Chicago Bike Racing

Wednesday notebook

Feb 3

Filed in:
Links, Race news

Comments (9)

» Anyone who has raced an ABR race in Indiana has probably experienced the effusive hospitality of promoters Dan and Joanne Daly. It was heartbreaking, then, to learn that Joanne was killed in August in a freak traffic accident. Dan will honor his wife when his season starts April 17 with the Ceraland Joanne W. Daly Memorial Circuit Race.
» The South Chicago Wheelmen have announced a March 28 criterium at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet. Registration is open. This race and Burnham Racing’s Spring Super Criterium will constitute COUGAR: Chicagoland Omnium Using Great Area Raceways, with to-be-determined cash prizes to be awarded to riders who place well both days. (Appropriately enough, both COUGAR races have women and juniors racing at the same time.)
» Just in time for the spring races, Half Acre Cycling has organized a women’s racing clinic, with instruction from ace cyclists Kristen Meshberg and Leah Sanda of Flatlandia.
» Wisconsin increases its masters ages to 35 and 45.
» There’s a good lineup planned for Saturday’s Bike Winter Swap Meet and Urban Bicycle Expo.

Hillsboro-Roubaix registration

Feb 1

Have your credit cards handy: Hillsboro-Roubaix and Spring Super Criterium registration opens in less than 30 minutes.

With local race support in jeopardy elsewhere, it’s more important than ever to be good guests wherever we race. When you register for Hillsboro-Roubaix, consider a small donation to the Montgomery County Cancer Association, which will be providing much-needed marshaling on the sprawling course. Also to note this year: Hillsboro’s Orpheum Theatre will be showing the classic documenary “A Sunday in Hell” Friday night. Popcorn and soda are included in the $7 ticket. Sounds like a more enjoyable way to pass the evening than hanging out at the Litchfield Ruby Tuesday.

Update: It’s 8:08 a.m. and the Cat 5’s have filled. Congrats to masters cyclocross state champion Eric Sondag (Pony Shop) for being the last to slide in.

Update: It’s 8:48 a.m. and the 4’s are 80 percent full.

Update: It’s 10:15 a.m. and that’s that for the 4’s. Daniel Pollard (Spider Monkey Cycling) was DFL.

The 3’s field is almost half full. I expect it to approach capacity by race day.

Wait lists are available, and older punishment gluttons can throw in their lot with the open-category masters slugfests.

Keep in mind also that the Leland Kermesse takes place the following Saturday. This should provide a similar quasi-classic experience and is closer to the city. Plus, it’s USAC this year. (I do not know whether online registration will be an option.)

Wednesday notebook

Jan 27

Filed in:
Cyclocross, Links

Comments (10)

» Online registration for Hillsboro-Roubaix and the Spring Super Criterium opens Monday at 8 a.m. Last year, several Hillsboro fields sold out within minutes, so be alert. This is also a good time to double-check your BikeReg information and ensure that it’s up to date.
» Our friends at Flatlandia have organized a cyclocross world championships viewing party at the Globe Pub this Sunday. Delayed coverage at 3 p.m.
» Could the 2013 cyclocross world championships come to the United States? Update: Yes!
» How much bacon will it take to lure new Evanston resident Barry Wicks (Kona) to the 2010 Chicago Cyclocross Cup?
» Ben Van Couvering (Team Pegasus) was kind enough to translate the current CBR race calendar into iCal, XML and HTML.
» It won’t be long before group rides resume in earnest. Mark Landau and Team Judson are organizing a letter-writing campaign to remind Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran who the true menaces on the road are. (I should note that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was very responsive when the XXX Racing-AthletiCo ride was attacked by a truck in 2007.)
» Former XXX Racing-AthletiCo and ABD rider Reid Mumford (Kelly Benefit Strategies) “has one of the narrowest profiles on the team” -- and one of its awesomest mustaches. (Alex Candelario is tough to beat.)
» Here’s a nifty powermeter-GPS-helmetcam mash-up.
» TheCycleStudio on Harlem Avenue has Friday morning “Induro Cycling” spinning classes for $5 a session.

Wednesday notebook

Jan 20

Filed in:
Links, Race news

Comments (7)

» Wisconsin Cycling Association’s 2010 schedule is out, and it looks rather familiar, which is great: No sense messing with a great thing. For road race lovers, the Spring Prairie state championships will again be the first Sunday of June, and in May we return to two hilly courses about an hour north of Madison: Circuit of Sauk on May 1 and La Rue-Denzer-La Rue on May 15. (I considered L-D-L an instant classic when it made its debut in 2009.) I’m also happy to see that the Whitnall Park Spring Classic, a very fun and hilly criterium near Milwaukee, is back after a one-year hiatus.
» Burnham Racing released its flier for March 27’s Spring Super Criterium, the kick-off of the 2010 Illinois Cup campaign. The boys also announced new shop and bike sponsors, not to mention some nice roster pick-ups.
» Our first chance to race outdoors will once again be in Kenosha, Wis. ABR’s Kenosha Velosport Spring Criterium Series starts Sunday, March 14, weather permitting, and continues the following two Sundays. (Raise your hand if you still miss Parkside.)
» Yet another new team to look for in 2010: W2 Racing of Arlington Heights is made up of beginning masters racers and triathletes.
» The South Chicago Wheelmen are having an open house for juniors Tuesday, Jan. 26, in Homewood.
» Doing well at Hillsboro-Roubaix can once again secure a spot at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Last year Chris Winn (RMCEF) drove 31 hours from Colorado for a shot at qualifying -- and succeeded.
» Why I wear a helmet. (Also, why I don’t care for cats.)

ToAD schedule is out

Jan 13

Filed in:
Race news, Tour of America's Dairyland

Comments (6)

Tour of America’s Dairyland today released its 2010 schedule.

As had been rumored, the series does not return to the Blue Mounds course that last year tested the limits of the word “epic.” There will be only two road races, with the Greenbush course featuring a significant climb at the end of each lap. The rest of the series will be criteriums, including the popular Downer Avenue course in Milwaukee and starting with a Thursday elite-only criterium in Shorewood, Wis.

No word yet on fields or prizes.