Labagh Woods Practice Crits

In the past week, I jumped into the first track and road races I've done in the past two years (Thursday Nights at Northbrook and Spring Prairie Road Race). Last night, Daphne managed to again talk me into more racing shenanigans, and we rode up to Labagh Woods on the northwest side for the first crit I've done since March of last year. A couple points:

A) That was fun as hell.

B) Daphne Karagianis is one hell of a bike racer, handler, and tactician. Looked like a pro out there amongst the men.

C) The points race was a blast with Cuttin Crew rolling five deep (Jeff, Marie, Daph, Al, myself), and with Mr Al Pearson (aka The Quadfather) taking home the winning six pack of beer! Quite the refreshing end to some fast racing.

D) I love this team. 

The last night of practice crits will be taking place Wed August 14th at Labagh Woods (just north of Foster & Cicero). Three races for $15, with the second race of the evening for women only. More info about the races can be found  here, or you can check out their facebook page to keep up to date on any changes.

- Andrew Nordyke

Franco Cup!

A few of us Crew'rs have been tied up with helping run Ed Rudolph Velodrome this year, and in between all these road races, we've pulled all the stops for the Franco "Pan-Man" Panveno Masters Cup on July 27-28!

If you're of the master category, you should strongly consider registering. We've got huge payouts and lots of fun scheduled, all in the name of Franco, a man who attended all the races, time trials, group rides available in the midwest. Unfortunately, he passed this past November.

In short, get registered! Or volunteer! We're always looking for more help from friendly faces.

CHAMPAGNE Urbana

By Maria 

After an exciting evening spent dancing and shaking our booty’s with Judy (Daffer’s Mom) and the extended Karagianis family. I’m surprised we were in good enough shape to even show up to the Urbana crit. But it must have been just the right amount of fun/race nerves relief/team building, as we certainly did well.

Daphne seriously killed it. We three really worked the field in the 3/4. Myself, Marie and Daphne alternating attacks one after the other after the other. I got away for a few laps with Psimet’s Katie Isermann, but we never really got far, Katie showing me how it’s done with a strong preme win. The field came back together and shortly  after Daphne and Sue Wellinghoff (xXx) went on a break, but the pace was hot in the main group and with Psimet leading the charge we managed to catch up to Sue, but Daphne held on and we didn’t see her for the final 3 laps.

Delighted that Daphne was still out there with only 1 lap to go, Marie and myself tried to position ourselves well for the field sprint. Sue led us through the final corner and stayed out front. I only just missed out on 3rd place. Erica Gaddy (Half Acre Cycling) held me off with an excellent sprint, a half wheel between us at the line with Marie right behind.

It felt like massive team effort and success. We were elated with Daphne’s win and our finishes.

Women’s Open race was a lot smaller than it could have been, only 11 women stayed for the 6 hour gap between the two races. But there was a strong showing from Psimet, Briana Clarke (Racing for Riley), a Cat 1 cyclist from Indiana, and a handful of 3/4s. Oh and of course beast mode Daff. Daphne and Briana got on a break about 5 minutes in. They stayed out there for around 30 minutes and caught the field with about 8 to go. A mammoth effort on their part. Actually that part of the race was preeetty boring for myself and Marie as we were just sitting in not chasing and the Psimet ladies weren’t going to chase their team mate Kelli Richter who was also off the front of the main group. When Daphne and Briana caught us we tried to keep the pace hot in the hope of catching Kelli. But we never did catch her, and Daphne killed it in the sprint for an excellent second place. Marie was oh so close to 4th and I rounded out in 7th.

W3/4 Podium

W/Open Podium

The course itself was really great, short sharp turns through the streets of Urbana. It was a pity that there were so few of the regulars who could stick around for the 3.30 race. But with a smaller purse for the Women’s Open and the long drive back to Chicago I’m not surprised that the field was a half the size of previous races.

For me, it felt wonderful to race with such powerful and tactical team mates, and I really felt like we were beginning to work better as a team. Knowing when to attack, knowing when to sit in and knowing when to take over from each other.

