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.

Snake, Melon, Quad 2010

(With el Jefe at Northbrook's Sprinters' Omnium series and much of the squad attending a wedding, the Cuttin' Crew fielded a mighty thin team for this weekend's races. At least one of us spent the weekend mixing it up with the big guns, JRho provides this week's race report:) That was some fun and awesome racing. I traveled with the Flatlandia ladies and stayed for the full 3 days looking for some solid training and experience in the 123s with some of the region's best women on 3 very different courses. I was terrified and excited. Main goal: don't be intimidated. In my head goal: don't embarrass yourself.

Race 1: SNAKE. Ugh. 12 times! I was not looking forward to this but I was going to do it dammit. Race goal: don't die. It was hot but I made sure to warm up. Leah decided not to do the race so I was able to get her start spot. Yes, that shit helps. I was damn near skipping this to save my legs for the next day but knew I'd regret not racing. So off I go - lots more girls than I remember from last year - got a couple shoves on the first lap or two going up that thing but it eventually strung out. I had no idea where I was in the race but I was chillin, riding my own race and I actually felt solid (12-27!). I was eventually lapped by first place super pro Tibco and last year's Snake winner Amanda Miller - she is AMAZING - and second place Punk Rock Cycling's Women's World Human Powered Speed Champion (for real) Lisa Vetterlein - also AMAZING - turns out she did the first couple laps in her big ring and was rockin a 23 - what?! Anyway, I'm lapped by the two leaders - cool with me. One less lap to do! Result: 20th - top 20!!

Avi again proved what legends are made of, tripled up, and climbed that thing near 30 times. Um, have you been able to walk yet? :)

Race 2: Melon City. Race goal: Stick and finish with the lead pack. I really like this course so I set my goal a little higher. This is what I'd consider my first real big girl race (Snake don't count) and again I was terrified. It was one race but the 3s had the option to be scored separately which is super cool. Anyway, the race - swoop, swoop, speed bump, hill, chicane, repeat. Lisa Vetterlein took off at some point (I had some kind of idea but not really) and the group was chasing but we never got her even though Kenda had like 10 girls in there. It was again HOT and riders were cracking all day - it became a race of attrition. I don't know - I felt pretty good and was focused on my goal. I was still in the main chase group and we had whittled to about 20 girls. I couldn't really tell how many 3s were in there but I had stopped focusing on that. Last lap - pace picks up, girls jockey for position. There's a crash on the downhill - avoid carnage, speed bump, hill. All I knew was I had to be in a good spot at the chicane for the final meters. We get to the hill and my legs said "haha" but I passed a few people. Hey, I stuck with the main pack! Result: 2nd in the 3s! (looking at where I came in on the 123 list, I would've been top 15). Aaaand I suck. There was confusion in the results, the officials took FOREVER, and I changed not realizing a podium for the 3s was taking place. So, I was sans kit up there. Boo.

Race 3: Quad Cities. Race goal: stick with the lead pack again/try and partake in sprint finish if that's how it plays out. Race goal edited: stay upright. So the organizers have a 2/3 race which is awesome. I was looking forward to this since I've been wanting to get my sprint on. We get there, get in race mode, start to warm up, and the rain starts...fuck. I realize this is one slippery course in the rain so I take some corners and play with tire pressure. It'll be cool - 2s and 3s can ride their bikes, right? HA. The rain stops right before the start so it's just WET. We get going and riders go down like clockwork at turn 7 for the first 5-6 laps. This doesn't include riders going down at other corners. Of course, I feel like I'm stuck behind every one. Some riders get up the road but I have no idea what's going on, I just keep going chasing the chase group. The last couple of laps I finally felt like I was with people who knew how to take corners on wet road, we caught the chase group, and last lap mayhem begins. At this point I am focused on my goal edited. We get through smoothly til turn 7 again. Some girls go down, I just gun it for turn 8 and the finish. Result: Upright. 14th. Meh. I pass on doubling up even though it would've been nice to actually "race" this course. It is fun. BUT I got to watch Kristen take the WIN! And watch someone fly over the 3ft chicken wire in the distance at turn 8 as Kristen is chargin the line.

Main goals accomplished. And I love racing my bike.

Velo-City final standings

The dust has settled and it's time to put propers out for all of our racers and the other fine folks who put this together. In the words of our Race Director/Bus Driver, Ben: "It's pretty great getting to hold a legitimate track event with a bunch of my friends on my hometown velodrome."

Messenger class: 1 Nico 2 Phil "Butters" Brewer 3 Brian "Aloha" "Track Stand" 4 Christina "Teeners" Peck 5 Mikey Urbanis 6 Casey Comiskey 7 Tie: Dylan Gimple and Nick Puczasasuszaurus

Citizen Class: 1 Alexander Urbanski 2 Tie: Anderew Yeoman and Ted Burger 4 Avi Neurohr 5 Jake Blaze 6 Brandon - Pegasus 7 Tie: Sage and Ben VC 9 Mike ? 10 Josh Shough

EDIT: In our haste to post official results, we forgot to mention one racer who just wasn't content to hang with the pack. Miss Nikki Munvez went on a flyer in the points race to roll the dice a few laps ahead of the crowd, and for that, she took home the Spirit award.

We tried to score points as deep as possible to get everyone recognized in the standings, but there were a bunch of others who just came out to have a good time. Word to our announcers, Andrew Nordyke and Mike Morell. Nordyke actually means 'born to work the bullhorn' in Norwegian, and Dr. Morell made the long train/bike trip from Chicago, only to announce a few events and head back south for more pressing matters. In no particular order, we'd like to thank Aaron at 611 cycles for the bars, Duane at Chester Cycles for the paint, Squid at Cyclehawk, Velocity and Yojimbo's for prizes, and Continental for entry schwag.

For a full rundown, check out Sage's photos, Time Out Chicago's gallery, Julio's video, and Simon has promised a forthcoming writeup. As a recovering roadie, Avi couldn't stop himself from writing up the non-messenger events in excruciating detail, and maybe we'll get a rundown on the messenger side from Nico one of these days. Spoiler: Nico and Phil were running pretty tight overall for tickets to Guatemala going into the final scoring event, the points race. Going 1-2 in the first two sprints, it was turning into a showdown until Phil touched wheels with Teeners and went down. Quote of the day: "I thought crashing on a velodrome would really hurt, but that wasn't so bad."

Add a link in the comments if you have more pics or news. (Multiple links per comment will get flagged/hidden as spam, so if you have several, just add one per comment or send 'em all to chicagocuttincrew at gmail dot com.)

Photo courtesy of Max Herman.

La Ocho!

...or, for us North Americanos: The Eight. Once upon a time some nutty messengers raced the human powered rollercoaster, an over/under figure eight velodrome. Inspired by this, the organizers of the 2010 Messenger Worlds off in Guatemala have promised to build one out of blood, sweat, and clay.

The winner (in the messenger category) of yesterday's Velo-City event won himself some tickets to a little over/under madness. Ladies and Gentlemen, our own Mister Nico Deportago-Cabrera is that man! In the 'non-messenger slash past-winner-so-therefore-not-qualified-to-race-as-a-messenger' category, Mr. Al Urbanski took home the top prize, a sweet custom bar/stem combo.

We'll have a wrap up of yesterday's event, as well as full standings, but first things first: Big thanks to Kenosha native Ben Fietz for lining up track time, and driving the Winnebago, not to mention officiating. Julio for lining up sweet prizes, Teeners for putting together the alleycat, Squid for being Squid, and a bunch of other people To Be Named Later that did such an awesome job behind the scenes that I didn't know about them.

Highlights and full standings on the way.