Washington Park, Quarry View

Brian Matter (Photo by ?)

WISCONSIN: Milwaukee Velo Trocadero Washington Park Halloween CX - With top official Heidi still out of commission and nobody else able to fill her shoes, we have no results, so it's all speculation from here on out. Brian Matter (Papa Smurf) *may* have won the Pro 1/2 by what he posts on his blog: "I've been training pretty hard for Iceman...I was pretty tired and Shriver was crushing it all day at the race. He jumped me on every section of the course where I was strong to take away all my advantages. Experience paid off though....I lost a sprint to Marko in this race last year...so I knew exactly where to start the sprint." 
Nate Phelps (Big Ring Flyers)(a real reporter) tells us: "Amber Markey won the women’s 3 both days. Jesse Shoemaker (Bike Hub/Specialized) won the men’s 4 both days. Anything beyond that I can’t confirm"

Corey Hengen has a few photos over on Flickr.

Photo: Jay Labecki

WISCONSIN: Sheboygan - Quarry View Park - Well, we know that Matter took the day off to rest for the Ice Man, Schouten was in Colorado, there are no results, so ... I guess that puts the Junior men front and center, and there's nothing wrong with that! Nate Labecki takes the top step from his team mates Chris (Tad) Osborne and  Max Ackermann.

Here's a poor screen grab of Nate climbing the 'Equalizer', which is ridiculously steep. He makes it look TOO easy.




MORE TO FOLLOW ON TUESDAY

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Halloween: Boulder

COLORADO: Boulder - First let's catch up on what happened with our Midwest riders in Boulder. Then catch up on the local scene later today.

Video taken from Dejan Smaic's FB page:










From Schouten's FB: 19 hrs door to door to boulder, co today to race. Led lots of the 5th lap and outsprinted t. Wells for 5 Th. Todd made my weekend with a mid race conversation when he told me "working is easy" so I should pull. More to come on that.

Tristen Schouten (Cyclocrossracing.com) takes a flier Photo: © Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net Still waiting for full results

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Halloween Story: Rik Van Gino

Rik Van Gino

Rik Van Gino was born in July 1924 in the small town of Bear Bluff, Wisconsin. Raised by his European immigrant parents, it was in his blood to ride his bike, and you could always  find him riding the gravel roads that led from his home in Bear Bluff to the nearby towns of Millston, Warrens, and Dexterville. When he was 18, he enlisted in the army and fought all across France and Holland during World War II. After the war, he returned back to Wisconsin and returned to the cycling he loved. He was a fast finisher, won many races, and competed on the wooden Velodromes as well as on the road in such races as the famous Elgin to Chicago. Local riders also also knew him to be a prankster, and one of his favorites was to sneak up behind a rider and gently grab the underside of his saddle and take a little tow. Once the rider could tell that some thing was amiss, he would look back to find Rik playing his little joke. Rik would laugh out loud: "HA HA HA!"and race off into the distance. Rik was so fast that no one could never catch him, but they could still hear him laugh to himself as he rode away down the road. 

One of Rik's goals was to compete in the 1948 London Olympic games, and the trials for the US Olympic team were that year were to be held in Milwaukee. The race was a long one, 135 miles, and Rik knew that if he was going to make the team that he would have to be in the best shape of his life, so he rode many many miles in preparation. He rode from Madison to Milwaukee, Milwaukee to Chicago, or all day from sun up to sun down from his city of Chicago home. As the day of the big Olympic trials race was approaching, Rik was putting in some big miles, but one day, he disapeared. He left early one morning, and never returned. Some think that he was hit by a car, others think he simply fell off his bike from exhaustion, probably into a deep ditch never to be seen again. Nobody knows.

 Even though that was many, many years ago, some local riders think that he is still out there riding the roads around Chicago, still training for that Olympic road race that he never got to compete in. So, if you're out riding, and you feel that something just isn't right, like some thing is dragging on your bike, listen carefully and maybe you'll hear Rik off in the distance - laughing, because he just got away with another prank ... this time on you.

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Happy Halloween!

Bear with us as Peloton Star gets back up to speed. We've got our intern Eaton Doolittle working WAY overtime!


