Wednesday Fixie Fix #2
Just some mid-week chillin'.
Boy, they don't call Chicago the windy city for nothing that's for sure! It was a howler from the north east and it put those early season legs to the test down in Joliet today. You either had it today, or you didn't. There was no hiding in the pack! But other than that it was a beautiful day and a well executed race by the South Chicago Wheelmen, USAC officials, and the owners of the Autobahn Country Club.
The early bird races had some familiar names again, so let's get that out of the way. Good 'ol Patryk Limanowicz (XXX) got win number 4 this morning, beating Eric Christ (Bicycle Heaven) and Justin Somerville (Bicycle Heaven) in the Men's Cat. 5 race. Katie Isermann (Iron Cycles) took the Women's 3/4, Sam Bianchi (XXX) won the Jr 10 - 14, and the South Chicago Wheelman swept the Jr 15-18 podium with Ryan O'Boyle, Trevor Rolette, and Michael Keller going 1-2-3. Master's 40+ was won by Michael Seguin (XXX), 50+ was swept by Team Mack - Mark McGeen, John Fleckstein, and Gary Doering, and Master's 30+ was won by - good 'ol Patryk Limanowicz (XXX). Aren't you Cat 5's glad he's not 20 years old and going to haunt you your entire career? LOL!
The Women's Open race had a small field, but it showed lots of agression. Leah Sanda (Flatlandia) and Stacy Appelwick (BTN) [I can never spell that team's name correctly - ED] rode off the front and pretty much splintered the group. Sanda took the sprint for the win over Appelwick.
The 3rd annual and many more to come, no doubt. The Burnham Racing, Spidermonkey Cycling, USAC folks did a great job putting on a grand day of racing at the Blachkhawk Ridge race track in South Beloit, IL today. There was a nice turnout on this fine day that saw much better weather than last year's rain and snow! Most fields were filled if not almost filled. The final Cat. 5 race at the end of the day even had a waiting list.
In the early bird races, the winner of the men's Cat 5 was a name that we're all getting familiar with. Taking an early prime and then adding his third victory in as many races, Patryk Limanowicz (XXX)took the top spot. Leah Sanda (Flatlandia) won the Women's 3/4, Robert Downs (Planet Bike) aced the Masters 40+ field, and Mark Shea (Team Mack) won the Masters 50+ race.
In the Masters 30+, Patrick Fasse (Bicycle Heaven) won the first mass stampede of the day taking the field sprint by a bike length over a mass of riders stacked up curb to curb.
The "Zoo Interchange" on the west side of Milwaukee where most of the traffic between Chicago and points north and west is a major jam up due to a bridge that was closed emergently. Just a heads up for those who have to go through there for the upcoming races in the next few months.
It may not feel like it because of the cool weather, but the season is in full swing now with multiple races to attend this weekend. If you're looking to loosen up those legs tonight, Friday Mar 26th - Half Acre Cycling, on Chicago's south side, still has the Gaper's Block Criterium tonight for men Cat. 4/5 and Women Cat. 3/4.
Saturday, Mar 27th brings us the the much awaited for 3rd Annual Burnham Racing - Spring Super Criterium in South Beloit, IL this year featuring neutral mechanical assistance by Chicago’s Kozy’s Cyclery. Held on the Blackhawk Farms auto raceway, there will be folks driving many miles to attend this one! In southern Michigan there is the new Barry-Roubaix: The Killer Gravel Road Race which features 2,200 ft of climbing over 35 miles and is held on 80% gravel roads. This race is growing fast. In Minnesota, there is the OPUS Crit. Beginners Clinic held on the Opus Criterium Course in Minnetonka where they will "teach you how to fill out a release waiver, how and where to pin a race number, basic bike handling drills, pre race and post race tips. You will be riding the OPUS crit course in groups to simulate race conditions"
Sunday, Mar 28th In Illinois, the South Chicago Wheelmen present their spring criterium C.O.U.G.A.R.2010 (Chicagoland Omnium Using Great Area Racetracks) held on the Autobahn Country Club race track in Joliet. That's two days of racing on car tracks in one weekend? Also on Sunday, ABR has their final event of their three races in Kenosha - Kenosha Velosport's Spring Training Series. This is a great way to get in another early season race in a layed back atmosphere and is just of the freeway in Pleasant Prairie.
No races are listed for this weekend in Iowa or Indiana, but if there is, please send us a note and we'll get that posted ASAP ! Good luck racers, where ever you race!
From local TV station. Nothing you don't already know, but fun to watch anyway.
There are a number of big races on the European Pro cycling calendar this weekend. Attending these races are a number of US riders with mid-western roots, let's summarize who is racing what this weekend.