By Jason

I woke up on race day and had breakfast. I laid around my buddy’s house playing mike Tyson’s punch out. I had anger driven deep inside me by the piston Honda 2nd fight. I threw the controller and angrily kitted up. I realized I was running late and started hurrying. I pulled my bike out of the garage, lubed my chain and rubbed the rust off from the day before. I put air in the tyres. It wasn’t raining on my ride over.

I got to registration at about 10:20. It went super smooth (thanks to the organizer and volunteers). Pinned my number on and heard that daphne won the w 3/4 race. Which was really no surprise because she’s hella good and dropped me like a bag of hammers a couple of weeks ago at training camp. I was then charged up for my race (additional charge from the boxing gloves of piston Honda the second time). I had a nice warm up on the roads to the east of the course. I got to the course and did one lap on the course. I got lined up, got a nice chainring mark on my leg from Paul Halupka and since it was raining I let some air out of my tyres.

Race starts. I’m in the front row and move up to 5th wheel. The guy from Johnny sprockets drills it for like 3 laps. I move to the back because I’m dying. I get towards the back and as the race progresses I find that it’s better if I’m there. There were so many attacks. Paul and the guy from Indiana just keep attacking I was just barely able to hang on for the entire middle of the race. On the last lap I had moved up to 7th or 8th wheel and I noticed that a gap was appearing with 4 riders going away. I attacked and bridged after turn 2. Then when I got to the group of 4 they slowed up and I was still coming fast. So instead of coasting up I did the “what the hell kind of crazy suicidal attack is that guy doing” maneuver. Rather than coasting I downshifted and jumped. I jumped on the left of them which put me in a poor line for the turn. As I was leaning the bike way farther than I normally like to do I thought to myself’ “well, those guys behind me won’t be dumb enough to take this crap line.” Followed by, “I’m glad I let that air out of my tyres.” Then, “if I crash at least I’m going for the win.” I tilted my bike back up. Then took the next right, right, left, quick right, then right again and sprinted with the little bit left in the tank I knew I had it when I saw Maria, Daphne and Marie’s faces at 50 meters!

Later that night I beat piston Honda the 2nd time. All in all a great day of racing and video gaming.

M4 Podium

Hillsbrah

 From the desk of Jason Fergerson

On Hillsboro Eve 2013:. I’ve waited forever for the race that would be the kickoff to my 2013 racing season. These last few weeks have just slowly went by. The weather has been extremely mentally draining. I hate having to wear full balaclava’s at 20 degrees to get my Wednesday riding in. I’m hoping that this Hillsboro eve signifies the start of the actual racing season. Where no balaclava’s are required. Where gloves are made of thin wool, and somebody can actually ride well without knickers. Although shorts are unlikely for tomorrow, racing is going to happen. I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself for this race, and am hoping that my teammates and I do well. However, all the preparation in the world cannot guarantee anything. Its bike racing. Its country roads with other bike riders. There’s no way to have any idea what is going to happen at mile 55. No one knows. I think its the uncertainty that is so amazing about bike racing. The fittest or fastest guy has to bring more to the table than that if they want to have any chance tomorrow. They also need Luck. And sometimes they need a lot.

From the desk of the Good Doctor Morell

Hillsboro Roubaix is the rare road race where even category four racers can look forward to almost 60 miles of racing. The course consists of two 29 mile circuits through the narrow, twisty and gravelly farm roads of southern Illinois with each lap capped off by a loop through the hilly, brick lined streets surrounding the Free Methodist Church. The crew had Jason, Al and myself lined up with 73 other category fours (unfortunately Hillsboro shared the date this year with Barry Roubaix and for the first time in my memory the fours field failed to sell out). The plan was to do nothing but sit in for the first lap. Then on lap two we would have Al work the front, looking to insert himself into any possible breaks, while Jason shielded me from the wind. If Al was unsuccessful in finding a breakaway, Jason would set me up to attack on the steep section of hill that precedes the brick streets a few blocks from the finishing line.