WISCONSIN: Milwaukee Halloween CX Washington Park images from today's featured photographer - Mary Christianson

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Back on-line

The Star is slowly coming back on-line. Eaton, our computer intern, hopes you accept his sincere apology for dropping the stack of data punch cards down the stairs on Friday. He stayed up all night putting them back in order to get the UNIVAC running again and assures us it will not happen again! (It better not)

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Uberti World Amateur Criterium Champion

Short on time today, so lets get right to it. I'll do the weekend preview tomorrow.

KOREA: Changwon - Changwon World Amateur Criterium Championships Chris Uberti (Panther) formerly of West Lafayette, IN, now living and working in Columbus, OH was invited to race the World Amateur Criterium Championships in South Korea this past weekend. We let him take up the story: "Why racing in Korea? Well first of all the race organizers are paying the way for a bunch of Amateur racers to come out here to do there race, plus I had a bunch of Vacation days I needed to use before the year is up.

The race itself is titled "Amateur Criterium World Championship" which probably carries about as much meaning as any ABR world championship."  "I'm not sure this particular World Championship was any sort of sanctioned world's (they couldn't provide insurance and no licenses were required), but they paid my way out there and the race had $13,500 of prize money, so it certainly had enough money for an Amateur World Championship".  

"The last five laps things were getting nervous. I committed myself to staying at the front despite having to use a little extra energy. I even chased down a leadout that had turned into a breakaway going into the bell lap.

Coming into the last corner I was sitting on the front just riding tempo, knowing that getting boxed in by a swarm would be the end of my race. I waited until a few riders from the Storck group attacked on the inside going into the last corner. I jumped across the road into 3rd wheel. Fortunately the Korean's aren't quite as cut-throat when it comes to wheel stealing as Americans. I went through the last corner 3rd wheel.

Chuck Hutchenson an American rider from the Armed Forces team was second wheel and attacked pretty much right out of the corner. I immediately jumped on his wheel. After a few seconds I glanced back...we had a HUGE gap. He motioned me to pull through, knowing it would be tough for the field to catch us I pulled through pretty easy baiting him to open up the sprint first, he did. I got up onto his wheel and from that point on the slingshot was engaged, and you don't mess with the slingshot."

MORE PHOTOS

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Baycross, Cross Nationals, Good Old Superweek

Baycrossrace.com

WISCONSIN: Ashland - Baycross CX RESULTS Not a terribly big turnout, but it appears that many of the regulars in the UPCROSS circuit made the trip.

MICHIGAN: Detroit - Mad Anthony RESULTS

WISCONSIN: Madison - US Cyclocross Nationals - Cyclocross Magazine has the early lowdown on the course to be used this *January*. I could give you the lowdown on the weather, but you really don't want to hear that yet. Be sure to read the registration and call up rules. Interesting that for all but Elite, U23, and Jr 17-18 there are NO spiked or studded tires. Does that mean that the Elite, U23, and 17-18 do get to use them? Certainly the ground will be frozen, so tire choice will be paramount.






WISCONSIN: Milwaukee - Superweek - If you've been to a Superweek race in the past few years, I'm sure you've heard race announcer Eddy Van Guyse talk about the early years when the series began as a single race held during the lakefront music festival Summerfest, which was also in it's infancy. Well, say no more, because here are some photos of said race! Actually, that first race was in 1969, so this official program may have photos from 1970 or '71, but you get the idea of what cycling life was like back then.Yes, that's the same Jim Ochowicz of 7-11/Team Motorola/BMC fame riding on what appears to be the now extinct Brown Deer Park velodrome. One of the fastests tracks in the nation back in the 1960's, home to the National Championships. Racers in hairnet helmets, using toe clips and straps. Is that Irv Ochowicz smoozing with Miss Milwaukee Summerfest in the convertible? I've read in some old newspapers that the Milwaukee Wheemen cycling club existed back in the 1890s. Not sure what their status is these days. Thanks to John Pringle for providing these scans.

By 1976, the series had grown to a week in length including the
Summerfest race, and as they say .. the rest is history. You may recognize some
of the courses listed back then are the same as today, such as Humboldt Park, and
the lake front 'short course' and 'long course'. The other courses became
classics in their own right, but that's a story for another time.

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Niemanas, Muller, Sunrise

It's assumed that the two day Baycross series in Ashland happened, but who knows? No news out of there yet. Not much out of the WCA races yet either. Brian Matter doubled, Julie Phelps continues her domination of the Cat. 3 women. That's about it. Most areas have their Halloween races next weekend, so pack your cameras.

