Saturday was a good day to be a base-layer salesman, and the Craft rep who set up shop at the Spring Super Criterium in South Beloit did brisk business. As cold as it was, the weather was 85 percent less apocalyptic than forecast, and most of the day passed without a drop of precipitation. The woolly mice who stayed home missed out on some fine racing indeed.

Two teams in particular had outstanding performances. Tower Racing started the day by riding aggressively in the first of two 4/5’s races and getting Doug Braun off the front with a few other riders. Once that break was down to two, Patrick Dillon bridged a sizable gap to join him. They stayed off, with Braun outsprinting Andrew Otte (Purdue) for the win. In the field sprint, more Tower riders emerged from the pack like clowns from a clown car: 4th! 5th! 6th! 7th! 8th! 10th! Outside of a team time trial, have eight teammates ever finished in such close proximity?

XXX Racing-AthletiCo also took advantage of its numbers. Mountain-bike specialists Kyle Wiberg and Mike Seguin outkicked the field for 1st and 2nd in the 30+ 4/5. In the day’s second 4/5’s race, Dave Moyer launched a mammoth leadout out of the corner for Tom Briney, then held on for a comfortable 2nd. (See John Wilke’s photo of Briney’s barbaric victory yawp. It’s an early contender for photo of the year.)

Moyer wasn’t done: In the 3/4’s race, he and Julian Baumgartner (Burnham Racing) bridged to a break that would ultimately be reduced to them and Otte. From my perspective it looked like Baumgartner had a superior jump, but Moyer dug it out to come around just before the line. (Marek Serafin (Cracovia-Poland) won the field sprint for 4th. Surprise!)

The question now is, Who will win the World Bicycle Relief Team Challenge? Burnham Racing is no doubt at this very moment furiously crunching numbers.

And then the sleet.

Unpleasant wet stuff

— colder than rain, harder and more annoying than snow —

started to fall just as the P/1/2/3’s took to their start. Chief official Dave Fowkes heard no complaints when he knocked 20 minutes off their time. Fifty-five minutes later, anyone hardy enough to finish would find the folds of their clothing frozen hard and icicles hanging from their bikes. It was like something out of the 1988 Giro. If ever there were a race that called for hot showers, this was it, and many would take advantage of the opportunity.

As for the racing, I always like to see riders race above their category and succeed. In this race we saw it from Al Urbanski (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew), clad in zebra-stripe leggings and the Crew’s new Tron-inspired kit. He clearly was not intimidated by the 1’s and 2’s he was racing with, successfully atacking early in the race. Once he was joined by Andy Daley (Burnham Racing) and Chris Kelley (Team Get a Grip Cycles), it was lights out, especially as the cold chilled any motivation to chase. The three worked well together, staying together until the final sprint, shown above, which Daley, apparently not fatigued from a long, valiant but fruitless effort off the front of the earlier masters 1/2/3 race,  took for the win. Eventually the splintered remnants of the field trickled in and sprinted for warm clothes.

Other local wins: Leah Sanda (Flatlandia) and Jessi Prinner (ABD) both sprinted out of small groups to win the women’s 4’s and women’s open, respectively. Kaleb Koch (ISCorp)  soloed away from the juniors race, while Trevor Rolette (South Chicago Wheelmen) was tops among U15’s. And Adam Herndon (Team Beer’d) capped a successful week by winning the 5’s.

Full results.

Photos
Burnham Racing
Peloton Pix
Rachel Pomberg (With video.)

Race reports
Chicago Cuttin’ Crew (W-4, 30+ 4/5, 4/5, 3/4, P/1/2/3): “The bus was last seen heading to the aftermath of the Milwaukee Messenger Invitational.”

Elvis Falbo (Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak; 30+ 4/5): ” In a nutshell: Too much too soon!”

Tamara Fraser (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; W-open): “Time to start racing like Jens.”

Adam Herndon (Team Beer’d; 5, 4/5): “I have never sprinted that hard in any race. As I am coming to the line I know I have over taken him and I raise a fist in victory.”

Chris Kinonen (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 1/2/3): “I love the breakaway.  I think it is one of the best parts of bike racing, and it was fun while it lasted, despite my ultimate undoing.”

Bob Murray (Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak; 5): “It was a smart Idea at the time, but it didn’t work out.”

