I learned to today that on Nov. 15 the Lake County state’s attorney charged Thomas Lynch with four felonies in connection with September’s alleged attack on the St. Mary’s Road paceline.

He appeared in court Monday and was released on a recognizance bond.

The charges are: causing leaving an accident involving injuries, reckless driving and two counts of aggravated battery.

His next court appearance will be a “status date” hearing on Dec. 11. This a procedural hearing, and victims and supporters are not expected to attend.

As one of the 17 victims, I am thrilled with this development. Special thanks go to the state’s attorney’s office for recognizing the seriousness of the incident, as well as to all concerned cyclists who wrote letters and e-mail on our behalf.

I’ll also reiterate my hope that this case highlights the need for all of us, cyclists and drivers alike, to share the road safely and courteously.

• » The caption for Chicago Tribune Magazine’s feature photo this week profiles Mike Jones (Met Cycling). The accompanying photo did not make it online, but it’s just as well: Instead of a 48-year-old gastroenterologist, it’s actually a photo of 15-year-old John Tomlinson (XXX Racing-AthletiCo).
• » Astana will be riding components from Chicago-based SRAM next year. Smithers points out that nobody has won the Tour de France on non-Campy, non-Shimano components since Greg LeMond won on Mavic in 1989.
• » Make Christmas shopping easy this year. The CBR calendar is appropriate for all your loved ones.

Steve Goar of Benga Sports is an Indiana race promoter who tried to get a race series off the ground last year but for various reasons aborted the effort. Now he’s back with a new Web site and an ambitious 2008 schedule, including another stab at the Anderson Mayors Cup, one of few series within a reasonable drive of Chicago. Also noteworthy is that first-time racers will race for free.

There appear to be lingering bad feelings between Goar and Indiana Race Series promoter Dan Daly. (God forbid this USAC/ABR schism should creep over the border into Illinois.) I don’t pretend to know all the details, and I don’t pretend to care. I just want to know when all the races will be, thank you very much.

I hope, however, that the two work out their differences and fashion complementary calendars. I’ve never had anything but a pleasant experience at a Daly race, and I have fond memories of the Mayors Cup that the two of them put on in 2006.

Scott Van Maldegiam (Spin Doctor Cyclewerks) and I have have been trading race analyses ever since were citizens together at the 2005 Fall Fling. The 39-year-old mortgage broker has been a friendly face at races ever since and a regular contributor to the comments here. This week I checked in to find out more about him and his team.

Read more ...

In the winter months it’s more important than ever to have a quality light system for when we train at night, and in this month’s Bike Traffic, Jim Freeman provides one more reason to light up: If it doesn’t save you from a crash, it can at least save you from becoming culpable. “If the cyclist does not have proper lighting they risk being blamed for the crash because of the cyclist’s lack of visibility.” Freeman reminds us that Illinois law requires all cyclists to have a light in front and either a reflector or light in back.

North Branch Cycling is hosting an open house for prospective riders next Thursday, Dec. 6, in Lake Zurich.

• » Rick Kogan of the Tribune and Turin’s Chris Mailing discuss the looming bike winter.
• » Kristin Meshberg (Flatlandia) is one of many racers who will be spending the winter leading training programs at area gyms. Her “Pedaling with a Purpose,” designed for riders of all levels, will take place at the Oak Brook Racquet and Fitness Club and at Tsubo in Chicago.
• » Former Chicago racer Tim Hayes (Grumpy’s) is doing interesting things with Bike Throw up in Minneapolis. It’s sort of like CBR, except with people you’ve never heard of. (Except Evanson Grand Prix winner Adam Bergman (Colavita), who makes a cameo in this week’s podcast.)
• » Jared Bunde (G.S. Mengoni) lost his masters track national title this week for having tested postive for clomiphene, a fertility drug, at Superweek. Bunde is not listed in the results for July 28’s Great Downer Avenue Bike Race, the day of the test, but earlier he finished 5th in the P/1/2 at the Village of Howard Cycling Classic. UPDATE: Hayes points out in the comments that Bunde’s disqualification gives 2nd place in the points race masters national championship to Jason Garner (Garner Cyclery) and 3rd place to Chris Mosk (2CC).
• » If you missed last week’s opening, there’s still plenty of time to visit the Pieter Ombregt exhibit at City Gallery, 806 N. Michigan Ave. I can think of no better sanctuary from the din of holiday shopping.

It somehow slipped past my radar, but tomorrow night is the Wisconsin & Illinois Bicycle Racing Association Banquet in Mt. Prospect. Awards include for Rider of the Year, the Tour of Illinois & Wisconsin and the Mid America Time Trial Series. Dinner is included with the $22 admission.

Memo to top secret new teams yet to reveal themselves:

Hurry up and make your big debuts, will you? In a few weeks I’m going to get tired of checking your URLs every day.

OK thanks!

• » I look forward to seeing all of you at tomorrow night’s Pieter Ombregt reception.
• » Four deserving cyclists are among Chicago Athlete’s candidates for Athlete of the Year: Ed Amstutz (XXX Racing-AthletiCo), Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire), Susan Peithman (ABD) and David Sachs (Vision Quest). E-mail your votes with “VOTE” in the subject line.
• » Harper Ride bandit cross gets busted. Sort of.
• » Find out who does and who does not have a sense of humor by wearing an Unattached Rider kit on your next group ride. Carlos is preparing a second batch of these sexy, exclusive outfits. Your deadline is Nov. 25, and this will be your last chance to order until summer. (Note: Champion runs small. If in doubt, order the larger size.)
• » Speaking of jerseys, I learned this week that after five years in Seattle, the Retro Image Apparel Co. moved to Chicago this summer.
• » Tri 1, Fixed 0. (Thanks, Cam!)

