Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by dan brown on October 18, 2010 at 2:30am

julie - awesome !! (team chainlink)

I did the jackson park cross race last month (unplanned) on Michael Young's awesome redline single-speed cross bike. I, too had a blast. I wasn't DFL either (2 or 3 guys dropped their chains and I passed them).

when is the next one you're doing ???

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on October 18, 2010 at 3:37am

don't know, but there are some Wed night practices that Michael does at Montrose so I may swing by there.



dan brown said:

julie - awesome !! (team chainlink)

I did the jackson park cross race last month (unplanned) on Michael Young's awesome redline single-speed cross bike. I, too had a blast. I wasn't DFL either (2 or 3 guys dropped their chains and I passed them).

when is the next one you're doing ???

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Leah Jone on October 18, 2010 at 5:17am

All of my photos didn't get uploaded on Saturday night to Chainlink, the complete set is on Flickr. I was there with Julie and Evan, so mostly I was there paparazzo... but you might find some familiar 30+ racers in those pics.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael A on October 18, 2010 at 6:17am

I did my first cyclocross race in carpentersville on Sunday morning. I have only done one clinic prior so everything was new. I finished dead last. 9 miles in 45 minutes and I was EXHAUSTED! Loads of fun, and it was a great time. Everyone should try this at least once.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on October 18, 2010 at 7:20am

Kick ass! So when's your next race?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on October 18, 2010 at 8:17am

Nice job. Funny that the first time we both raced was on opposite days of the weekend. Hope to see you out there on another race soon. Want to come Wednesday night to Cricket Hill at Montrose?



Michael A said:

I did my first cyclocross race in carpentersville on Sunday morning. I have only done one clinic prior so everything was new. I finished dead last. 9 miles in 45 minutes and I was EXHAUSTED! Loads of fun, and it was a great time. Everyone should try this at least once.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on October 18, 2010 at 8:18am

Given your prodigious straight line speed, I would have expected you to challenge the leaders. So what's the trick? Just enough mounts/dismounts/barriers to turn it into a series of sprints and portages? What do they focus on in clinics? Any chance this is a format where age and treachery are rewarded?


Michael A said:

I did my first cyclocross race in carpentersville on Sunday morning. I have only done one clinic prior so everything was new. I finished dead last. 9 miles in 45 minutes and I was EXHAUSTED! Loads of fun, and it was a great time. Everyone should try this at least once.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Natalie on October 18, 2010 at 9:21am

For those of you who are interested in racing cross, which is absolutely the most fun you can have on two wheels, check out the schedule at www.chicrosscup.com. There are six weekends of racing left this year. If you need skills pointers, there are multiple practices around the city that are open to newcomers. Michael Young runs xXx Racing-AthletiCo's Wednesday night practice at Cricket Hill, and he will gladly dispense advice (and heckles), as will those who've raced a season or two--the cross community is an especially friendly bunch of racers.

For a fairly comprehensive list of local practices, check out www.thebonebell.com.

As far as your bike goes, you don't have to have a cyclocross bike to race, although it helps. Mountain bikes (no bar-ends, please) are legal, or you could throw some cross tires on your hybrid. My friend raced on a hybrid Trek in his Chippewa work boots and didn't even too bad. There's a junior who races with a rear rack on her bike--maybe for strength training while lifting her bike over the barriers?

Finally, there's no shame in being DFL. You came out and raced! How many of your friends can say that?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on October 18, 2010 at 9:45am

Nat thanks.
Here is the link to the practices mentioned. And I ran into Dave Noda last night ironically.


Natalie said:

For those of you who are interested in racing cross, which is absolutely the most fun you can have on two wheels, check out the schedule at www.chicrosscup.com. There are six weekends of racing left this year. If you need skills pointers, there are multiple practices around the city that are open to newcomers. Michael Young runs xXx Racing-AthletiCo's Wednesday night practice at Cricket Hill, and he will gladly dispense advice (and heckles), as will those who've raced a season or two--the cross community is an especially friendly bunch of racers.

For a fairly comprehensive list of local practices, check out www.thebonebell.com.

As far as your bike goes, you don't have to have a cyclocross bike to race, although it helps. Mountain bikes (no bar-ends, please) are legal, or you could throw some cross tires on your hybrid. My friend raced on a hybrid Trek in his Chippewa work boots and didn't even too bad. There's a junior who races with a rear rack on her bike--maybe for strength training while lifting her bike over the barriers?

Finally, there's no shame in being DFL. You came out and raced! How many of your friends can say that?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on October 18, 2010 at 9:54am

There is add't info and links at Chainlink group here as well.

• ▶ Reply