Avi Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew; 4/5, 30+ 4/5, 4/5, 3/4): “I chase them hard, everyone lets me, but they stay away.”

Pascale Petro (Project 5 Racing; W-open): “With Jessi in the break and Kenda, I knew from the start that it would stick and I felt my stomach almost turn over at the prospect.”

Ted Ramos (Get a Grip Off Road; 30+ 4/5, 4/5): “That’s it for me. You won’t see me out there on the road for the rest of the summer.”

Leah Sanda (Flatlandia; W-4, W-open): “I let her go a little then I jumped and put in a super hard 20-second effort that overtook her as she faded. Win!”

Mike Shea (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5, 3/4): “I stayed tucked in, just happy to be along for a nice and smooth ride with riders that are confident and competent using their bikes to accomplish a goal.”

Zach Thomas (Half Acre Cycling; 3/4): “I was out there by myself, hurting myself and looking brave and foolish.”

Kyle Wiberg (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5, 3/4): “Ka Bam.”

Michael Young (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5, 30+ 4/5, 5): “Three races on five hours of sleep after racing the night before proved to be a little much for my body, and I had nothing left for the sprint at the end of my last race.”

Chicago’s loss is Europe’s gain this spring. The U.S. Cycling Development Program has selected two-time national champion Devon Haskell (Team BH USA) to take part in a European tour. Her first race was Sunday’s Dolmans Classic in Holland, where she finished 37th with the main chase group. Along the way she topped many climbs steep enough to have names ending with -berg.

Haskell will be spending her weeks training in a small town near Toulouse in Southern France. On weekends she’ll race with other American women in France and Holland, continuing this weekend with the Tour of Burgundy and culminating in the Grand Prix d’Amancey on May 10.

Follow her progress at the Team BH USA blog.

Its final climb is not the Bosberg. Its bricks lack the treachery of the Arenberg’s pavé. It’s a hair shorter than Milan-San Remo.

Nonetheless, Saturday’s Hillsboro-Roubaix, the Hell of Downstate, has earned its reputation as a spring classic in these parts, and it’s not a huge surprise that so many fields sold out on the first day of registration. In one race report, Mark Swartzendruber (Verizen Wireless) described it as “86 miles of narrow back roads that would make the stoutest of Belgians feel right at home. Except for the deep piles of gravel dropped here and there the roads show no evidence of visits from a county maintenance crew in years.”

The course’s defining landmark is the circuit through town that closes each 22-mile lap. This video from 2008 includes several passes. It starts with two short climbs. There are other short climbs on the course, but I don’t recall any having as much impact as these. The first bump contains the feedzone, which should be necessary only for those doing three or more laps. If you’re taking a bottle, move to the right; otherwise, stay the heck out of the way. (Etiquette says not to attack in the feed zone, and the promoter is calling that stretch neutral.) The second climb is steeper and just a few riders wide. Cones will mark the centerline, and weaving around them will risk disqualification.

Turning left off the climb, a steep, straight descent on dodgy pavement sends you screaming into the bricks

—

uneven, jutting, deteriorating bricks. Stay loose and turn a big gear. A lot of riders position their hands near their stem to limit the vibrations.

After a few blocks of the bricks, a left turn puts you onto a slightly longer stretch of similar bricks, and finally another left turn puts you back on solid ground, about 400 meters from the start/finish.

Many of the roads are narrow. The larger races should expect congestion until the herd thins after a lap or so. Don’t even think about crossing the centerline to gain position, whether the line is painted or not. There will be moments when crossing the line is unavoidable, but to do it for tactical purposes is foolish and unsafe, and should elicit shame from the pack, if not disqualification from the officials.

There’s a fair amount of bumpy pavement and gravel. Don’t be surprised if people flat; the promoter recommends new tires. (There may be a follow vehicle with wheels, but good luck catching back on.)

There are more than 20 turns, and each one is a good opportunity to get dropped if you’re at the back and not paying attention, especially when turning into a headwind.  Wind is often a major factor, particularly as crosswinds whip across some of the unsheltered roads, and right now it’s pegged at about 13mph out of the southeast. Happily, temperature is forecast to be in 50s.

The racing starts in waves at 11, with each field getting a neutral rollout out of town. Afterward, the top three riders in each field get a trophy fashioned from a brick.

