Opening Night at Northbrook!

Andrew Yeoman of Team Pegasus racing at Northbrook. Photo by Gavin Gould.

May 13th is opening night at Ed Rudolph Velodrome in Northbrook, IL, and this season promises to be the best in a long time, thanks to the efforts of all the volunteers and staff at the track, but especially thanks to the new race directors, Val and Josh, who have been putting in a lot of work to make sure that this season is packed with exciting racing for all categories. There are various beginner's clinics, training nights and race nights planned, so check out the schedule here and keep an eye on the track's webpage here for details. See you there!

Random Events You Should Go To

The Bike Show opening party feat. the brilliant photographs of Chris Dilts - Chicago IL - April 30th - Details here.

Heavy Metal Tour - Ypsilanti, MI - starts May 15th - Details here.

Single Speed Cyclocross World Championship Coming Out Party - Seattle, WA - April 29th - Details here.

Lucky Cat alleycat - Huntsville, AL - June 5th - Details here.

Mathlete's Revenge - Richmond, VA - May 15th

OK, now that's a little better...

Nice looking RS kit design option from James Selman of Weights & Pulleys. I dig it. Seen at Freeman Transport.

Go Fast Turn Left

Go Fast Turn Left, the Richmond Mellowdrome Track series put on by Carytown Bikes, is getting close to wrapping up it's spring series and will be starting it's summer series before long. It's a great racing series and if you're new to track racing, Carytown Bikes is even lending out demo bikes so you can try it out. Nice!
Here's the schedule:

Spring Series
What: Go Fast Turn Left Track Series
When: Tuesday nights – 5-8pm – April 20 – May 11
Where: Southside Speedway
Entry: $25
FREE Demo bikes available from Carytown Bicycle Co. and Sportsquest

Summer Series
What: Go Fast Turn Left Track Series
When: Every 3rd Saturday night May – August - 5-8pm
Where: Southside Speedway
Entry: $25
FREE Demo bikes available from Carytown Bicycle Co. and Sportsquest

State Track Championship
What: State Track Championships
When: Saturday August 21st 3-10pm
Where: Southside Speedway
Entry: $25
Details: Track opens at 2pm, Road Criterium at 7pm, 1-Mile Run*, Track Championship 8pm
*1 Mile Run will follow the Road Criterium and has a $30 entry fee
FREE Demo bikes available from Carytown Bicycle Co. and Sportsquest

Despite being a few hours away, I'm gonna try and make all of the summer series. It's rad to see such a good track community starting to form in a place that doesn't even have a track! Hopefully that might change sometime in the future? Either way, big thanks to Carytown Bikes for putting on Go Fast Turn Left!

Track Racing w/ Bro's from CJ Congrove on Vimeo.

More info here.

Love it...

Great racing art from Japanese artist Yuji Yamada.





See more here. Seen first at velo runner.

5Bling Track Gloves

Malaysian track racer Josiah Ng has turned his hand (see what I did there?) to making track gloves. His company, 5Bling, have two styles right now, the carbon-knuckled Keirinjo gloves, designed to protect the hands during all the bumping and aggro of keirin, and the more lightweight Streamline, when protection isn't as important. They look pretty nice, and dude obviously knows what is needed in a decent track glove.

The 5Bling Keirinjo. For wearing when people are trying to smash your hands to bits.

The 5Bling Streamline. For wearing to the opera.

The man himself, repping his gloves.

Check out 5Bling track cycling gloves here.

Team Shirt

Because Cancellara owns right now, the guys over at Gage&DeSoto added a little pro-Fab detailing to their CSC/SaxoBank/Whatever-the-team-is-called-right-now shirt to give the Swiss badass a little extra credit. Love it.


Available here.

Books

Here are a couple of new cycling books that you'll have to speak Italian to read, but not to appreciate all the excellent photos. The first is a history of the Giro, the second a history of Bianchi, and both are available at Prendas Ciclismo.

Vino

Just like Hipster Nascar, he's back! I wonder how many different people's blood was sloshing around inside him when he crossed the line? I'm kidding, I'm sure he's clean... now.

Aaaaaand we're back!

Sorry for the posting delinquency! We've been a little caught up with transatlantic moves and uh, crosstown moves... Anyway, we're back. Yay!

Milwaukee Messenger Invitational 9

Details here.

Velo City 5

Coming soon to a city near you! Details over at CycleHawk.

[UPDATE] Chicago date now set: May 22nd. Put it on your calendar!