very fast. Genesis and Fuji broke away about 10 minutes into the crit with a move that shattered the field in two. The second group nearly caught the break away in the final laps. Strong performances were put in by Genesis riders Candice Blickem and Kim Foland. 

The Masters 45+ field saw nearly half of the field drop out with Cane Creek attacking from all sides. 

The Pro/1/2 Men's crit saw the field string out on the first lap. Jittery Joe's pushed the pace the entire 60 minutes plus 3. Many riders struggled to maintain contact with the field and dropped out. Jittery Joes delivered a rider to the win. 

The Women's 4 field shattered into bits less than half way through the race. A main pack of approximately 8 riders stayed together until the finish. Kerry Meyers (Peachtree Bikes) rode to a 6th place finish. Elizabeth Gallo (NARC) hung on for a strong finish and a win in the weekend's omnium.

Chad Pepper, Eric Anderson, and Jim Burt (Boneshakers) celebrate a job well done in the Cat. 5 RR.

Candice Blickem (Genesis) pulled away to win the Women's 1/2/3 RR.

The Cat. 4 Men's field comes through on the first lap of the RR.

Two Junior Riders (NARC) wait for their race.

Fred, errrr...Chris Jackson...(Boneshakers) demonstrates how Cat. 2's prepare for the TT.

Eric May, Bryan Holloway, and Shawn Flemming (Cycleworks) are tired after the Cat. 4 RR.

Jim Burt (Boneshakers) sitting in during the Cat. 5 crit.