Please note: Organizers report that this beloved race is in jeopardy because neighbors have complained about our behavior, including nudity, drinking and urinating in public. To drive the point home, riders must sign this code of conduct. We ought to be good guests wherever we race, but let us be especially careful this time.

Saturday Hillsboro-Roubaix USCF road race Hillsboro, Ill. Distance from Chicago: 4 hours Previous wrap-ups: 2008

 

Construction at the paint factory will delay the start of the 2009 Matteson season, which had been scheduled to kick off Tuesday, April 7. Steve Feehery (South Chicago Wheelmen) says it should be just a week or two longer. Keep an eye on the SCW site for current information.

Registration for the 2009 Snake Alley Criterium is open. This is one of the most exciting and fun events in the country. Imagine the thrills, intensity and novelty of Hillsboro-Roubaix compressed into 1 mile and 30 minutes. Plus, more cowbell.

As far as I know, registration is mail-in only.

Here’s coverage of 2008’s edition. More than any other race, success at Snake Alley hinges on start position, which here is determined in a civilized manner via registration order rather than the traditional guile and pushiness. This is the race before the race, and if your entry form isn’t in the mail by the end of today, you put your start in peril.

 

Yes, it was cold. Yes, it got wet. But there was racing, and it was good. Full wrap-up to come.

Preliminary results here. Burnham Racing and the officials are in the crime lab with the video

— “Freeze! Enlarge!” —

to flesh out the remaining placements.

Any account of the best performances at this week’s Kevin’s Criterium Series in Calumet Park must begin with the host team, Half Acre Cycling. In a matter of weeks they threw this together, managing to conquer Chicago bureaucracy and fully staff a week’s worth of races with officials and volunteers. They even had enough clout to turn on some street lights that reportedly hadn’t cast a lumen in years. On top of all that, they kept it fun: On the night I went there was raucous cheering, post-race cake and, continuing a hallowed Belgian race tradition, robot costumes.

Best of all, I heard a lot of sentences start with, “When we do this next year ...”

Other outstanding work:

• » Track star Ernie Ciccolini (Van Wagner/Yojimbo’s) dipped his toes into the road and pulled off three of the five wins.
• » Jeanette Rho (Bouledogue tout noir) raced only three times but won twice and placed 2nd once.
• » Adam Herndon (Team Beer’d) hit the top 5 on four of the five nights, including two 2nd places.
• » Team Tati took Friday off but otherwise placed two riders in the top 10 each night.
• » Molly Godlewski (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew) won the women’s race Thursday, and her male teammates cracked the top 10 numerous times over the week.

Full results.

Photos
Amy Dykema
gospastic
Ed White

Tuesday race reports
Joe Kallo (UCVC; 4/5): “When you go off the front of your group and nobody follows, they don’t think you’re gonna make it.”

Martin Michalowicz (Team MS Racing; 4/5): “At one point, while trying to position myself away from the wind, I cut another rider off and felt really bad about it. Hope my hand wave was suffient of an apology.”

Avi Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew; 4/5): “The sweetest words I’ve ever heard: ‘They made the break.’ I sit up and coast in the field.”

Vanessa Schilling (Spidermonkey Cycling; W-4): “Every time, one of the girls got pissed and tried to ride away from us. The rest of us would feel bad and ultimately chase after her to calm her down.”

Joe Schubert (Half Acre Cycling; 4/5): “From the get go the wind just starts shredding everyone to pieces.”

Team Tati (W-4, 4/5): “With 30 meters to go, they were neck and neck, but Sophia Lee had the momentum, slingshotting just right and taking the win by a couple of bike lengths.”

Wednesday race reports
Joe Kallo (UCVC; 4/5): “Field sprints are nuts.”

Martin Michalowicz (Team MS Racing; 4/5): “Not knowing really how I was to react to this, I just followed him. Probably a bastard move but hey I’ll chalk it up to ignorance.”

Dave Moyer (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): “I decided to sit in the pack and talk to the guys I thought would be good break-mates to try and orchestrate something.”

Mike Shea (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): “As we closed in on the final corner I was in perfect position just on the inside of Ernie Ciccolini, and we surged.”