Bjorn Selander (Radio Shack) from Hudson, WI is competing in Spain's Volta Catalunya, supporting Levi Leipheimer and is currently ranked 161st (ouch) (foto from Velonews).
Racing midweek, in March? Are we in Belgium? Nope, this is Chicago! Half Acre Cycling is having week night racing, all this week, at Calumet Park, 9801 South Ave G, Chicago.
View Larger Map
These are actual USAC sanctioned events so you do need a license to compete, but you can get a single day license at registration.
So, how are they going? Racers are reporting:
" My first ever race. The gapers crits aren’t really for sticking your neck out to get the win – there isn’t really anything TO win. Its more for training and experience."
and
" I was able to go to the ouside of the pack by myself. And that's the way we ended with myself coming in third. Not a bad start for the season."
Men's 4/5 heat 1 | 30 | minutes | 6:15 PM | $50 | 50 |
Women's 3 | 30 | minutes | 6:45 PM | $15 | 50 |
Women's 4 | 30 | minutes | 6:46 PM | $15 | 50 |
Men's 4/5 heat 2 | 30 | minutes | 7:15 PM | $50 | 50 |
Okay, so everybody knows the big rules of bicycle racing like no hand slinging your team mate to the front of the pack like it's Madison Race on the track, or no head butting your rival in the final sprint, but a few more subtle rules have popped up this past week so let's just touch on them briefly.
Steve Tilford posted on his blog last week about crumpling numbers making the point that when you do that the number lays flatter on your back, doesn't act like a sail when riding, and after 30 years of crumpling his numbers he still gets placed in his races just fine, thank you very much. Well, you can read that very interesting post for yourself, but after discussing this with several officials at the last Kenosha race they still ask you to not crumple your numbers because it indeed does make it hard to read your number as you rip by them at 35mph. Yes, Tilford has been crumpling his numbers for the last 30 years and the officials have been b****ing at him about it for 30 years as well! The point is that the little facets of a crumpled number make it hard for the camera to make it out. They said to simply not fold or crumple your number and place it where they ask. If you want it more securely attatched use more pins or a spray adhesive which is what some riders do from what I understand.
Bottle throwing. This past week one rider was DQ'd for tossing his bottle on the final lap. I imagine that had he not tossed it 20 feet in the air right at the start finish line in front of four different officials he probably would have gotten away with it. If you absolutely must loose that baggage on the last lap, perhaps do it in front of the seaguls on the back straight and make note of what the officials look like because they do walk the course from time to time and just might be standing back there too. If officials are enforcing that rule now in spring, you can bet they will during Superweek. Just something to keep in mind.
I just ran across these great photos posted by Christoff Van Heerden of the South African "MTN" team that dominated Superweek last year. Here he is being 'arrested' by the Elgin Police Department and another of the team riding the Ozaukee County Bike Trail. Heck, there's even a few here that were taken by yours truly, so I don't feel bad about posting his photos here! HA!
I think it's great having those guys over here and it's super seeing them have such a great time racing here.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=138500&id=558405960
Results are now posted!
http://www.ambikerace.com/2010/resuts/Kenosha%20Velosport%20results%203-21-10v2.pdf
After getting that first race of the year out of the way last week, the racing began to heat up yesterday at the 31st Annual Spring Training Races presented by Kenosha Velosport. Although some of the snow still remained on the ground from the day before, sunshine prevailed and that seem to give extra incentive for riders to 'give it a go' and we saw many break attempts throughout the day.
The morning session saw Sam Schneider (Team Tibco) win again in the open women's race over Rachel Roessingh (IS Corp), Mark Serafin (PACT/Dish) took the 40-49 over Chip Pleper (Gear Grinders), and Casey Masterson (Velo Trocadero) won the 30-39 Masters race over Justin Armstead (Team Mack).
There is a nice article here about the Barry - Roubaix, a 31 mile race on gravel featuring 2,000 ft of climbing that's sure to test those early season legs. About 600 riders, many driving hundreds of miles, are expected to participate next Saturday on March 27th.
http://www.barry-roubaix.com/
Here's the audio from today's show regarding cyclists vs cars: http://www.stationcaster.com/player.php?s=65&c=580&f=45338
THird clip down.
Videos are now showing up from last Sunday's Kenosha Criterium. Kindly posted by Andrew Zens on his blog "monkeyofftheback". Watch for the now infamous crash in the 3's right at the S/F line. Nice videos guys!
I know that a lot of people have been wondering when this year's Superweek schedule will be announced. I just received an email that the 2010 schedule and a new website will hopefully be available next week. Perhaps on Monday. Stay tuned!