MICHIGAN: Grand Rapids - John Muller Memorial - RESULTS

CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles - Former Chicago racer Greta Neimanas has recently been announced that she will be competing in the 2012 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Los Angles, California, February 9-12. Neimanas took top honors in the Women's 3k Pursuit and silver in the 500m Time Trial;
 

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Bicycle songs - Part I

Songs about bicycles!
Not - great motivational songs.
Not - songs with "bike" in the title.
Songs ABOUT bicycles!

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Busche, Schouten, Matter, Sun Prairie, Sunrise, Jackson Meadow, Green Acres, Bobber's, MTV, Mad Anthony

There was lots of racing over this past weekend. Not all of it covered today, so check back tomorrow for more!

Mathew Busche (Radio Shack) is back in the states after having surgery in Germany to remove the plate on his collarbone and is now recovering with family in Minnesota. 






Tristan Schouten wrapped up the 2011 WORS overall title. His fourth in 10 years.









    Brian Matter bagged a few more local cyclocross wins here in Wisconsin and now begins his Iceman preparation.

(Photo: Bill Draper)

ILLINOIS: Bartlett - Sunrise Park CX - RESULTS PHOTOS
Positively huge fields toed the line again in the Chicago Cross Cup with both Cat. 4 fields being filled to the brim at 99 riders each and several other categories having 60+ riders. Barry Wicks (Kona) took the win in the Men's Cat. 1/2/3 (What's he doing here?) while Sam Schneider (TIBCO) puts another notch in her belt with a win in the Women's Cat. 1/2/3 (how many in a row now?). Little sis' Skylar does the same in the junior race.

Men - Cat 1/2/3
Place	Points	Name	City, State	Time	License	Bib	Team
1	190.45	Barry Wicks (1 - Cat1)	Corvallis, OR		134223	47	Kona
2	195.75	Scott McLaughlin (2 - Cat1)	Chicago, IL		72722	15	SRAM Factory
3	201.05	Brian Conant (3 - Cat1)	Dekalb, IL		7522	2	The Pony Shop
4	206.35	Kevin Klug (4 - Cat1)	Chicago, IL		220282	12	The Pony Shop
5	211.65	David Reyes (1 - Cat2)	Chicago, IL		211512	42	SRAM Factory

Women - Cat 1/2/3
Place	Points	Name	City, State	Time	License	Bib	Team
1	261.87	Samantha Schneider	West Allis, WI		170980	120
2	272.66	Kim Brokhof (1 - Cat3)	Chicago, IL		360165	102	Spidermonkey Cycling
3	283.45	amelia moore (2 - Cat3)	Chicago, IL		286576	111	ROBOTS <3

MINNESOTA: Stillwater - Jackson Meadow/Green Acres RESULTS RESULTS PHOTOS Pat Lemieux (Specialized) took the win at Jackson Meadow CX in Marine on St Croix, MN on Saturday and it was junior rider Jordan Cullen (Cliff Bar Devo) who bested the bunch in Green Acres on Sunday. MCF.Net takes the call:

"The Green Acres course was very tough, with a brutal, steep, but rideable climb, and a challenging run-up. Cullen said, "I think it's the toughest course on the MCF calendar." The overcast skies kept the temps noticeably cooler, and showers passed through during the elite womens race. The rain slicked some of the grassy corners, but the sandy soil kept mud from becoming an issue.

The start of the elite men's race saw Cullen get a great start, grabbing the hole shot. Characteristically, Jay "Hollywood" Henderson (Silver Cycling) took over the front over early in the first lap, until Cullen regained control, and broke away with Pat Lemieux (Specialized) and Faulkner. Roeser and Jesse Rients (Kuhl/Bicycle Fit Guru) paired up in chase. On the 3rd of 11 laps, Cullen made his bid for glory, dropping Lemieux, and slowly pulling away from Faulkner. The gap between the front pair stabilzed at 20 seconds, as Lemieux dropped out of contention, and Roeser and Reints battled for the final podium spot. Faulkner made a valiant late race charge, and closed in on Cullen on the last lap, but the young buck held off the challenge, holding on to win by a 10sec margin. Roeser dropped Rients on the last lap, coming in just over 2 minutes down on the winner."