Team Tati (W-4, 4/5): “Bouledogues Val Brostrom and Josh Ryan were needling me about how they’d prepped Jannette Rho for today’s one-two TATI punch and how no matter what type of silly tactics I’d in store, their girl was ready for it. So it was ON.”

Thursday race reports
Chicago Cuttin’ Crew (W-4, 4/5): “No finish line camera, no primes, few prizes, just racing, and that’s a hell of a way to break in the season.”

Joe Kallo (UCVC; 4/5): “Mental note: When you’re getting your push-start back post free lap, you probably don’t want to be in the same gearing you were at when you flatted.”

Martin Michalowicz (Team MS Racing; 4/5): “With 8 laps to go, got a nasty right calf cramp. Lucky, everyone was slowing down for a couple laps to recover for the final sprint.”

Avi Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew; 4/5): “If only I could race three nights a week all the time, I might get somewhere. Possibly keeled over.”

Dan Pollard (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): “As soon as we started the bell lap the pace picked up and the pack started to get strung out heading into the second-to-last corner.”

Joe Schubert (Half Acre Cycling; 4/5): “I figured I didn’t want to pull theses bastards and with absolutely no surprise to anyone I just launched off the front.”

Bill Seliger (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): “The group did eventually ramp up to speed, likely from the multiple attacks that Matt and Sean were laying on at the front of the pack.”

Friday race reports
Dave Bowers (Half Acre Cycling; 4/5): “I settled into the groove, and my mind went blank.”

Joe Kallo (UCVC; 4/5): “The field strung out and then splintered into several lead dudes who were causing the harm, two chase groups and people shelled off the back.”

Martin Michalowicz (Team MS Racing; 4/5): “Hell of a week. I met and surpassed my goal.”

Ted Ramos (Get a Grip Off Road; 4/5): “Damn, I got suckered again. These roadies are a crafty bunch.”

Because of a weather forecast that includes prodigious amounts of suck, organizers have canceled Sunday’s final entry in the Kenosha Velosport Criterium Series. Enjoy your time on the trainer.

Half Acre Cycling is celebrating a successful week of racing in Calumet Park — truly, by all accounts it’s been blockbuster — by offering free racing for women on Friday. Licensing requirements still apply, but chances like this don’t come very often. Hope to see you there.

It’s back to Blackhawk Farms this weekend as we return to the Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit for the Spring Super Criterium. This was a popular course when Burnham Racing introduced it last year, and it’s a good, non-technical opportunity to work out the early-season kinks.

Here’s some video of the course. Last year a crisp south wind influenced sprints and break attempts. (Tip: Attack into the wind where it’s hard, not with it where it’s easy.) Weather may be decisive again, with a cold and possibly wet day forecast, and this time the wind will be from the opposite direction. Dress appropriately!

Consult the technical guide for more information. And Cat 5’s shouldn’t forget the race-safety and skills clinic at 7:30 a.m. I’ll be helping Randy Warren (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) with this, and we promise to get you to your 8:15 start in time.

Also this weekend: The Kenosha Velosport Criterium Series wraps up on Sunday, and Michigan offers its own gravelly road race in the form of Barry-Roubaix.

Saturday Spring Super Criterium USCF criterium South Beloit, Ill. Distance from Chicago: 2 hours Previous wrap-ups: 2008

Barry-Roubaix USCF road race Middleville, Mich. Distance from Chicago: 3 hours

Sunday Kenosha Velosport Criterium Series ABR criterium Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Distance from Chicago: 1.5 hours

 

Andy Daley (Burnham Racing) appears to have been Chicago’s hero at the Kenosha crits on Sunday. (I should have predicted as much given the hurt he put on me and others during a training ride on Saturday.) His first feat was getting in a break of four in the 30+ race. Sensing the pack closing in, he attacked the break and soloed to victory, barely holding off ace sprinters like teammate Matt Smith and Ansgar Graw (PACT-Dish Network), who finished 2nd and 3rd. Later in the afternoon he again got in a break, this time lapping the field in the 1/2’s with two of Wisconsin’s better riders, and finished 2nd overall. (The field sprint is shown above.)

Chris Kelley (Team Get a Grip Cycles) also doubled up nicely, riding aggressively and winning the 3’s out of a break, and then getting 4th in the 1/2’s by staying away in a three-man chase group. Meanwhile in the 3’s, Marek Serafin (Cracovia-Poland) won yet another field sprint. Although it was only for 7th, it was more evidence that he’s back and on form.

