We hope you have big plans, and in observance we're making some plans as well!
This weekend, we'll have the following special hours:
Friday May 28 - 9 am - 7 pm
Saturday May 29 - 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday May 30 - 10 am - 4 pm
Monday May 31 - 10 am - 2 pm
Enjoy the weekend, the weather is supposed to be beautiful!!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The Reader Best of 2010
Ever thought we were doing a good job for you? Feel free to help us out in return!
http://bestof.chicagoreader.com/list/3
http://bestof.chicagoreader.com/list/3
Saturday, May 22, 2010
New blog coming, new site around the corner!
We know, our website has been lacking, but it's for good reason: we work on bikes, not computers! I think we're pretty good at bikes, but our web design is lacking, and you know what, we're ok with that!
But, we do have some good stuff coming, thanks to some of our bike shop friends.
Stay tuned, more is coming!
But, we do have some good stuff coming, thanks to some of our bike shop friends.
Stay tuned, more is coming!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Spring Classics - Leland
A whole bunch of IC riders headed out to the far, far suburb of Leland for the Leland Kermesse. I'm not sure what Kermesse means, but I'm pretty sure it is Flemmish for crappy roads.
Before the race Jason Meshberg offered sage advice to get to the front before the gravel because those at the front will put minutes into the rest of the field right away. I told my teammates to mark the strong guys, especially the cyclocrossers, because I had a feeling they would be the ones drilling it in the gravel. I also had a feeling the first break to get away would stay away for the rest of the race.
About 2 or 3 miles into the race, before we get to the gravel I'm talking to Larson. He drops back behind me to get a better draft and then I the sound of metal and carbon I pavement. I turn around to say, "hey Larson, did you see who crashed?," but I see no more Larson. Damn, taken out by a pot hole.
In the first gravel section, I'm not in great position in the group but I'm on Russ's wheel. I know that even if we get gapped here we can work together to move up. Next thing I know, a XXXer crashes for no apparent reason other than sliding a little and takes out Russ. I swerve into the ditch and save myself. This race is so chaotic. Where are my teamates at?
It seems like the group stayed together after the first gravel section. I move to the front and sit on Ben Popper and Mike Hemme's wheel. Sounds pretty weak, but this was my race strategy. I figured they would get anxious and go soon. Once we got to the gravel sections with a tailwind they went and I went with them hitting speeds over 35 mph. We exit the gravel and look back, there are just five of us left. I can't believe everybody got popped that easily, but the guys in the break are exactly the guys I expected to be in the break, Mike (CXer), Ben(CXer), John(CXer), and Patryk(Rookie).
John is the captain of the break and he organizes us into a paceline and we go to work putting time into the field. The first two laps were so hard I thought I could blow up at any time. Hemme fell off the pace and then Ben. Two laps to go and it is just the 3 of us. A chase group was no where in sight.
Knowing Ben and Mike are behind us I know they could catch a second wind if they can get some recovery when a chase group catches them, so I keep drilling it everytime I take a pull. Patryk flats about 2 miles from the finish and then it is just John and I as we make the last turn and cruise in to town.
It's a gentlemany sprint where John rides next to me and says that he doesn't want to sit on my wheel and then go around me at the end. I tell him it's all good, and do what you gotta do. I gauge the crosswind and go to the right side gutter and start riding hard leading out. John comes around me and I hope to get a nice draft on his right hip. It would have been a good strategy if I had anything left in the legs, but I get nipped by a wheel and take second.
It was a pretty good day for IC. Russ was 9th and Jordan was 10th. Tim was 10th in the 1/2/3 and Katie was 5th in the 4's.
I wish there were more road races like this. Big thanks to the Flatlandia crew for hosting such a great event.
Before the race Jason Meshberg offered sage advice to get to the front before the gravel because those at the front will put minutes into the rest of the field right away. I told my teammates to mark the strong guys, especially the cyclocrossers, because I had a feeling they would be the ones drilling it in the gravel. I also had a feeling the first break to get away would stay away for the rest of the race.
About 2 or 3 miles into the race, before we get to the gravel I'm talking to Larson. He drops back behind me to get a better draft and then I the sound of metal and carbon I pavement. I turn around to say, "hey Larson, did you see who crashed?," but I see no more Larson. Damn, taken out by a pot hole.
In the first gravel section, I'm not in great position in the group but I'm on Russ's wheel. I know that even if we get gapped here we can work together to move up. Next thing I know, a XXXer crashes for no apparent reason other than sliding a little and takes out Russ. I swerve into the ditch and save myself. This race is so chaotic. Where are my teamates at?
