BIG step in the right direction

The Rhodium march continues! Jannette has stayed with it and created a whole lot of room for herself thanks to a 3rd place performance in a road race that looks to have created some dramatic shifts in the Grand Classification. Jannette gave 'er with a big move early that didn't stick but she then recovered to make it to the podium. Our dearest lady of the dairyland has earned plenty of room for herself at the 2nd spot in the GC of the Tour of America's Dairyland. With first place in the overall being handled well by Whitney Gaggioli, there was a 5 person race for 2nd that looks to have opened up in Jannette's favor. It was less than 10 points that separated riders 2-6. The 2-4 women were only 4 points apart if I remember correctly. As of right now, however, Jannette garnered a 20 point lead on Meghan Lapeta and Cathy Frampton. Meghan and Cathy are tied in the 3rd slot so it is certainly not hard to tell they are HUNGRY!

As for Jannette, she's always had a big appetite for success but her thirst for the coveted chocolate milk chug on the top spot of the podium is getting more and more intense. Just as her 20 point lead looks like it will take work to defend, Gaggioli's 32 point gap could always start to fold. Anything can happen in bike racing and there's still 3 stages left. !!!

Awwww, yeah, girl. Keep on putting them ladies to work!

A little more breathing room

Jonathan Gray has some more photos of yesterday's stage in Waterloo, WI, home of Trek. Looked like a bunch sprint for her finish and Jannette got third. She's got a bit more breathing room in the General Classification than the day before, still at 2nd and 3 points up on Angela Theriault. First overall looks like a runaway but anything can happen in these races and there's some chocolate milk on the line...

It's a big road race today, meaning double the points and double the fun! Keep up the great work Jannette!

Jannette moves up to 2nd in the GC!

2nd place in yesterday's crit and then BAM!

(Thanks to Jonathan Gray for the photo!)

Hot start

Don't know if you've been following the updates but we've got photographic evidence of Miss Rho having a good time...

After missing the first day of racing, she got 2nd in her opening race at Giro d'Grafton against some very stiff competition. She then went on to garner 3rd the next day at the Appleton Criterium. Despite her race under handicap, Miss Rho started off Monday at 3rd place in the overall rankings. On Monday she RARR-ed her way to 7th on the day. The overall rankings are still out now available, Jannette is sitting 4th with a tight knit race for 2nd.

Stay tuned for more of her inevitable successes through the rest of the series.

Keep killing it J Rho!

Off to conquer the TOAD!

(photo courtesy of Luke)

Jannette is northerly bound to the Milwaukee region for 9 days of intense racing called the Tour of America's Dairyland. Fair warning to all 49 other registrants, she's coming off of a big win at last weekend's Sherman Park Criterium! Le Tour starts Saturday, June 19 and will race every day through to the 27th.Give 'em hell J Rho!

SNAP!: Jannette started off hot with a 2nd place finish in round 1 of 9 - Giro d'Grafton! UPDATE 2: The podium streak continues! 3rd at Appleton Criterium. Round 2 and she's sitting 3rd in the overall. UPDATE 3: 7th at the Road America Road Race! RARR!!

Pedal to the People!

UPDATE: Here's the video!

Adam Clark is doin' it big! We're proud of the world's most incredible person as he stays on the grind and gets his business up and running. It's called Pedal to the People (773.355.0882) and, if you're fortunate enough to be by a television tonight, check out Fox Chicago around 9:30. Sir Clark will be making an appearance.

Don't forget to support the man as he makes a go at it. Quick tune ups and tweaks are no problem for the certified mechanic with eons of experience. He also does great metal work and frame repairs. Do you like your road bike and want to get on the cyclocross bandwagon? Adam can put some canti guides on that bad boy for ya, no prob. Snapped that dropout? Let Adam get you back up and rolling. (He also built that trailer in these photos.)

Keep up the good work, buddy! We'll be digging up the video and re-posting it sometime soon, hopefully!

Sherman Park Criterium Women's 1/2/3/4 Open

by Jannette (as authored by Jeff) I won.

PS - I rule.

(actually by Jannette)

Well, you have to love having a race close enough to ride to and I was particularly happy to have a race option late in the day. There is always something nice about sleeping in on a Saturday morning. Of course however there was rain and when not actually raining, the persistent threat of it. Well, there was a break in the wet weather so I headed down for the open race. Glad I did too - though Jeannie K took every prime, including the custom kit, I was seriously trying to figure out what I'd put on that thing should I win it. Blast. Congrats Jeannie. Blast. And you still have a mean sprint.

The break happened on the first prime - a group of 3 familiar faces - P5 Cathy, Francine, and Jeannie. XXX Natalie was able to bridge making it 5. We worked well and stayed away from the field and the primes kept us on our toes. One to go! Let the games begin! We eyeball each other...Jeannie makes a move early...I (along with everyone else?) panic and chase chase chase. I catch Jeannie and (split second decision) grab a breath on her wheel - there's still a ways to go til the line. I see the other ladies in the corner of my eye as we approach the final swoop aka turn. Before anyone else can, I just jump on the outside and go. I had no idea where anyone else was but I knew no one passed me. Hell yes. Victory for the thunder thighs. And we stayed dry! :)

Throwback Thursdays

There's silver in them hills

(thanks to Luke for the photo)

by Jannette "I work alone" Rho

Not much to tell. I decide to do the Open race instead of the 3/4. With a 5 hour drive down with my visiting parents in tow, I figure I may as well go longer and challenge myself. Turnout was smallish (though near triple from last year's 4 riders) with about half IL and half MO. I wasn't familiar with most of the non-IL riders and of course this makes me even more nervous than I already am. This is a really fun course - it goes through farm fields, up into a wooded area and back around. Lots of twists and turns with a number of kickers. The finish is a 500 m straightaway. We would go 2 laps for a total of 45 miles - lap 1 is filled with a number of attacks by Jessi and a girl Axie I've raced a number of times.