Verdigris also represented Chicago well in the combined 40+ and 50+ race, with Christian Zauner getting 2nd in a break for 2nd in the 40+, and Wayne Simon winning the field sprint for 4th and 2nd 50+.

Other local results include Michael Vail winning the 4’s, with James Londono (Unattached) the top Cat 5 in that race.

Full results.

Race reports
Ed Hernandez (North Branch; 3): “Get a Grip just schooled the field on how to control the race.”

Kristen Meshberg (Team BH USA; 3): “I didn’t really care about final placing but I was hoping to ride near the front and possibly get in a break. The race was dominated by Get a Grip.”

• » The O’Fallon Grand Prix faced some local opposition, but the road race has been approved for May 30, and registration is open. (The 5’s are already a quarter full.)
• » Ted Burger (Flatlandia) took some video of road in Belgium used for one of the most grueling and prestigious classics the stretch of gravel to be used in April’s Leland Kermesse.
• » Natasha Richardson‘s passing reminds that the brain is a fragile, fragile thing. It doesn’t take much trauma to loose it from its moorings. Please, friends: Remember your helmets, whether you’re making a run for milk or hammering up Sheridan Road. You’ll be forgiven for not looking Euro.
• » Following up on last week’s bird’s eye view of the Tour of Elk Grove, Bike Radar has collected cycling images culled from Google Street View.
• » The following links were written while I was on vacation two weeks ago, but it appears I neglected to make them live. Apologies for the delay!
• » The Illinois Cycling Association is asking teams to formally apply for membership. There has been discussion of fees or other requirements, but for 2009 membership is free.
• » Scarletfire Racing, which formerly raced under the banner of Delta Faucet and Lucas Oil, is now doing business as Verizon Wireless.
• » Yes, there will be a 2009 Chicago Time Trial Series.
• » TheCycleStudio is having another indoor CycleOps race March 28.

Half Acre Cycling’s Kevin’s Crit Series got to a safe and successful start Monday night. Six women and 46 men raced, including seven walk-ups. I suspect Monday benefited from an opening-night boost, so moving forward there should be ample room for anyone who didn’t pre-register.

It was a good night for new squads: Jannette Rho (Bouledogue tout noir) won the women’s race, and Adam Herndon (Team Beer’d) placed 3rd in the men’s. Track specialists had their way in the sprint, however, with Ernie Ciccolini (Van Wagner/Yojimbo’s) coming around Jeff Perkins (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew) for the win. Team Tati enjoyed a home-field advantage and wound up with Adam Kaye, Francisco Torralba and Jesse Williams and Liam Bradshaw in 4th, 5th and 6th.

A last-minute change sent the race to the shorter southern loop of Calumet Park, and that’s where the race will continue this week. Half Acre says you should enter at 95th and Ewing and park along Grilly Avenue.

Weather is look dodgy this afternoon, but Half Acre says it will attempt to race rain or shine. Should that change, expect a post here as soon as a call is made.

Full results.

Race reports
Bouledogue tout noir (W-4): “As Janette dragged the lead group of three around the course, concern grew that she might be burning the candle wax at every end. But those thoughts were incorrect.”

Avi Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew; 4/5): “Nnot a bad plan, considering we had no plan: Jeff was rested and ready for the sprint, and he lit it up.”

Keil Seiz (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): “The race started fast, and I had to go full steam from the whistle to keep up with what I knew was going to be a pretty quick split in the field.”

Stan Sterlinski (Half Acre Cycling; 4/5): “It was an intense, fast race, but there was some banter going on about being just a training ride at one point.”

Team Tati (W-4, 4/5): “Two hard laps dropped a few more riders, winnowing the field now to fewer than 20.”

The popular Judson training ride, which has been convening at Plaza del Lago for the past year, will return to its original starting point of Greenleaf and Judson in Evanston. Saturday and Sunday rides roll at 7:30 a.m.

I regret that work will keep me from the Kenosha Velosport Criterium Series this year. Traditionally it’s always a pleasant reunion and a good way to kick off the season.