It seems like the group stayed together after the first gravel section. I move to the front and sit on Ben Popper and Mike Hemme's wheel. Sounds pretty weak, but this was my race strategy. I figured they would get anxious and go soon. Once we got to the gravel sections with a tailwind they went and I went with them hitting speeds over 35 mph. We exit the gravel and look back, there are just five of us left. I can't believe everybody got popped that easily, but the guys in the break are exactly the guys I expected to be in the break, Mike (CXer), Ben(CXer), John(CXer), and Patryk(Rookie).
John is the captain of the break and he organizes us into a paceline and we go to work putting time into the field. The first two laps were so hard I thought I could blow up at any time. Hemme fell off the pace and then Ben. Two laps to go and it is just the 3 of us. A chase group was no where in sight.
Knowing Ben and Mike are behind us I know they could catch a second wind if they can get some recovery when a chase group catches them, so I keep drilling it everytime I take a pull. Patryk flats about 2 miles from the finish and then it is just John and I as we make the last turn and cruise in to town.
It's a gentlemany sprint where John rides next to me and says that he doesn't want to sit on my wheel and then go around me at the end. I tell him it's all good, and do what you gotta do. I gauge the crosswind and go to the right side gutter and start riding hard leading out. John comes around me and I hope to get a nice draft on his right hip. It would have been a good strategy if I had anything left in the legs, but I get nipped by a wheel and take second.
It was a pretty good day for IC. Russ was 9th and Jordan was 10th. Tim was 10th in the 1/2/3 and Katie was 5th in the 4's.
I wish there were more road races like this. Big thanks to the Flatlandia crew for hosting such a great event.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Race Report 3/28/2010 C.O.U.G.A.R. Crit in Joliet
Ken, Jake, Katie, Chip, Kristina, Ed, Brandon and I went down to Joliet for the Cougar Crit this Sunday. Below is Kristina's race report:
First and foremost, a GREAT BIG THANKS to all the people who made the race possible, South Chicago Wheelmen, USA Cycling, AutoBahn Country Club and all the other cool people I don't know.
Race #1 A Good Pull
Ok so this was my second crit in a long time, the first being a Gapers Block Crit on Wednesday. I roll up with my trusty steed, a late 80's Bianchi (5sp Nuovo Record with downtube shifters...Brandon asks me "WHAT'S THAT!?" when he sees it). I got it at a yard sale for $50. I smile all excited but I have to say I was feeling a little silly lining up next to a full line of shiny carbon rigs with Zipp wheels, powertap hubs and the like. This was the womens 3/4 race. But I decided eh whatever I'm learning and who knows maybe I'll surprise somebody. So we go, and with a bit of trouble clipping in I manage to join in with the rest of the group at a light peppy pace mainly spinning and settling in and getting nice and comfortable with the nasty wind on the back stretch of the roughly 1.5 mi. course. Everybody is going along just fine for a while, a couple of small jumps here and there by some of the ladies just to see if we're all paying attention. We lost the team Pegasus rider that way and the headwind became her only companion. With 3 laps to go and no one obviously wanting to pull the group...case in point...when the front rider tries to pull to the side and let someone else up, the whole group would just stay right behind her...I decided to try and see what it was like and pulled the group. I felt good there for the 1st quarter of the lap, so I figure hey why not pull a littler harder and see what happens? Katie jumps on my rear wheel and I pick the pace up and hold it for a while...then I feel the wind in the back stretch...I'm getting tired, so I try and pull to the side to see if somebody, anybody wants to relieve me at the front...Nope nobody. Three times I try and move over to no avail. But Morgan decides shes gonna make a move and attacks, Katie and everyone else pretty much rush to catch her and leave me in the dust alone and close to imploded. Somehow I manage to keep it together and catch up in just under 2 laps and was with the group on the last lap, but I just didn't have any left in me to sprint to the finish, and that was that. My teammate Katie Isserman though, managed to sprint to a win in the end and landed a big win for Iron Cycles, so I was just glad to be around to see that. Lesson learned, if your going to pull hard w/ 3 laps to go you better be sacrificing yourself for a teammate, don't get any ideas of still placing well, especially if you get dropped.
RACE #2 The Wind and I are Good Friends Now
So after paying the extra $10 and no calls from the hubbie pleading for me to come home and relieve him of the kids, I decide to do the Womens Open Race. My legs were still aching from the race 2 hours prior so I knew deep down this was gonna hurt. And well it did. Right of the line. I couldn't clip into my pedals, I think the shoe covers were keeping the cleat from locking in initially. That on top of the cat 1/2 riders deciding to sprint at the start, pretty much took me out instantly. So I viewed the remainder of the race as a real hard training ride and learned to love the wind. Props out to Niki Cyp for cheering me on that one time, it really made me feel better. I was considering pulling out at first but that tipped the scales to stay in it. That and in the first race, the little juniors pretty much braved the wind by their lonesomes the whole time, why couldn't I? The guy in the lawn chair in the back stretch kept me company too, he was cool. I managed to not get lapped until later when I had a dropped chain cus the FD threw too far and the lead breakaway, Kristen? and Stacy rolled by me super fast. Four laps later same story, dropped chain and the main group lapped and hung with me a short while but their pace was too quick for my winded self. Yet again I was left to my own thoughts and encouragement and rolled to the end as fast as I could and tried to sprint out whatever I had in me to the end. Honestly I was just happy that my bike held up and didn't disintegrate on me. After a long talk with the wind...the wind thinks that I should train on the Bianchi, but maybe show up with something that has more than 10 speeds and weighs 10 lbs less next time. I have now decided to name the Bianchi "Headwind".
