I've moved to a new content management system. Among the changes is anew RSS feed: http://www.chicagobikeracing.com/index.php/site/rss/

Many other links have changed, too. Please visit the site and double-check any links you use regularly.

A local promoter has asked me to quiz my readership about what qualities you'd look for at your ideal criterium. What are your dreams? What are your pet peeves? If money were no object, what would you have? Bigger purses? Smaller fees? Better marshaling? New categories? Jumbotrons, blimps and a twilight performance from the Rolling Stones?

I don't want to set a precedent of doing other people's market research, but I think all race organizers could benefit from this exercise. Plus, I know some of you to have strong opinions on such matters, so let's see 'em in the comments.

I've updated the CBR calendar with the rest of what is known about the 2008 season. All that remains to be settled are the details of Superweek, which will run July 11-27 and include at least four races in the Chicago area.

I've also added some links to schedules for disciplines outside my purview, including the recently updated Northbrook Velodrome calendar. Racing there starts May 15.

I've updated the race schedule with what I know about the 2008 season. This schedule is still missing a few dozen events, including most local races and the entirety of Superweek, but I'm waiting for the Illinois and Wisconsin associations to finalize their schedules before I publish most of those races.

If you represent a mass-start race close to Chicago that's not on this list, feel free to e-mail me its information.

Only 63 days until the first criterium formerly known as Parkside!

Thanks to all of you who have purchased the 2008 Chicago Bike Racing Calendar. The first orders should be arriving this week. Some of you may notice, however, that the spiral binding obscures each photo's caption. I fixed this after the first few days of the sale, but if you get one of the early ones and this bothers you, I'm happy to arrange a swap at no cost.

When I'm not on my bike at races, I'm usually on the sidelines taking photos. Thus as we wrap up the year's racing, I'm thrilled to announce that I've taken 12 of my favorite photos from the 2007 season (and 2006 cross season) and put together a calendar for your enjoyment.

The calendar is for sale through Cafe Press for $17.50, plus shipping.

I've tried to capture the gamut of the Chicago bike racing season, from the indoor sprint contests of winter to the 90-degree hill climbs of July, from the grit of the individual racer to the brotherhood (and sisterhood!) of the competitive peloton.

Naturally you'll want to get at least one for yourself -- one for the office, one for the bike room? -- but also remember that it's never too early to start on your Christmas list. Consider a thank-you gift for all the people who make your season possible:

• » Your teammates!
• » Your coach!
• » Your team president!
• » Your physical therapist!
• » Your mechanic!
• » Your orthopedist!
• » Your significant other!
• » Your mother!

Use it as a training log. Use it as a race calendar. Shoot, maybe you make an appearance: For a month you can use it as a daily reminder of how awesome you look on a bike!

I'm not looking to make a profit here, but your support will be appreciated. Primarily it's a vanity project and a fun souvenir to offer my friends and readers. If it works out I'll explore more affordable options for 2009.

Interested in buying more than 10? Want to delight your entire team? Want to sell them in your shop? Significant bulk discounts are available. E-mail me for information.

Who's included?

January: Emily MacDonald (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) concentrates on a turn at the 2006 Jackson Park cyclocross ace.

February: Val Brostrom (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) cheers on Josh Radlein (Team Pegasus) at the inaugural IRO Sprints, a fixed-fork roller contest held at The Mutiny.

March: Many riders said a prayer as they wiped out on "Amen Corner" at the inaugural Glencoe Grand Prix, but not Francine Haas (Alberto's), who takes the turn as smooth as can be.

April: The P/1/2 field rumbles over the fabled brick of the Hillsboro-Roubaix.

May: Torrential rains made for a slick, messy Snake Alley Criterium in Burlington, Iowa.

June: The Cat 4 field enjoys a beautiful night for racing at the Northbrook Velodrome.

July: Amanda Eaken (Metromint) digs up one of Alpine Valley's difficult climbs in pursuit of a dangerous break. Eaken's efforts paid off, catching the break and resulting in a 4th for herself and victory for teammate Jane Robertson.

August: Rob White (PCW) shows what cycling is all about as he guts out a wet and wild Downers Grove elite national championship.

September: An Abercrombie & Fitch rider is one of dozens to slide out over a wet weekend in Downers Grove.

October: The mens' P/1/2 field climbs up the hill at the Whitnall Park Road Race.

November: Riders leap over the barriers at the 2006 Jackson Park cyclocross race.

December: Even with 10 inches of snow, the bicycle is the best way to get around Chicago, and it's weather like this that makes Chicago cyclists so tough.

