Spring Prairie Report

6/8/2008 By Al (photo by Chris Dilts)

My attack was kinda accidental. I was trying to set up Adam just after I fought my way to the front by stringing out the pack going into the climb and making it harder for people further back to catch him. We were trading pulls at the front in the 4th stretch before the big climb. I noticed a lot of the Cuttin' Crew had moved up to the front now. XXX was either anticipating our attack or planning one of their own because they started swarming too. I started the climb maybe 2nd or 3rd wheel on the right side. XXX kept streaming up to my left and were effectively boxing Adam and I in, intentionally or not. I got pissed. I don't just let people box me in. I shouldered my way out to the left, finally got some open road, and my frustration powered me up that hill. I was still expecting Adam to attack, but when I got to the top, I had a pretty good gap. I rode tempo to see what was going to happen. Peter Strittmeyer of XXX chased me down along with a Wheaton rider. I realized between us and XXX, we would combine for some pretty serious blocking. A Tower Racing guy caught up pretty quick too and yelled "Let's go!" So I did.

I still wasn't intending to really break away so much as give Adam something to counterattack. I wasn't going to win this race. I got dropped climbing Holy Hill and in Baraboo last year. There was no way I could hold it over all the climbs. Adam is the climber. He's from Wisconsin. This is his race. But our gap increased, and I went with it. Next lap, I pushed it kind of hard on the hill because this was where the aerodynamics of riding in a big pack wouldn't matter, and we needed to put time in on the big group. But the other guys in the break faded in the climb. I realized that my hard work on my mashing a big gear and my short intervals had paid off. My plan changed to working to maintain the break, chasing down anyone who attacked, and winning the final climb. But what if that was what they wanted me to think? What if someone was hiding their talent? Sitting in just to fly by me at the end? Well, I wouldn't be able to attack on the flats anyways since my new front shifter cable had stretched enough to not shift any more. I had no big ring, just a 39. The climb was all I had.

The die was cast. The attack never came. We just rotated pretty evenly after I caught my breath. I put everything I had into that hill. I looked back near the top and had a nice gap. I still wasn't sure. I wheezed up to the line and kept my head down, sure I would get caught at the line if I sat up and celebrated. I didn't want to be that guy. But I still had enough left to carry me over the line with a nice gap.

That there Memorial weekend

MOLLY!! MOLLY!! MOLLY DAMMIT!!! WE HAVE YOUR PHOTO!!!Our lovely li'l Lady of the Cuttin' Crew nabbed 4th place at the rather renowned "Cage Match" Quad City Crit held on Memorial Day!

Thanks to our xXx friend Brian Morrissey and our teammate Ben for the photos.

This is Snake Alley...

This is Adam eating up Snake Alley...

Adam is made of helium. Dude dropped his chain and still flew around the snake to claim 6th in the 4's. THEN he came back for 7th in the Melon City Crit! (Snake photo by Brian, Adam shot by Ben)

Max had a great weekend of performances claiming 6th in the Snake's 5's and then 4th in the Melon City Crit the next day. (photo by Brian)

Dr. Morell fared well in the Snake, nabbing a top ten slot in the 5's and bouncing back for a 5th place finish at Melon City Crit. (photo by Brian)

Chicago Bike Racing's cover boy, Mr. Fietz found himself a finish in the Snake and came back for the 8th best performance at Melon City's Criterium. (photo by Brian)

Jeff got dressed up. Then he got drunk. (both pics by Ben)

Stan was heard but never seen. Sorry Stan. The man came back from a wreck at the start of the Snake and flew in a rage up to about 15th place. That was kinda awesome.

No Babies Yay!

By Jeff 5/03/2008

It took a considerable amount of last minute planning but we finally got the majority of the team together to head on down to the Village of Winona for what would be everyone's first road race (well, everyone's first road race except for Adam, Andrew and Al).