I throw in a couple of counter attacks as well but nothing is going to stick with a group this size. We come through the start/finish after the first lap and sprint for the prime - for the first time I actually took note of the final turn, the distance, etc. Huh...that shit is helpful for when it counts. Lap 2 - we realize no one is getting away so we work together to keep the pace up and a couple of girls get dropped. Hills, twists, turns, wind, repeat. There's a sizable hill right before the final turn and I'm thinking attack or play it safe and just mark an attack. I opt for the latter (good idea? dunno) but no one goes so we approach the corner and I get myself into third or so wheel. A couple of girls go early and I hop on a wheel as does Jessi. I see her jump (POW!) and I should have jumped on her wheel or reacted more quickly but alas, I'm sprinting for second. Oh, and Jessi has one bitchin sprint. Anyway, I'm neck and neck with Smart Cycling Meghan and I instruct myself to not let up, ow, do not let up - then my wheel passes hers and crosses the line in second (this is all a magical blur).

The folks finally got to see what this bike racing is all about, mom got a sunburn, 5 hour drive back, Korean BBQ for dinner, good times.

Sprinter's Dream Omnium 1 of 2

By Jeff, All pictures courtesy of Ed White

I had a great time on Saturday. A lot of rollers showed up and it was a long day in which only us sprinting dorks could have found interesting.

Flying 200 - 12.9. 9th top qualifying time. I'll take it. Leg strength (along with my fitness) is seriously lacking but I think I can understand why given my month of no training right before the whole, ya know, exploding internal organ.

Match sprints - Positive part is I drew top seed for Group B. 3 groups were drawn up: A, B, and C. Had I gotten the 8th best time I would have been in the A's facing Master's Nats Champ Jon Fraley (below) and his 11.7 (11.7 in May at Northbrook...). Upon that defeat I would have been in a 4 up sprint with Josh Ryan, Ed White (which blew everyone's minds), Nate Iden (STRONG track noob from Burnham), and/or Larry Stoegbauer (garner to xXx transfer).

Instead I got to pick apart 4 different racers in 1 up sprints to win the B group.

1 - Robert from St. Louis. Guy went out hard but I just chilled on his wheel. He was standing with 350 to go while I sat on him and came around in between 3 and 4. I should have practiced a proper slingshot out of 4 but I didn't want to risk it. Nice dude and it's always nice to have guests. It was nice to meet you and race ya, Robert.

2 - Aaron Harrison. The young gun likes him some trackstand match-ups. The kid's got some power. I decide to get him on a decent wind up from the whistle. I then slow up, commit to a jump, he goes, I half pull up and he eases so I hit it. Never gave less than 4 or 5 bike lengths. Restricted gearing is probably really frustrating that kid.

3 - Matt from ISU. This dude was a bit of a dark horse with the Dolan and Falcon disc. I took the early lead and did another half jump. He bites and I let him fall and go in front of me. In his confusion I ramp up the pace and take the pole position while he stays next to the rail going through 3 and 4 on the first lap. With the bell ringing, I held the pace up from stayer's line, taking away any surprise and angle he might have to the sprinter's lane. He had no move to make so I slowly crept up track to squeeze him against the rail. I eased the pace steadily and started to flick up track to shake him a bit. I did one quick flick and planned on him panicking when he had to either jump, run into me or elbow the boards. Naturally he backpedaled slightly and right then I popped out of the saddle and gapped him. He never broke 4 or 5 bike lengths and I made the final.

4 - Chuck Judy. He beat out Berger to make the final and he's an awesome pursuiter. I was pretty worried. He drew pole position and I knew he could make it a long one so I was ready to stay on him from the whistle. He kept it slow rolling and fell right into my race. Going around 3 and 4 on the first lap I decided to liven it up and did a jump with little commitment. My plan was to get him to bridge up, I'd pull up and then counter my original attack. When I looked back at the jump I saw he was sleeping a little and I had a gap. I rode through the sprinter's lane with the bell ringing and I committed. Bad move against a pursuiter. He bridged going into 3 but it was the perfect time because he went high to pass and had to go the extra distance. He burned out and I took the W.

Chariot - Generally my strongest event. I jumped out to an early lead and felt good torquing on the bike and then FOOM! a gust of wind and Ed White (pictured below)  just fucking FLEW past me. I felt like I was on a 20 lap breakaway and getting hawked by a sprinter right before the finish. Except it was a 1 lap race. Apparently 47x14 is too light a gear. Heavier for the chariot. Go figure. Ed hit 39 38mph on his speedometer. Standing start. feck.

4 lap scratch - I got owned by the big dogs. End of story.

Fun times! It comes highly recommended. Results.