Check out the brutal start climb!



IOWA: North Liberty - RESULTS PHOTOS Two days of racing in Iowa at Bobber's Cross this week. Robin Williams (ICCC) took the Women's races on both days making five 'cross wins this season in addition to many other victories on the road and MTB.Brian Eppen (Specialized) took Saturday's win, while Kevin McConnell took Sunday's top spot.

Saturday Men - Cat 1/2/3/4/5
Place	Points	Name	City, State	Time	License	Bib	Team
1	285.98	Brian Eppen	Iowa City, IA		121702	19	Mercy Specialized
2	300.73	Kevin McConnell	Iowa City, IA		258735	2	ICCC
3	315.48	Nate Kullbom	Iowa City, IA		270606	13	Atlas Cycling

Sunday Men - Cat 1/2/3/4/5
Place	Points	Name	City, State	Time	License	Bib	Team
1	317.98	Kevin McConnell	Iowa City, IA		258735	2	Mercy Specialized
2	336.11	Matias Perret	Iowa City, IA		292569	16	ICCC
3	354.24	Nate Kullbom	Iowa City, IA		270606	13	Atlas Cycling

(Photo: Robert Annis)

INDIANA: Indianapolis - Major Taylor Velodrome CX - PHOTOS

MTV CX Wrap-up

By Robert Annis for Planet Adventure

Major Taylor Velodrome has seen its share of cycling triumphs, but on Sunday, the racing action happened off the famed track.

Marian University, which operates the velodrome and surrounding park property for the city of Indianapolis, held the first of three cyclocross races for this season. To no one’s surprise, two young stars from the collegiate cycling powerhouse dominated the elite fields.

Josh Johnson won his seventh-straight off-road event, winning by more than 90 seconds.

“I managed to get the hole shot and immediately get a gap,” Johnson said. “I decided to put on the gas. After about 20 minutes, I was able to settle in … and try to conserve energy.”

The race between the next three combatants was much closer. After spending the bulk of the race seemingly glued to one anothers’ wheels, BikeReg.com’s Fredrick Rose pulled away from Nuvo’s Eric Anderson and Marian’s Weston Luzadder over the back part of the course to finish on the second spot on the podium.

Katie Antonneau, who rides for Cannondale Powered By CyclocrossWorld.com when she’s not competing in a Marian skinsuit, continued her strong cyclocross season, beating her teammate Coryn Rivera by nearly two minutes.

Despite it being her home course, Antonneau said she’d only ridden it the day before. Her bike-handling skills helped her navigate the tricky technical course, and she was able to power up the hillier sections other riders were forced to run.

“I thought it was a pretty good course for me,” Antonneau said.

Next up on the Planet Adventure race calendar is the Lion of the Den event in Yorktown, Ind. To register, visit planetadventurerace.com or truesport.com.

MICHIGAN: Detroit - Mad Anthony CX - RESULTS Held on the grounds of historic Fort Wayne in downtown Detroit, 209 riders participated in perhaps one of the largest 'cross races in Michigan. 

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Busche, Bergman, Velo Campus, Brad Dog/Tillford.

A few photos have appeared from Saturday's racing, but no real results yet, so we'll save all that for Monday when there is something to read.

(Photo: JSPruitiii)

DENMARK: Copenhagen - 2011 Pro World Road Championships - I recently ran across this one photo of Busche from this year's Worlds. The only one I've seen from that race, plus a few more photos of him found on Flickr. 

(Photo: The Road Diaries)

"Flip" and John Wilcockson at the 2011 Amgen Tour of America

(Photo: Dave Strom)

MINNESOTA: Minneapolis - Adam Bergman posts on FaceBook that he has recently suffered double collarbone compact fractures. He states that this is his Halloween costume for this year. Get well soon Adam!








ILLINOIS: Chicago - Chicago Velocampus - There is still plenty of activity at the new 166 meter wooden track on Chicago's south side. No news as of late about the possibility of getting it covered for winter. They are fully prepared for just about anything else it appears. If you're on FB, check out this video of Jonathan Fraley taking a flying lap around the super short track.

