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

A Thousand words

If you don't know this one you need to stop posing and respect your elder...

Think you've had a rough start?

Andrew is having a rough time lately. If you can recall, he took a mean spill at Hillsboro-Roubaix but came back smiling and cowbellin'. Well, now he's bouncing back after hitting the bricks in the finishing straightaway last weekend at the Great Dane Crit #2. What did he do after the accident? After cracking his helmet? After he trashed his bike, shoulder, back, hip, knee, shin, elbow, wrist, hand, everything except his eyelids? He hopped up and shouldered the bike and he ran a few hundred meters to cross the finish line. Poor guy seems to have a hex on him yet he refuses to succumb to frustration or pain. Besides being absolutely stupid fast, this is what this Andrew is all about.

The results page never tells the big story man. We're proud of you, good luck in those showers and shoulderin' that bag all week.

These photos are not for the faint of heart but, if you're so inclined, check out what your boy Andrew is dealing with. It's a reminder that helmets are good ideas...

Gotta Shout Out!

YEAAHHH BOYYEE!!!! If this kid was still in Chicago you could bet your ass he would be on this team... 2 is killing it out West!!!! VeloCity champ!!!! Haay-ay-ay, good job Michael!

He's the cutie in the Godspeed kit pulling to the front..(Thanks to franks t for the photo)

Gotta give big props to Squid & Co. for creating this baby and making it grow into a consistent success (Click on the pic for the full story)...

Why is everyone so nice to us?

Big ups go out to the many that bailed us out of a few jams last weekend at Super Crit...

Val totally picked us up within minutes of a phone call when the van crapped out. She's always been supportive, Thank You! (photo courtesy of scummerle)

Mr. Davey Jones, former messenger, came through to pick up the van's abandoned ones on his way to the race. Thanks! (photo courtesy of Burnham Racing)

Al Pearson (leading the pack), current working messer, stopped out of his competitive spot in the field to pull Andrew back onto the pace when Andrew dropped his chain...badass.(photo courtesy of rocketjim54)

Julia (far right) caught doing one of her many pulls to help keep the crew on pace. (photo courtesy of PRangel)

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

How to get on 3rd Gen. Cuttin' Crew

You must adhere to all of these guidelines:

1) Know how to ride a bike.

2) Basically live on your bike.

3) Go really fast on your bike.

4) Be in Chicago.

5) Have nothing better to do.

6) Be willing to take this shit wa-a-ay too seriously.

7) Be Brynn Schwaba or Bradley Gates.

Fresh fish! Fresh fish!

This is our (un)official development program. Talent and commitment have combined to create two cats rising up from within the street scene that were so kickass we just had to ask if we could take them in before the rest of the world wisened up. Hazing will most definitely ensue but remember, no one punches my little brother/sister but me. Thanks for coming along for the ride guys! We know you'll make us proud! (...awwww)