Dear Team:

No Haikus or Sufi love poetry or conversations with you tube links. Though I hope you enjoy them.

Myself, Brian Smith and Jason Sutherland, resident of Gary did the West Lafayette RR (Men's 3/4). Our race was 48 miles. A six mile ride to the laps. The laps were a rectangle all right hands with a hill.

Brian and Brian did a lot of talk on strategy. We know Jason as a strong rider from the NWI group rides and Matteson. Jason was a very accomplished junior who is coming back into competitive cycling. Our thoughts were similar to last week at Rum Village - BB sets tempo and chases and does a lead out for Brian. Jason we would give the freedom to help, be helped by us, race a good race, see what he could do.

Well - I did my usual stuff en masse if that is the right way to put it. Jason did a flyer, BB did a flyer and Brian also did a flyer. The course suited a pack finish......with the exception of one four pack break, it looked like a pack finish.

With 2 miles or so left in the 3rd lap, I went to the front to pull, nobody pulled thru and there I went....off the front. I held a large gap to varying degrees. A solo bridge to me from Sam of new United South Shore Racing (Lake and Porter County team).

We almost had it. With about 50 meters to the finish I was passed by 17 guys. I believed that I(either 1st or 2nd) had it. Not to be. Well - Jim Flora told me once that "the sun will shine even on a dog's ass." This is good wisdom for me.

This race was along with Oak Brook and Rum have definitely confirmed that my legs have returned for the funnest part of the race season.

Jason is our sleeper cell. Out of the three Region rats, he was the first of us (in 12th). Jason will hopefully be on our team for the coming season.