WISCONSIN: Saylesville - In the 'remember when' section, check out this article out of the Milwaukee Journal on July 19, 1978. Jeff Bradley wins the Junior race over Steve Tillford, Mark Frise, and Greg Demgen. The Milwaukee Classic series would later morph into "Superweek".

The very first race in Superweek history was held in 1969, at the new Summerfest music festival. No articles for that race have surfaced yet, but here is one from a few years later in 1972.

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Milwaukee 6 Day - January 1932

So, while everybody is out racing in the sunshine, I decided to sit down and read the paper. The Milwaukee Journal ... January 7, 1932 to be exact and I came across this article:

January 1932, Milwaukee's first (?) Six Day Bicycle Race at Milwaukee's auditorium.
The article is hard to read the way it's archived, but very interesting none the less. Click on the bottom photo and read about the Kenosha rider, George Thomas who had some trouble with the track. A little research shows that this was George "Corks" Thomas, younger brother to Bobby Thomas who was one of the great cyclists to come out of Kenosha:

Bobby Thomas (Photo: CyclingArchives.Com)

"The next year, in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 at the year-old Washington Park Velodrome — including Wisconsin’s lieutenant governor who arrived by airplane — Thomas became the first-ever national champion from Kenosha when he won all of his races en route to claiming the junior national championship.
When the national championships returned to Kenosha in 1930, Thomas won the senior national title and his brother George “Corks” Thomas captured the junior national title, electrifying the estimated crowd of 20,000.

The fact that two brothers won national titles in different classes in the same year with perfect scores was featured in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not.”

In a 1977 letter to the Kenosha Wheelmen Club, Bobby Thomas called Sept. 8, 1930 “the greatest thrill” of his amateur and professional career and added, “If I could do anything all over, THAT would be THE DAY!”

Thomas went on to captain the United States’ cycling team at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where he lost in the quarterfinals to the eventual gold medalist. Later that fall, Thomas turned professional and competed in 68 pro six-day races."

I'll be searching for more gems like this and share them here on Peloton Star in the near future.
Remember to support Midwest cycling ... it's not just about the east and west coasts!

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Weekend Preview: Doyne, Mad Anthony, Muller Memorial, Bay Cross, Sunrise, Sun Prairie

Let's see what's happening this weekend. Calendar from Cyclocross Magazine, but updated.

Doyne Park CX	10/22/2011	Doyne Park, Milwaukee	Wisconsin			more info
Franke Park CX Lake Sullivan CX Mad Anthony CX	10/22/2011 10/23/2011 10/22/2011	Franke Park, Fort Wayne Cycloplex,  Indianapolis Fort Wayne, Detroit	Indiana Indiana Michigan			more info more info more info
BayCross CX BayCross CX John Muller Memorial ABD Sunrise Park	10/22/2011 10/23/2011 10/23/2011 10/23/2011	Prentice Park, Ashland Bayview Park, Ashland Manhattan Park, Grand Rapids Sunrise Park, Barlett	Wisconsin Wisconsin Michigan Illinois			more info more info more info more info
Sun Prairie Cup	10/23/2011	Sheehan Park, Sun Prairie	Wisconsin			more info

WISCONSIN: Milwaukee - Doyne Park CX - A new location for the previously run Kletzch Park CX, it's put on by the same folks that do Cross The Domes. So, if you liked that one, you'll LOVE this one. Over on Wisco Cyclocross they write: "Tucked away on top of the river valley, just West of Miller Brewery, Doyne Park is the ideal setting for a cross race! This 9 hole pitch and put golf course offers a variety of terrain and smooth turf (by Milwaukee County Parks standards anyway). The Doyne Park Cyclocross course is approximately 2.7 km of flowing-fast-offcamber-pedaling awesomeness. The numerous raised greens and tee-boxes lend themselves to both sweeping turns and tight off-cambers, make sure those tubulars are glued on tight! This course, much like mwi’s other race CrosstheDomes, is designed to reward racers with good bike handling skills and challenge those who need some practice laying off the brakes. The defining feature is the large inverted bowl in the middle of the park. Course designer Mike Heenan has racers attacking the mound from three different sides per lap. Hopefully the healthy mix of off-camber turns, fast pedaling sweepers and meandering straights will keep everyone on their toes and smiling form ear to ear. Really when was the last time you got to rip it up on your cross bike at a golf course legally….."



