Alex is actively ignoring Mack dude. I don't blame him.
Sure enough, John attacks the field immediately.
Then John flatted, and was mistakenly put back in at the back of the pack.
With Chris up the road, Alex decides to go for it.
And John blocked for a bit.
Eventually, TATI made the decisive move to mount a chase. It shattered the field, but Druber joined in.
Don't see this too often...
Gaps were forming, and so with two to go the fellow in blue would be dropped.
It's a 4-up sprint, with Alex leading out John!
And John takes it, edging out Druber in the process!
Hey everyone, it's Superweek!
Recycles went on the first lap, so John bridged, with a fellow from Baton Rouge in tow.
Like a good teammate, Jesse kept the pack in check.
Then the entire South Chicago team crashed and Jesse was tangled up too.
Meanwhile, Mike Seguin (xXx) bridged and the break was set.
Jesse got back in, but now had to chase on a bit.
Fifteen laps into the thirty-three lap race, the group was working well together.
The pack was splintering, but kept coming back together.
As usual, John was barking orders and doing the most work. Mike and I were pretty sure he had it in the bag.
Little gaps kept opening up when John would pull, a sure sign that the others were struggling.
The look on Mike's face says it all. The break would soon lap the field!
The break integrated with the field, and the leaders considered what to do next. Both xXx and Recycles had teammates who could lead them out. Baton Rouge and John did not.
John sprints for the win. Since the field is integrated, 2nd and 3rd are way back there.
Holding hands. Sweet!
Mike suggests a post race recovery meal of hot dogs and RC.
Superweek manicures.
Eric looking SuperBored at Superweek Willow Springs.
Loren attacks!
Davis was crashed out early, but dutifully finished solo.
Jesse attacked on the first hill, taking Baton Rouge with him.
John then followed suit, but the REcycles twins were hot on his tail.
Jesse showed great form, and did his best impression of Daniel Navarro by pulling the field for much of the race.
Here's Jesse bridging to a Burnham racer, who promptly sits up.
It's the national team of Trinidad-Tobago!
Two of the visiting Manitoba team rolled off the front with two to go.
Who's going to chase? Not xXx. Not REcycling. Not Mack or South Chicago or Psimet.
There was a lot of this all day, but good for Manitoba. They finished 1-2. But it's too bad that the Chicago teams all marked one another. The race was too easy as a result.
Eric holding on for dear life.
Loren was just way too fast for my F-stops.
That would be Roswell in the second chase group, organized by... Jannette Rho.
Generalissimo Alex laying down the law before the start of the 123s.
Whatchu lookin at?
As usual, Alex wanted to take control of the race early.
Liam was ready to go early, joined here by a ReCycles rider and John.
John attacked three separate times (this is the second) before the final selection was made.
With Liam off the front, Jesse and Alex wind up the chase.
After a hard effort heading into the backside straightaway, Alex and John were off the front by five seconds.
With Padfield off the front, and Dave Moyer joining Liam, it would take five laps for the Tatitos to bridge, making it a chase group of four.
With so many lapped riders, the final placings were rough.
It's funny how very fit cyclists look a little like aliens.
Chris Padfield demonstrates proper execution of "podium jazz hands".
Mike wore his wool, ensuring the all eyes on him.
We camped out at the corner before BK.
Pre-race or post-race?
The toughest 4/5s field of the year.
Happy. Sad?
Always happy.
Game face, ON!
Hague on the front.
Dave chose an inside line.
Davis chose the outside.
Roswell and Dave made the selection.
Rory's valiant solo bridge attempt.
Uh-oh, the boys slip to the back.
One more try!
Alex was just happy to line up with his best buddy again.
Alex off the front.
Alex bridging the field to a break. Into a headwind.
Lab school kids rock cooler sunglasses than Jesse.
Modified suitcase grip.
These kids are so much stronger than me.
Is this bike polo or cyclocross?
Practicing dismounts, trying to avoid injuries ten minutes into the lesson.
Great helmet, tunic, and bike ensemble!
The boys were really getting into it.
Rolling eyes: this is too easy!
One foot. At. A. Time.
Big bike, little person!
None of the kids were a match for Jesse. But I don't think he should have taunted them.
Putting it all together: the race!
Don't drop it!
Complete stop, oh no!
Erik the teacher was into it.
Cornering hard around a tree.
Jesse lost the race, so the kids took the Ibis away from him. It was a little like Lord of the Flies.
Wait until you see the race wheels.
Sasha's TATI Fixed Cross special edition.
Cork-printed cork tape, vintage Chris Kelly stem, titanium spacers, Wound Up carbon disk fork.
Tange headset, Chris Kelly stem, titanium spacers
Madness. Snowflake laced front disc wheel.
The KCNC seatpost, Kelly stem, and Wound Up fork ended up working out really well together.
That's multicolored bass-boat glitter, mind you.
120g KCNC seatpost and Tioga clear Spyder saddle.
The proportions are wonderful on this build.
The exposed and clearcoated brass is accented by the skinwall tires and cork tape.
Skinwalllllz
Oh my! Hakkal!
The infamous Ibis Hand Job returns.
Get ready 50+ CCC fellows. Get ready to follow this Ibis.
Almost done. Single chainring and Paul's guide to follow.
Well, at least none of the other 5s have proper game faces, either.
Mike barked a few orders and his chase group fell into line.
Meanwhile, Davis made the selection. He would do it again in the second heat.
These Tarmacs might suit Vino and the Schlecks fine, but our Mr Rogers needs something a little more suited to his stature. His saddle height is taller than my car.
Loren got a bad start in the 4s and paid the price through the corners.
Cat 5 Heat 2 takes the 180. If you zoom in, you can clearly see who is going to win this race.
Mike's form on the bike is improving.
