Seth Meyer (Team Get a Grip Racing) reminds me that many group rides are adjusting their start times to account for diminishing daylight. The Pizza Hut and The Turin ride has gone into hibernation, Pizza Hut now starts at 5:15 p.m., and this week the Judson ride leaves at 8. The XXX Racing-AthletiCo ride will start leaving at 8 and 8:30 a.m. this Saturday, too.

Marc Zionts (Alberto's) reports that the GTE Barrington ride is suspended until April. "We still depart at 5 a.m. every Saturday, but on cross bikes and usually hit the Des Plaines River Trail. The ride still departs at Java Love in Highland Park at 5AM. Anyone looking to join or for details can contact me."

I won't be able to verify every time on the rides list, so try to confirm any ride time before you head out.

It's been so long since I've had a wrap-up that I had to remind myself how to do it. Unfortunately I don't have results yet from the ABR masters national road race championships or Sunday's new Kenosha Criterium, but here are a few reports to get you started.

Update: Here are results and capsules for the road race. Looks like there was some good, exciting racing. I particularly enjoyed the 40+ write-up: "On the back stretch reality sets in: The race is over, no one is chasing." Oops.

Masters road race reports:
Tamara Fraser (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; W-40+): "I'm very happy that I'm strong enough to experiment and learn. Big lesson: Have a game plan going in."

Kenosha Criterium race reports:
Bob Marshall (ABD; 4/50+): "I get second, in my second crit ever, and was still happy, as my original plan was to finish somewhere in the pack."

Scott Van Maldegiam (Spin Doctor Cyclewerks; 3, 4): "I managed to catch the end of that train, but had to give it a hard effort as I had lost all my momentum coasting up to the lead riders."

The Daily Herald has a story: "Cops: Driver caused 16-bike pileup near Libertyville."

Two clarifications: By my count there were 17 of us, and not all of us went down in the pileup.

A more complete story will be in tomorrow's paper. Friday's paper has a more complete story: "Pickup driver accused of causing 16-bicycle crash."

Update: Chicago Athlete has its story online: "Driver allegedly attacked cyclists and caused 16-bike collision."

• » Two opportunities to volunteer for studies and get some end-of-season performance data: Brett Peterson of UIC is looking for cyclists to be tested in LaGrange, as is the Gatorade Sports Science Institute in Barrington. Scott Van Maldegiam (Spin Doctor Cyclewerks) blogs about the Gatorade experience at his new blog.

• » One of the riders in this week's VeloNews photo contest winner is a certain member of XXX Racing-AthletiCo. Not to be braggy, but within six months the same person has been both the winning photographer and part of the winning subject. (The Snake Alley photo was taken about 30 seconds before I crashed and broke my clavicle. I did not have a good day.)

• » Cyclists have it bad around Chicago, but at least we don't live in L.A. or Beverly Hills. (Thanks, Matt.)

• » "Train and race so hard you sweat, vomit and bleed lactic acid." Chicago's loss will be Des Moines' gain and Iowa's bane. Good luck, Jen. In other transfer news, I understand that two of the most coveted Cat 4 sandbaggers have made arrangements with Flatlandia and Team Clif Bar Midwest, but I'll leave it to them to make official announcements.

• » A grand tour passing through Indianapolis and Carbondale? I'll believe it when I see it.

• » I just about melted when I saw this video of a busy Dutch intersection that gets along fine without traffic lights. So many bike commuters! Cars and bikes getting along! The world as it ought to be! (Thanks, Payton.)

• » Somewhat related: Copenhagen Girls on Bikes.

With all the drama of the past few weeks, one can almost forget that there's still racing going on.

This weekend kicks off ABD's two-weekend Fall Fling stage race. As with most ABD and ABR events, there's a festive, low-key vibe to these races. Mike Ebert and company are good hosts. I haven't missed an event in the past two years, and I regret that I'm not going to be able to do them this year.

It's a great series for just about everyone. There's a citizens field, making it a good opportunity for new racers to give this racing thing a shot before diving into it full-steam next year. For riders who may have gotten a late start to their training, it's a chance to shine at a time of year when many others have either burned out or moved on to cyclocross. Finally, it's an opportunity to end the season on a good note. Doing so will go a long way toward motivating those three-hour trainer rides in January.

Saturday will be a 10-mile time trial. The course is mostly flat with one turnaround. Wind is often significant, and it's one of those magic Chicago winds that's always in your face. The finish line is not at the same spot as the start line. You'll want to note its position so it doesn't surprise you at the end.

