Originally Posted by
jsharr
Very cool. Are all teh guys local cyclists? Were you scared holding that carbon wheel? I hear those things asplode if you hold them wrong.
Yup. The announcer/suit is Jon Knouse - local and race director of the GGP. GGP is part of the USA Crit series. He's a great guy and has always been super supportive of everything we've done. He has always felt that we have been super supportive of the GGP so when he was thinking of people he thought of us.
I'm the perfect straight guy/fat guy to this bunch. The guy in blue with the Stars and Stripes on his sleeves and around his neck is Wayne Simon of Enzo's Cycling Products. He's the guy that makes Buttonhole Chamois Cream. He's a past road and TT masters 50+ champ and billion time road, cross, TT, everything state champ. His last big result was podium at masters nationals cross in 50+ to Tilford's win. Wayne has been riding and racing on PSIMET wheels for 3 or 4 seasons at this point. Always a great supporter.
http://www.enzoscyclingproducts.com/
The guy next to me in the polka dot kit is Nate Iden - one of the key members of Burnham Racing here in Chicago. A collection of very accomplished racers who also are extremely active at promoting and helping out in the local cycling community. Top notch gentlemen and really pillars of the racing community.
http://burnhamracing.org/
Brendan George is the Alberto's guy - kept cracking me up the entire time. Every time he said his lines I was trying to make him laugh. "Does your wife know that?" He's the owner of Alberto's Cycles - one of Chicago's best bike shops. They've been a staple here since 1974. Huge supporters of local racing. They are a huge chunk of the support and racing out at the Northbrook Velodrome as well. Check the, out :
http://www.albertoscycles.com/
Alberto's has been a sponsor of the GGP since inception as well. They do a great job of staffing the course and run a chip setup and return like a valet service that is bar none outstanding.