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Cyclocross’ popularity increases each weekend it seems. Check out page 28 of the Nov./Dec. `09 issue of Chicago Athlete Magazine to see yours truly.

I spent an amazing weekend racing in Toronto (not in those races — I’m way to slow…). Props to all involved there for making it a world-class event that I’ll return to yearly if possible.

Check out my team’s sponsor, El Duke Degreaser, as it removes embrocation from my legs after 2 races in the dirt. There’s not many things this stuff can’t do.

And, never fear, the Cuttin’ Cruiser will always be here (or there — at the races). Glad to be of assistance and glad to see the support to get the bus back on the road.

More races/rides/ rad stuff coming soon!

here: at Bicycling (Magazine).

#30 is one of my favorites — calling to mind a drive home from Hillsboro Roubaix and my comment that traffic was acting as if in a Cat5 road race. #38 while riding the North Branch Trail loop on my track bike mid-day during the week is actually what I credit the most for making me a competitive cyclist. And thankfully I’ve never experienced #s 43 or 55.

Being a cyclist is quite a unique thing, as the article clearly explains. There are constantly moments when you have epiphanies that deepen the significance of cycling in your life as well. Then, it’s the sights and smells that bring back memories of that first UCI race experience, an epic climb, even a horrific crash.  That said, here are some of the more poignant moments that have solidified me as the cyclist I am today:

1) The experience of getting paid to ride my bike and how it still motivates me when I look back on it; when it’s raining out, when where I’m sleeping – as comfortable as it may be – is not as desirable a locale as the cold morning streets, etc.

2) Descending at 50+MPH, laughing hysterically and being unable to hear it due to the wind’s howl past my ears

3) The smell of embrocation beating out the smell of my first girlfriend’s deodorant as all-time favorite scent

4) Watching several riders bumping wheels around me while in a fast chase group during a rainy crit and not being frightened, but getting goosebumps due to the fact that so few people get to experience that thrill

There’s maybe a dozen of those “rights of passage” I haven’t experienced — for one reason or another — and I can’t believe they omitted any mention of gluing/riding tubular tires, but it definitely shines some light on the oft misunderstood life of a cyclist. Even mine.

The other day I was talking to some friends about how “parking” a bike is so easy that I often have a hard time with not being able to just pull up to the door of a location, etc. Then I got an email from the Active Transportation Alliance last night regarding Chicago’s removal of parking meters and that initiatives impact on the availability of bike parking. It is a very good point and seems to be a lose-lose situation to almost everyone.

So, as the emails suggests and if you’re a resident of Chicago,  contact your alderman and let them know that appropriate replacement bike parking provisions are needed. Unanimous “rock star parking” for all cyclists is not the goal here, but just enough to fill the void that meter-less streets will create.

I really like the forum on Cyclocross Magazine’s website. A lot of really good questions get asked there and they’re almost always answered well. A couple recent discussions I participated in over there brought up the issue of bike-fit. I really can not stress the importance of a good bike fit enough. If you think you like riding/racing now, after getting a professional fit you may find it hard to get out of the saddle day in and day out.

You can fit your bike yourself. In fact, I’d say that if you haven’t at least followed the steps found here, you are doing yourself a dis-service. However, to fully garner all the benefits of the process you should have outside input.

There are several processes that I’m somewhat familiar with. A popular one is the Retül Fitting and you can also have  high-precision fittings done locally using the Fitmaster; made in Wisconsin by Waterford. Both, if done by a qualified professional, will make your entire riding experience a better one.

Personally, I’ve had Wobblenaught fitting performed on my road bike. It also allowed me to take the same numbers generated by its measurements and apply them to my cyclocross bike. I will say that mountain bikes are measured totally differently than road and ‘cross bikes, so if you’re an MTB enthusiast you’ll want a separate fitting for that particular bike. (If I wasn’t so currently soured on serious MTB riding, I would be bringing mine in ASAP.) If you are interested in this fitting, please email me and I will give you the number to set up an appointment.

The measurements taken of riders’ physiques then applied to bike size and set-up create not only a newfound level of comfort but of performance. I was floored at how improperly I was setting up my bikes before I was fit. I’m also amazed by how small an adjustment can be to make a huge difference in your fit. I am lucky to be able to go back to my fitter to make these adjustments, and others should follow suit.

