Tour of Oak Brook preview
Aug 20
2008
Filed in: Race previews


Comments (15)

Tower Racing has really outdone itself in promoting our state road race championshp, the Tour of Oak Brook. Despite inexperience and short notice, the team has recruited a full peloton of sponsors, meaning that on top of $4,000 in prize money there will be an astounding $8,000 in merchandise primes at Saturday’s race. Prizes with an average retail value of $130 will be available on nearly every lap in some fields, which should make for some very fast races.

There will also be a raffle with some attractive prizes, including a SRAM Force gruppo, luxury White Sox tickets and a Nike watch signed by Lance Armstrong. Tickets are $5.

The course itself is interesting, and I’m curious to see how the races unfold. Spring Road, the hypotenuse on this triangle-shaped course, is a narrow, two-lane road with shallow stairstep climbs. They’re not challenging enough to require the small chainring, but by the end of a race they may put some riders in spots of bother. Note that traffic is open and the centerline rule will be in effect. Expect congestion.

We’ll have a closed road once the course turns onto 31st Street, a flat, two-lane section that could present opportunity to move up, but it’s also where the primes will be contested, so the pace may be too hot to move around much.

Two likely points of attack will be at the end of Spring Road, after the modest climbing has softened the pack, and following the primes. If you get away and want half a chance of staying away, I recommend calling a prime truce with your breakmates. Pledge to split your winnings or the sprints will disrupt your paceline and soon return you to the pack.

At only 3.2 miles, the shortness of the course may cause problems if fields and groups start overlapping one another. We’ll need everyone to be patient and sporting in letting groups through. Expect officials to neutralize your group if you’re being overtaken.

The masters 4/5 field has already reached capacity. Online registration closes tonight at midnight. And Cat 5 men and Cat 4 women should remember to show up early for the pre-race safety clinic.

Saturday
Tour of Oak Brook
USCF road race
Oak Brook, Ill.
Distance from Chicago: .5 hour

Comments

1.

Aug 21
2008

3:06 pm

The tech guide states that there will be a wheel pit, as if this were a crit, and not a wheel truck. Any chance this is inaccurate? It is hard to believe that a race that looks this well organized would not have wheel trucks following each field. Maybe something about the course made this not possible? Regardless, it will be shame that anybody who flats in the state RR will be pretty much dead in the water unless they happen to puncture very near the start/finish line.

2.

Aug 21
2008

3:18 pm

Matt S. (vitaminwater-Trek)

There will be no follow vehicles and the wheel pit is pointless as there is no free lap.

3.

Aug 21
2008

3:26 pm

Luke Seemann's avatar

Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo)

I don’t think it’s a big deal. Has anyone in the history of amateur road races ever gotten a wheel from the follow vehicle and proceeded to catch back on? The only way a vehicle might make a difference is if you’re in a break and your breakmates wait for you while you make a change ... not bloody likely, as I see it.

If you puncture in ANY road race at our level you’re dead in the water.

With such a short course, you won’t be stranded out there. At worst you’re 1.5 miles from the start/finish.

4.

Aug 21
2008

3:42 pm

I have gotten a wheel from a following vehicle in a RR and caught back on before. Why would wheel trucks ever be used if it was not possible to get back on? Agreed that it is probably rare, but that is beside the point. The issue is not being stranded on the course. The issue is paying $25, traveling perhaps 4 hours or more to contest the state RR, and potentially having the race be over in 5 minutes because there was no wheel truck. Seems like an obvious void in an event so important to in-state racers.

5.

Aug 21
2008

5:14 pm

Jim H. (Tower Racing)

In response to T-Rex, we VERY much wanted follow cars and even had a line into using SRAM’s car (Very cool), however, we were very concerned about too much traffic on the course and since it is a smaller course—safety is paramount.  The wheel pit is somewhat moot since there is no free lap (road race rule)...unless you happen to flat right in front of the wheel pit.

I hear you, and very much wanted the follow cars, but it wasn’t logistically possible.  Sorry.

The course has smooth pavement throughout and we will have a village sweeper vehicle go through the course the night before—so hopefully we won’t have any flats to content with.

Jim H.

6.

Aug 21
2008

5:53 pm

Thanks, Jim. I appreciate the effort and the information. Thanks for organizing the race and good luck Saturday.

7.

Aug 22
2008

7:37 am

Julian (vitaminwater-Trek)

I too was able to get a wheel after flatting in the Proctor RR last year and was able to chase back on.  Though the success of that exchange might have something to do with the expertise of Jose from SRAM.  Last year I also flatted at Hillsboro but with the wheel truck some 5 mins behind and totally incompetent that spelled the end of my day. 

If you’re truly paranoid get a can of PitStop or some other on-the-road flat solution…

8.

