Great Lakes - Chicago Crit

Actually shouldn't he be automatically upgraded to a 3? I think the rules state that 30 points in a 12 month period is an automatic upgrade to 3. So it doesn't matter if he's got the legs or not (which he absolutely has), he is a 3 now.

The Midwest is, to put it mildly, not very attentive to tracking upgrade points. It's a 'Baggers delight.

Riders are responsible for applying for upgrades, I don't know what the consequences of not upgrading are, but they can't be very severe.

^the consequences are simple--a manditory upgrade: a USAC official will point at you when you try to register for a race and say: "you're a 3 today!" or "you're a 2!" and that is it. At least that's the story I've heard.

BTW, there are two cat 3s in particular that have ridden me off their wheel in a sprint. Like, they just accelerate away from me when I've already held 33mph on their wheel for a bit too long...ouch. I can hit 36mph, but that's been my top all season and that was mid June...I've fallen off that peak already, but I'm getting some of it back.

I've learned that its not really being the fastest/strongest, its knowing when to go and then going 110%. That, imo is his real advantage right now. Good instinct.

Joel will be absolutely fine. Tactically there will be a learning curve, but he has the power. On our training rides he regularly mixes it up with the Cat 1/2 guys and does great.

He's been seriously cycling for about 6 whole months, now. We've only seen the tip of the iceberg with respect to his potential.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_k-pYAnxkx-w/SnEvYoHqunI/AAAAAAAAACg/3LZN1VNh6Vs/s1600-h/sprint.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_k-pYAnxkx-w/SnEvYoHqunI/AAAAAAAAACg/3LZN1VNh6Vs/s1600-h/sprint.jpg

Pic of 4/5 masters sprint. Yellow guy won. Psi doesn't even have his game face on and did well. Where are all the XXXers?

Where are all the XXXers?

You keep bringing them up, even five days later. I don't quite get the obsession, and I can't tell how mean-spirited or sour-grapes it is meant to be.

Awesome shot. I should have tried harder...

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_k-pYAnxkx-w/SnEvYoHqunI/AAAAAAAAACg/3LZN1VNh6Vs/s1600-h/sprint.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_k-pYAnxkx-w/SnEvYoHqunI/AAAAAAAAACg/3LZN1VNh6Vs/s1600-h/sprint.jpg

Pic of 4/5 masters sprint. Yellow guy won. Psi doesn't even have his game face on and did well. Where are all the XXXers?

Yellow guy is South Chicago Wheelmen Dan Solomon. He just upgraded to 3 as well.

Sorry man. Just meant to be a joke! Apologies if it was seen as mean-spirited. It's just been a running gag this year that XXX win everything. I don't take any satisfaction if a team or person doesn't have a good day. I was just astonished at how it turned out. Not sure where the sour grapes come in though.

No worries. Sorry, I get a little high strung this time of year.

I'm proud of how our 4's and 5's have raced all year, up and down the results tables. We had a phenomenal June, and I'm glad people noticed. As a result we had five guys upgrade to 3's in July, a big number even for a team our size. Naturally there will be some transition as the next crop steps up to fill their shoes.

As for Sunday's 35+ 4/5's race, from my perspective I saw a lot of XXX at or off the front for most of the race. Sometimes that pays off. Sometimes it doesn't.

No worries, I hope to see you at Jackson Park and will say hello. I appreciate all the work you do at CBR.