Logistics were a pain because we had 11 people going, 10 bikes and 9 jerseys. If time permitted, we could pull it off with everyone wearing jerseys and riding a bike. If you haven't figured out by now we're not the wealthiest types so we have a bit of sharing to do.

The women's race went first and we all obnoxiously shouted Molly and Brynn on their way for what would be quite an interesting experience. The course was set up as 4 laps on an 8.8 mile route with 30-40 mph headwinds and nasty crosswinds. It took what would seem a modest 30 or so minutes for lap one to complete but everyone was together as they rolled by. You could see a break develop with two Get-A-Grip ladies and one other woman I can't remember but they were all blazing by with our ladies right in tow. Bradley and I were working on a plan to nab the jersey off of Molly and Brynn's backs right when they finished when we noticed them coming around for lap two. I saw Molly pull off to the side. I ran up to see what was wrong and she gave a "you don't want to know" expression and left all 9 of us guys a little bit wiser as to the ways of a woman.

I'll never forget how urgent all of us were about "Molly?! What's wrong?!" "What can we do to help?!"

"I just got my period."

You could see every guy's expression, "Ohhh…um…Brynn? Brynn's gone? Oh, right, there's a race going on. Ummm. Do your tires have enough pressure? Gears working all right? Yeah? Okay. Well. Um. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help out there kiddo."

Eventually the Get-A-Grip woman came back for the win (Yeah Chi-town!) and then the other came back from a flat for third. Bradley grabbed Molly's jersey and Brynn was still wearing mine while we both waited anxiously for her bike. I felt bad knowing Brynn would have to finish and pull right over so I could take my jersey back and Bradley could grab Brynn's (actually it was Brean's) bike, but our race was already lining up and we had to get going! Brynn finished after riding a solo tour through hellacious winds for about 25 miles, she claimed 5^th place for the Crew and you could tell she was glad to get done.

"Really? That sucks!!" was her response to Molly's, um, situation.

Adam, Andrew, Al, Bradley, Daryl, Ben, Mike, Max, and I were standing in front of the pack as we got the rundown and let out on the course. A bunch of guys were up front and Max shrugged his shoulders, "just go," he said to Bradley and me so we turned up the pace and, my god, it never let up. Bradley was having a tough time with his chain rubbing and I remember being bummed out at having to hear that the whole race. We turned out of the tailwind to a real nasty gust of head/crosswinds. After about a mile our guys let the group catch up and Al went on a counter-attack. I was hung out in the crosswind so I got no break but the pack had to respond. Al was a horse for about 3/4s of the first lap and once the pack caught Bradley and I went after it again.

This was the recipe for us through most of the race: go out and don't let the group get a break. It was gassing me big time and everyone around seemed to be so strong. In reality, Andrew jumping out followed by Adam jumping out and then Daryl jumping out and then Al jumping out was just beating the pack to a pulp. I was getting tired just staying in the group let alone switching leadouts. Eventually Andrew told me to just relax and take it easy for a sprint. I thought he was crazy for thinking that so early in the race but, as it turned out, Andrew was my guardian angel.

Such scattered attacks paid their toll on us too, however, because we were not anywhere near each other throughout the majority of the race. In hindsight, the "Car Up!" shouts stopped coming after lap 3 and that should have been a sign everyone was hurting. Regardless, I was panicking because I felt so ragged and the Crew wasn't really sticking together. Turns out road races are a LOT longer than any other races and we had plenty of time to assemble when it mattered.

On the last lap, Adam stayed up top three making sure the pace was hard and Andrew rolled up next to me "I'll lead you out, make sure we're by each other." I made sure I could stick close and Max came in to my side as we situated ourselves next to Al. It's amazing how much of a wind I gained back to see more CCC jerseys around me. I started to feel a little pressured and turned to Andrew, "Dude, I feel like shit"

"Everyone else feels worse, don't worry about that and just keep thinking about the win!" he replied without even looking at me. Damn, this is getting serious. I looked over my shoulder to see Bradley, Ben and Daryl were in the mix.

