Tim Henry (Project 5) sends along this tip: When pinning your own number, start by pinning the center. "This helps because it allows me to lock the number into a desired spot and makes pinning the corners a afterthought. Pinning the center also aids in preventing my number from billowing in the wind when I am tucked low."

This relates to the age-old cycling schism of number crumplers vs. non-crumplers. Some people think that wadding a number into a ball before pinning will make them more aerodynamic. These are the same people who will fling empty bottles at hapless spectators because they think 100 grams will make a difference in their sprint. I, however, side with the Wisconsin Cycling Association, which discourages crumpling because it makes numbers harder to read. No use winning the race if you're going to be illegible to the race cameras.

(WCA cites an anti-crumple provision in the 2004 USCF rulebook, but I cannot find any such reference in the current edition.) Besides, crumpling is against the rules: "Numbers may not be folded, trimmed, crumpled or otherwise defaced." (Thanks, Matt, for pointing us to the correct rule book.)

Photo by Luke Seemann

This is why you hold your line after you finish your races.

The rider on the ground is Kevin Krakovsky (XXX Racing-AthletiCo). He has a broken collarbone because somebody finishing this week's MGA Proving Grounds Road Race couldn't be bothered to look before making a U-turn. He clipped Krakovsky's bike and took him down at 25 mph.

Krakovsky's season is done, and he now has untold doctor visits (and bills) to look forward to.

We've all been there. You've just completed a race, you're physically drained and you left your brain somewhere around the 150-meter mark. All you can think about is getting to your car for some water and a protein bar.

From now on, think about this instead: "Ride straight. Ride straight. Ride straight." Then, once you've cooled down, look behind you and turn around.

Can you grab and replace your water bottle without looking down and taking your eyes off the road?

Practice until you can.

In my first visit to Matteson lo those many years ago, I had a devil of a time insinuating myself into the pack. So not wanting to be stuck at the back, I would race to the front, quickly tire myself and then sit up. This very nearly caused a crash every time because the rider behind me wasn't expecting me to slow down, and a teammate rightly scolded me: "Don't do that!"

But that's why you do Matteson, to learn things like that.

What I learned is that you shouldn't just sit up, and you should always signal when you're about to pull out of a line. The best way to do this is a simple wag of the elbow. Use the elbow of the side on which you want people to pass you. If you want to pull over to the left and have the pack pass on your right, wag your right elbow. If you want to pull to the right, wag the left elbow.

This goes for races as well as group rides. Whether your paceline is a Sunday training ride or a winning breakaway, good communication will keep things smooth and efficient. And just as important, it will keep people from yelling at you.

Chicago racers will often have to drive an hour or more to races, but you don't want to spend all morning sitting in your chamois. You also don't want to have to waste time before your race hunting for a place to change, and it's bad form to do the boxers-into-bib hokey-pokey behind a car door. It scares the children.

So bring a beach towel to your races. I don't know why, but it took me forever to notice that everyone else seemed to have one and that it made changing quick, convenient and discreet.

Plus, having a towel is helpful when you have excess chamois creme on your hands and no teammates nearby to wipe them on.