Part of that tradition of late has been a strong showing from WDT-Allvoi and Sunday’s opener was no exception. Rookie Monika Peszek won the women’s 4/5, Alex Bolivar won the men’s 4/5 and in the 30+ Tomasz Boba, shown above, outkicked formidable sprinters Andy Crater (Team Wheel & Sprocket) and Tim Henry (Project 5 Racing) to win out of an 11-man break.

I understand WDT-Allvoi was also instrumental in chasing down a dangerous late break in the 3’s, but this was won by Marek Serafin (Cracovia-Poland) and WDT-Allvoi had to settle for 2nd and 3rd from Ricardo Otero and Chicago Cycling Forums proprietor Waylon Janowiak. I’m happy to see Serafin return to racing: He’s been sidelined with a back injury since July 2007. Until then he’d been an unbeatable sprinter, and although I’m sure it will come at my expense any time I race against him, it’s great to see him pick up exactly where he left off.

Other notable Chicago results include Dan Robertson (Team Mack) getting 3rd in the 1/2’s and Dan Verner in the 40+ earning his first outdoor win under the colors of PACT-Dish Network.

I’ve come across no complaints about the new course, and if it stays dry the weather should again be very raceable. The series continues Sunday and the 29th.

Full results.

Race reports
Craig Erbach (Project 5 Racing; 3, 1/2): “The attacks kept coming. That’s one thing about the 1/2’s: The accelerations are nuts.”

Kevin Krakovsky (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 3, 30+): “The goal is to boost fitness as much as possible.  Results?  Not important.”

Photos
WDT-Allvoi
John Wilke

• » The Great Dane Velo Club of Madison has named its spring races after Greg Bednorski, a Cat 1 member who was killed in a cycling accident in September.
• » June’s Midwest Cycling Series has a new sponsor, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and with it a new name: Tour of America’s Dairyland.
• » The Illinois Cycling Association has more information about its team membership drive.
• » Speaking of the ICA, Steve Hansen (North Branch) made a fun discovery when zooming in on Elk Grove Village in Google Maps. Anyone have an idea which field it is?
• » Women, you have until Saturday to register for the Half Acre Kevin’s Crit Series and get $35 back in Tati Cycles credit.
• » Burnham Racing has secured discounted rooms close to its Spring Super Criterium. This could be handy for anyone going to the 7:30 a.m. beginners clinic, highly recommended for new racers.
• » Now that we’re racing again, don’t forget to offer or seek carpooling via the Ride Board. Let’s get through this recession together!
• » “Tears of joy is permitted only if from Italian descent.”

Flatlandia has added a much-needed road race to our calendar in the form of the Leland Kermesse, to be held under ABR sanction April 25 in Leland, a mere 70 miles from the city.

By labeling its event a “kermesse,” Flatlandia aspires to a Belgian-style of racing. The mostly flat 10-mile course will have one stretch of packed gravel and, if the weather cooperates, wicked crosswinds.

There will be prize money, although figures have yet to be determined.

Note that American Bike Racing now has a Cat 5 to parallel USA Cycling’s categorization. This replaces what was formerly known as citizens. According to the 2009 ABR rule book, 16 mass-start races are required to upgrade to 4, although ABR will honor the categories awarded by other sanctioning bodies, including USAC. (For related reading, see this valuable category discussion from Mike Ebert (ABD).)

Breakaway Event Productions on Wednesday released more of its 2009 Superweek schedule. Once again seven races take place in the Chicago. Only two three road races are on the schedule, including the crit-like Whitnall Park. However, one TBA remains and Andy Garrison tells me he’s still working on a return to the popular Milwaukee lakefront course.

Friday, July 10: Beverly Hills Cycling Classic (Chicago)
Saturday, July 11: Blue Island Pro/Am
Sunday, July 12: Elgin Cycling Classic
Monday, July 13: Richton Park Criterium
Tuesday, July 14: Arlington Heights Criterium
Wednesday, July 15: Bensenville Criterium
Thursday, July 16: Shorewood (Wis.) Criterium
Friday, July 17: Tour of Holy Hill (Hartford, Wis.)
Saturday, July 18: Schlitz Park Cycling Classic (Milwaukee)
Sunday, July 19: Evanston Grand Prix
Monday, July 20: Whitnall Park Road Race
Tuesday, July 21: Cedarburg (Wis.) Cycling Classic
Wednesday, July 22: TBA (Milwaukee)
Thursday, July 23: Racine (Wis.) Criterium
Friday, July 24: Folks and Spokes Criterium (Kenosha, Wis.)
Saturday, July 25 Downer Avenue Criterium (Milwaukee)
Sunday, July 26 Whitefish Bay (Wis.) Classic

Kenosha Velosport has released the flier for its Kenosha criterium series, which starts Sunday. (The forecast is looking chilly, but definitely raceable.)

