Safety Tip: Install a Rear Light

Hi everyone, It's that time of year when it's easy to get caught out
around dusk as we try to sneak in a ride or a workout at the end of
the day.

Do yourself (and your training partners) a favor and install one of
those small, inexpensive rear lights that attach to your seatpost and
can switch between solid or flashing lights. You'll never even realize
it's there until you need it, at which point you should give yourself
a well-deserved pat on the back.

Prinner Report from World

Jessi Prinner has posted a report from her experience at the Junior World Championships in Russia!

ABD Columbus Day Weekend Training Ride Details

A huge thanks to ABD Club member Chuck King for organizing this!

ABD has reserved a block of rooms at the Clock Tower Resort, Rockford, Illinois, for Saturday and Sunday, October 9 and 10. Registration costs and information is below.
www.clocktowerresort.com

RIDE OPTIONS
* the main ride Sunday, October 11, ride from and return to the Clock Tower. Explore north central Illinois and south central Wisconsin on one of the last good Sundays of the cycling season.
* optional long ride Saturday, October 10, to Rockford from the Prairie Path shops. The ABD van will carry your bags to the Clock Tower. The ride will begin at the Winfield shop, pick up more riders at the Batavia shop (where the van will pick up more gear) and head out to Rockford. (Distance, about 60 miles from Batavia).
* another optional long ride Monday, October 12, from Rockford to Batavia/Winfield, with bag drops at the Batavia and Winfield shops.
There is no fee for the optional long rides and van service. The pace will be comparable to the Monday night recovery rides. There will be re-fueling stops along the way. Riders should bring some spending money, and your favorite ride fuel.

PARTY
* ABD has rented a hospitality room, where you will be served a continental breakfast (Sunday morning, Monday morning).
* Saturday night potluck and Sunday night cookout in local parks.
* a small fee is added to your room reservation to help with these expenses. All Club members and attending guests must pre-register and pay that fee to participate in the meals.

ROOMS
The Clock Tower has an indoor water park. One of the lodging options includes 4 passes to the park. This incredible deal makes a great option for those with non-cycling family or significant others.
* Rooms have 2 beds, and cost $101/night (tax included). That cost can be shared by up to 4 persons/room. [Example: a single person not sharing a room will be charged $101/night; 2 people in the room will be charged $50.50 each/night; 4 people, $25.25 each/night]
* A Room + 4 Water Park passes costs $145/night (tax included). [$72.50 each/night for 2; $36.25 each/night for 4]
Rooms have 2 beds, and can be shared by up to 4 persons per room.
ABD is responsible for the cost of the rooms for both nights. No single-night registrations will be accepted without another registration for the other available night.

Additional Charges will be the responsibility of club members:
For example – rollaway bed or crib; Friday night or Monday night stays at the Clock Tower, in-room services (food service, in-room bar/snacks, pay-per-view TV, etc.)

REGISTRATION
Download Information, Instructions, and Registration Form:
http://www.abdcycling.com/members/files/October_REGISTRATION.doc

And don’t forget the “release form” - which you’ll need with your registration:
http://www.abdcycling.com/members/files/ABD_Release.pdf

SEND registration form, check, and release form to Chuck King or one of the Prairie Path Cycles shops.

ABD Savanna Ride Update

Hi ABD'rs;

Plans are almost finalized.

Here is what were planning so far...

* Total Ride length- to Savanna 125.2 miles
* Total Ride length- to Oregon 75 miles 
* Rests stops TBD (Oregon maybe longer break...or White Pines)
* Lodging- Super 8 (Savanna,Saturday 22nd)
* Support vehicle- Truck w/bike mounts (bike repair)
* Clothing- dry clothes (rain gear, wallet, license,etc.)
* Start location- Trek (Winfield Store)
* Start time- exact TBD (probably near 6:15-6:30am)

Fred Yoder has offered to drive support vehicle to Oregon, so far Brad may ride back to Winfield, but that is not definate. 

So, if anyone is interested in riding one-way trip with him, back to Winfield,....or entire trip, PLEASE CALL ME ASAP.

P.S.- If you want to review route...look at:
MapMyRide.com: Marshall Plan, Savanna, IL

Bob Marshall


Fling Criterium Course Preview POSTPONED Until 9/2

Tonight's scheduled training ride on the new Fall Fling Criterium
Courses is postponed due to the forecasted thunderstorms.