Aug 23
2008

3:57 pm

ScottV

Let me be the first to comment on today’s race.  First, a big thanks to Tower Racing for undertaking such a big race on somewhat short notice.  You guys did a great job in getting support from sponsors!  With that said, the registration fiasco was a bit much to take this morning.  I understand there were computer problems, but it took a long time to come up with a workaround when it was obvious that there was no way to register all the riders for the 2nd event of the day.  To their credit, once they did have a workaround, things moved quickly and they took ownership of the problem.  People on both sides were losing patience, but the organizers kept their cool.

Let’s chalk this up as a learning experience.  Other than that, I really liked the course, especially the ability to used the whole road by York and Spring.  I will definitely attend this race next.  Please, Tower, consider organizing this next year.

9.

Aug 23
2008

6:17 pm

Let me be the second to comment..

The Events business is what I do for a living, and if anyone understands snafu’s...It’s me
I was as frustrated as anyone standing in the parking lot waiting for my number and chip, then I took a deep breath and thought about my personal experiences and event nightmares in the Action Sports industry, an equally critical culture and I felt bad for you.....Please, I really hope you manage this event again, The second stab at such an undertaking is always 100% better, especially a group of individuals as intelligent as yours...Use the Glencoe Grand Prix as an example, The difference between 07’s event and this years...No comparison, it was amazing..
State RR Championship...Great Course + Great People + a year of planning from practical experience = an A+ Event...Do it again Tower Racing...Please and Thank You

10.

Aug 24
2008

8:26 pm

J/tati (Team TATI)

Team TATI brought 15 racers and 6 spectators to the race on Saturday. For 4 of the riders, it was their first race ever… We had to explain to the newbies that 2 hours in line for registration isn’t the norm.

But everyone got over it and for the most part had a nice time. We stayed all day, camped out under the big tree at the 300m line and cowbelled hard for every race.

But speaking of chasing back on…

Aside from reg, my only significant issue was with how riders were being pulled in the lower categories. The pack would kill it on the tailwind section, then slow to a crawl after the 180 in the M5 and M4 races, but several riders were being pulled even at 5 seconds off the pace after 2 laps. Especially for novice riders, this was a little disheartening. An official did come over to apologise, explaining that it was the whole 3 races on the field at the same time thing, and we all agreed that there has to be a better way.

11.

Aug 25
2008

4:01 pm

Morrissey's avatar

Morrissey (xXx Racing - AthletiCo)

Never rely on technology.  It’s an admirable attempt, but it never works at go time.  Good old analog prep trumps it every time.

One of the reasons Glencoe sign-in went so fast was that everyone who’d pre-registered had a waiver, number, and pins presorted and ready for them.

With as many who pre-registered for Saturday (at least in my race, it was sold out going in) - it could’ve gone much smoother.

So as well as calling for more people to pre-reg as it makes things much easier on the directors, day-of, the directors need to take advantage of it and get as much work done ahead of time as possible.

12.

Aug 25
2008

4:09 pm

Julian (vitaminwater-Trek)

We had the same setup at the Super Crit, er I should say that Jason Knauff had the same setup.  Without a doubt having pre-reg down to a simple sign in made our lives so much easier.  It’s amazing that more promoters don’t do this.  And frankly if I’m paying the $2 online reg fee I don’t want to fill out a waiver when I arrive...evar.

13.

Aug 25
2008

4:58 pm

Jim H. (Tower Racing)

Thanks to everyone who came and participated in the Tour of Oak Brook.  We were amazed by the turnout and thrilled to have everyone come out for a beautiful day of racing.  Outside of a few crashes that occurred early in the day, races were safe and we hope you enjoyed the course and event.  We appreciate everyone’s support throughout the day. There were, however, a few issues that popped up and I would like to personally apologize to those who were affected:

Registration:  Thanks for the patience for an unbearable snafu in our registration process.  In short, we had built an elegant registration process, had over 15 people dedicated to making it smooth, but on Friday night (literally, the 11th hour) officials forced us to change our numbering system, causing irreparable damage to our chipping database and pre-registered information.  Apologies to everyone that were affected by the delays. 

Master’s Cat 4/5 finish:  For an unknown reason, officials turned off the camera (?!?!) at the finish and thus the results after the first 10 are not pure.  Apologies to those that may not have their place precisely know, but we are confident that the first 10 places are correct.  Thanks for the patience after the finish to sort through the details!

Yellow line violations:  We had a motor bike that was to be actively policing yellow-line violations…his bike broke down in the middle of a race (nearly taking a rider out…) and as a result we didn’t have the “eyes” to police those that broke this important safety rule.

All things considered, it was a great day for racing and we are extremely appreciative of your support, attendance, and patience throughout the day.  Thanks again for making this event exciting and a success.

Here is a website of some photos throughout the day (available for purchase):  http://www.propersonalphoto.com/Sports

14.

Aug 25
2008

6:48 pm

John Wilke

So who won? (Cat 1/2 for men and women).

Who’s the State Champion???

15.

Aug 25
2008

7:45 pm

Luke Seemann's avatar

Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo)

Jim tells me it’s Scott Pearson (Comcast-Higher Gear) and Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia). Excellent! Two very deserving, very local state champions.

I’ll have a full wrap-up in the morning.

 

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