So here we were, eight strong and in good position, all eyes are turning on me. Daryl comes up right before a turn into a wide open gust of headwind, "Expect an attack here!"

The field turns and no attack. I'm thinking everyone's saving for the sprint, but it was probably because everyone was running ragged after 30+ rough miles. We get a tailwind and the finish is little over a mile away, the crew is filling up spots 7-15, we're looking damn fine. I'm getting some wind and loosening up for a sprint. We reach the .5 mile mark and Daryl flies to the outside of the pack and the leaders take the mob left to get on his wheel. Andrew sneaks to the right with me on his wheel and we start really pushing it.

"UP! UP! UP!" I'm shouting as if I know what the hell I'm talking about.

Andrew ramped it up and we create separation as we approach the final turn (a nasty 90 degree turn with some gravel on the inside). He goes a bit wider and looks for me when I grab his wheel to shout again.

"UP!" I shout and then I feel it start to pour on. This is it! Time to pass my escort put my head down and hammer to the finish. I figured someone had to be on my wheel, the line was getting so close I check back and see a bogey about 4 bike lengths back.

Should I pose? That would be kind of bogus, especially if I get caught. I look back and I'm still safe. Fuck it. The hands fly up and I'm smilin' ear to ear with the scissors out. I guess everyone in a Cuttin' Crew jersey threw their hands up in celebration as well and hearing that made me feel so damn good. Of course I was giddy to win but hot-damn this team is so incredible and I love being a part of it. Daryl snipped in there for third to be another on our list of podium finishers. Bradley caught up after being dropped and rode 25+ miles with a loose saddle. Ben caught back on too, but Mike wasn't so lucky. He lost the pace at the wrong turns and was left out to dry by the wind but of course stuck with it for the finish.

This first place finish definitely doesn't belong to me, it was completely the Cuttin' Crew's. There's no way this would have happened so well had it not been for the team. True to form, we all collected our prize money and went to the bar to blow it all on beer and food. We all had a laugh at Molly's expense (she's such a sport) and I sat back amidst smiles and cheer to feel the love. Cuttin' Crew came through for yet another big day.

Whitnall Criterium Race Report

04/26/2008

By Stanley Schultz (Video, photos and commentary provided by Rachel)

I gotta be honest. I didn't really want to race today. I remember the day before I told Max I wasn't going, but I got a phone call from Daryl at about 9pm convincing me to race, so I gave in. Later that night I picked up a trainer from Adam and he gave me the lowdown on the course. "Last year everyone miss anticipated the sprint on the hill and gassed out. I dropped from 1 to 26th. Time your sprint on the hill and you'll be good." It seems like every race that I have listened to my peers, have been a good one. James Little, a good friend and an amazing mechanic gave me advice on my first race and I took third.

Adam's advice paid off big today. The Whitnall criterium was my fourth crit race and first one with hills I have ever done. I was kind of nervous because I don't have much confidence with hilly courses. Being from the midwest doesn't really help. The day started at 7am with breakfast at Flying Saucer. When leaving, Andrew, the owner, offered me a cup of joe to go and I declined. He heard me talking about the race and started telling me about when he used to run, and this one coach that drank a tall black coffee before marathons. What the hell I thought, and I took the coffee and headed out.

I grabbed my shit and picked up Al and Daryl. Rachel, aka the support team, was riding shottie. We arrived at the race about an hour before start. Brean was already present, having done the masters race, and Mike Morell, Max, Ben, and Bradley were en route. Al, Daryl and I signed up, and as we turned to grab our stuff we saw the rest of crew. In typical fashion Brean was anxiously waiting for the rest of us as we arrived within seconds to the start. The field was 87 deep and the officials quickly realized they had over registered, and thankfully so. I am sure the six of us were in that group of late additions. As always the officials did their dance and explained everything, telling us to be careful, and some other stuff that I can never really hear because I am too busy trying to keep down the nausea or planning how to get up to the front. I always get a kick out of the nonchalant fashion in which the officials say go. "Ok thats the rules, again everyone be safe and go!"

