Hillsboro-Roubaix showdown! April 10, 2010!

   vs.   

As current president of the Chicago Cuttin' Crew, I, Jeff Perkins have raised a wager with the president of Team Pegasus, Mr. Cale Wenthur concerning a long time heated rivalry between two blood thirsty titans, Mike Morell and Andrew Yeoman.

If Mr. Yeoman places better than Dr. Morell at this weekend's Hillsboro-Roubaix race than we shall be indebted one gift basket from Chicago to those who hail from the fine city of Milwaukee. If Dr. Morell reigns supreme, however, the role will be reversed and I will gladly be partaking in whatever disturbing pleasantries MKE has to offer that will fit into a gift basket whilst I bask in Andrew's internet shame.

Stakes is high! Who's your pick? The climber with the attitude for altitude or the sprinter with the heavy pedal stroke?

Gaper's and Supercrit review

Thanks to John Wilke over at peloton-pix.com we have a nice example of how a leadout can go wrong.

 ...looks like someone made a shift for Jeff's wheel when he passed but didn't realize Roadhouse was riding tight behind.

 ...I'm seeing a weak spot in the rear wheel there.

...he couldn't finish the race but Al certainly saved it. That's probably why they pay him the big bucks over at S1.

In much more enlightening news, Christina ended another well attended segment of the Gaper's Block Crits with a 3rd place finish, 2nd in her category. Supercrit started off with Ella, Avi's daughter DOMINATING the 10-14 year old women's category to start the day. Then Jannette toed the line to take 4th in a rather decently attended women's open.

Aside from the evidence on how the men's 4's race finished, all 3 primes were taken by Avi, Al, and Jeff. Then there was also the men's 4/5. With the help of Adam Herndon and the great crowd at the race we instigated a crowd prime for $42.99 for the 4/5's race. Unfortunately Avi poured all his gas on winning that prime (on the announcement lap, not the actual prime bell lap) aaand then the bell was rung right after Al went for a solo flier. *GULP* ...go team... (!)

The guys fared meh but we've all got quite a buzz after such a great opening week for the ladies.

Back to back!

Half Acre drew over 20 women participants for their 3rd night in a row. Jannette won yet again! Teeners got the top spot in her category and Jamie rounded out the nights performance with a top ten finish, 8th in the 4's! There's plenty to be proud of coming from the women's squad and keep up the great work!

Results are up for viewing here.

Jannette Rho with the win!

(insert photo here)

Tuesday night's race in the Gapers Block Crit Series was the opening night for a few more of us this season. Jannette Rho started off her season in the retro CCC jersey and did it up right. She nabbed 1st place in the Gaper's Block crit with a MONSTER sprint out of the last corner. For those of you that thought she was just a diesel engine good for the heroic breakaway, she made it known she can throw down in the final 200. I don't know what it is but every time she wears a Cuttin' Crew jersey she wins. effin beeyootiful.

The guys fared well with Max, Jeff, Avi and Mike going down to lovely Calumet Park. Dr. Morell brought home the top finishing spot in a bunch sprint. He garnered the 7th spot across the line tying Brean for best male performance of the year.

Racing has totally started. Gotta love it.

It's starting!

Brean has won the 'street-cred' prime for being the first on the team mentioned in a racy little article about underground cycling over at velonews.com. Congratulations to Dan for a big win.

It is officially Spring and, regardless of a little nip in the air, it feels mighty nice to know that. Races are fully amongst us for the next few weeks and we're all pretty psyched.

It all begins with the team that has been a personal favorite. Half Acre continues to impress with a repeat of their season opening criterium series. It was originally called Kevin's Crits for sake of the most interesting sailor in Chicago but now it has changed names to one of the most interesting bloggers in Chicago. The Gaper's Blocks Crit Series is the second of their 5 major events and it's running from Monday, March 22 - Friday, March 26 down at Calumet Park in Chicago. Racing starts at 6 and continuously changes fields through until 8. A much better list of the details can be found here.

The bus will be going down on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday to provide a little shelter and we'll have a water cooler and, maybe if you're lucky, somebody will take some grilling initiative. Feel free to swing by and hop in to warm up or hang out.