Burnham Racing is considering adding a Cat 4/5 or 5 race to its Spring Super Criterium to meet demand. The catch: It would be at 8 a.m. If you weren’t able to register in time, would you be willing to race at 8? Update: A second 4/5 field has indeed been added, and the schedule of other races has been adjusted.

Half Acre has lengthened its men’s races to 45 minutes. Note that pre-registration is almost 75% full, although day-off entries will be accepted in the event of no-shows. (Reminder to women: Don’t forget the screaming offer from Tati Cycles for registering for the entire week.)

Update: Monsters of the Midway has joined the Bikereg club, and registration for the May 16 criterium on the campus of University of Chicago is now open.

(Posting and other updates will be light this week, by the way, while I enjoy my team’s training camp in California.)

• » Kenosha Velosport has secured a location for its spring criterium series: the Lakeview Corporate Park in Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Racing takes place March 15, 22 and 29. Keep an eye here and on the ABR calendar for a flier. (OMG, 10 days until racing!)
• » Women have one less excuse not to race Half Acre’s crit series at the end of the month: Hyde Park’s Tati Cycles is offering a $35 gift certificate to any woman who registers for the entire series. Everyone is a guaranteed winner!
• » Men hoping to do the series should monitor the pre-registration numbers. The 4/5 field, capped at 50, is already a third full. (Confidential to HAC: Assuming there will be a fair amount of no-shows, will there be a waiting list for single-day entrants?)
• » Bikereg has recovered from its meltdown and says it’s taken measures to prevent it from happening again. If you had registered for Hillsboro-Roubaix or the Spring Super Criterium, make sure you’re still on the confirmed-rider lists, and also check your profile for accurate information.
• » When the Tuesday night practice criteriums resume in Matteson on April 7, they will qualify for upgrades from Cat 5 to 4. Racers must ride all three of a night’s events to receive credit for one race, but they are allowed to be dropped and lapped.
• » A Milwaukee cyclist is using cameras to capture unsafe motorists. (Via Lawyer Jim.)
• » Photographer Chris Dilts has published a beautiful set of portraits from last summer’s North America Cycle Courier Championships, held in Chicago.

In an effort to fast-track some upgrades into the 4’s, Half Acre Cycling has stepped up and organized a five-day series of sanctioned racing in Calumet Park: Kevin’s Crit Series (named for Kevin Clark (Half Acre Cycling), who’s especially hot to trot out of the 5’s). It’s a great idea and should be a fantastic opportunity to shake out the winter cobwebs.

Categories for the March 23-27 races are women’s 4, juniors and men’s 4/5. The series is ridiculously affordable, $35-$50 for the entire week, or $15-$20 per day. Register for the entire week at Bikereg. Where else can one race five times for less than $50 in fees?

Driving time will be 30-45 minutes from downtown, depending on traffic. Some of you may even be able to ride there!

By taking advantage of the entire series, a Cat 5 could earn half his requirements to upgrade, and 4’s should be able to pick up some upgrade points, too, depending on finish and field size. (Consult these tables to review the USAC requirements.)

It will be no-frills racing. Think Matteson, without the glamour of a paint factory. Focus on the fundamentals and having fun. And you can count on Half Acre Cycling to bring the fun. Its cross race was the only one to serve proper waffles, after all.

Half Acre is a small team and fully staffing five days of racing is going to be a challenge. Lower- and higher-category racers alike should consider giving back to the sport by lending a hand.

The series is followed by the Spring Super Crit in South Beloit. I recommend doing both. (Indeed, if a 30-minute race has you too knackered to race the next day, perhaps you ought not be in such a rush to upgrade.) There will also an ABR crit in Kenosha, Wis., that Saturday Sunday. Seven consecutive days of racing

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hooray for spring!