Chicago Special Events Management issued a press release this morning naming Mike Friedman (Slipstream) the new winner of the 2007 Tour of Elk Grove, following last week’s disclosure that Nathan O’Neill had tested positive for phentermine. From the release: “‘We’re obviously disappointed but we will continue to be aggressive about testing and holding our riders to the highest possible standards,’ said Elk Grove Mayor Craig Johnson, who also serves as Director of Tour of Elk Grove. As a result, O’Neill has returned his $33,500 prize money (which will be redistributed to other 2007 top winners). He will also be banned for life from racing in the event.” This is quick action, and I’m surprised that it was taken before O’Neill had appeared before his Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, which on Nov. 8 CyclingNews reported would be happening “in the coming weeks.” On a happier note, the CSEM release gives the first official mention of a date for the 2008 Tour of Elk Grove. It will run Aug. 1-3, one day longer than previously, presumably to accommodate the new road race that was announced at this year’s event.

In my last interview I told you about Athletes by Design, one of Chicago’s oldest and biggest teams. Now it’s time to learn about one of the area’s newest teams, Team Pegasus, which is wrapping up its first season. (Profiling teams seems to be a good way to get us through the dark period. If you’d like your team to be next, drop me a line.)

Pegasus made only occasional road appearances this year, but it has performed admirably on the dirt. In the Wisconsin Cycling Association Cyclocross Cup, Cale Wenthur leads the Cat 4 men and Katy   Steudel is 2nd among Cat 4 women. And although he now rides for Killjoy, Ben Popper earlier rode the pink and black to some fantastic results in both mountain bike and cyclocross. 

To find out more I caught up with Ben Van Couvering, 25, a Chicago software consultant.

Read more ...

USA Cycling announced the 2008 National Racing Calendar today. Notable departures include the Tour of Elk Grove, Downers Grove and Superweek. The inaugural Chicago Criterium failed to make the cut, too, a disappointment but not surprising given that it’s an unknown quantity and falls on the last day of the Tour de ‘Toona.

The closest NRC racing to Chicago will be the Nature Valley Grand Prix in Minnesota, the Priority Health Grand Cycling Classic in Grand Rapids, Mich., and, for the women, the Tour de Leelanau in Traverse City, Mich.

According to the announcement, Downers Grove was dropped “primarily because of the advantage given to clubs and teams with a greater number of American riders on their rosters.” I’m not enough of an NRC wonk to understand what that means or predict the implications. Is this just meant to discourage another Canadian or Australian from winning? Is it that embarrassing for the Stars and Stripes to go to second place?

• » The photography of Pieter Ombregt will be displayed at the City Gallery of Photography, 806 N. Michigan Avenue, starting next Thursday, Nov. 15. A reception from 5-7 p.m. opens the exhibit. (Ombregt is the XXX Racing-AthletiCo cyclist who died racing in Matteson this summer.)
• » Remember Susan Peithman (ABD)? She left us this summer for rainier pastures, but this she week made a prominent appearance in the New York Times: “In Portland, Cultivating a Culture of Two Wheels.”
• » I’m aware of at three new amateur teams for 2008, plus one title sponsor change. Most are still under wraps, but one, Spider Monkey Cycling, has rolled out its Web site.
• » What we’re up against: “Bicyclists should just ride on the sidewalks.” (The author is apparently a high school student, which invites a rhetorical question: Who’s the greater menace to public safety? Cyclists gliding through stop signs, or teen drivers?)

Photo by Luke Seemann

It looks like we have our own private Landis.

Health Net has terminated the contract of Nathan O’Neill, winner of this year’s Tour of Elk Grove overall, for having tested positive for appetite suppressant phentermine at the event. According to the team’s press release, O’Neill had a prescription for the drug, but its presence is banned during competition.

If you’re looking for Health Net’s bio page for the eight-time Australian time trial champion, it’s not there, and his Web site has no comment yet.

Mike Friedman (Slipstream) finished 3 seconds behind O’Neill in both the overall and the opening time trial that decided the weekend. No details yet on whether this makes him the new champion

or the new owner of the $26,000 novelty check.

UPDATE: This from Andy Lee of USA Cycling: “It will most likely be a while before USADA adjudicates O’Neill’s case. Once USADA determines the penalty, if any, USA Cycling will adjust the results of the event accordingly.”

UPDATE: CyclingNews has a brief on a statement from O’Neill. In the statement, posted on his Web site, he concedes to having taken phentermine out of competition. Although he denies any stimulant effect, he apologizes for the “misjudgment.” He now goes before the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

Photo by Ellen Wight

My Unattached Rider jersey, the finest use of Helvetica since Crate and Barrel, arrived this week and I couldn’t be happier. Carlos did a great job. My only disappointment is that there aren’t more people on the lakefront path to admire it.

UPDATE: The Unattached Rider kit made its competitive debut Saturday when Ryan Gingerich (Unattached) wore it at Campton Cross, where he finished an impressive 8th in the 4A’s (above).