Saturday is another successful criterium in place to open up the Illinois Cycling Association's Illinois Cup Series. Burnham Racing hosted our coming out party 3 years ago and they're at it again with their third running of the Spring Super Criterium. The race is this Saturday, March 27.

A sure sign of a regional Spring classic is selling out the online registration within something like 2 days. The race track and organization they've got down at Blackhawk Farms is definitely worth the trip.

Yeah buuuddy!

*

There is plenty to say about our third pickup, Mr. Nico Deportago-Cabrera. Within 2 short years of becoming a messenger, Nico has made himself nothing but a positive fixture in the street scene every scene.

A solid, genuine dude through and through, everyone seems to know him across the city, country and even across the freakin' globe! Of course, rounding out the sweep for Chicago at the NACCCs will always help that cause. Pleasantries aside, the man can throw down when it's time to roll.

Just as your boy has been invaluable for the reputation of Chicago and the people in it, we're real damn lucky to have heard that trademark "hell jesss!" when we asked him to join the Crew.

*(real good lookin' pic there that sure is making its rounds thanks to indyfab)

We can rebuild him...

 Boyoyoyoyoyingg!

Ladies and gents meet Roadhouse. Yes, he works at Service First. Yes, his name is Al. Yes, he's got an insane training regimen that he sticks to religiously. Yes, he hates talking. Hold up though - this man is Al PEARSON.

I'm nervous to pump up Al because he's got such great potential and, contrary to the general Chicagoan sports mentality, he likes to deliver results before imagining what-ifs. Makes a man dangerous when he's got the skills Al has.

So we'll leave it at this, Al Pearson has kindly joined us at the ranks of the Cuttin' Crew and we're all completely psyched cuz he's a real good dude and he's gon' whoop a whole lotta ass.

Too subtle?

Ladies first

*

Jannette! Jannette Rho! Jannette Rho is on the Cuttin' Crew!

Sorry. It's tough to contain that news.

So, naturally, we are a chivalrous lot and have to first announce our newest lady. It's not like being first is a strange place to be for Jannette. She racked up at least 9 first places by my count last year and that omits her overall Chicago Cyclocross Cup Champion status. Might as well conclude it all on top, right?

Well, of course we twisted her arm a little here and there. Some bribes may have happened, some beers may have happened but she has certainly blessed us with her presence and we couldn't be happier.

Welcome to the darkside, Jannette...

*(photo courtesy of Luke)

Chapter 3

Well. Here we are. Round 3.

We fired off some very big rounds over 2009. Aside from the results we have all become major gluttons for the experiences. Oh, and there sure as hell were results: Leland Kermesse win, ran the table at Velo-City, Mayor's Cup win, NACCC overall champion, ALLVOI Cup champion, State road race champion, Cycle Messenger World Champs podium, Elite National qualifiers for the track, Officially Unofficial Illinois State Singlespeed Champion, Partying at a golf resort, Operation bus rescue, and plenty more podiums and off the bike successes.

It was a great time considering how difficult the 2nd year can be for a team like ours. We're rooted from a culture that is in a perpetual state of youth. In spirit more than anything. A lot of people around us live fast and once a novelty is done it's tough to keep something going. I'm sure it's probably not tougher than most (I'm such a whiner) but when you're a tight knit group like this it can get a bit dodgy. One ideal we try to maintain is what's best for you will most likely be what's best for the team. It helps when respecting the different styles and desires that come from a group of messengers, ex-messengers and never-messers (Stan).

  

(Big thanks again to the Lardy Photography)

Someone got a great offer we couldn't match and would have been crazy to turn them down. Someone decided it was best to part ways for a while and roll with another killer crew. Some haven't been able to race for this reason or that and some we love seeing out there no matter how few and far between. So the sun has set on one year, so to speak, but this great wheel keeps spinning.

One thing is for sure, the sun is rising again with a whole new lot of burning fury and we are rising up to meet it.

(what up minx!)

In an unprecedented recruitment blitz (!), we've got three new faces to add to the roster this year and I am so proud and excited to see them take us up on a chance to fly our colors. Keep your eyes peeled over the next few days as we are privileged to introduce a few new faces to this raggedy little band of Cuttin' Crew 3.0...

2.24.2008