Tri-City Cyclists is a bicycling club comprised of bicycling enthusiasts from the cities and surrounding areas of Bay City, Midland and Saginaw, Michigan. Our purpose is to promote educational and recreational cycling, as well as race-level cycling through the TCC race team. We hold rides that provide an opportunity for bicyclists of all ages and abilities to ride together and to enjoy a wide range of cycling experiences. We welcome new club members.
Our website is www.tricitycyclists.org
The TCC race team participates in races around the state of Michigan.
If you are considering joining our race team here are what we expect from our TCC race team members:
1. each racer must be a member of the TCC club ( www.tricitycyclists.org )
2. the racer should be active.- participate in at least two/three races in a season.
3. each racer should maintain the highest regard for him/herself and other participants.
4. racers must wear TCC team kit during race.
5. support TCC events
6. Volunteer/Support at Tour de Frankenmuth events/ Local Cyclocross events, or other race. _This is our source of funds. The success of this event provides funds for our programs.
Benefits of the TCC race team:
1. training and racing with others is fun !
2. Individual training programs are paid for by race team- ask Paul Rytlewski
3. Bike racing is a team sport! (except time trialing) If you have teammates, then your team can use team tactics!
4. 2010 race fees reimbursement policy: late registration fees are not paid.
JUNIOR RACERS(under 19)- all races on MBRA calendar and MMBA calendar.
ADULT RACERS: eligible races include those races that have been designated a part of the MBRA point challenge series races ( include Time trials, Criteriums, road races.)
also, beginning July 29, 2010 include those races that have been designated a part of the MMBA point challenge series!
Lastly, we will include up to 3 cyclocross races, as long as they are in the state of Michigan.
License fees are the responsibilty of the racer.
-racers must keep a log of races, registration charges.-
If our money runs low, we will have to suspend the policy.
Keep this in mind!
We would like to share some stories of our races.
Here is my report from the West Branch Classic on May 22nd & 23rd, 2010:
by Ryan Kenny
As many of us are aware the terrain throughout the Tri-City area is as flat as flat can be. However, one my best strengths as a cyclists is pedaling up hill due to my high power to weight ratio. Therefore when it comes time to plan my racing calendar, it should be no surprise that my most important races of the year have an up-hill finish. So when I sat down and wrote out my first block of training back in late October of 2009, I decided that my major goal of the 2010 racing season would be the West Branch Classic road race. This was a new race in 2009, and the category 4 riders complete two 22-mile laps throughout Ogemaw county. Most of the course features rolling terrain with the finish line situated atop the hill on Fairview Road after racing up a 1.25 mile climb that continues to pitch upward until it reached about 8-11% near the top.
I started my preparation early in the season. After building a good endurance base I began to make the hour drive north about once or twice a month to ride the course starting in January. As spring approached I started to focus more on hill repeats up Fairview doing anywhere from 5-8 reps each training session. My goal was to be on peak form on May 22nd, so my early season races before that were mainly done to increase my race fitness. Unfortunately I had some back luck in a couple races in early May so I was unable to test how strong I was compared to the other riders in the field.
On the morning of May 22, the field of 40 riders took to the starting line under cloudy, humid, and cool conditions. There were many attacks throughout the first lap that were continuously marked by about 5-10 riders and nothing was ever successful in getting away off the front. My strategy was to stay near the front to be able to respond to these attacks just in case there was a group that got a gap. Steve Weckle helped to keep me protected at times throughout the race. As the peloton came to our first pass over Fairview hill, the stronger riders were on the front. However there were no attacks and the group remained intact, although quite strung out. At this point it was clear to me that there were enough strong riders in the pack that were not interested in letting a small group go off the front, myself included. So I decided to make a couple of attacks just to get other riders to chase me. When they would just get back on my wheel I would attack again. My hope was to tire these guys out and still leave enough in my tank to get up that last climb. I told Steve to make some of these attacks too so I could just sit in and let others chase. Steve also did a good job setting the pace at the front at times to discourage further attacks. As we made our last turn onto Fairview, Steve set the pace up the first little hill right before the finishing climb. I was sitting in a good position, in tenth or so, as we hit the base of the finishing climb. I stayed on the right side of road, knowing that I had a wide shoulder to use to get around riders as we steadily marched up the climb. As the climb reached its steepest section I put in a strong acceleration to the line, passing maybe five riders. I got a gap of maybe a few meters out in front and with the the finishing line in sight no was able to close it down after my initial acceleration. I made one quick glance over my shoulders to see no one was near enough to get around me and threw my arms in the air to celebrate as I crossed the line first.
The next day was the criterium race in downtown West Branch. This course was flat with six 90 degree turns per lab including a right-left chicane. This course does not fit my strengths as well as the road race, however I wanted to do well enough to land a podium spot in the omnium. The race was fast and short and we were all together going into the long finishing straight. I didn't have the most protected line due to a slight crosswind, but I still put in an impressive sprint and passed many riders to finish 4th. My computer recorded a sprint speed of 37.2 MPH, wow! I didn't know I was capable of that, especially on the flats. My 4th place in the crit was good enough to win the overall omnium competition in the West Branch Classic.
These results show just how important a good training plan and proper preparation is in gaining good results. Also, equally important in cycling is the aspect of teamwork. Steve did a lot in the road race to help me win by sacrificing his own results. Just like when you are watching a pro race on TV, you see a GC rider's teammates setting a super hard pace up the the first part of a climb only to blow up and fall way off the back allowing their leader to conserve energy until the very end. Steve displayed this well in the the road race setting the pace at the beginning of the finishing climb. Thanks to Steve I was in position to win even though he finished at the back. However in the end all that matters is that TCC got the win!
Ryan