BB/VP Bar-B-Cross

Across the board, everyone associated with ChiCross has been stepping up their game!

1) Beverly Bike Vee-Pak put on a great event with awesome free BBQ
2) The event was run as well as any I've participated in. Thank you to all the ChiCross volunteers
3) The course was a perfect mix of power and tech sections. The park was a gem in the south side
4) Racer turnout remains high which increases the level of competition

This has been a great year of CX racing, and we're only through the 4th week!

Each race I appreciate my Lynskey ProCross and Reynolds wheels a bit more. After racing CX on clincher wheels with a 20+ pound bike for the past couple seasons, I’ve seen the light.

This is my first top shelf race bike and it is a rocket! I’m stronger than last year and this bike allows me to push the envelope when cornering and accelerating out of corners. Several of us on the team have bikes built in the mid-16 pound range. It’s nice to know that equipment wise, I’m on equal footing. Fitness and handling will decide the race. Let the best man win.

Ted and I both got call ups for the Cat1/2/3 race. It’s nice to get front row seats. After the start I was about 5th heading into the trees for first time up the hill. The group clogged up as expected and that gave the first couple riders all the leash they needed, never to be seen again.

I dropped my chain later during the first lap, but with Ted’s help worked to regain a few spots. I finally caught the OTHER Tim. I enjoy riding around with him for encouragement. Tim's a pretty popular guy, so even though people weren't cheering for me, I got a boost hearing my name.

We kept challenging each other in our attempt to reach Hemme. During the wooded hill climb on the previous lap, TimB stalled on some roots near the top. The next lap I darted in front of him before the woodchips, rode it clean and had the gap I needed. I chased Hemme for a couple more laps, but couldn't reach him and finished 5th.


Iron Cycles had another great turnout, representing in the Masters 30+, Cat3, Cat3/4 Women, Cat1/2/3 and Cat4 (in that order)
I had a great time cheering for everyone and I’m already looking forward to Carpentersville next Sunday

DeKalb CX

This weekend the team traveled west to the city of DeKalb for round 2 of the ChiCrossCup. Half Acre put together a great race with a course that was unrelenting, allowing very little time for recovery. The course had plenty of technical features such as off camber turns galore, but with the soft grass and false flats, horse power would rule the day.

In the 1/2 race Tim made the break in the first chase group. With the complacency of having a pretty decent race last weekend at Xterra Nationals, I lacked the desire to put myself through the pain of staying on Tim's wheel and settled into my own pace. In hindsight, I kind of regret it because Tim said once you get into the draft the pace eventually settles down and it is not as hard as you think it would be.

I settled into the second chase group with Greg Heck. We took turns pulling lap after lap, but kept giving up a few seconds each lap to the group ahead. Our only hope was to reel in straglers falling off the pace up front.

Two to go and we are finally about to catch someone ahead. Unfortunately I roll a tire and get gapped. Oh well, the rest of the race I ride alone. In the end Tim finished 7th and I was 13th. I think we both have enough points to get a call up for next weeks race, so that's pretty good.

Tim's been off on some secret training plan, but whatever he is doing, it's working. Everytime I ask him to come out and ride he looks away and mumbles something about being busy at work. There are rumors that he's doing VO2 max intervals on the recumbant exercycle 4 days a week.

In the 4A race, Russ A.K.A. Crash, showed quick improvement and finished 7th. He should be close to getting a call up next race too.

For the 4B race, Matt Daniel put down the wrench and put out notice he can drop the hammer too. A great start put him at the front of the pack and he finished 6th.

Overall it was a pretty good day with Iron Cycles representing in nearly every race.