Sunday is a criterium in Lombard. The oval, office-park course will be repeated the following Sunday. Corners are soft and easy. There's a shallow descent between Turns 1 and 2, then a steeper climb between Turns 3 and 4. Successful sprints will start right before Turn 4, so on the final lap make sure you start the climb in good position and be ready to jump. I've never seen a break get off in a 4's or citizens race, but the 1/2/3's and masters races will be all over the place.

Sunday
Fall Fling Criterium No. 1
ABR criterium
Lombard, Ill.
Distance from Chicago: .5 hour

Thomas Francis Lynch is the name of the driver accused of attacking the group ride Saturday morning.

TUESDAY UPDATE: This afternoon I spoke with Chris McNally (MetCycling), one of Saturday's victims, who has done a great job of getting information from the sheriff's department and the state's attorney's office.

Lynch had a bond hearing Monday morning on various traffic misdemeanors. This week the deputies will file a report with the sheriff, who will in turn approve the report and pass it on to the state's attorney. The sheriff cannot file felony charges himself, but based on the evidence and recommendations of the sheriff, the state's attorney will determine which, if any, felony charges to proceed with.

The state's attorney should have the report by Monday. At this point Lynch has a court date of Oct. 29, 2007, to face whatever upgraded charges have been filed by then.

The state's attorney has wide discretion. It is crucial, therefore, that he is convinced that this incident is important enough to society that it warrants full prosecution. Furthermore, he needs to be convinced that all interested parties, especially Saturday's victims, will attend as many hearings as possible and do whatever is requested to secure conviction. He needs to be assured that come Oct. 29 he can expect the annoying click-clack of dozens of bike shoes across the courtroom floor.

Here's the contact information:

Michael J. Waller
Lake County State's Attorney
18 N. County St.
Waukegan, IL 60085
(847) 377-3000
statesattorney@co.lake.il.us

Here are the points I'll be making in my letter:

• » This was not merely a hit-and-run. This was not a case of a driver making a mistake and fleeing in a panic. This was a driver behaving with malice in a way likely to cause injury or death -- and then fleeing in a panic.

• » Lynch's actions suggest anti-social tendencies. This is a man willing to use or threaten violence in order to express himself. It is in society's best interest to see this behavior punished to the full extent of the law.

• » Publicity from this case can be an important step toward improving car/bike relations. The case can be an example for other drivers who might consider such actions, but it can also be an opportunity to remind cyclists of the need to ride responsibly and safely.

Finally, Alan Burns is the name of the deputy who responded to the attack. This would be a much different story if he had not taken it as seriously as he did. If you'd like to join me in expressing your thanks, write him at: Lake County Sheriff's Department; 25. S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.; Waukegan, IL 60085. Flowers and chocolates would not be out of line.

A hit-and-run sent one rider to the hospital Saturday morning, but the episode closed with what appeared to be a happy ending.

Shortly after 9 a.m., I was among 15 17 cyclists heading north on St. Mary's Road on an extension of the XXX Racing-AthletiCo team ride. After turning right off of Everett Road, we were going about 25 mph single-file on the solid white line of the shoulder. A white pick-up truck driven by Thomas Francis Lynch passed us, veered to the right and applied its brakes. There was no way to avoid a pileup, and as soon as one started, Lynch sped away.

The lead riders were able to ditch into the gravel. Riding fifth in line, Chris McNally (MetCycling) endoed and wound up beneath the truck, making contact with the rear wheel and slicing his shin open on the tailpipe. XXX Racing-AthletiCo president Bob Willems gashed his knee and would be transported to the hospital for precautionary neck and back X-Rays. Something or someone struck and broke the truck's right taillight. Others sustained abrasions and cut knees.

It could have been much, much worse.

We were able to get his license plate -- "FES! 344!" we yelled so we would remember. "FES! 344!" -- and immediately called 911. Within minutes, Lake County sheriff's deputies arrived to take statements. Paramedics followed to tend to the wounded.

As we were preparing to leave, 30 minutes after the attack, the driver returned to the scene to turn himself in. After speaking with the deputy for a few minutes, he was in cuffs and being escorted into a patrol car.

According to the deputy, Lynch claimed he had braked to avoid a squirrel. The deputy told us this was, in the professional parlance of law enforcement, "bullshit."

Since he had turned himself in within two hours, it did not qualify as a hit-and-run. However, the deputy said he would push for reckless conduct, a felony. If nothing else, Lynch will face a raft of misdemeanors. (Ultimately the state's attorney's office will determine which charges will be filed.)