The course was a 1.1 mile loop with 2 climbs and one intermediate climb into a 30 mph head wind. The climb would have been nothing if the wind wasn't as unforgiving as it was. The start finish was at the end of the last climb and the beginning of the first and fastest decent (at one point Daryl said we cracked 36 mph going down hill). xXx was out front with about 6-9 strong. I took advantage of the first decent and threw down into my high gears and blazed it up to about 8th. I look around for my guys and I see Bradley cookin' in the front, Mike Morell close by. Since I didn't really get a chance to warm up and check out the course, I was using the first lap to see how things were. I figured with the headwind and the hills that no one was really going to break and go balls out form the start. I was trying to keep it cool in the pack this time and not burn out. Sometimes the hardest thing is stay cool when the wind is screaming past you and you see your colors ducking in and out of everyone else. Left side, Cuttin' Crew jersey goes flying by. It's Al! I jump up and follow suit.

Al is known for breaking away, so I figured I should probably keep close, just in case he is ready for another one. He gets some people to chase and he peels off at the top of the first climb. It was a nice hard attack. The race is staying pretty fast and everyone is cranking away. Enter Bradley Gates. Its kind of frightening how fast this kid is for his age. Bradley flies out front and does a a huge 2-3 lap pull. A handful of guys go on the chase and I can surely contribute that to tiring out some of the field. Just before halfway through the race as we are passing the start/finish, out of the corner of my right eye I see Al getting pushed into me. OH SHIT! was all that was running through my mind. Two or three riders had gotten squirrely and knocked into Al. As I saw them pile up into my right side I leaned into them and I all I heard was the clinking, scrapping, and smacking of cyclists. Fuck!, I hope I didn't mangle one of my teammates. Mike Morell whips up the right side and calls that he is with me and I asked if Al was alright. As we came around for the next lap, we saw Al jumping back in. The guy's a fucking trooper.

The rest of the race continues on and I am starting to feel it a bit. I was sitting about 15 back for the last 1/3 of the race with Mr. Morell. Now Mike was saying he didn't really help me out but just seeing my guys is all I need some times. I had been making mental notes on the sections of the race where people were slowing and where I could accelerate. I was starting to realize I am a much better climber than I had thought. I was moving up so quickly on the hills when everyone was bunching up and tiring themselves out. I decided to not be a superstar and let the bunches happen, just staying right with them.

"3 laps to go!" I hear someone yell, which was complete bullshit, it was actually 2 laps to go! I still can't apologize enough for giving Mike the wrong lap count.

We crack the start/finish on 1 and I notice everyone getting jumpy and speeding up. This is it! Man, I am getting all worked up just thinking about it now. I am nervous because I am still like 15 back and the line is getting strung out up front. We hit the first hill and everyone is out of the saddle and busting up to the gradual windy climb. Some are starting to show fatigue. As we get to the top, I am hearing Adam's voice, "stop for a hot dog at the next Dairy Queen", no that's not it, oh yeah "don't go too early and you'll be all good", and I am thinking if I am going to do it, it's gotta be now! I break off the left side and go! Down the the hill and flying through that right turn, I am moving through my harder gears.

GO GO GO GO GO GO GO!!!!!!! is repeating over and over through my head. As everyone dies half way up the hill I am going faster and faster. I am flying by people and I see the line. My legs feel like a machine and my chest is exploding with a cosmic-like glow. I am coming around the outside and I graze shoulders with the rider that took 3rd (I believe his name is Ken). Holy shit I am gonna fucking win!!! I scream YEAAAAAAAAA!!! and throw my bike so hard. If I wouldn't have been gripping for dear life, I am sure the bike would have just shot through taking my legs along. It was so freaking close. Someone asked who took it. I said I think I did. We get back after a cool down lap, and review the tape. Luke from Tuscadero approaches me and says I got him by the width of a tire. If I would have gone a second later, that's exactly where I would have been, second. Snip snip!