MICHIGAN: Detroit - Mad Anthony CX -The MBRA writes about this course: "
The RIPPIN' 2011 Michigan CX season continues this weekend with the most UNIQUE course in the state on Saturday, Mad Anthony CX, and Kisscross #5 on Sunday The city of Detroit has seen good times and it's seen bad times, but it has NEVER seen cyclocross like THIS!!!! Mad Anthony CX is held on the grounds of historic Fort Wayne in downtown DETROIT (NOT INDIANA!!!) at a site designated by the US Registry of Historic Sites as an URBAN RUIN.  Come race through a fort built in 1840 to defend Detroit against a pending British invasion.  Held on 89 acres, the course will be one you remember FOREVER!

MICHIGAN: Grand Rapids - John Muller Memorial - The Krisscross site gives us some insight on the name change for this race: "Next week is the Jon Muller Memorial Race held at Manhattan Park. Jon was an avid cyclist and only 47 years old when he died from an apparent heart attack while riding his mountain bike two weekends ago. Jon was very involved with youth cycling and also participated at Kisscross when he had the chance. We would like to dedicate the Manhattan Park race to Jon and his family. Please make a donation to his daughters college fund next Sunday at the registration table. A portion of your $20 entry fee will also be donated by Kisscross Events and Hup United. Learn more about Jon from this Grand Rapids Press article."

Photo: Christopher Schmidt

WISCONSIN: Ashland - Baycross -UPCross.Net gives us the lowdown: "It's an off week for UPCROSS, but anyone looking to race this weekend can head over to Ashland for the 7th annual BayCross. The event is is Northern Wisconsin’s only ‘cross race. With two beautiful venues and races for all ages and ability levels, BayCross has something for everyone.

Thanks to our friends at the Ideal Market and Rivers Eatery, racers who complete both days in the open class will be vying for a $500 purse, with equal purses for the men and women. There will also be merchandise prizes for the overall winners in the other race classes, including the vibrant junior class, so make it a weekend to enjoy the great fall color and outstanding Chequamegon Bay area and check out one of the fastest growing cycling disciplines in the USA.

Saturday’s race takes place on the western edge of Ashland in secluded, forested Prentice Park on a variety of trails and roads. The course returns to the start-finish area multiple times per lap for great spectating opportunities. Sunday’s race is held right on the shores of Lake Superior at Bayview Park on Ashland’s east side. The race features a wide open race course through rolling terrain in the park and affords outstanding spectating opportunities backed by the beauty of Chequamegon Bay."

ILLINOIS: Bartlett - ABD Sunrise Park CX - Chicago Cross Cup gives us the hot tips for racing in Chicago this week: "- Sunrise Park is notoriously windy… so if you plan on setting up a tent, bring metal stakes or weights. Sunday’s forecast calls for upper 50′s and a possibility of rain, so please dress and pack accordingly. - Sunrise Park is smack in the middle of a housing community. Please respect the neighbors at times while at the race… this includes not peeing in places you shouldn’t (we have Spot-A-Pots), using foul language, and anything that would make it so we can’t come back next year. You all are always great about this, so please keep it PG. - Since the park is in the middle of a residential area there are no food or beverage establishments in the immediate vicinity. However this year ABD has brought in local food vendor Sandwichville who will be serving up wraps, pulled pork, and maybe beef sandwiches."


WISCONSIN: Sun Prairie - Sun Prairie Cup - Presented by Madison's Brazen Dropouts. Located in the same town as the USGP, but in a different location.

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Rider Updates: Antonneau, Schouten, Masters Track Worlds, King Kelly

Kaitie Antonneau: Kaitie writes in her blog about the last few USGP races she's competed in. Be sure to check that out. She writes: "I was extremely excited to go back to Gloucester this year and race because I had a great time last year. Gloucester is one of my favorite races because of the location and it’s considered to be a home race for the team.

In my opinion, the courses were way better than last year! The conditions were better, the technical sections were better, and the features were better. They added a flyover and the beach with a good flight of stairs.
On Saturday I had a decent start and found myself in a group of three with Gabby Day and Laura Van Gilder. I knew I had to get out of that group so I kept the pressure on and managed to get away with a little less than two to go. I ended up finishing a solid 4th. I was happy with this result because I had raced smart."