Cheers!
Race #1 A Good Pull
Ok so this was my second crit in a long time, the first being a Gapers Block Crit on Wednesday. I roll up with my trusty steed, a late 80's Bianchi (5sp Nuovo Record with downtube shifters...Brandon asks me "WHAT'S THAT!?" when he sees it). I got it at a yard sale for $50. I smile all excited but I have to say I was feeling a little silly lining up next to a full line of shiny carbon rigs with Zipp wheels, powertap hubs and the like. This was the womens 3/4 race. But I decided eh whatever I'm learning and who knows maybe I'll surprise somebody. So we go, and with a bit of trouble clipping in I manage to join in with the rest of the group at a light peppy pace mainly spinning and settling in and getting nice and comfortable with the nasty wind on the back stretch of the roughly 1.5 mi. course. Everybody is going along just fine for a while, a couple of small jumps here and there by some of the ladies just to see if we're all paying attention. We lost the team Pegasus rider that way and the headwind became her only companion. With 3 laps to go and no one obviously wanting to pull the group...case in point...when the front rider tries to pull to the side and let someone else up, the whole group would just stay right behind her...I decided to try and see what it was like and pulled the group. I felt good there for the 1st quarter of the lap, so I figure hey why not pull a littler harder and see what happens? Katie jumps on my rear wheel and I pick the pace up and hold it for a while...then I feel the wind in the back stretch...I'm getting tired, so I try and pull to the side to see if somebody, anybody wants to relieve me at the front...Nope nobody. Three times I try and move over to no avail. But Morgan decides shes gonna make a move and attacks, Katie and everyone else pretty much rush to catch her and leave me in the dust alone and close to imploded. Somehow I manage to keep it together and catch up in just under 2 laps and was with the group on the last lap, but I just didn't have any left in me to sprint to the finish, and that was that. My teammate Katie Isserman though, managed to sprint to a win in the end and landed a big win for Iron Cycles, so I was just glad to be around to see that. Lesson learned, if your going to pull hard w/ 3 laps to go you better be sacrificing yourself for a teammate, don't get any ideas of still placing well, especially if you get dropped.
RACE #2 The Wind and I are Good Friends Now
So after paying the extra $10 and no calls from the hubbie pleading for me to come home and relieve him of the kids, I decide to do the Womens Open Race. My legs were still aching from the race 2 hours prior so I knew deep down this was gonna hurt. And well it did. Right of the line. I couldn't clip into my pedals, I think the shoe covers were keeping the cleat from locking in initially. That on top of the cat 1/2 riders deciding to sprint at the start, pretty much took me out instantly. So I viewed the remainder of the race as a real hard training ride and learned to love the wind. Props out to Niki Cyp for cheering me on that one time, it really made me feel better. I was considering pulling out at first but that tipped the scales to stay in it. That and in the first race, the little juniors pretty much braved the wind by their lonesomes the whole time, why couldn't I? The guy in the lawn chair in the back stretch kept me company too, he was cool. I managed to not get lapped until later when I had a dropped chain cus the FD threw too far and the lead breakaway, Kristen? and Stacy rolled by me super fast. Four laps later same story, dropped chain and the main group lapped and hung with me a short while but their pace was too quick for my winded self. Yet again I was left to my own thoughts and encouragement and rolled to the end as fast as I could and tried to sprint out whatever I had in me to the end. Honestly I was just happy that my bike held up and didn't disintegrate on me. After a long talk with the wind...the wind thinks that I should train on the Bianchi, but maybe show up with something that has more than 10 speeds and weighs 10 lbs less next time. I have now decided to name the Bianchi "Headwind".
Cheers!
Kristina
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Brown County Road Race
Jake and I drove down to the Bloomington, IN area for a taste of some early season Midwest road race action this past weekend. Here is his race report:
Brown County Road Race
Ted and I made the drive south to Nashville Indiana for the Brown County Road Race. The course was a closed 6 miles loop inside of the state park. It starts with a screaming descent, followed by two climbs, about 200 ft each, and false flats back to the finish.