Stan revealing his tricks to Dr. Morell and The Talented Mr. Gates

Spring Super Crit Report

By Bradley Gates 4/6/2008

The morning was young after a run in with some blood and serious lack of sleep, though these things were insignificant to the vast happenings of the day that lie ahead. A phone call from Jeff Perkins informed me of his presence as a fellow south loop inhabitant and I was out the door with some haste en route to his residing place to destine ourselves to Adam Clark’s Garage. Upon arrival, the excitement was high between the Crewers. Finally we had all gathered as a team and friends that would be joining the caravan. I found myself in the Mazda Zipcar that Mike Morell had prepared for the trek north to Beloit. It was a small, crammed car but, according to Brynn, at least it wasn’t as bad as the van that was packed with bikes, baggage, a couch and people. The van was ready for quite the trip, the second longest trek the it has ever made. Off we were, I sensed Brynn was very antsy about the whole situation as we were on the road an hour behind schedule and the idea of getting to South Beloit under two hours seemed like a stretch. After about an hour or so of driving on the expressway, we received a call informing us that the van had met its match and pulled off at the Hilton Garden Inn. Haste was in the air. Out of seemingly nowhere, Val came to the rescue with her truck and after some yelling from Andrew the females and Mens 5 racers were back on their way to the race without the van, leaving whomever could not fit into the cars with the van. The rest of the ride was fairly smooth, though a slight detour was in order with the help of Val’s Blackberry.

The track was not quite what I was expecting, with its farmland location and country feel. We raced to the parking lot to catch the Women’s 4/5 start. By the time we were parked, the ladies had taken off and were racing without our Cuttin’ Crew babes. First on the agenda was ensuring that Brynn, Molly, and Julia were able to compete in another race. In which they found a place in the Women’s 1/2/3 race seeing as how with them the race consisted of a mere 8 women.

The feeling I got from the area was relaxed. The Cuttin’ Crew was preparing for a day of racing. Daryl, Jeff, Ben, Max, Stanley, and I were sporting the Cuttin’ Crew colors as we lined up for the Men’s 5 race. The race was going so smoothly, with Cuttin’ Crew riders scattered comfortably in the peloton. The corners were slow and the straightaways were fast, Daryl clocked us at a max of 34. I felt antsy as a newcomer to the field and my anxiety overcame me. Splitting to gather a lead I thought a breakaway was in order for me. Looking back at my teammates, as I was thirty yards ahead of the pack, I felt I could get some input on what my next move should be. Without direction I held a short lead for a lap, falling back into the pack realizing the Mother’s force. The end lap came and Jeff pulled through the inside edge nearing the final turn. Following suit, I stuck to his wheel. Passing Stanley, Jeff called out “Snip Snip.” Stanley fell behind my wheel with Daryl to follow right behind. It was time for team sprints practice to be put into action. Rounding the final corner, Jeff began pulling extremely hard, giving the Cuttin’ Crew some comfortable space. Halfway to the finish on the straightaway, I rounded Jeff sprinting towards the finish with a rider to my right pulling in close. Jeff was yelling to keep it strong as I threw to finish a hair in front of the rider to my right while the Crew cleaned up positions 3, 4, and 5.

The ladies were racing soon after. The 1.7-mile lap was long and filled with crosswinds, but as the ladies came around to the home stretch every lap they seemed as strong as the lap before. Molly and Brynn were strong and were sharing pulls throughout the race. Brynn, in particular, seemed to be giving a concerted effort forth, which shined through as the race results showed with Brynn pulling through the finish for a solid 2nd place with Molly and Julia quick behind.

Knowing their races were nearing, I became worried about the situation of where the rest of the Crew was. I made contact with Nico as he was working through family issues, but was excited to organize transportation for our stranded racers. Further word arrived that the men were on their way and Nico, who still was occupied in the city, would arrive later.