I'll be following the case as closely as I can. This is not about just me, and it is not about just XXX Racing-AthletiCo. Road rage is a danger that could strike any of us, and St. Mary's Road is a popular road for cyclists, triathletes and recreational riders. If an example is not made here, the message will be clear: Open season on cyclists.

Update: Here are more photos of the scene. Apologies for the lousy quality.

A few other notes:

• » Three cheers for the Lake County Sheriff's Office. The deputies took the incident seriously and treated us with concern and respect.

• » Two drivers who witnessed the attack attempted to follow the truck, then returned to the scene to provide statements. The deputy said this buttressed our case immensely, as they were able to verify that we had been riding single-file and as far to the right as possible. Otherwise it would have been difficult to call for more serious charges. One more good reason for our group rides to stay no more than two abreast. Not only is it the law and not only does it ensure safety, but in a case like this, it can make the difference between an arrest and a verbal warning.

• » There is something incredibly satisfying in hearing handcuffs clasp shut on someone who has just apparently tried to kill you. Justice heals a great many wounds.

• » A few weeks ago I got into a lather over comments Steve Dahl made on his radio show. I knew that Dahl was kidding when he said how much he'd like to hit cyclists and "take their jerseys and keep them as pelts," and that he likes to "get as close as I can to scare them," but it didn't take long to find out what can happen when a driver tries to "scare" cyclists. Dahl's comments contribute to a climate where drivers feel such conduct is acceptable. (This is hardly the first time a vehicle has stopped short to startle a group ride.) Do North Shore cyclists need to do a better job of sharing the road? Yes, of course. Does this mean drivers should use their vehicles as weapons? No, and how dare you, Steve Dahl, to even joke about it.

• » XXX Racing-AthletiCo has a tragic history with road rage. In 1999, messenger and team friend Tom McBride was run down and killed after an altercation on Chicago's West Side. In a landmark case, the driver was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 45 years in jail. This was one wound, however, that no amount of justice could heal.
  

• » The local cyclocross season kicks off this Sunday in Jackson Park. Important note: The schedule has recently changed, so double-check the current flier and help spread the word. Also, volunteer opportunities are still available. Contact Greg Heck if you're interested. There's no discipline more fun to watch than cyclocross, so if you're going to be there anyhow, might as well spend some time with a flag in your hand. (And presumably a cowbell in the other.)

• » Jonathan Dugas (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) is one half of the smart and thorough Science of Sports, which reads a bit like a Freakonomics of athletics. Dugas and colleague Ross Tucker recently wonked out over the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, but there's a lot of good cycling analysis on the site. I expect it will become a must-read as we approach the Olympics.

• » Someone took an amazing video of the Brad Huff (Slipstream) crash in the final sprint of the Tour of Missouri. "It helped that I had said a prayer," Huff said. "Before the start of every sprint, I do that."

• » Only four more days to order your Unattached Rider uniform, guaranteed to be the sexiest kit of 2008.
  

How about some good news for once: The ABR masters national road race championship is on! This Saturday, Sept. 22, near Rockford.

The course is a rolling, 8-mile rectangle. The hills are nothing to speak of, although there's a long, straight descent that leads to a short hiccup of a climb right before the finish line, just enough to make the sprint interesting.

The biggest feature is likely to be the wind, which can be ferocious on these unsheltered roads. Echelon smartly. Figure out beforehand which way the wind is coming from so you can anticipate which side of the pack you want to be on on each side of the course. And if you're feeling strong, drill it in the crosswinds and watch the carnage ensue.

I don't expect the fields will be very big, but it's a good chance to get in one last road race, and it's the same course that the Fall Fling road race will be contested on two weeks later, so it could be a good chance to preview the conditions.

There will be a viewing this Sunday, Sept. 16, at Drake & Son Funeral Home, 5303 N. Western, Chicago, beginning at 11:30 a.m. A prayer service will follow at 1:30 p.m.

In other sad news, I learned from Mike Ebert (ABD) that Gerry Turrubiartes, the cyclist killed by a train this weekend, was popular on area group rides. This Kane County Chronicle story notes that he had ties to the Bicycle Heaven shop and team in St. Charles. "He was the guy who would ride up to you after a hard-won race or sprint and would say 'good job,' and not just ride away and pout," said John Dapkus (Turin).

Here is an obituary, which says he was a former member of Colavita, as well has his Legacy guestbook.

If anyone can tell us more about Gerry and his life, feel free to comment or e-mail.

