Well here in Chicago we are finally getting ready for some decent spring time temps, now that we can see June in a few more days, we expect to be able to shed our longsleeves soon.... we hope!
NEW FEATURE:
CHICKENRIDE PRO OF THE WEEK INTERVIEW:
Smott has taken it upon himself to come up with some unique questions for the pros that frequent the Chicken. Not the boring stuff like ' what kind of training regime do you like ' or ' whats your favorite race east of the Mississippi ' but the good stuff, the important stuff to racing.
Since this is my feature, i conduct brief interviews and let the pros know that some answers may be modified or completely fabricated in order to have a more interesting feature.
This weeks feature is Mark Santurbane - who rides for the California Giant Strawberries team.
Marks rig is a Specialized sporting Mavic hoops, SRAM Red shifters and Derrs, Dura Ace SRM, and some TRP stoppers. Mark is a small guy, so he uses a small guy seat as well.
Mark was pretty cool, had some good laughs, and was fine with my disclaimer of answers may be altered or completely fabricated. I know he works for SRAM, but i didnt catch what division he was in, but he did discuss his upcoming trip to Taiwan and his distaste for the lack of decent riding there.
Favorite Chamois cream? Assos
Favorite Post race outfit? hoodie and sweats ( especially after chickenrides that finish around dark and the temps drop 15 degrees)
Favorite video game? do i have to pick one?
Did you like the Chickenride? what Chickenride ( yes you may acknowledge it) - oh yeah, all except stopping in BFE to change a flat tire on 4 attempts for 20 minutes ( Matt - it wasnt your fault!)
Hopefully there will be more interviews to follow.
Back to the ride.. The rollout was wind assisted which lent itself to some good chatting, and a pretty quick approach to the Romeoville gallop to the line. Ritzler and Bos launched it with Smott and King in tow. Bos took a Lion's pull and the Smoooott jumped to nab the prize. Ritzler later commented about being rode off Smoots wheel, but thats all that fat kid can do is sprint for 200m. This week featured the first extra time adventure to the Bluff rd. It was full speed ahead in the rollers, and your author was nowhere to be seen for any commentary of how it shook out. I do know that Matt with the Zipp 808's flatted, so i stopped with him, and a few others returned quickly. We learned after blowing off the tire 2 times with gas that it was going to be a dainty job. Ritzler demonstrated his off road capabilities by climbing and descending in grass to a nifty pee break location as seen in the snaps above.
After 20 minutes and 3 additional tries, we got enough air into the wheel to keep him rolling. Note to those that need the Lou Malnaties Deep Dish wheels - buy tubes with valve stems like 100m long! lol!
it was getting cool and we knew we were chasing darkness on the roll in, as as mentioned the roll out was tailwind, the ride home was not too polite. Your author was into the hurt locker early and did his best at faking it and hiding to survive. He launched a few attacks off the back, but managed to get back in despite his efforts to get dropped.
Skinny Todd launched up Wolf Rd hill, but the group was fast in tow this time. your author was nowhere to be seen, but i believe i heard that a Feltz took the V.
JP and the SRAM car delivered our bags to the LaGrange Bucks, as we had to alter our usual stop due to the WS Bucks closing at only 8pm. King and Ritzler went City of Chicago style and blocked off a parking spot for them, i suggested the traditional folding chair, but they pointed out that out in the Burbs, there may not be enough respect for the chair.
all in all a good day and good laughs tonight