Tristan Schouten: Cyclocross Magazine recently did an interview with him that is very inspiring on many levels. It's called In the Saddle with Tristan Schouten, Working Man Pro and is a MUST read.

"I only have enough vacation days to take a Friday off to get to the race, so Mondays I am usually screaming out of Mitchel International Airport in Milwaukee at 1:30 p.m. trying to get to work by 3 p.m. so I don’t get fired, and that makes for extremely long days.But, for some reason, I am able to compete even though I run the needle to “E” all the time. I think most of it is just being mentally strong enough to shut out all the things I did wrong during the week that you shouldn’t be doing as a “pro” and just lining up and pinning it and seeing what happens.


CXM: Best advice for other working pros/wannabe pros?

TS: When you read that you should be getting ten hours of sleep, putting out this many watts per kilo, resting a lot with your feet up and all those other things, pretty much ignore them because it will drive you nuts trying to prepare the “right” way. Find a good coach, find a good wife who makes sure you are fed and your dinner is packed for work, buy a Burley if you have a kid and incorporate easy days into Burley rides so you can spend that extra time with them, and toughen up mentally. If you have to work until midnight and leave for the race at 4 a.m., then that’s what you do. You just do it and ignore the fact that all of your friends drove the day before and slept at the race. It doesn’t matter and you can laugh when you beat them because you have twice the mental focus and toughness that they do."

Great Britain: Manchester - Master's World Track Championships - From USA Cycling, congratulations to these Midwest riders who are now World Champions in their age groups for these races:

Daniel Casper (Northfield, Minn./GrandStay Hotels) beat out Irishman Stephen McNalley in the gold medal final of the men’s 45-49 individual pursuit. Todd Hayes (Ann Arbor, Mich./Chester Country Cycling Foundation-Team Alliance) clocked a 51.016 to win gold in the men’s 45-49 750-meter time trial. James Host (Plainfield, Ill./Pact-DISH Network Cycling) travelled at a speed of 50.042 kilometers per hour to best British rider Christopher Davis in the men’s 55-59 individual pursuit. 

 

 

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Rider Profile: Rebecca Zink 2011 Indiana Women's State Road Champion

Photo: Chris Jones

Planet Adventure Athlete Profile: Rebecca Zink

By Robert Annis for Planet Adventure

www.planetadventurerace.com

To say Shamrock Cycles racer Rebecca Zink has had her best seasons on both the road and on the trail this year would be a gross understatement.

Although the 29-year-old wasn’t a stranger to winning in previous seasons – she earned four podiums and two victories while racing on and off between 2008 and 2010 – she took it to an entirely different level in 2011. Out of 27 races this year, Zink reached the podium 17 times and was on the top step for eight of those races.

“There was a big change in my fitness -- and stress -- levels this year,” Zink said. “In the past, I put too much pressure on myself. I would get really anxious and that
kept me from doing the best I could do. This year, I made an effort to stop stressing out so much and just have fun. When I started winning, I became more confident and that helped decrease the anxiety even more.”

Her mental change paid off some huge dividends this year. In July, Zink donned the prestigious stars-and-stripes jersey after winning her age-group in the cross country mountain biking national championship in Sun Valley, Idaho. Less than a month later, she took the Cat. 1/2/3 Women’s Indiana state championship on the road.

Zink hopes to continue her dominance in cyclocross this fall, but will face a bit stiffer competition; she recently upgraded from Cat. 4 to Cat. 3 status.

Photo: Andy Payne

Q&A with Rebecca Zink
What got you into cycling?

In 2006, I had gotten a flyer in the mail for the Team in Training program, and I chose to complete a century ride in exchange for raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Both of my grandmothers had passed away from blood cancers, so this was a tribute to them.  I was also at a point in my life where I needed "something to do" and cycling seemed like a good idea.  Things snowballed from there and now I'm a racer as well as a cycling coach for Team in Training.

What have been your season highlights so far?

2011 DINO Cat 2 Series Winner, Cat 2 Short Track State Champ, Cat 2 Super-D State Champ, Cat 1/2/3 Road Race State Champ, Cat 3 19-29 Cross Country National Champ, OVCX Athlete of the Week

How are you enjoying the cyclocross season so far? 