7/15
2 p.m.: The Tuesday night St. Charles group ride rode by the crash site and laid flowers. Ara Oggoian (Bicycle Heaven) says there will be a memorial ride in the future. I'll pass along details when I get them.

Pieter Ombregt (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) crashed hard racing at Matteson last night. Despite immediate first aid and more than two hours of surgery, Pieter passed away later in the evening at St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields.

It is a devastating loss for his family and the second tragedy to strike XXX Racing-AthletiCo this year.

This is my understanding of the crash, most of which comes from Michael Kelly (South Chicago Wheelmen), who was there: The 27-year-old Belgian was attacking into the wind out of Turn 4, one of many "frisky" attacks of his this night. After looking back to check his gap, he apparently strayed to the right, off the road, and struck industrial piping near the start/finish area. He was going about 30 mph. The force of the crash broke his carotid artery and caused massive bleeding. He never regained consciousness.

Witnesses speculate that he may have been blinded by the setting sun, which at that hour was in riders' eyes on that section of the course.

This was his second season with XXX Racing-AthletiCo after racing with ABD in 2005. He was a frequent racer at Matteson, and when he visited his family in Belgium he would train and race there. (On Aug. 25 he placed 7th in the Parochianenkoers Hertsberghe.) At Superweek this year he won the Cedarburg 4/5's and placed 2nd in Whitefish Bay.

He lived in Chicago with his fiancee. His family is en route from Belgium.

I will update this post as information develops. Friends and others are encouraged to share their thoughts and memories in the comments.

This isn't supposed to happen, ever, and for it to happen twice in one city, to one team, my team, is confounding.

6 p.m.: The Daily Southtown has a story: "Accomplished cyclist crashes in Matteson race, dies."

11 p.m.: I've started a photo gallery over at the XXX Racing-AthletiCo site.

9/13
9 a.m.: I wasn't sure at first, but that is our Pieter behind pieterombregt.com. I had no idea he was such a talented photographer. His portraits are amazing. A photographer colleague of Pieter's has a remembrance.

9:30 a.m.: Teammate Bob Willems also has a remembrance: "He brought his heart and guts to the start line of every race. People came to know Pieter by the character of his riding, and I think that's the highest compliment for a cyclist."

11 a.m.: The South Chicago Wheelmen have canceled the rest of the 2007 Matteson series, an understandable decision. The Daily Southtown story hints at this, but I expect there will be a difficult decision to be made, by both our friends at SCW and our generous hosts at Ace Hardware, about whether the races continue. I for one hope they do. I can't think of anything in the Chicago area that contributes more to racer safety than these practice criteriums. We are better, safer riders because of them.

6 p.m. There will be a viewing this Sunday, Sept. 16, at Drake & Son Funeral Home, 5303 N. Western, Chicago, beginning at 11:30 a.m. A prayer service will follow at 1:30 p.m.

9/14
8 a.m.: Here is Pieter's obituary, and Legacy guestbook.

9 a.m.: CyclingNews has a brief item.

4 p.m.: A scholarship to honor Pieter has been established. To donate to the Pieter Ombregt Scholarship Fund, direct funds to:
Columbia College Chicago
Attn. Kim Clement
600 S. Michigan Ave., 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60605

His family will be notified of your contribution.

9/16
6 p.m.: It was standing room only at Pieter's prayer service today. Many moving and beautiful things were said in tribute to Pieter. Of relevance to the cyclists reading this are the words from Pieter's father: "When you are in the peloton and look around and do not see Pieter, do not be sad that he is not there. He is there. He's just escaped. He is around the corner, and you must go faster to catch up to him."

9/17
12 p.m.: Mark your calendars: On Thursday, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m. a reception will open an exhibition of Pieter's photography at the City Gallery of Photography at 800 N. Michigan Ave. This is a prestigious location, and the exhibition will run through Feb. 3.

9/20
3 p.m.: The Columbia Chronicle has a story: "Tragic cycling accident claims life of Columbia photography student."

And in Het Volk: "Onze zoon is vredig en gelukkig gestorven."

• » The San Luis Obispo County (Calif.) Bicycle Coalition has come out with a much-needed series of public-service announcements about sharing the road. One of the spots highlights the need for cyclists to be courteous, which I think is important. We as cyclists need to be reminded to share the road, but drivers too need to be reminded that, yes, whether certain radio personalities think so or not, we are scareable, we are trying to give cars as much space as we can, and we are sorry about the extra 20 seconds we might add to someone's trip.