Danielson to Slipstream! The Clarkes to Toyota-United! Rasmussen to ... anyone?

Who cares?

What's really important is whom you will be riding for next year.

It's never too early to be thinking about 2008. Whether you'll be racing for the first time or you're finally trading in that Performance jersey for a team kit, now is the time to start inquiring about teams and finding the group that's a good fit for you. If you wait until May or June, it can be too late: Your team's uniform orders have likely come and gone, and your new teammates have already spent all winter and spring bonding with one another and may be too busy racing to get to know you properly.

Over the next few weeks I'll have more to say about the benefits (and costs) of joining a team and how to make the most of it. In the meantime, I've finally uploaded a directory of local racing teams. I still have a few listings I need to add, but if you don't see your team or spot any errors, please e-mail me the details.

Several team representatives have told me they're unsure of how to answer whether they have a women's or juniors program. I'm not quite sure myself. It's somewhat self-defining. Suffice to say, if you have only one or two women or juniors, you do not have a "program." Basically I'm looking to highlight teams that women and juniors can join and expect to find like-minded mentors and friends.

If I had a nickel for every time someone recommended I sold advertising, I wouldn't need to solicit revenue in the first place. So the moment you've all been waiting for is finally here: Presenting the inaugural advertising scheme for Chicago Bike Racing.

I've updated the calendar with several ABR races in August and September.

Its flier isn't up yet, but ABD's Fall Fling is a fantastic way to finish your season, especially for new racers who may have gotten a late start on training and only now finding are their form. This two-weekend stage race includes a time trial, two criteriums and a road race. In the past there's been a citizens category, perfect for those with limited experience, and for others it's a good chance to experiment by racing up a category. End 2007 on a positive note that will motivate off-season training for 2008. It will be a long five months, after all, until the spring Parkside races. (OMG, can't wait!)

I'm back: sunburned, rested and rarin' to go. I need some time to catch up on my e-mail and blog intake, but soon I'll have updates to the calendar and other listings, plus the wrap-ups, previews and obsessive linking you've come to love.

Special thanks to Seth Meyer (Team Get a Grip Cycling) for minding things while I was gone.

A cycling anecdote from my trip: Yesterday I spent three hours wandering around Caracas, Venezuela, killing time before it was time to go to the airport. Gazing across the city from a small hill, I saw in the distance what had until this point been a rare sight in this car-crazy country: A road bike. Then another. Then a pack of them.

It was a race! It looked to be a criterium of some sort. I scrambled down as fast as I could while carrying all my luggage. Meanwhile, my mind raced, trying to conjure a way to enter. In my bag was a Clif Shot leftover from Superweek. Would someone lend me their bike? Who would watch my bags? Would I be OK in a T-shirt and street shoes? How do you say "One for the Cat 3 race, please" in Spanish?

Alas, my heart sank as I got closer and saw the numbers painted on the riders' arms and thighs.

It was just a silly triathlon. Pbbbt.

Superweek has been fun, but I could now use a vacation. So I'm going to take one. In a few hours I leave for Italy South America. I expect Internet access to be spotty. Thankfully, Seth Meyer (Team Get a Grip Cycles) has graciously agreed to mind things while I'm gone. He'll post occasionally and keep an eye on the comments. (Play nice!)

Thanks for making the first three months of Chicago Bike Racing so much fun. I wouldn't do it if I didn't have the pleasure of your readership and participation, and it's been great to meet so many of you at races. When I return, I'll be adding more training rides and races and finally publishing a list of local teams.

See you at Elk Grove!

All Things Considered is running a story tonight about what a great sport cycling is and how the 2007 Tour de France has been the most thrilling in years doping. Several local racers were interviewed on the lakefront path for possible use in the national broadcast. Hopefully the dumb parts will be edited out.

Things this interviewee might have said had he more time to gather his wits:

• » Surprised? Look, every trade has its cheats. Who on earth expects cycling to be any different? Accountants embezzle, salesmen lie, contractors cut corners, executives raid pensions. From a president who swindles an election to the guy who shakes the vending machine for a free Butterfinger, we're a nation of cheats. Cheats in our world don't get caught, they get promoted (or pardoned). So, no, of course I'm not surprised. Saddened, but not surprised.

• » Does it threaten "the sport"? The sport as it relates to us is doing just fine, thanks. Beginning categories are filled to capacity. Paths and training routes are crowded. Coaches and fitting services can charge an arm and a leg. The state of the sport is good and getting better.

