Women's and Juniors' Track Clinics This Weekend

There will be a Women's track clinic this Saturday, May 30th and a Juniors' track clinic this Sunday, May 31st at Ed Rudolph Velodrome in Northbrook, IL. If you're interested in starting track racing, you should definitely check out these clinics for a fun, supportive and encouraging introduction to racing. Click on the flyers below to see all the details.

Penrose Park Velodrome, St. Louis.

I got an email the other day from former Tour da Chicago organizer Lucky, telling me about the velodrome in St. Louis. I didn't even know there was a velodrome in St. Louis! He wants to get some Chicago people down there to race, so if you're in Chicago and you feel like racing a track that's not Northbrook or Kenosha, get yourself down to St. Louis. Sanctioned racing happens every other Thursday all summer. Informal events happen Wednesdays and the non-race Thursdays. Also, it's open all day every day for practice, as it's in a city park. Details here and here.

Brakeless is Suicide

Brakeless is Suicide is a photo expo by Ines Gonzalez Cordero and Sammy Utiger about track bikes on the street. Geneva, Switzerland, 11th to the 25th of June. "We are the motor, we are the brakes." I like that.

Model Kit

Another new shirt from Gage & DeSoto.

I'll stick to the track, thanks!

From yesterday's mountain stage of the Giro, which was also, apparently, one of the hottest days on record. Nessun grazie!

Photo: ALESSANDRO TROVATI/AFP/Getty Images

Tom Simpson T-Shirt

Brand new Tom Simpson t-shirt collaboration between the people at Urban Hunter and Gage&DeSoto. The shirts are inspired by the checkerboard Peugeot team jersey he wore, and the label bears the words "on, on, on," referring to Simpson's last words when, after collapsing during the climb of Mt. Ventoux during the 1967 Tour, he demanded to be put back on his bike by the people who rushed to help him. He collapsed and died a few seconds later.

Combination Classification Jacket

So it appears that Prendas have discovered the secret to time travel, and for some reason went back to 1985 to get a few examples of this ridiculous Tour de France combination classification jacket. Fair play to them. The combination jersey was awarded to the best rider in all the classifications combined, hence the hobo-esque patchwork nature of the jersey (the green for points, the polka dots for mountains, the yellow for overall). It's frightful. Get it here!

Ghetto-Cross Sponsors

Team Beer'd have secured some more sponsors for their Ghetto-Cross race. Is it an alleycat? Is it a cross race? You'll just have to show up on June 6th to find out. Details here.

Sad News

Donald Vanderbrook, a track racer from Racine County, Wisconsin, has died from the injuries he sustained in a crash at Kenosha velodrome on opening night. My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Keirin Culture Shirt

Got an email from Stratton a couple of days ago about these new Keirin Culture shirts. Sorry I'm late with the post, buddy! The graphic was designed by tattoo artist Aaron Dubois, it's screened onto AA shirts, and it's available here.

West Side Invite This Weekend

The West Side Invite is happening in Seattle this weekend, the first time in the event's 8 year history that it has happened outside of Portland. The main race will be a massive alleycat, but there will be lots of other things going on, including a women only alleycat, bike polo, and various drunken shenanigans. If you're anywhere near the pacific northwest, don't miss it!




Get all the details here and here.

Santiago Chile Alleycat!

Hell yes! South American alleycats, that's what I like to hear! I wish Caracas had had people like this, putting on races and riding track bikes around. Big ups to the crew from Santiago, Chile, for making it happen.

Velociti Alleycat - Santiago, Chile - May 21st - details here.

Racing at Kenosha Begins Tonight!

Henry of Team Pegasus killing it at Kenosha. Photo by PeteD of Cog Magazine.

Track racing at Washington Park Velodrome in Kenosha, WI begins tonight. Everyone who has raced there knows what a fun track Kenosha is, and what a great atmosphere it has, so I highly recommend checking it out. It's only a short drive from Chicago. Here's a copy of the email from Len Cabaltera, the race director:

"The Washington Park Velodrome will begin its 82nd year of operation with the Tuesday Night race series beginning on May 19. Racing began at the Velodrome in 1927 and continues on. “The Kenosha track has been the training ground for many of our countries’ top riders past and present” states Len Cabaltera, Race Director, “Our focus is to continue developing riders to race at the National and international levels.”

The Tuesday Races series begins on Tuesday May 19 and continues until August 25th. Registration opens at 6 pm and racing begins at 7 pm. The categories includes Junior 10-14, 15-18, Men’s , Women’s, Masters 30+ and Masters 40+. The full race schedule per category is listed on the website. Special events throughout the year are Mayor’s cup 75 lap points race, Bob Pfarr Memorial 150 lap Points Race, The Kenosha News Junior Trophy Race..

The Tuesday night series is sanctioned by the American Track Racing Association, with support of the Wisconsin Cycling Association. Other events include a Monday night stock bike program beginning June 15 and Wednesday night Masters Program beginning May 6. Washington Park is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin at the intersection of Washington Road(Hwy S) and 22nd Avenue."

More details here.