• » Don't think drivers need to be reminded about cyclists? Yesterday a garbage truck struck and killed a young woman cycling down Armitage Avenue. (The driver was cited for an improper right turn. Kill a cyclist, go to jail pay a fine.)

• » After a relatively safe year on Chicago streets, this is the third fatality in the past month. What can we do? One small step to increase our visibility will be the Third Annual Dick Herron Bike & Walk, a memorial event organized by the Chicago Bike Federation on Sunday, Oct. 14. It's free, but donations go to Northwest Chicago Drive with Care, a campaign to stigmatize and stop reckless driving.
  

ABR has come through with a fall Kenosha, Wis., criterium, this one on Sunday, Sept. 23. Here is the flier. According to an ABR e-mail making the rounds: "The course has wide curvy roads in good shape and is located just east of the Kenosha Airport off of I-94. No huge prize list just great racing." (Thanks, Tim.)

Last week I rhapsodized about the merits of joining a team, but there can still be a mystique in riding unattached: in taking on the entire peloton by yourself, in being the unknown factor from whom nobody else knows what to expect, in saying, "I write my own bylaws, thank you very much."

And so it is that I introduce our first sponsor here at Chicago Bike Racing: Unattached Rider.

It's a venture from a former Chicago bike racer and teammate of mine, Carlos Cabalu, who after spending a year in Philadelphia decided that the unattached rider deserved some better duds. He's come up with an attractive, witty line of clothes that practically demands you throw that U.S. Postal kit into the rag bin and save the generic black jersey for the training rides.

If the line takes off, Unattached Rider could grow well beyond mere classy clothes and into a movement, and I couldn't be happier to have helped with the launch.

This week I caught up with Cabalu, a freelance graphic artist, for some insight into what riding unattached means to him.

Why didn't you join a team this year?
I couldn't decide on one. None of the local teams had the vibe my last team gave off. In retrospect, that's mostly because I didn't start my racing career with 30 of their racers. I guess I was looking for a sense of immediate camaraderie when really they were strangers.

It helped to have joined XXX Racing-AthletiCo with a bunch of friends at the same time?
It sure did. A half-dozen of us goaded each other into joining. And at races it was easy to bond with the other Cat 5 racers because we were all terrified for our lives. At least I was. It was a good group.

I was looking for the same structure XXX had. Monthly meetings, clinics, coaching. The big teams around Philadelphia offered none of those. It seemed like you kinda just run into your teammates at the races.

But I don't want to give the Philadelphia cycling community a bad reputation. I just didn't understand the scene. In lieu of monthly meetings, people meet up during the group rides. There are over a dozen a week, each with a large attendance. Some rides have more sprints, some hills, one's like a crit. So you get your training in. I just wasn't clued in on that. It can be alienating being new to a city.

How did racing unattached differ from racing with a team?
This year it was hard to get motivated to train. `[Riding unattached,] you can be spontaneous. You can change your plans. You're racing your own race.’There was no pressure to target races. There was no reason to get up to the front. Honestly, I found myself in the middle of the pack thinking "What am I doing here?"

I've yet to be a successful racer. The best that I could do in the past was to try and do my part. But without anyone to do any work for I was really lost.

Tim Krabbe writes about having secret alliances with other riders in "The Rider." Did you ever befriend other unattached riders and collude together? "I won't chase you if you won't chase me."
There's always at least another rider going solo in my races. I bet if we were in a position to take action, we would've lent each other a hand. I mean, we're not going to get help from anyone else. But usually I'm just sitting in the back trying to hang on.

Are you like me, in that you cheer whenever you check the results and see (Unattached) after first place? It's like, "This dude wins without free Clif Bars or anyone blocking for him. Bad ass!"
Definitely. It's more than a show of fitness. It's a test of your will.

Explain that "will" part. Is there a statement being made when you ride unattached?
It's easy to show up for a race when you know several of your teammates are going to be in the field. It's a different story when you'll be at the start all alone and everyone's kinda ignoring you.

If you can get over the emotional obstacle of `I'd like [Unattached Rider] to achieve a level of infectious notoriety that the solo rider deserves.’feeling insignificant, it can be a driving force. You want to rub it in their faces. It sure sounds much cooler to have "forced your will onto the peloton" than to simply finish with the pack. Of course I'm still waiting for that day to come.

But are there advantages in being unattached? You can slip under the radar, for example. And although you say you miss the meetings of your old team, being unattached means you don't have to go to so many darn meetings!
Racing becomes an entirely personal challenge. There is no obligation to race and no one is relying on you to be there, so when you show up at the line you better know why you're there.