I’m also kinda skeptical (or jealous?) of people who can get by based on the Competitive Cyclist fit, or by just ‘experimenting’; with their set-up. Either way though, it makes a huge difference in your performance and comfort on the bike.

…ride it.

It should be somewhat obvious that I am enthusiastic about road racing. So when presented the opportunity to visit the Highland Park Trek Store to meet with the ATA and Robbie Ventura, I was very excited. While I am not a very serious road racer, I have the utmost appreciation for it and train just the same way for cyclocross as roadies do, for the most part. Also, being able to spend some time with the good folks from ATA and some of their members was a pleasure.

As you may know, I don’t own a Trek but do ride some Bontrager components. I had also only been to the Trek store in Michigan Ave downtown prior to Thursday. That did not stop me from being continually impressed by Trek. The Highland Park location is huge. Partly due to the fact that it also houses a Vision Quest training facility as well. I was immediately impressed be the magnitude — and there was a lot of awesome old US Postal/Lance Armstrong memorabilia on display.

The event served as a benefit to ATA members and as a social get-together. The presentation by Ventura was to be the highlight (despite the bicycle powered blender’s best efforts).

small bike or big blender?

He went on to explain Vision Quests’ mission as well as telling some very interesting stories about providing commentary on the Tour de France for VS. It made me, and hopefully everyone else in the audience, even more excited to see what unfolds in July (Contador has it locked!).

I have known people to use Vision Quest for winter training programs and they all spoke very highly of them. During the Q & A portion Robbie also mentioned that the spectrum of instruction they offer at VQ includes lessons on riding in a pack. It made me think back to my first Hillsboro, last year, when I was in a chase group without any of my own teammates. The two Vision Quest riders in the pack were able to keep the paceline organized despite alot of other riders’ inabilities. It really solidified my opinion of them as a class-act — and now I know why.

Overall the event was great! Next time maybe I’ll get to tell Robbie a bike racing story; like about the time I saw him jump a curb on Zipp 808’s at last year’s Glencoe Grand Prix!

i am back from camp and i have never felt faster on a bike… well, at least not for how much effort i’ve been putting out sine i’ve returned to Chicago. it’s amazing how much a little grade makes just riding around that much more of an ordeal!

RIVAL report asap! for more info on camp, check the team site again

I am off to team training camp in a matter of hours! I can not wait to ride outside of the city and get back into “racing shape.” Commuting is good for fitness, but not nearly as effective as long rides with little to no stopping (the opposite of all riding in Chicago…)

Upon my return I will be reviewing 2009 SRAM Rival. I’ve only ridden it on the trainer thusfar but i will put it through it’s paces this week — for sure. From the mag trainer to the mountains… I’m excited, to say the least!

Time’s up. If you are going to be beginning a new lifestyle as a cyclist or you are an old vet about to start working-over your ample stable of rides; do it now! Bike shops will be slammed in just a few weeks. They are already writing about it in the Tribune.

If you are spring-cleaning; take that old bike and or any parts from the bin to Working Bikes on Western Ave. It is simple, fast, painless and it’s just a good thing to do.

As far as getting a new bike (this is where I dissagree w/ the Trib); if you are looking to make a sound investment, stop in at your local shop. they will fit you to an appropriate and affordable bike. If your in the area of our offices, there’s no better shop than Amling’s on Milwaukee Ave in Niles.

Enjoy the weekend! Sprint for spring!

Broken bike. Photo: Naz Hamid

My apologies. I am having some techical difficulites with the site. Anyone who had posted comments (Chuck?) and would like to get in touch, please email me at kevin@bikeblogchicago.com

I hope to be back up and posting ASAP! Enjoy the weekend — pretend the snow isn’t real…

While the exact details are a bit unclear at this point, it appears that Colnago will be coming to Chicago to distribute their high-end Italian bikes.

We already have SRAM here in Chicago. Less than 200 miles northwest we have Trek, Planet Bike, etc. in Wisconsin.  And, in possibly one of the most unassuming zip-codes imaginable, we may have the most cycling industry product distributors per-capita.

Move over California?