It's a lot of fun.  There's a community in cyclocross.  It doesn't matter what team you race for, you end up seeing the same people over and over again at each race, and it's so much fun to cheer for (and heckle) your friends as they're racing.  It's the one kind of racing where you don't mind being there all day long, because everyone comes together and has a good time.

What's been your proudest moment as a cyclist?

It's hard to list any one thing.  I was reminded at a race this past weekend of how far I've come.  When I think back to an early goal of not having to walk up any of the hills at the Hilly Hundred, I'm most proud of the progress that I've made.

What's been your most fun memory?

Maybe it's because I have 'cross on the brain, but spectating at the St. Mary's 'cross race this year was so much fun.  I was completely unprepared for standing around in the rain and the mud, but we had so much fun with money and beer hand-ups for the racers. 

What are your goals for 2012?

Keep riding and racing, stay injury-free, and continue to make progress off of an extremely successful 2011 season.

What's your favorite type of racing?

There are things that I like about all types of racing, so it's hard to pick just one.  I've seen a lot of success in the off-road disciplines lately, so maybe that's my favorite right now.

What's your favorite Planet Adventure event this season?

I haven't had the opportunity to do as many Planet Adventure races this year as I would've liked, but St. Mary's was so much fun.  It was such a great atmosphere.  I'm looking forward to a lot more fun at the 'cross races for the rest of the year.

Who do you love or hate competing against during the Planet Adventure season?

Valarie Gossage with the Speedway Wheelmen.  I have a tremendous amount of respect for her, and racing against her makes me push myself to the limit and ultimately makes me a better racer.

What's the best piece of advice you've gotten from a teammate or peer?

That resting is equally important as riding.

What advice would you like to pass on?

Just keep riding.  It can sound pretty condescending to a newbie who isn't quite strong enough to hang on (I know, I've been there), but it's the truth.  Keep riding your bike and you'll get there.

What are you riding?
CX: Shamrock Cycles Team Issue Celtic Cross
Road: Scott CR1 SL
Mtb: Giant Anthem X2

What's your dream bike (or at least your next bike)?

I'm really in love with each of the bikes that I have now, but I've always had a little bit of bike lust for a BMC.

Favorite piece of gear?

My Smartwool baselayers, Endura MT500 mountain bike gloves

Favorite beer?

Currently enjoying Rogue's Hazelnut Brown Nectar, or anything that I happen to brew.

Best pre-ride meal? Post-ride?

I usually do a whole-wheat bagel with almond butter and apple butter, but I'm doing a little bit of experimenting now since I've been doing more afternoon races.  I always finish up a ride or a race with milk and chocolate protein powder, but my meal tends to change based upon what is available.

Any weird rituals before a race? If so, what are they?

I mix a few drops of peppermint oil with some lotion and put it on the back of my neck, and I also put a few drops on my gloves.  Peppermint is supposed to be calming, and whether or not it actually works, I figure that anything to keep me calm and focused before and during a race helps.

If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I would love to ride and eat my way through Italy.

You can find more information on Zink’s sweet CX bike at www.lugoftheirish.com.

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Bloomingcross, Night Cap Cross, Psycho

Photo: Carl Field

INDIANA: Bloomington - BloomingCross - RESULTS Bloomington Velonews gives us the news from Indiana: "The Ohio Valley Cyclocross Series blew through Bloomington over the weekend along with some 40 mph winds. The seventh race of the series was contested on a sweeping, open course at Karst Farm Park.

In the Elite men's field, Fred Rose and Andy Messer continued to perform well. Fred took fourth overall and Andy took sixth, with each of them winning their respective age categories." They had a good turnout in Bloomington with 35 riders in the Elite men, 56 in the Cat. 4's, 11 Elite women, and 21 in the women's Cat. 4's.

IOWA: Des Moines - Night Cap Cross - PHOTOS PHOTOS More photos from Des Moines. Most look like you'd expect when you take photos in the dark, but they show that this was a great race enjoyed by many. A good source of information from the cyclocross scene in Iowa and Nebraska is over on Gam Jams Midwest. Check them out.







ILLINOIS: Chicago - More photos and videos from Psycho and Carpentersville. See the links on ChiCrossCup. I think the best one is over on FB by Barron Gira and shows what happens when you let the city folk loose in the corn field.

This last video is pretty good, just needs some music. Try Kriss Kross at the same time.

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