There is no one to coordinate with so you can make your move whenever you want. You can also take risks and make mistakes as it cripples no one else. You can be spontaneous. You can change your plans. You're racing your own race.

And yes. Most of the time people don't even notice you.

There are many perks to being on a team. I don't deny that. In fact it's a necessity to find success in the advanced categories. But at the 5’s and 4’s, you can do just fine on your own.

How did the Unattached Rider concept come about?
I can't make up my mind if it was resilience or stubbornness. Or are they the same thing?

I had a bad season this year. I got shelled from every race. I blamed my solo status but realized it had nothing to do with it. I had lost fitness. I let myself go. I wanted a do-over. I needed to overcome this funk and not let joining a team take credit for it. And so... I got inspired to try to get out of the 4’s unattached.

Now that I found the conviction, I just needed the outfit. Kinda like Bruce Wayne when he decided to strike fear into the hearts of men.

Something my girlfriend said struck me. "No one really takes you seriously when you're not wearing a kit, and that rubs off. You don't take yourself seriously either."

In fact, that's your tag line: "Don't be a Fred." How do you define a "Fred"?
Well, there are two running definitions. One is the poser with the pro kit and the Orbea who rides on the trail every saturday at 15 mph. The other is the bearded touring cyclist in tube socks whom you only see from behind because he's faster than you.

"Don't be a Fred" applies to both of them, though in the context of the racing kit its more towards the latter.

Basically people with either too much money or not enough style. (CBR reminds readers that 1. There's nothing wrong with tube socks. 2. Most of us started out as Freds, so be kind.)
Yes. But really that's just the-over-the-top persona I'm trying to promote. I have no problems with the latter Fred. I ride lugged steel, with lights, and always have a full set of tools on me. The former Fred, however, is unforgivable.

"Don't be a Fred." is like saying "Dress like a racer" in a "Snap-into-a-Slim-Jim!" tone of voice.

Where do you see the Unattached Rider venture going?
Well, at the moment the concept is just a week old. In that time I slapped together some kits, polled about 75 people on the boards, put together the Web site and got the group order started. Technology is a wonderful thing, isn't it?

I'm gonna take some time off and see how the group order develops. But in the near future I'd like to have a page serve as a portal to useful information for beginning racers. I also hope to put together a message board so unattached racers can coordinate. Perhaps even a directory of blogs. And maybe, just maybe, get race reports up when the season kicks into gear.

For now, it's just a whacky little kit project.

Do you foresee getting enough Unattached Rider jerseys getting in circulation that eventually two strangers could meet at a race wearing the same kit and say: "You're unattached. I'm unattached. Today we ride as a team!" Unattached Rider could wind up being the largest team in the world!
The best part about that is they can ride like they're on a team, or not. And no one can anticipate it either way. It's a wild card. Like a pick-up game of basketball. You show up not knowing who's gonna be there. You don't know who's going to be on your team. And you don't know if they're any good.

I really like that "mystery rider" potential.
I'd be so glad to find another rider in the kit. It can happen. There are more of us than you think.

Of course, there's a big unspoken perk of being on a team: the opportunity to meet women! This happens to have worked out handsomely for both of us. Perhaps "Unattached Rider" can take on a double meaning.
I'd have to design a jersey that says "SINGLE" out loud just for that purpose.

Back of the bibs would be a good spot for that. "If you can read this, you appear to be checking out my ass."
Perhaps not appropriate for all bib sizes.

These would make great Christmas gifts. (Someone should get Tyler Hamilton one.) Do you expect your Sept. 23 order to be the last chance to get something for under the tree?
It might be. This current order delivers early in November.

We'll have to see. The response after fulfilling the orders will dictate our next move. I'm hesitant to start another group order before we deliver this first batch without a snag.

Well, I for one hope it takes off.
Me too. I'd like it to achieve a level of infectious notoriety that the solo rider deserves. I'd like for spectators to say "Look! There goes an unattached rider!"

The Parkside Fall Criterium of Sept. 16 has been canceled because of construction at the university. Rats! The fall Parkside race has always been a nice tune-up for, um, the spring Parkside races, which traditionally kick off our road season in March -- a mere six months away!

The cancellation means the only remaining road races in '07 are the two weekends of the Fall Fling and, presuming it is still on, the ABR masters national road race championship on Sept. 22 (flier pending).

I hope the construction doesn't jeopardize the spring series. That would be another big loss to the calendar, and I'm not sure I could handle going all the way to April without a race.