The “A team” (Adam, Al, Andrew) had arrived and were ready for the festivities provided by the race and the excitement already at hand. The Men’s 4/5 race was as rocky as the 5 race with slow corners and fast straights, although the 5 race lacked the father figure of Papa Brester (Brean). Family Cuttin’ Crew was working together and performing well, the field could feel and see our presence. Andrew concluded the race with a 6th place finish and Brean finished 8th.

The hype on the team was gaining in the matter of a day. The team began to show its colors in Kenosha and Hillsboro, but with so many women and men strong at the Super Crit we took the racing scene by storm.

The A team did some serious work in the Men’s 3/4 race as they kept strong with the pack throughout their 55 minutes. Al took a surprising jump to the front of the peloton with one lap to go, thinking the sound of a prime bell was the sound of the final lap bell. Watching those boys race was filled with observations between the team as Stanley was assured that I was going to get what was coming to me, Brean was only adding to my ranting. We do share a certain camaraderie as a team that could be seen as we did a commentary on the race.

Finally, Nico had arrived. I was worried of his arrival time due to the 15-minute last call notice on the Men’s 1/2/3 race. Extremely passionate about something as usual, Nico rushed to register finding himself a Subway sandwich to stuff before his race. The 1/2/3 race was exciting to see because finally the entire team had come together. Although Nico was racing by his lonesome, the whole team was right there behind him, next to him, and in front of him as he passed the finishing stretch every loop. Andrew, high in spirits, provided the field, officials and spectators with an ample amount of obnoxious cowbell; a cowbell’s clank unlike any clank to precede Andrew’s. Nico looking extremely strong on his cross bike finished a cool 7th place with barely a sweat on his brow. With morale high the team had wrapped up a day of racing with an imprint left at The Blackhawk Farms Raceway that sets the Chicago Cuttin’ Crew as a fierce, fun loving team in the sanctioned racing community.

Ladies and Gentlemen....

Your world famous Chicago Cuttin' Crew is set to debut as a team this weekend at the Burnham Racing's Spring Super Criterium. Expect 100% attendance and some friends to join us for the ride! Look for us in the white van and a few other cars in tow.

This is going to be incredible. By the way, we will also be carrying some of the hot new fund raiser decks put together by Chrome (click the image to get the full story)...

Hillsboro-Roubaix Photo Essay

Emily, thanks so much for the photos!

Julia, thanks so much for kickin' ass with us!

I'm pretty sure these two photos sum it up rather well but to be sure you should totally click on Emily's facebook photo page to get the complete Cuttin' Crew experience...

Hillsboro-Roubaix Report

3/29/2008 By Al Urbanski

Clumsy Girl Found Adventure. Also, bruises.

MMI and Kenosha Spring Training Race #3

3/15/08-3/16/08

by Molly

Photos were either stolen or taken without asking. Thanks Ronsta36

Friday was going to be a long and arduous event. The board was particularly busy while other companies seemed to be slow. It was a welcome change from the in-house position I had to fill Thursday, which left me sitting around reading most of the day. Eighty miles or so later I finished the work day adrenaline rushed and excited about the road trip I was asked to partake in earlier that morning. We were taking the team van on her first long trip to Wisconsin. No windows, no heat, no working sliding door, eight miles to the gallon, masking tape and bungee chords holding the front panels together; the van has, well, character.

Departure time was set Saturday morning at 8:00am from Adam’s place. The roster included Jeff (driving the van), Andrew, Bradley and me. Knowing that 8am was a bit optimistic, I arrived at Adam’s around 8:30am. This was fine, I don’t believe we had everything packed until 9:45 or 10 anyway. The first race on Saturday, the Milwaukee Messenger Invitational (MMI), was going to be around 1:00pm so we had plenty of time to get there and meet up with the rest of the guys who arrived the previous night for the kick-off party.