Read more...Results now posted: http://www.ambikerace.com/2010/resuts/Kenosha%20Velosport%20results%203-14-10.pdf
Cat. 2
PLACE # NAME CLUB/TEAM
1 371 Ben Anderson unattached
2 370 Dan Ajer unattached
3 373 Tim Pacholski Velo Trocadero
4 524 Chris Padfield Recycling p/b Ascension
5 377 Clayton Chase Gear Grinders
6 372 Luke Seeman xXx Racing Athletico
Cat. 3
1 524 Chris Padfield Recycling p/b Ascension
2 241 Mark Serafin Pact/DishNetwork
3 519 Marc O'Shea unattached
4 520 Chris Gola WDT/Allvoi
5 513 Karl Schult Endurance Trust
6 516 Michael Jenich Team Pegasus
Cat. 4
PLACE # NAME CLUB/TEAM
1 850 Russell Georgeson Hayes/RPM
2 836 Michael Geitner Team Extreme
3 102 Greg Krieger Team Extreme
4 843 Bryan Witry Spider Monkey
5 834 Tim Speciale PSIMET Racing
6 833 Kyle Tabor PSIMET Racing
Cat. 5
PLACE # NAME CLUB/TEAM
1 608 Patryk Limanowicz XXX Racing Athletico
2 449 Ryan Pokoray unattached
3 103 Ben Senkerik Team Extreme
4 108 Patrick Diamond Gear Grinders
5 483 Matthew Stachelski unattached
6 459 Jason Roggenbauer Wheelfast Racing
Here's a few to pass the time until you get out to ride later. These and more (including the dirty ones) can be found on Team Estrogen's site.
You Know You're Addicted To Cycling When...Your surgeon tells you you need a heart valve replacement and you ask if you have a choice between presta and schrader.
A Power Bar starts tasting better than a Snickers.
You wear your heart monitor to bed to make sure you stay within your target zone during any extracurricular activities.
The funeral director tells you "NO!" you can't ride your Cannondale in the funeral procession, even if you keep your headlight on.
You're too tired for hanky-panky on a Friday night but pump out a five-hour century on Saturday.
AND the number-one reason you know you're addicted to bicycling...
You no longer require a hankie to blow your nose.
With the season opener race held in Kenosha this past Sunday, many of you may have asked yourself I wonder who's going to show? or Where's Loberg? or Kyle Jacobson? Well, it so happens that there was a three day series of collegiate racing going on near Indianapolis, IN. Saturday featured a road race in the morning with distances between 28 and 45 miles followed in the evening with a 5 mile 'naked' time trial (get you mind out of the gutter) where aero equipment was not allowed, then on Sunday was a criterium.
You can find the full results here.
After an almost 7 month absence, VS has returned to Direct TV as of yesterday, March 15th. That's great news to many who have enjoyed their cycling coverage for years. Their web cycling page can be found here:
http://www.versus.com/cycling/
Upcoming broadcasts include:
Criterium International: March 28, 2:30-4p ET
Tour of Flanders: Sunday, April 4, 5-7p ET
Paris Roubaix: April 11, 6-8pm ET
Fleche Wallone: April 25, 2-3pm ET
Liege Bastogne Liege: April 26, 12:30-2:30am ET
Tour de Romandie: May 3, 12:30-2:30 ET
Tour of California: May 16-23, Time TBD Preview Show May 9 @ 2pm ET
Dauphine Libere: June 6, 4-6p ET & June 13, 3-5p ET
Tour of Philadelphia: June 6, 1:30-3p ET
Tour de Suisse: June 13, 5-6pm ET & June 20, 5-7pm ET
Tour de France: July 3-25, LIVE AM Broadcasts. TimesTBD
Paris Tours: October 10, 5-6pm ET
Now, if we can only get DTV to carry Universal Sports as well, we'd all be in Heaven!
The 2010 season has begun! Approximately 200 riders representing different ABR categories competed in Kenosha's Lakeview industrial park under partly cloudy skies. Temperatures rose to 50 F degrees but the north east wind off Lake Michigan kept a chill in the air. That wind, which the riders faced head on in the back straight, also put the sting in their legs. As one rider put it: "That wind is no good if you have any ambition to do anything today."
In the morning races, Sam Schneider (Tibco) took the Women's Open catagory over Elizabeth Engwis (Kenda) and Carrie Keperrick (Nova Cycle). Other winners in the morning included Heidi Stangl (Tri Wis) in the Women's 4 and John Acker (Wheel & Sprocket) in the Masters 30-39.
Well, it appears that the snow has gone for now and spring has arrived! Since that's the case, it's time to look forward to the upcoming 2010 cycing road season. Here are the links to the official calendars for each state here in the midwest. I'll try to post many of them on our Google Calendar, but these are much more comprehensive and please consult these last when making your racing plans!
Iowa,
Illinois
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Wisconsin
USA Cycling master list
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