Quality mustache of the month ..

..and August honours go to Alex Candelario of Kelly Benefit Strategies. Seen here at Downers Grove 2009. Nice work my friend!

3/4 National Championship

Today was the USA Cycling National Championship criterium race in Downers Grove, IL. The course was a textbook technical crit with 8 corners, a climb, and a beautiful Chicago Suburb setting. All the major players showed up for the 3/4 race slotted for 45 min + 1. Rider registration didn't hit the maximum, but 153 racers creates a sweeping spectacle that stretched from turn-to-turn.

With a technical course and fieldsize like today's, a good starting position is imperative; I slotted myself near the course entrance with 20 min left in the previous race. They called us to the line and I managed to be in the front on the left-side. Theeeeeeeeen the official dictates a mandatory pre-lap before we start. Some riders bitched and attempted to refute the officials request--I didn't want to sacrifice my good position, so I followed suit--and watched a herd of riders start to take their lap. After a not-so-pleasant exchange with the official, we were forced to take our lap and boom, i was in the back row of the start.....brutal.

With my recent upgrade to the 4s, I was apprehensive about testing the waters of the Cat 3s. But a fellow JJPeppers fan and recent Glencoe Grad Prix Masters 1/2/3 winner Jason K (Burnham Racing) was nice enough to give me some words of encouragement at the beginning of the race near the Port-a-John: "I'm gonna work your ass today"

The pace started fast and the war of attrition began on lap 1, riders were constantly being dropped. I did everything I could to move up on the climbs, take a few spots on the descent, grab a wheel during the front stretch, and it just wasn't enough. I was dangling off the back of the pack or chasing to catch a wheel after every burst that came from the front.

When the announcer proclaimed '8 to go,' you could feel the group turn on the jets. As I crested the climb with 7 to go, I couldn't match the intensity of the group, POP, and proceeded to get the 'we'll see ya' sign from the official and watched the final laps from the sideline of turn 8. When all things were said and done, I had survived the war of attrition better than half of the field...when i got dropped it looked like only 60-70 riders were with the group.

The cheering section rocked, as always. Andy, Trent, Jake, Keith, Keith's wifey, Katie, what appeared to be some older father figure looking dude with Katie (i don't know, i was dying out there), Chip, and Ken's wifey: THANKS!!!!

Dan Pollard, John Lyon, and Ken Mitchell all gave valiant efforts. Jordan Ross managed to stay with and finish with the group, hell yea.

Until next time, I love bike racing...
-Bryan Witry

Glencoe Photos

Coursety of Ed White

Weekend Race Report from Mike Shea

http://mightwellrace.blogspot.com/

Are you guys from out of State?

Yesterday we had our third Tuesday night ride, myself, Bryan Witry, Dan , Jake and Drew all had a great time on the ride and went to our favorite liquor store to drink some high life's (they are so delicious) and eat some jalapeno chips. It was all shaping up to be just another great night at peppers. Drew even commented "I drink at peppers more than any bar" and we all agreed that just might be the case!

Then the night took an ugly turn, the cops showed up. This has happened before without incident.....

The cops didn't do anything on their way in to JJ Peppers to pick up some donuts, but on the way out one of the cops (he looked like the Seth Rogan Cop from Superbad) strolled over to us and said "are you guys drinking out here?" I thought to myself that's a pretty stupid question i have a high life in my hand, but i resisted verbalizing this thought.

The other cop came over to back up his pudgy buddy. They then asked us "You guys know you cant drink outside? Right?" This was a hard question to answer, of course we know we cant do this, we are blatantly breaking the law, but you cant tell a cop that. Drew stepped up and starting apologizing. The next question from the cop really floored us, the cop asked "are you guys from out of state?" It was hard to not break out laughing. Did he think we rode in from wisconsin? indiana? i mean really what a dumb question. I again resisted my urge to say something stupid and let Jake, Dan and Drew apologize for us.

The Cop then asked us "do you think the owner wants you sitting outside his place of business drinking in the parking lot?" the answer was yes he does, they give us a 10% discount. but again we couldnt say anything. so we got on our bikes, the cop then decided to inform us "you know you can get a DUI on a bike!" This guys must have thought we were complete morons!

The moral of the story is that we got kicked out of the JJ Peppers Parking lot.

Lets hope we can drink High Life and eat chips in peace tonight!!!

Thank you JJ Peppers.....

Just another wednesday night....

Attack!!!

WOW

Check out an incredible post from Mike Shea regarding a near disaster at Elk Grove this past weekend....

This is how it started ........

Check out his blog to find out how it ended....

http://mightwellrace.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-wheel-my-responsibility.html

Zens

A message from Tristan

“For those of you interested in some other racing (Vanessa get the M-Coupe ready!), this is a video of one of my other races: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ig11AVPVY “

Thanks
Tristan

Dean the Centaur!!!

~This half-human and half-animal composition has led many writers to treat them as liminal beings, caught between the two natures, embodied in contrasted myths, both as the embodiment of untamed nature, as in their battle with the Lapiths, or conversely as teachers.