As soon as the race began a few attacks flew off the front. I found myself near the rear of the peloton and was unable to see exactly how it developed, but three riders opened up a 30 or so second gap and seemed to be working well together. This had the effect of keeping the pace honest in the pack. I don’t think anyone believed the break would stay away for the next two and a half hours, but there seemed to be an effort up front to at least keep them in sight. I remained toward the rear of the race, choosing not to waste much energy on improving my position until it became necessary. This strategy almost backfired twice as I narrowly avoided crashes ahead of me in the field. Shortly before the end of the first lap the break was caught and a large peloton rolled up the hill leading to town navigating the bricks without incident.

At the beginning of the second lap Al moved to the front of the bunch and began to do his part to keep the pace high and possibly try to escape if others were interested. Al and Jason and guys from Ten Speed Hero spent a good deal of the next twenty miles eating wind at the front and though every break attempt was immediately shut down, I’m sure their tempo sent several riders off the back. Of the three Cuttin’ Crew in the race, Al certainly burned the most calories. Finally, with about ten miles to go, I made contact with Jason and settled into his ample draft. As the peloton realized no one was going to get away, the pace slowed to a crawl with five to go. With the group at the base of the gentle climb into town the pace quickened and Jason and myself maneuvered toward the front. At the short flat before the final climb Jason did two things that gave me a chance to win. First he created a space for me to get to the shoulder and have an open lane to attack. And second, he took the initiative on the base of the climb allowing me to follow the wheels of those who responded. I came around Jason and some of the others who attacked and kept pushing up the hill. By the time I took the left hander that leads to a steep downhill and the bricks I believe I was in third with a gap both ahead and behind me. As I pedaled through the downhill and the rough transition to the long stretch of uneven brick I could see I was going to catch second place. But on the long stretch of brick before the final turn those who I’d passed on the climb came roaring back. I was able to grab a wheel and keep myself in podium contention heading into the final 500 meters, but a sprinter I am not. I essentially held my position all the way to the line, missing out on 5th place by a foot and holding off 7th place by the same margin.

Even though we didn’t win and missed a payout by the narrowest of margins, we can take solace in having stuck to a plan and played our roles to the best of our abilities throughout a long and unpredictable race.

Other results for the Crew include Daphne hanging with the field in her first 1/2/3 road race for a 17th place finish, and Maria taking a solid 12th in the women’s fours.

Many thanks to the Fergusons for their hospitality on Friday night, to Andrew and Olivia for their selfless acts of heroism in the feed zone, to Jeff for helping us get out of Dodge, to Marie for the send off and the snacks, to the fellows at Comrade for their time, effort and expertise and to the International Christian Cycling Club for continuing to put on a tremendously organized honest-to-goodness road race at a time when such events are few and far between.

Courtesy of www.ficksphotos.com

Today is February 24th

That means a lot to a few.

in memory we wild

Looking Back, Moving Forward

In 2008, around this time of year, some unwashed friends were sitting around a table at the Hideout, hatching a scheme to put together a bike racing team. Either they didn't feel like they fit in on their current team, or they wanted to step up from alleycats, but they were making it up as they went along. They had a shop and a 'packet' - a ramshackle document they could pass around, soliciting funds to get a spot on the jersey. This is why you should sponsor a bike racing team. As we all know, there's a lot of love in the sport, as for Return On Investment...well, that's another story. It's a tough sell, but there were a few that were down from the start. A guy at the end of the bar asked the bartender what they were up to. They sent down a packet. Long story short, the guy sends down a check. A big check. We're talking Platinum-level, 'nobody's going to give us this much, but let's put it in there anyway' kind of a check. He didn't want much in return, and he really didn't even want his name thrown out there, but when pressed to put something on the jersey, he said "just put The Hideout."

That man was Daniel Blue. He passed away last week.

There are many stories about him, many generous, some unbelievable, and a fraction of which can be found here. The Cuttin Crew would have found some way to put this thing together, but it sure helps when a stranger helps jump start your little scheme.

And what a scheme it became. Cash it before he sobers up! Kits and licenses, rolling deep to their cat 5 debut at the Spring Super Crit. A blazing attack in the last lap! Everyone jumps on it...except for the five guys in the Cuttin Crew leadout train. They take the win and four of the top five spots. oh we got this.