Update: Crack investigator Andy Daley (Team Clif Bar Midwest) digs into the University of Wisconsin-Parkside master plan and notes that there will no longer be a criterium-friendly inner loop. "We can all forget about racing at Parkside again." Let's hope our friends at Kenosha Velosport can dig up another course by March.

I haven't seen complete results yet, but several Chicago riders and teams did well this weekend at the four-race Gateway Cup in St. Louis.

Matt Smith (Big Shark), closing his 4's resume on his home turf, overcame illness to collect two top 10's, including a 2nd in the series opener. Team Get a Grip Racing had at least one good race in the 3's, with Steven Vandeven and James Holton going 1-3 in Sunday's Giro della Montagna. In the P/1/2's, Josh Carter (ABD) hit the podium in the first three races, but a crash in the fourth separated his shoulder. (He still finished the race to secure 2nd overall, behind Dan Schmatz (BMC).)

Speaking of St. Louis, there's a new road race scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 22, if you can bear the six-hour drive to squeeze in one last USCF road race: Le Tour de Sainte Genevieve. The promoter says he'll do an omnium in 2008 if this year's debut is a success.

Race reports:
Matt Smith (Big Shark; 4): "We got a few complements on our teamwork, and a few heckles from a couple guys who wanted us to race the way they wanted. Sorry, that's not how it works." (See also, also and also.

Jon Tenney (Team Get a Grip Cycles; 3): "'Those other dudes just delivered me to the finish. I did not have to put my nose out into the wind until there were 150 meters left.'"

Photos:
Steve Daggs
St. Louis Biking

Many riders have been wondering this week about the status of Sunday's team time trial. It's on! Here is the flier. Bob Lundberg of American Bicycle Racing is spreading the word: "If you have not registered your team, please e-mail your team name, names of team members and class entered to ambikerace@aol.com. Bring signed release forms and entry fee to registration the day of event."

(Thanks, Scott!)

Teams are like families. Some are big, some are small. Some are pretty and happy, some are dysfunctional and in need of therapy.

No team is without its squabbles or black sheep, but all exist for the same purposes: to have fun riding together, to achieve common success -- a win for one being a win for all -- and to help riders achieve their individual goals.

Yet the role of the team can be one of the more puzzling aspects of our sport, especially for non-cyclists. We've all been to dinner parties where we've had to explain why there are teams in an individual-based sport. But while it's easy to see how the professional domestiques and lieutenants slave away for their leaders, teams serve a much different function for new racers. In fact, I would argue that for beginning cyclists, tactics is one of the least important benefits of being on a team.

Why should a new bike racer join a team? It isn't for everyone, but here's how I would assess the benefits, both tangible and not, for new racers.

Networking: Fair or not, cyclists (and roadies in particular) have a reputation for being elitists. We do tend to be an insular, intimidating bunch, or at least we appear to be so from the outside. But for a new racer who still doesn't shave his legs or count the grams of his bottle cage, joining a team is a great way to break through that barrier.

Once you join a team, you suddenly have a group to ride with, new friends to drink with and friendly faces to look for at races. You have a way to organize carpools and share travel costs. You have people with whom to exchange that all-important head nod on the path.

And shazam: You're on the inside.

Aid and comfort: Many teams hire certified coaches to put on clinics and workshops. In addition, you'll find no shortage of experienced experts on any given team. (I'm not the only know-it-all who enjoys giving free advice.) This makes training rides a great chance to ask any questions you have, and after each race you can huddle with your teammates to debrief over what just happened. Each one will have a different perspective, and many will have noticed things you did right or wrong.

Discounts: Most teams offer industry deals on everything from tubes and tires to bikes and wheels. In fact, buy a year's worth of tires and a new helmet -- stuff you probably would have bought anyhow -- and you'll find you've more than made up for your team dues.

Note, however, that pro deals should not be your primary reason for joining a team. It's hard, thankless work to solicit and manage a team's sponsorships, and your participation is expected in return. Nothing frustrates a team like the people who only show their heads at gear distribution, or whose only contribution is to ask when the next order is.

Tactics: When you're unattached (without a team), it's you against the world. When you're on a team, you have allies. One versus fifty becomes five versus fifty. Your sum becomes greater than the individual parts.

Team tactics take myriad shapes: leadouts for sprinters, blocking for attackers, chasing down opponents. Good team tactics take years to hone, however, and in the beginning categories, the principal aspect of teamwork is to simply "do no harm." The most common case is when a rider has taken the initiative to attack or get in a break. If his teammates are paying attention, they will not contribute to the chase. Sitting back at a time like that takes some patience and selflessness, and you should be cool with that. But master "do no harm" and you'll go far with your team.