Only 11 of us showed up at the line for the Cat 3 race. I didn’t get a chance to pre-ride the course, so when it was off, it was all new territory. The descent caught me off guard and I had trouble finding a good line. Basically, you are going 50+mph, then you need to stick a steep right followed by a sharp left, then its smooth sailing. I actually got dropped but managed to bridge back up as I can now see the descent lines clearly from the others in front of me.
After the first climb, it is only six of us remaining. To be honest, I feel terrible. I had food poisoning less than a week before and I am not 100 percent back on form yet. Coming into the next lap and series of climbs, I’m worried I might actually be the next to drop off the peloton. I managed to pace myself really well and stay at the front on the climbs feeling much better.
Finishing the climbs on lap three, I get to the front and keep the pace up, hoping to shell anybody on the fence. The 15y/o junior (Andrew dillman, redzone cycling) takes my cue throws down a punishing attack. I am the only one who goes with him. Eventually the race gets back together, but other 4 guys are clearly fatigued from the attacks.
On lap four, we finally shell one of the riders making it 5 of us. On lap 5 he manages to claw his way back up to us at the foot of the climbs. Unfortunately for him, he lasts about 5 seconds before we drop him again, as well as several others.
For the remainder of the race it is just three of us, 15y/o, some 130lb guy and me. I keep the pace hot on the last climb hoping to sail away, but it’s not enough to break anything up. Instead I just get stuck on the front. I’m on the front for almost two miles. I flick my elbows begging for somebody to pull through. I start riding erratically, slowing then accelerating to no avail. Then 15 y/o attacks hard and makes a huge gap. We chase and it comes back together with about 300m to go. 15y/o makes the jump, I grab his wheel, but ultimately run out of real estate. He wins by less than a wheel length. My calves cramp like crazy and I feel like I never really got the full power into my sprint. Oh well, it was a great race, clean course and a few points toward upgrading.
-jake
Brown County Road Race
Ted and I made the drive south to Nashville Indiana for the Brown County Road Race. The course was a closed 6 miles loop inside of the state park. It starts with a screaming descent, followed by two climbs, about 200 ft each, and false flats back to the finish.
Only 11 of us showed up at the line for the Cat 3 race. I didn’t get a chance to pre-ride the course, so when it was off, it was all new territory. The descent caught me off guard and I had trouble finding a good line. Basically, you are going 50+mph, then you need to stick a steep right followed by a sharp left, then its smooth sailing. I actually got dropped but managed to bridge back up as I can now see the descent lines clearly from the others in front of me.
After the first climb, it is only six of us remaining. To be honest, I feel terrible. I had food poisoning less than a week before and I am not 100 percent back on form yet. Coming into the next lap and series of climbs, I’m worried I might actually be the next to drop off the peloton. I managed to pace myself really well and stay at the front on the climbs feeling much better.
Finishing the climbs on lap three, I get to the front and keep the pace up, hoping to shell anybody on the fence. The 15y/o junior (Andrew dillman, redzone cycling) takes my cue throws down a punishing attack. I am the only one who goes with him. Eventually the race gets back together, but other 4 guys are clearly fatigued from the attacks.
On lap four, we finally shell one of the riders making it 5 of us. On lap 5 he manages to claw his way back up to us at the foot of the climbs. Unfortunately for him, he lasts about 5 seconds before we drop him again, as well as several others.
For the remainder of the race it is just three of us, 15y/o, some 130lb guy and me. I keep the pace hot on the last climb hoping to sail away, but it’s not enough to break anything up. Instead I just get stuck on the front. I’m on the front for almost two miles. I flick my elbows begging for somebody to pull through. I start riding erratically, slowing then accelerating to no avail. Then 15 y/o attacks hard and makes a huge gap. We chase and it comes back together with about 300m to go. 15y/o makes the jump, I grab his wheel, but ultimately run out of real estate. He wins by less than a wheel length. My calves cramp like crazy and I feel like I never really got the full power into my sprint. Oh well, it was a great race, clean course and a few points toward upgrading.
-jake
Friday, March 5, 2010
A new begining is near
Everyone here is excited about the new season. Fancy bikes are being built and race schedules are being planned.
If you haven't seen the new Storks, they are sweet.
Derrick is hold up an Absolutist 1.0 complete with SRAM Rival. Yes he is holding it up with only 1 finger. The bike weighs in at 17.3 lbs with pedals and pink bike computer. Just image how light that thing would be with some race wheels on it.
Nasty.
If you haven't seen the new Storks, they are sweet.
Derrick is hold up an Absolutist 1.0 complete with SRAM Rival. Yes he is holding it up with only 1 finger. The bike weighs in at 17.3 lbs with pedals and pink bike computer. Just image how light that thing would be with some race wheels on it.
Nasty.
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