All of us piled into the van

The MMI is a long-time running alleycat located annually in Milwaukee. We make it to Milwaukee unscathed, blasting the tape of James Brown from our sweet blown-out speaker system located on the floor. Everyone who stayed at Mike and Megan’s house the night before was either hung-over or still kinda drunk. They all came out of the house to greet us and were ready to leave for registration within 20 minutes. They are all impressed with the novelty of the van, myself included. The only thing missing is a couch or an airbrushed mural on the outside. Don’t doubt that such things are in the works.

We rode down to Breakaway Courier for registration and in the process dropped Bradley on a wicked descent/right turn. I would of missed the turn too had I been riding a brakeless fixed gear like he was. After some tracking, we end our trip by going through an icy alley where I fall and end up bruising my knee/ego and throwing my chain.

Walking inside, I see the usual looking suspects. Smoking messengers, track bikes (one with a fake ball sac hanging from the saddle), Brooks saddles, Candy Colored Deep V’s as far as the eye can see (OK, not that far). I also find there is a Kegerator - for those unfamiliar with this contraption, it’s beautiful in its simplicity. Keg + Refrigerator = Kegerator. Ah, more novelty.

The MMI hardware...

My love of racing alleycats has been tainted a bit in the last months – not to say I’ll never race one again, but I didn’t want to ride hard in a city I didn’t know with the Kenosha Criterium the next morning at 9:00am. I was glad to find out two of my teammates felt the same way. It was kind of funny; we were the only three wearing road shoes and rockin’ SPD-SL – who wants to be that guy in an alleycat with road shoes anyway? Instead we high tailed it to a local bike shop, Ben’s Cycles. Jeff had to replace his pedals as his Miche pedals were giving him troubles and shin bruises. It’s always interesting to check out and compare bike shops in other cities. What cyclist doesn’t love the smell of fresh rubber? The fellow working the counter was personable and helped Jeff into some nice new pedals after talking with him about our trip up from Chicago. We also left with three free copies of COG magazine which happened to feature a story on Chicago messengers. All of whom I’ve known in the past or currently see on a daily basis. Chicago rolls deep, yes?

Riverwest Co-op

Pedals changed we had to race back to the van as there may have been a wallet MIA. With a head wind and a mighty steep hill (us Chicagoans are not used to that hill stuff), we finally made it back to the van, found the wallet and an appetite. Al and I are vegan and well, Jeff was out numbered for once (insert evil laughter here). We picked a Co-op spot on Clarke where we subjected him to vegan and vegetarian fare. The Seitan Philly was deviously delicious; hitting the spot while still reasonable in price, I totally recommend it.

Turned out the end check point of the race happened to be across the street from the Co-op which was a block away from where we were staying. I’d noticed and appreciated the closeness of everywhere we had been so far. Even “across town” didn’t seem far at all. When walking to the finish, we found out that Stan got 2^nd overall and won first place out of town for the second year in a row! Bradley got 3^rd right there with him and first fixed. The minutes passed and more people began filtering in and handing in manifests. Chairs and tables filled up with racers enjoying the free Chili and open bar. I held off a bit thinking about my race in the morning, but eventually thought it okay to partake in a beer or two which, in the end, turned in to one too many. I played pool and at the end of the night sang karaoke with Megan at another bar named Frank ’N Steins – why, oh why did I agree to do that? Damn you beer!

I woke up Sunday morning spooning Augie (sorry Augie). It was probably a self defense mechanism to stay on the bed as there were four of us crammed on it together. Hazy and feeling like 10 bucks I scrambled to get my stuff together for my second Crit race ever. Jeff was on top of everything - he had my bike and lock in the van and was ready to go while Bradley, Andrew and I were still inside looking for odds and ends. We made a quick stop for espresso, water, bananas and an ATM for $$$. At first I didn’t think we were going to make it in time for my race, but the guys got me there with just enough time to change, register, pin my number on and get to the starting line. I didn’t get to ride the course or warm up, but Andrew and Bradley were (I think) trying to make up for that by rubbing my legs and giving me pep talks while I stood over the bike. I couldn’t stop laughing and the girl next to me said “Wow, you’re famous!”