• » Would it matter if the Tour were made easier? Not likely. Doping would still make the difference between winning and being pack fodder, and between being pack fodder and having a job at the bike shop. If the outfield walls were moved in a hundred feet, wouldn't baseball players still be looking for every available edge?

Audio is available online here.

Rats! We've been discovered by the spambots. To save you all from endless pitches for cialis and low-rate mortgages, I've set it so that comments must now be approved, at least until I figure out a more elegant solution. Sorry!

The good news is that I'm online almost all waking hours I'm not on my bike, and save for personal attacks or improper use of the apostrophe, I won't pass any editorial judgments.

A few weeks ago I heard from Larry Allingham of Chicago, who wrote to tell me that Chicago Bike Racing was helping prod him toward racing. Sure enough, today Larry sent me the report from his first race, the Great Carroll County Cycling Event. I thought I'd share it here to remind experienced riders of the thrill of one's first race, and to give new riders a taste of what they have to look forward to. Thanks, Larry!

I began my day in Dixon, Ill., boyhood home of Ronald Reagan, by shaving my legs.

Although in my second year of road riding and now a veteran of fast-paced group rides, endurance sufferfests and road rash, I hadn’t undergone this roadie branding ritual until hours before I was scheduled to enter my first race, the Carroll County Cycling Event. In an odd way, it was gratifying to have this rite of passage to mark my final psychological transformation from soft middle-aged soccer dad to lean, mean weekend warrior.

I arrived two hours early at the start in Chadwick, Ill., but the Carroll County Cycling Club was already hard at work setting things up, displaying that genius for organization that characterizes small towns. Everyone seemed to know their role, from the men trucking stuff around in their extended-cab pick-ups to the ladies of a certain age setting up the registration tables.

It wasn’t long before other riders started streaming in, bikes perched impressively on rooftops, pick-up beds, or traditional rear-end carriers. It became quickly apparent that most were racing as teams and that I was one of the very few unaffiliated and unbranded.

I picked up my packet from the pre-registration line, paid five bucks for a one-day race license, attached my timing chip to my left fork and my race bib to my left side, and began warming up by doing out-and-backs from the start-finish line. Most riders were doing some version of the same thing, although some had actually brought their trainers along and were furiously spinning away, probably in part to get a controlled, rigorous warm-up and probably in part to intimidate newbies like me. (It worked, I might add.)

As race time approached, riders starting gathering at the start line. There were designated areas for each group, beginning with Cats 1, 2, and 3, along with 30+ and 40+ Masters (having looked online at the finishing times from last year’s race, I had wisely concluded that I belonged in Cat 4 and not in the Masters!), followed by a very large group of Cat 4's (said by veterans of previous years to have mushroomed in size), 50+ Masters, women of all categories, and then, incredibly, a group containing 60+ and 70+ men and the inevitable eccentric in the fully fared recumbent.

We removed our helmets for the national anthem, sung a cappella by a local man. A few people were recognized for their organizational contributions, and then one of the race judges explained the procedure for starting. We would be going out in waves, according to our category. We were instructed on what to do should we overtake someone in the category in front of us, bringing a lot of amused comments among the Cat 4's as we fantasized chasing down Cat 1's after spotting them a 10-minute head start.

After the first wave went out, we Cat 4's made our way to the start. Finally, the gun sounded and off we went, in a Judson-size peloton, following a police escort and speaking strictly for myself, feeling like we were in the Tour.

For those who’ve never done group riding, the thought of cruising at high speeds in close proximity to dozens of other riders seems dangerous to the point of craziness. But we who have become accustomed to riding in a pack know that in fact the peloton provides comfort and security, offering shelter from the cyclist’s true enemy: wind resistance. Thus, we assume our semi-fetal crouches and literally nestle ourselves in the peloton’s protective womb. And in my view, there’s nothing quite like the whir of a hundred wheels as the pack moves along at nearly thirty miles an hour. That said, there’s always the risk of a spectacular crash and thus the wisdom of keeping body hair to a minimum.

While we were still forming our large peloton and cruising along at what we all must have thought were respectably high speeds, an event occurred which reminded us that we were mere Cat 4s and still well beneath the abilities of real racers. To our left suddenly appeared a whizzing blur of impossibly lean and tough old men – the 50+ Masters were passing us as if we were on Schwinn comfort cruisers. As they rumbled past, I could only imagine them sniffing their disdain at the pack of muffins who had the audacity to think they were racers.