Northbrook Opening Night Photos

Last night was opening night at Ed Rudolph Velodrome in Northbrook, IL, where Henry of Team Pegasus won the first Cat3 race of the season. Nice one, Henry! Ed White took some brilliant pictures of the action. If you're in Chicago you should head up to Northbrook on Thursday nights to watch the racing. Rumor is they'll have a grill going next week...

Al of Cuttin Crew giving it loads! Photo by Ed White.

Dave of xXx. Photo by Ed White.

Aram of Pony Shop. Photo by Ed White.

From left: Brean, Al and Jeff of Cuttin Crew, and Andrew of Team Pegasus. Photo by Ed White.

Val of Bouledogue Tout Noir winning the points race. Photo by Ed White.

Sportscaster Cards

So, everyone (Kyle!) has been flipping out about the trickstar card I posted yesterday as a teaser. Here, as promised, are a few other Sportscaster cyling cards from the 70s and 80s. These are the track cycling ones. I like the Eddy madison one, but my favorite is the keirin card with Koichi Nakano. What an MF-ing styler! You can find the rest of the cycling cards, including Eddy and Fausto ones, here.

Thanks to Josh at Deathlap for the heads-up. See 165, I didn't forget you!

Track Opening Night!

The 50th year of track racing at Northbrook begins tonight!! Good luck to all my Team Pegasus teammates, and, to a lesser extent of course, to everyone from Cuttin' Crew, Team Beer'd, Half Acre, Bouldogue Tout Noir, and xXx. Next year, baby, next year...

Photo by Ed White.

Josh Ryan in The Keirin

Check it out, here's Chicago badass and Bouldougue Tout Noir rider Josh Ryan (in the pink Team Pegasus skinsuit) winning his heat at The Keirin at Dick Lane Velodrome in Atlanta last weekend. Congrats to Josh, who came 4th overall.

Trickstars

I'll have more of these awesome vintage cycling cards tomorrow. Stay tuned...

Grand Theft Velo III

This weekend in New Haven, CT. Details here.

New Zlog Badges

Nice designs, get 'em here.

Outlier Tropical Wool Cap

I live in the tropics and I wear glasses not dissimilar to these, signs that I should probably get this hat. Check out Outlier here.

Trouble in Town Shirts

Available from Urban Hunter.

Emerald Sprints in Seattle Tonight

Details here.

Time to bust this one out again...

Thanks for the image, Josh.

Macaframa DVD Now Available

Get it here.

Giro d'Italia

Begins tomorrow. If you're in the US, you can watch it on Universal Sports.

Poster by the incomparable Graham Watson.

The Keirin Start List

This is the start list for this Saturday's keirin spectacular at Dick Lane Velodrome in Atlanta, brought to you by the people at NoBrakes and Kazane. Chicago representative (and Bouledougue Tout Noir rider) Josh Ryan and I once spent over two hours waiting for burgers at Kuma's. True story.

The T-Shirt Story of my Life

From House of Pistard.

The Keirin Shirts

These limited edition t-shirts, of which only 50 were made, will be available to buy at The Keirin at Dick Lane Velodrome this Saturday, May 9th. Details here.

Team Rwanda

Last Sunday's Observer newspaper had a brilliant article on professional cycling in Rwanda. It focused on Team Rwanda, the first ever pro team in the country. Many of the cyclists on Team Rwanda lost family members in the genocide that took place there in 1994, but the team hopes to make Rwanda famous for more than just that awful conflict. "If I go outside the country and I am wearing this shirt," Rafiki, one of the cyclists, says, tugging at his Team Rwanda jersey, "people will know about Rwanda for something else." They're trying to become the most successful pro team in Africa, and hope to send a team to the Tour de France within the decade. It's an inspiring article. Read it here.

The article in the Observer is by Steve Bloomfield, and the photo above is by Riccardo Gangale.

Bootleg Sessions 3 Trailer

Wow. Details here.

Hemingway on Bicycles

Wise words. This excellent painting is by an artist I really like called Wil Freeborn. Check out some more of his work here.

Favourite Shirts Exhibition

If you're in LA this weekend, you should head over to Paul Smith's shop on Melrose where, starting this Saturday, May 9th, there'll be an exhibition of classic cycling jerseys to mark this year's Giro d'Italia. Held in conjunction with Rapha and Rouleur, the exhibition will run till May 31th. Miles, you should go to this and take some photos for me. All the details are here.

Also, anyone know if Lance will be riding the Giro? I'm a little out of touch right now...

H Plus Son Site

Took you long enough, Tzusing! Just kidding, the site looks great. The H Plus Son site is now live here.

Ciclo Urbano

West Town Bikes, a not-for-profit bike advocacy and teaching organization that seeks to promote bicycling in the city of Chicago, to educate youth with a focus on under-served populations, and to foster and serve Chicago's growing bicycling community, is opening its new community shop and learning space, Ciclo Urbano, tonight, May 1st, at 2459 W Division St. The above hats, made by Team Pegasus rider Sage Brown, will be available to buy there. Sorry this is so late, but on the off chance that you're in Chicago and haven't hear about this, well, get your arse in gear and get down there.

More details on West Town Bike and all the good stuff they do here.