“Nah”, I grinned ear to ear “that’s just good team work.”

“IT'S NOT ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE! IT'S ABOUT WINNING!” Were Bradley’s last words of wisdom. My spirits were light and I felt better already.

We were off and I got near the front feeling the course out and taking the turns more towards the outside. After a couple of laps it seemed like I was pulling the pack up the slight grade and into the wind more so than everyone else. I tried to slow down and get some one else to pull, but they just stayed behind me. Three girls broke off the front and I tried to bridge it only to find that it was a solo journey. I backed off thinking I wouldn’t be strong enough to catch them without another girl's help. I led up the windy upgrade and the girl Sue who spoke with me at the start said “good pull” as she passed to relieve me of my position. We started talking and taking turns working. She said I seemed strong and asked me my category, she was a Cat 3. I said it was my second sanctioned race. She began to laugh and expressed her amusement about using “sanctioned” in front of race like there was any other kind. It wasn’t a malicious or teasing laugh but friendly.

“How many unsanctioned races have you been in?” was her next query.

“A few” I replied.

She then told me if we were in any other races together we could team up and work with each other. I was flattered and speechless. She seemed to be looking out for me. Telling me to let some of the other girls do some work! Eventually I was able to express gratitude in a proper fashion. Sue and I were in the front and she jumped, I jumped after her and together we put some distance between us and the other riders. She told me that she was helping me get a better placement since she wasn’t in my category but knew she couldn’t catch up to the other Cat 3 girl ahead of her. Her second place was a guarantee if we just maintained the gap.

We had a lap to go…or so I thought. I was on Sue’s wheel as we approached the start/finish and then she dropped back. I kept going thinking I had another lap. I heard the guys yelling at me but that was nothing new considering they were yelling and banging that huge cowbell the whole time. I came ripping around the final corner on my extra lap and was riding right at them thinking I was still racing. Silly me, the race was over. Oops. Oh well, I laughed it off; ended up taking 3^rd place in the Cat 4 and 5^th place overall while making an ally in the process. I couldn’t have been more delighted or surprised even if I won first place. The guys and I walked back to the van where I changed under a blanket in the front seat, drank some much needed water and ate the blueberry cliff bar I bought the night before at the Co-op.

Pride swelled up in my chest. Not about my placement, but from the support of my team. Getting me up there hours before their race began, standing out in the cold shouting for me, giving me encouragement, making me laugh my hangover away, I feel like the luckiest novice around. I’ll keep these memories forever. Even though it’s still cold out and general morale always seems low this time of year I’m more confidant than ever that this will be a great and eventful season with Chicago Cuttin‘ Crew. Thanks y’all. Thanks Soosie!

Road Schedule

The season is beginning and we gots us some races to do. Here's the schedule through June... March 16th Kenosha Velosport Spring Training Series (Kenosha, Wis.) 29th Hillsboro Roubaix (Hillsboro, IL)

April 5th Mississinewa Reservoir Road Race (Peru, Ind.) 6th Spring Super Criterium (South Beloit, IL) Cherry Valley 30K Time Trial (Cherry Valley, IL)

May 17th, 18th Le Tour de West Lafayette Stage Race (Lafayette, IN) 24th Snake Alley Criterium (Burlington, IA) 25th Melon City Criterium (Muscatine, Iowa) 26th Quad Cities Criterium (Rock Island, Ill) 31st Winfield Twilight Criterium (Winfield, Ill.) Circuit of Sauk (Baraboo, WI)

June 22nd McCormick's Creek Road Race (Spencer, Ind.) 28th Proctor Road Race (Peoria, Ill.) 29th Proctor Criterium (state championship) (Peoria, Ill.)