Mike Farrell will lead the ride at the same time (6 PM) on Wendesday,
September 2nd.

Dunne Report: Downers Grove

Downers Grove report, Sat Masters 4-5, Sunday Cat 5 #2

Where do I get my “I survived Downers Grove” T-shirt?
Saturday was a beautiful day, a bit windy and I was hoping for a top 20 placement in the Full field Masters 4-5 in Downtown Downers Grove.
By the time fellow ABD riders Gary Rulo and the Sarge and I entered the course; we were already lined up at the back of the starting field. Gary’s comment “were going to have to do a little work” rang true. ABD rider Paul Zelewsky. was lined up just down the way from us. Together ABD had a good presence. The usual suspects were also in attendance. Tower, XXX and Bike Heaven all had a strong showing in the field.
As the race started, Gary and I moved up and found Paul and started to make good progress up the field. That is until maybe lap # 4. An accident on the uphill in turn 4 collected both Gary and I. Paul managed to just miss THIS wreck. The Sarge passed us asking is we were OK. Both Gary and got up, assessed our damage and moved to the wheel pit for our free lap. We rejoined the pack and continued to hook up with Paul moving into good position. The race itself was not as fast as I expected. Maybe the wind help keep the group together. During each lap between corner 2 & 3 I could hear the ABD faithful cheering us on. With 3 laps to go, the pace picked up between turn 2 and 3. A few attacks were brought back by the group and I could tell that it was going to be a bunch sprint. Paul, Gary and I had made up positions between the downhill turn 5 & 6. We hung tight just around the top 10 and had very good position coming out of turn 8 heading up the start / finish hill. Then about 20 meters before the start /finish, a rider (do not want to name team) pushed through along the barricade. He forced past me and Gary, by as he passed Gary, he hooked a XXX rider (Rob) and they both flipped into the barricade. You know what happened next, 3, yes 3, ABD riders down at once. Luckily everyone seemed OK. (I did hear the next day that a South Shore Wheelman was hurt, but will recover ). The XXX rider’s bike was broken ½. Seeing this, I feel lucky. I managed to remount and finish the 2 laps, but the damage was done. Bottom line is we had a good race going, we all felt strong for the final 2 laps, but as luck would have it was not our day. I had fun; the skid marks on my body will go away and not much damage done to my bike. Although I did not reach my goal of top 20, I can still make a good story about crashing twice in one race.
        
Sunday Cat 5 #2
More of the same
Lined up 2nd row behind a South Shore Wheelman with fellow ABD rider Jim Lund. Whistle blows and with in 3 seconds I am on the ground again. The guy in front of me falters clipping in and boom, 4 guys ride up my …..back. I replace my chain, remount and chase the field. I manage to catch them around turn 7. I regroup, try and recover and then work on making my way to the front. With 3 laps to go I’m in good position and holding. One lap to go and the front of the field are moving single file through turn 5 & 6. I make a move up to around 5th place between turn 6 & 7. Entering turn 7 faster than any other point of the race, made for some interesting lines through the corner for some riders. The rider to the inside of me bobbled and forced me wider than I wanted making me have to force my way back into the street before that fast approaching outside curb came up and grabbed me. I was pushed back a few spots, but managed to pass a few riders up the finish hill for 8th. .
All in all a fun weekend of racing, Considering my training the last few weeks has included Guinness and only a few days of riding a week, when I was not on the ground, I felt pretty good. I am looking forward to more racing with the Sarge, Gary and Paul.

John Dunne

Watson Finishes 4th at National Criterium Championship

ABD Elite Team member Zach Watson rode a smart and tough race through torrential downpours to capture 4th place at the USA Cycling National Elite Criterium Championship. Watson escaped with two other riders late in the race and the trio maintained a gap that hovered around 18 seconds.

In the closing laps consummate strongmen Paul Martin and Kirk Albers made a big effort to bridge across, and the five riders had no time for cat and mouse as the gap dropped below 15 seconds. Justin England attacked on the final lap to take the title and Watson and the other four chased as hard as they could while trying to simultaneously not lead one another out or get caught be the field.

Columbus Day ABD cycling weekend

Hold the date for the last 2009 national holiday weekend with likely cycling weather!