I guess we were supposed to be in a “neutral zone” for the first few miles, until we reached a bike path. Neutral zone or not, it was clear that the teams were already testing tactics and measuring each other. I made it a point to stay near the front, having learned that once you fall off the lead group, you can forget about ever catching up with it again. It wasn’t always easy, because as the speed increased, the line began to stretch out in single file and those in the line were more than content to let those riding abreast of them feel the full force of the wind. Thus, I had to more or less force myself into the line on a couple of occasions.

The first part of the course was moderately hilly. For reasons that are not completely clear to me (having a engineering background and a better than rudimentary knowledge of physics), I tend to coast past larger and heavier riders on descents. As a result, I suddenly found myself in the lead, a place I really didn’t want to be. I tried to pull over and yield to someone who might be feeling more studly than I, but the team behind me would have none of it and simply followed my line. Reluctantly, I resigned myself to a long pull, settling into the drops and trying to maintain a smooth, efficient cadence at a speed of around 21-22. Fortunately, relief was soon in coming as I saw our path in the distance blocked by a long freight train. As we all pulled up at the tracks, I discreetly dropped back a bit.

The French have taught us many good things, from the pleasures of fine wine, foie gras and fishnet stockings to the thrills of competitive cycling. Another time-honored French tradition was on display while the train passed, as a number of guys ditched their steeds and hustled over to urinate in the weeds.

Once we crossed the tracks, I started paying attention to the miles. I had plotted out the course and knew that the two hills reputed to be heartbreakers would be coming up at around the 27-mile point. We finally reached the bike path, which required a sharp turn over a rather precarious patch of gravel and where I made my first tactical error in allowing myself to drop too far off the front. The path was relatively narrow and those in the front took full advantage to rocket the pace to a lung-searing 30+ mph. Needless to say, the peloton started breaking up and I found myself in a group that was two or three removed from the lead. Now the race was really on. We wound our way along the path to the sound of twigs snapping under our wheels. We crossed two wooden bridges, producing a deafening rumble in the process. Suddenly, we started a series of snaking turns, eventually finding ourselves cutting through a supermarket parking lot. One more sharp left and oh, s**t, we’re on the first big hill.

For those of us in the vertically challenged set who spent our youth whiffing feebly at farm boys’ fastballs and having our drives to the hoop rejected by guys twice our size, cycling offers an unparalleled opportunity to serve up delicious plates of cold revenge. Hills hurt, but they hurt bigger guys more. Nothing offers more sadistic pleasure to a half-pint like me than to glide past some super-fit hulk of a man bent over his frame like a circus elephant on a drum, huffing, puffing, and muttering language harsh enough to wilt roadside flowers. (I reveal this little secret knowing that my fellow RAW riders tend to be sized much more like me than like some of the sun-blotting giants in yesterday’s race.)

Anyway, the big hill was tough because it was steep, but it was mercifully short. We had a quick respite on a ridge before turning into a second hill of similar character to the first. On both, I resisted the temptation to go all out and attack, preferring instead to find a gear in my small chain ring that allowed me to maintain a smooth, even cadence while out of the saddle. (I still harbor painful memories from my 300K brevet last month when I attacked a series of tough hills into a 20 mph head wind and suddenly found myself cramping up with 30 miles left to go.) Next year, I’ll be less concerned about conserving my own energy and more concerned with putting the hurt on as many fellow riders as I can. Did I mention that cycling is a sport for sadomasochists?

Unfortunately, the combination of the pack-splitting ride on the bike path and my own tentativeness on the hills effectively ended any hope I might have had for a high placement. But as we moved into the second half of the course, I was able to regroup with some other riders and catch some of those who had jumped ahead. Again, the hills proved to be great equalizers, especially those long ones of moderate grade where you can concentrate on Greg Lemond’s advice to stroke like you’re scraping peanut butter off the bottoms of your feet and thus add a bit of sprinter’s power to your climbs. My tactic was to attack on the hills, then coast down, slow down, and allow the others to catch up and pass while I caught someone’s wheel and rested. It seemed to pay off as the miles went by and guys started progressively dropping off.

At some point along the way, we were in for another surprise as we found a section of the road torn up and nothing but dirt and gravel for about 50 yards. Everyone was forced to dismount and walk his bike through the construction zone. I can only imagine what was going through the heads of the beer-gutted construction workers as they watched a bunch of sweaty men in tight shorts tiptoe gingerly through their work zone, carrying spindly little machines that in some cases cost as much as an honest pick-up truck.

