chrisSouthside

the info for the stage is up. it sure looks like a ball buster



Logan, Elston, Milwaukee, Ogden, Grand, Harlem, Fullerton, Des Plaines River, Belmont, Forest Preserve, Montrose, Milwaukee.

start at boulevard bikes 2535 n. kedzie feb 13th, registration and coffee at 7:30

lightgraphs

Howdy. What's the story with this ride? Is it open to anyone? Does it cost?

keevohn

Yep... open to all, usually costs between five and ten bucks to register.

auroch

-bump-

Yeah I'll be there and I have shoe covers now not for
their ability to keep my toes, but for their aero-ness.

incidently, they posted a killer map.
my goal: not getting lost.

jeff

absntr

Not sure if you guys want to ride in a pack... Probably not Jeff and Keevohn, power riders and sheeit.

keevohn

Yeah, I'm getting pumped.

25 mile road race... it'd be cool if it developed into a peloton-style situation, complete with attacks and lead groups and time gaps and chases and bunch sprints...

Damn, I'm a racing geek.

auroch

Ha ha! That rules.
Fear my aero-ness Naz. My shoecover & baileyworks bag
are made of the same dark matter as a B2 stealth bomber.

jeff

absntr

Damn spinners and mashers.

auroch

which one are you Naz? It's hard
to ride fixed without doing a little
bit of both.

jeff

absntr

When I was pushing the 52x18, I was a masher. Then I dropped that to 46x18, spinner. Now at 48x16, I do feel a bit of both though with a lot of headwind these days I feel like I'm mashing a lot. Probably drop to 17 or 18 in the back to get that spin back up.

ryan_c

The day you show up to a DCC casual ride in a skinsuit with your eyebrows shaved, I will not be surprised.

pitboss

you missed that ride ryan...I forgot to tell you about it.
NINJAJEFFRULES

auroch

played hookey from work so I can go ride the route for Sunday and
it is brutal. Break out the armadillos, the super thick chamois, and
tighten up those chains 'cause its gonna be a bumpy ride.

jeff

lightgraphs

Is this a fixed gear race or are people riding road bikes?

Also is there a website where I can get more info?

Thanks.

auroch

link is in the alleycat sticky. and as per usual all are welcome
so bring your unicycles & trykes.

incidently, I'm sick & uncertain of going. weak.
jeff

chrisSouthside

word is that the des plaines river road part is very hairy -- no shoulder and its a pseudo highway. the weather is going to be great for this ride. i just wish there were pancakes. what happened to the pancakes? are too many people showing up?

auroch

desplaines road is BRUTAL and actually so is forest peserve, and montrose.
milwaukee ave is what I imagine the Korean DMZ to be.

jeff

pitboss

sweet! I love Korean food - but will be in PA this weekend, getting two young, upcoming trackstars up to date on the latest Taliah Lampert coloring book.

keevohn

To make matters worse... looks like the southeast bound finishing jaunt on Milwaukee will be heading straight into a 15 mph headwind.

Thank you NOAA.

Ira in Chi

So Jeff, you did a pre-ride? How is the part that runs on the Des Plains trail? Is it clear?

Ira in Chi

It was the "Hell of the North(west)". Treacherous westside potholes, racers soaked to the skin, a mile run with bikes shouldered through mud and ice, and then the cold ride home in wet clothes. I love wool and hate denim. All in all, a very fun race. Cheers Jeff and Kevin(the later who partied with us last night, good times) for coming out.

skitbraviking

Sounds like hell/fun. I sort of wished I had made it to the frozen/burning hell.

keevohn

Yeah... it was pretty strange.

During that little cyclocross-style running patch, I was sweating like a pig.

After the race, I couldn't stop violently shivering for a good half hour.

I love winter.

Yuppie

The first half of the race was absolutely beautiful. A pack of racing bikers through intersections, around cars, etc. One hell of a good time! Then I got dropped and missed the fun part in the mud. I don't know if I technically finished the race because I went "around" the trail (we'll see when the results come out). Had I stuck with a group, I wouldn't have missed it, but such a good time nonetheless. Violently shivering afterward and the ride home I could have done without.

Also, riding for a good 10 miles into the wind by yourself, not a good end to my race.

lightgraphs

I had a blast...on the first half. Bummer about that cyclocross patch. I've only been riding for about six months and this was my first experience riding in a fast group like that. Drafting and pulling and sprinting. It was awesome. Cool people too. Now I'm pissed that I'm moving and won't be around for the other stages. Good race to all.