As Mike Ebert posted in his note earlier this week, we are planning a 3-day, 2-night ABD event. The Clock Tower Inn and Resort in Rockford will be our home base on Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11. A block of rooms has been reserved at a great rate. AND for those who may need to convince non-cycling family or companions, the Clock Tower has an indoor water park - a very reasonable package deal is available for a room + 4 passes to the water park.

I am working through the paperwork from the hotel, and will get out specific rates, deadlines, etc. in a couple of days. Meanwhile ... save the date and talk it up!

Rides:
* Optional Saturday ride from one of the shops to Rockford
* Sunday rides in the rural Rockford/Beloit/southern Wisconsin area
* Optional Monday ride back to the west suburbs?

Party:
Morning continental breakfast and a cook-out will be provided by ABD with just a marginal add-on to the room fees.

Keep an eye out on the ABD email-list for a complete run-down and registration information!

Chuck King
Winfield

Fall Fling Course Preview Training Rides: Wed, 8/19 & Mon, 9/7

ABD President Mike Farrell will be leading "preview" training rides of the Fall Fling courses on Wednesday, August 19th and Monday, September 7th. These rides are open to all ABD club members.

The Wednesday, August 19th ride will meet at 6 p.m. at the Pella Windows factory on Fabyan Parkway & Technology Drive in West Chicago. (This ride will be in place of the regularly scheduled PPC-Batavia ride). Mike will take riders through laps of both the 9/26 and 10/3 courses and offer tips and advice specific to each.

The Monday, September 7th (Labor Day) ride will meet at 9 a.m. at the Tuckaway Golf Course in Crete, Illinois (27641 S Stoney Island Ave, Crete, IL). It will be a 60 mile training ride (18mph to 22mph average) that starts with loops on the road race course and then out to a larger loop.

Freund Takes Grayslake Crit

ABD rider Ryan Freund turned a potentially embarrasing situation into another win on Saturday, staying off the front for the final lap after sprinting (and celebrating) a lap early.

Freund had lapped the field earlier in the race in a small group containing consumate-strongman Scott Pearson. Then Pearson, Freund and fellow ABD teammate John Meyers escaped again. Freund junmped away from the two and celebrated on what he thought was his final trip across the line. However, he was met by the ringing bell and a cry of "1 lap to go"! Meyers and Pearson rolled back to him and Meyers immediately returned to the front to try and hold off the field. The effort paid off and Freund was able to again take the sprint with Pearson in second.

Josh Carter Wins Day Two at Elk Grove Village!

        Josh Carter exploded out of a chase group with 400 meters remaining to overtake two late breakaway riders and win the Sunday category 1/2 race at the Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove. ABD teammate Jeff Schroetlin, who took second in Saturday’s race, set Carter up for the win and held on to finish in 7th place.

The Closing Laps:
        With 15 laps remaining in the race ABD rider John Meyers took off after a $100 prime, only to miss out by a wheel. His effort, however, forced a split of 15 riders off the front of the field. Small groups bridged across over the next few laps, including a group of four with Schroetlin and a duo with Carter. With 10 laps to go the lead group had swelled 27 riders total, including Schroetlin and Carter for ABD and Saturday winner Frank Travieso.

        With two laps remaining, six riders escape the lead group of 27. The move included Schroetlin, former ABD’er Rob White and former pro Heath Blackgrove. Shortly thereafter, White and Blackgrove set out on their own for the finish, but at the same time Travieso bridged to the remaining four with Carter glued to his wheel. With less than a lap remaining the duo of White and Blackgrove had 75 yards on the chasing group of six and Carter told Schroetlin “keep them within 100 yards and I can catch them”. Schroetlin did as he was told and after they came out of the final turn with 400 yards remaining Carter gave it full gas, catching the duo with approximately 200 meters left and holding off Travieso by a bike length.

Schroetlin Takes Second at First Day of Elk Grove

ABD Elite team member Jeff Schroetlin took second place in the Men’s 1/2 category at the first day of the Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove. Schroetlin was in a breakaway group of five riders that was held off a late charging field. The win went to former pro Frank Travieso.

Other notable ABD results include Mike Vail’s 8th place finish in the Category 4 race (apparently Mike gained some fitness during his recent ride across the United States!) and ABD Juniors Mike Wilkie and Konrad Witt both finished 11th in their respective Senior 5 heats.