One teammate making a sacrifice for another is one of the most beautiful occasions of our sport, but this is often confusing for someone thinking about joining a team. Some people wonder whether they'll be compelled to take on a domestique role when they're new. Absolutely not. In your first few years, your focus should be on learning and improving. Aside from not chasing down your own teammates, no team should be telling you how to race. Until you sign a pro contract, nobody should be ordering you to lead someone out or chase down a break.

That said, if you have a good relationship with your team, you'll end up wanting to sacrifice yourself for your stronger teammates if you find yourself in a position to do so. You'll do this knowing that eventually you'll be the strong one, and it will be everyone else's turn to sacrifice for you. (You'll also do this knowing that the winner buys lunch.)

And what are the trade-offs of joining a team?

Dues: They can run up to $100 and usually don't include a uniform or any race fees. But for active members who take advantage of what a given team can offer, dues should work out to be a bargain.

Uniforms: Once you put down for a few jerseys, some shorts and a handful of accessories, your uniform order can hit hundreds of dollars. But most teams sell their uniforms at cost, and the larger teams can get better deals from vendors. At $50, a team jersey isn't much more expensive than what you'd pay for a quality jersey anyhow.

The work: Teams don't run themselves. Sponsors need to be nurtured, races have to be organized, uniforms need to be ordered, programs need to be funded, rides and clinics need to be planned ... and on and on. When you're unattached, all you have to worry about is training and getting yourself to races. As a member of a team, you'll at the very least be expected to volunteer throughout the year at your team's functions, be they clinics or races, and eventually you'll be paid the compliment of being asked to help lead the team.

Bad actors: One person's actions reflect upon the entire squad. That works out great when you have teammates winning races or helping stranded riders fix flats. It's less ideal when people wearing the same jersey as you are littering during races, riding irresponsibly or just being rude. When you join a team, you may eventually have to call out people on their behavior. (You may also have to accept people calling you out on your own.)

Tactics: Sometimes teamwork has a tactical cost. If your team makes up a large portion of a given race, the rest of the field will notice and will be quick to shut down any of your team's moves. Thus it can sometimes be easier for an unattached rider to escape from a peloton's clutches.

That intangible fit: When your bike doesn't fit, it's a trivial thing to adjust the seat or change your stem. But what if you join a team -- and they turn out to be a bunch of jerks? Or Freds? Or just people you can't seem to connect with? It happens. Which is why it's a good idea to get acquainted with potential teammates and a team's vibe before you join. Otherwise one could be in a very long year.

Obviously I'm a big advocate of joining a team, and I'm thrilled there are so many good ones to join around Chicago.

When I got into road racing, I could barely change a tire and didn't know a cog from a sprocket from a hole in my head. I joined a team before I'd done a single race or even had a racing bike -- and it worked out great. I made dozens of friends and thanks to their help, I went up a category each of my first two years.

Mileage varies, and I don't discourage riding unattached until you decide the sport is definitely for you. But while you do so, talk up people you ride with and draw out their experiences, and use the CBR team directory as a starting point for find the team that's best for you. Some teams are invitation-only, but most will be thrilled to have you.

• » MetCycling is hosting a nifty "cadence symposium" on Saturday, Sept. 15. Looks to be a cheap way to get your VO2 max measured or have an expert check out your form. (Patrick McNally tells me neither he nor his team are making any money off this. They're just organizing and extending it to the greater cycling community.)

• » Lately I've been enjoying the collaborative cycling blog Triple Crankset, run in part by former Chicagoan Leonard Basobas. As someone who admittedly doesn't follow the NRC much except for when it's racing nearby, this fans' point of view is useful for staying abreast of the various personalities and storylines.

• » The Road Magazine blog has been fun this week, too, as Neil Browne tagged along with Jelly Belly at the USPRO road race.

• » A brief rant: The conventional cycling media are fine for providing results and the latest doping news, but for our sport to get more popular, the media -- blogs included -- need to draw out more of the riders' personalities. If NBC can make us give a damn about curling once every four years, surely someone can pull the same miracle with cycling. David Zabriskie (CSC) is always good for a soundbite and storylines don't get much better than that of Saul Raisin (Credit Agricole), but that's only a start. We need to know stuff like what Andrew Bajadali (Jelly Belly) has for breakfast at Waffle House. As it is, pro cycling has an obvious problem when people like me are only able to get excited for the races that happen to coincide with the local amateur races.