Needless to say, it hasn't all been that easy, but there have been some bright spots. A bunch of State titles in Road, Track, and Cyclocross. A regional MTB title. National podiums for a current and former teammie. A few Illinois Cup and ChiCrossCup series wins, scholarship dollars to Lees-McRae, a North American Courier Championship, and a whole lotta good times.

Some of us have moved on to better things, and some of us will move on again, but for the most part, once you're on the Cuttin Crew, you're down for life. Thanks Dan. We would have done it without you, but you sure made it a lot more fun.

And so, here we are, in the final race week of our fifth year: Cyclocross Nationals. We're putting our two best guys on it, one of which is a thirteen year old girl. Ella's in a new age bracket, so last year's podium might be tough to repeat, but she's got a taste for Wisconsin mud.

There are only a handful of Chicago riders stepping up for the big show, THE Championship Race, up against the current champ, the fire-breathing Professionals, and the dreamers. Mumford will be there. Big truck driving, boot stomping, brick dragging, bunny hopping Mumford, laughing the stormy, husky, brawling laughter of Youth.

A Glowing Review

The Afterglow is many things epic, but this year really topped it all.

Not only were riders able to mud it up on a rainy 40 degree day in December, but they were also able to help serve hungry people across Chicago during this special holiday time.

Our dude Fred of the Greater Chicago Food Depository stuck it out all day to collect donations. In his own words:

You Guys, that was amazing!  The warehouse staff couldn't believe one bike race collected over 1 TON OF FOOD, and that the entire van was loaded by two guys (with a little help from a two year old). I can't tell you how much this means. People are turning up at pantries in unheard of numbers; every single item turned in yesterday will be redistributed to people who are in serious need.

If people still have things to drop off, they can either: - stop by the Food Depository, 4100 W. Ann Lurie Place, Chicago, IL 60632 M-F 7Am - 6PM - drop food in the Food Depository box on my front porch, 2416 W. Palmer. - call a pantry near them, some accept donations directly: http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/site/PageServer?pagename=member_need_food

Hats off and many thanks to you all!

-- Cuttin Crew & Robots

Avi's Words of Wisdom

If you haven't heard it from five of our mutual friends, here goes nothing: Why should you race Afterglow?1. It's a race, and you're a racer. That should be enough.2. You feel empty after State Champs and the ChiCross series.3. It's going to be in the 40s, and it's in the city. Ride there and save the planet.4. The Park District is letting us trash a small golf course. Wind it up on the fairway and catch air into the sand trap! You know you want to.5. If it were any cheaper, it would be an alleycat.6. There will be several coffee options, any of which would be the best coffee you've ever tasted at a bike race. You have multiple baristas competing for your love.7. There will be two grown men racing over the fate of a stuffed tiger.8. You get called up to the front row for donating food, and your team will win a trophy if you donate a lot.9. Men and women get equal payouts (zero), but there will be sweet prizes.10. All the money that we'd normally make on this race will be donated to West Town and Blackstone youth programs. They teach neighborhood kids to ride, wrench, race, and stay out of trouble, and they literally share bikes while most of you own five. Even if you can't make it, go ahead and register and invent some BS about how you threw your back out chopping wood.get yr pre-registration on here: https://www.bikereg.com/Net/17636(we will have a waiting list for the men's 4's)

The Evil Supergirl Rises

vs.

Support a TRUE PATRIOT and come out and cheer on Category: Sweet Justice!!

From the Kitchen of Supergirl...

There I was...just minding my own business, when out of the blue my phone got hacked and a series of sinister photos started popping up!

Seems like Supergirl decided to spam me after seeing what I had discovered. It started off innocent...

donny

Reminded me of the good ol' days of playful fun...

costume

And how I once used to revere that suit with the utmost respect.

But then it turned dark...

knives

"Maybe he will use these for the overbearing geese population?" I naively thought to myself.

pot

"Ahh, yes! A delicious pre-race dinner," I continued...

recipe

What.

Must.. Protect.. Freedom!!

Come watch

,

come race

,

come support

!