Psimet2001 

Got done with my rig last night - New Quarq, rebuild of the tubulars, etc. Took the race weight of the bike back down to 16.5 lbs from the 18-19 it had crept up to with the carbon clinchers and powertap.

MJH2

I'm pretty sure the bike I'm going to be on is still over 20 pounds. And ill fitting. But, at least I'm going to be racing. Gotta love that.

Just pre-rode Geneva. One fast, downhill, narrow turn that I predict may have people getting awfully close to entering a house. Probably a good bit of accordion effect there. The last half of the course is WIDE open, though (last turn will be super-fast depending on how they place the barriers).

MJH2

Unfortunately for myself, both seemed to be accurate. Turn 3 saw more than it's share of people going on the side walk and through the front yard. The sequence of turns 3-5 seemed to quickly break up every field. Not sure if 50% of the starters finished any race except, maybe, the women's. Brutal day, but some fantastic races!

Hope superweek comes back next year.

Frunkin

I just got directed to Peloton-Star from Rahsaan Bahati's twitter account. He's headed to superweek. I should be racing wednesday. saturday and sunday. After that we'll see.

John Wilke

Looking forward to seeing him again.

Short vid. ready in 15 mins.

MJH2

I'll be out there Wednesday. Probably racing the 35+ 1/2/3 and then the 3's (unless I get destroyed like I did on Saturday).

aham23

i am a superweek noob, but my Geneva experience was very positive and hope they come bask as well. later.

MJH2

I know there was some trepidation with regard to many of the merchants on 3rd street. Despite what has previously been commented on (with regard to Downer's Grove's cancellation), many of the merchants see less business when 3rd street is closed for an "event", because the people are more likely to stay outside and less likely to walk into the shops. I know Superweek wants to come back, not sure yet if the city will have them.

Didn't you do Homewood? How was that?

John Wilke

Is that why I drove half way to Memphis to watch 'em race around a local park? They can't do this in Northbrook?

BTW that 53/355 tip is the ticket.

aham23

no homewood for me. easy recovery effort with a focus on tomorrow in Willow Springs. later.

John Wilke

IMPOSSIBLE for me to get down to the road race in the morning. There is no way, so will catch you guys in the afternoon.

Just rocked it back from Richton - 136 miles in 2 hrs flat. 30mpg. Took the 355 to 290 then 294 coming home. Boy, that 290 east to 294 north interchange is a hoot! That's some high revving, 5 speed manual, all wheel drive fun!! No 140kph today, but still made good time. Maybe I can get to bed by midnight for a change.

nixternal

John, why didn't you find a place to crash down here? All you had to do was ask, I could have hooked you up at my brother's place last night which is close to Willow Springs. You could have chilled out in the pool all night long there

John Wilke

Appreciated. I've got critters up here I like to check in on.

Worst of the driving is over.

150 kph today, home b4 dark.

aham23

Superweek did another excellent job with the Willow Springs road race. the organization and set up could not have been an easy task for this weekday race considering this is a high traffic area. registration and parking was solid. the course had barricades and cones. one road was totally shut down to traffic. only 20 minutes behind schedule. i enjoyed the day. well done. later.

Psimet2001 

Good to hear!

John Wilke

I only saw part of the course, but the climb is awesome. That's Illinois highest point, right?

Gorgeous day here at Lake Geneva. MJH2 getting ready to rock it. "I feel great and this is my type of course". "Today could be my day on the top step of the podium". (he might have said )

aham23

why on Gods green Earth am i working today. that setting looks fantastic for Crit and they got a hill! later.

MJH2

Compared to when I did my first races in 2008, they seem to really have stepped things up. The lame/boring courses (Blue Island, Bensenville, Olympia Fields) are gone, and they seem to be going out their way to replace them with difficult/interesting ones (Lake Geneva, Willow Springs, Geneva). Except for a few minor glitches, everything seems to be starting on time, and all the barriers are up in plenty of time.

I've only been to a couple of races and haven't seen much to be critical about (except for, maybe, the $49 it cost me to race at Lake Geneva yesterday).

John Wilke

Hey, it was Lake Geneva ... everything is expensive. (i.e. we want our toll money back!)

MJH2

Wisconsin gets more than its fair share of my money, man! Somebody needs to tell them superweek folks that when we come up there to do a crit, we're used to doing 3 races for $29!

I just looked at the recently posted results from yesterday. Those announcers can yammer all they want about the "international" field of the P/1/2 race, but I'm not sure I've ever raced another series that draws people in from so far. In the Cat 3 race, only 2 local (WI/IL) cracked the top ten. The others were from Utah, New Jersey, Michigan (The UP), Indiana, California (2), Colorado, and Iowa. And that's only because the kids from Manitoba, Canada look like they took a day off. The rest of the pack is rounded out with Louisiana, Kansas, Michigan (L.P.), and Texas.

This is nuts. And it's also part of the reason I feel like I was hit by a truck today.

John Wilke

Locals are scared. That's why they're racing at Soldier Field (wimps).

Frunkin

I also feel like I got hit by a truck. I couldn't walk normally on the way to work today. $50 down the drain.

Psimet2001 

Maybe....but it's better than a strip club, cheaper and at least you FEEL like you got screwed.

John Wilke

Just as good as drugs and it's completely legal!

MJH2

Nah. At a strip club you can at least see something for $50.

I paid $50 and all I get to see was the end of my own race.