The construction zone further split the field and it was no longer possible for me to judge whether I was in the lead pack or far off the pace. As we hit the 50-mile point, the course started to flatten a bit, although there were still enough low-grade hills to keep everyone honest. I found myself in a foursome with three guys from the North Branch cycling team. I pulled for a while and was gratified when I relinquished the lead that the third man of the team signaled for me to latch onto his wheel. For the last few miles, I was a de facto member of North Branch.

As we approached the final turn to the finish, I made my break, in another of the Machiavellian characteristics of this sport: Your friend and helpmate eventually becomes your mortal enemy. Unfortunately, I moved too soon and was out of gas for the final sprint and my "teammates" passed me at the finish. As we slowed and circled back, one of the guys -- one of those strapping young twentysomethings that have the world by the tail -- came over to me, slapped my hand and gave me a fist bump. "Dude," he said, looking and sounding like Owen Wilson, "Are you on a team?" I assured him I was not. "You should be, man. You’re a strong rider. Check out our Web site and send us an e-mail."

Needless to say, that comment made my day. Oh, as for the official results? I did the 62-mile course in three hours and one minute, which I figured was pretty decent given the train delay, the hills, and the construction zone. I placed 55th overall out of a field of 98 and 27th out of 48 Cat 4s. You can be sure that next year’s Carroll County Cycling Event will be a primary motivator for my training from here on.

I've added a few races to the race calendar, including the Wheaton Criterium on June 10 and the races of Superweek.

You'll be hearing a lot about Superweek over the next two months. It's a fantastic, two-week series that draws racers from across the country. The races are very competitive with very generous primes and prize purses. Many will take time off work for the weekday races, myself included, and some strong riders will put off upgrading to have one last crack at some good money and prestige.

I'm sad that construction prevents a return to Milwaukee's lakefront courses, two of my favorites in the series, but Chicago racers can celebrate two new local criteriums, in Blue Island and Evanston. This is in addition to Bensenville and Beverly, the later of which is a twilight P/1/2-only race that is a blast to watch. I don't know much about them, but Chris Dimmick of Turin, which is helping put on the Evanston race, tells me it's "a figure-eight through downtown Evanston and will be fun!"

Not all the races will have women's fields and none will have 5-only fields, but most will have 4/5 fields and some will have masters 4/5 field.

I've also added a few group rides, including the Harper Rides and the Lake and Harlem rides in Oak Park. A few people have asked about Hyde Park or south-suburban training rides, but I don't know of any. Please e-mail me if you do.

I've been keeping the site on the down-low while I fleshed out some content and tinkered with the design. I haven't even told my girlfriend yet, lest she tell me how ridiculous I am for spending time on this when I should be cuddling, sorting laundry or working on my sprint. (This weekend I secretly wrangled stylesheets while she read in the next room. I toggled to a different window whenever she walked past. I felt like I was IM'ing with a mistress.)

Now, however, I'm ready to start spreading the word, and I've moved the blog to the top level of the domain. Please e-mail me if you find any bugs or have any suggestions. I'm particularly interested in populating the list of training rides and finding out about any local racer blogs I might not be aware of.

I've also added a photo to the logo at the top of each page. I'll give a Clif Bar to the first person who can identify the two racers, and a Clif Bar and and a Builder's Bar if they can also identify the race it was taken at.

UPDATE: Julian Baumgartner (Team Clif Bar Midwest) correctly recognizes Ed Amstutz (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) ahead of Ansgar Graw (MetCycling) in the masters field sprint at Parkside Criterium No. 2. (Your truly was at this moment head over heels on the backstretch.) Photo by Ellen Wight (XXX Racing-AthletiCo).

Welcome to Chicago Bike Racing.

The thought here is to create a resource for prospective and beginning bike racers in the Chicago area, modeled somewhat after Minnesota's Start Bike Racing. Making the leap from rider to racer can be daunting, and it's easy for a beginner to be intimidated by established racers. I want to help people find as much enjoyment and support from this sport as I have.

Eventually I want to have a complete directory of local teams, rides and races, plus a simple guidebook for new racers. That's no small task, and at the moment I happen to be busy with racing and training, so emphasis should be put on "eventually."

To keep things fresh, I'll maintain a blog with news about Chicago road races. Although I'm affiliated with XXX Racing-AthletiCo, I'll try to remain impartial as I report on races around the area.

I'm limiting the site to mass-start, sanctioned road racing, because that's what I know best. No track. No mountain biking. No alleycats. But maybe cyclocross if I need something to get me through winter.

This will be fun!

Luke Seemann
The Editor