Road Bike Racing - Elk Grove and Downers Grove

Who's doing either of these races? Which cats are you racing?

I'm racing DG for sure and trying to find a ride to elk grove. Cat 3.

Skipping Elk Grove this year. Wasn't crazy about the course.

Might go to Downers. It's hard to drive that far for a short race against 30+.

Elk Grove-I don't fancy doing a 20min + 1lap race with a mixed field of 3s and 4s at Elk Grove, even if it is for $5,000. The pace will be too high (30mph+ would be a good guess) for a lot of the 4s, and there will be crashes left and right on the L-turns. Either because they can't take turns like that, or because people will just be blowing up. It's 30ish minutes from my house, so I'll come watch the pro and 1/2 races each day, though.

Downers Grove-It's 25 minutes from my house, and it's the national championship. Of course I'll be there. Not a lot of money, but it's a race where if you're top 10, and you have decent results in the rest of your races, you're moving up a category ASAP.

I'll be in the 3s, unless I decide to try my luck with the moody local upgrade official.

I'm doing Elk Grove. Cat 3. $5,000 prize list for the cat 3/4 race alone! Yikes. I'm carpooling with people from downstate Illinois. Hope to see you there.

I'm doing the Elk Grove Crash--oops Cat 5 race. I hope to do Downers but have to see if I'm on parenting duty that day. On a side note---anybody gonig to see Chris Horner at Village CycleSport Friday Aug 10 from 4-5? I plan on hitting that up, as I've been a fan of his for a few years now.

Elk Grove was fun. I did the 30+ and the pace was manageable... mostly because everyone slowed the fork down in the U. Easy to get up to the front between turns 3 and 4.

I did two races in Downer's Grove last year. Got pulled from both. The officials were pulling people like mad because of an accident in the 4s. I blew up in the masters, but was 1 turn behind the lead group when I got pulled from the 5s. There were less than fifteen in that lead group.

I'm more interested in doing Elk Grove again if I'm ever in town.

I'm doing both cat 3 races - mixed feeling about EGV, but being in Chicago it is hard to not at least jump in.

The atmosphere gets interesting around here this time of year. I live pretty much in the middle of the city and looked out and saw a Toyota United team car parked on my street this morning - strange, but cool.

I'm doing both cat 3 races - mixed feeling about EGV, but being in Chicago it is hard to not at least jump in.

The atmosphere gets interesting around here this time of year. I live pretty much in the middle of the city and looked out and saw a Toyota United team car parked on my street this morning - strange, but cool.

I know what you mean. EGV just begs for a vicious high speed crash in the corners going into or coming out of the little leg of the "L". At the same time...its $5,000 on the line.

Check it: http://www.tourofelkgrove.com/cm/PDFs/Prize%20listing.pdf

I must say I'm almost insulted by the length of the races at both EGV and DG. I understand that they are focusing on the Pro's but why f*** over the guys coming up in the ranks? Why is there a Master's 4/5 race that is 15min longer than the Cat3 race?

I was thinking the same thing. They have the whole weekend so let the other cats race a little bit, atleast 35 or 40 minutes. I have been training very hard these past couple weeks but this will be my first 3's race so I'm just looking to keep up and keep safe. Last year I went into the 5's with the same expectations and won!

Skipping Elk Grove this year. Wasn't crazy about the course.

Might go to Downers. It's hard to drive that far for a short race against 30+.

Would love another crack at that Downers course, especially if it's raining. But hey, it's just too far away.

I raced Elk Grove last year. Big crash in the tight left-hander in the 500m vaulted me from dead last (sitting on the back predicting a crash) to 24th. Yeah, they paid to 20.

Downers Grove is hilarious in the rain. And by hilarious, I mean absurdly scary.

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It is hard to believe that they couldn't have found another 1/2 hour at least in their schedule.....very puzzling

just go back from Elk Grove Village - did the 3/4 race. thought it was interesting: this was not a fast race at all - people were waiting around for stuff to happen just like in any flat crit. there was lots of bumping and scraping and some almost crashes when the field bunched up as it often did, but didn't seem as bad as people were saying it was going to be.....still 20 minutes is a flash, but the money was great.

....was also nice to be able to talk to Chris Horner and Freddie Rodriguez

how did you do, how much did the winner of the 3/4 race get?

how did you do, how much did the winner of the 3/4 race get?


I got 6th - $250

the winner got $1000

really nice money - I sort of can't believe they can do it - we'll see if they can keep it up over the years

I raced Elk Grove last year. Big crash in the tight left-hander in the 500m vaulted me from dead last (sitting on the back predicting a crash) to 24th.


At turn 4? That's what happened in the masters 4/5 race last year. One of my teammates cut the another one off. I had to pull a stoppie, at least no one slammed into me.

is tomorrows 4/5 race full?

3 days left and the weather looks good... im excited! does anyone know if this race ever wins with a breakaway or if its always a sprint. thanks

Seems like it usually ends in a bunch - here a somewhat cheezy video of last year's if you haven't seen it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5OQA1M5dz0