L5 in the news

IDS articles on Alpha Xi Delta and CRU Cycling.

Rookie week starts next week...the most wonderful time of the year is back!

Cyclocross Season

For all you cyclocross hater out there...the major events of the 2011 season have been published! It never ends.....(highlighted Midwestern races)
2011-12 U.S. UCI Cyclocross Calendar
* Nittany Lion Cross 9.10.11 Breinigsville, PA C2
* CrossVegas 9.14.11 Las Vegas, NV C1
* StarCrossed 9.17.11 Redmond, WA C2
* Charm City Cross 9.17.11 Baltimore, MD C2
* Rad Racing GP 9.18.11 Issaquah, WA C2
* Catamount Grand Prix 9.18.11 Williston, VT C2
* Charm City Cross 9.18.11 Baltimore, MD C2
* Gateway Cross Cup 9.21.11 St. Louis, MO C2
* USGP of Cyclocross Planet Bike Cup 9.24.11 Sun Prairie, WI C1
* The Nor Easter Cyclo-cross at Loon Mountain 9.24.11 Lincoln, NH C2
* Rohrbach’s Ellison Park Cyclocross 9.25.11 Rochester, NY C2
* USGP of Cyclocross Planet Bike Cup 9.25.11 Sun Prairie, WI C2
* Gran Prix of Gloucester 1 10.1.11 Gloucester, MA C1
* Gran Prix of Gloucester 2 10.2.11 Gloucester, MA C2
* USGP of Cyclocross Fort Collins Cup 10.8.11 Fort Collins, CO C1
* Providence Cyclo-cross 10.8.11 Providence, RI C1
* Providence Cyclo-cross 10.9.11 Providence, RI C2
* USGP of Cyclocross Fort Collins Cup 10.9.11 Fort Collins, CO C2
* Granogue Cross 10.15.11 Wilmington, DE C2
* Spooky Cross 10.15.11 Irvine, CA C2
* Granogue Cross 10.16.11 Wilmington, DE C2
* Spooky Cross 10.16.11 Irvine, CA C2
* Downeast Cyclo-cross Day 2 10.23.11 New Gloucester, ME C2
* Beacon Cross 10.29.11 Bridgeton, NJ C2
* Colorado Cross Classic 10.29.11 Boulder, CO C2
* Victory Circle Graphix Boulder Cup 10.30.11 Boulder, CO C1
* HPCX 10.30.11 Jamesburg, NJ C2
* Darkhorse Cyclo-Stampede 11.4.11 Covington, KY C2
* Java Johnny’s – Lionhearts International 11.5.11 Middletown,C2
* The Cycle-Smart International 1 11.5.11 Northampton, MA C2
* Harbin Park International 11.6.11 Cincinnati, OH C1
* The Cycle-Smart International 2 11.6.11 Northampton, MA C2
* USGP of Cyclocross Derby City Cup 11.12.11 Louisville, KY C1
* USGP of Cyclocross Derby City Cup 11.13.11 Louisville, KY C2
* North Carolina Grand Prix – Race 1 11.19.11 Hendersonville, NC C2
* North Carolina Grand Prix – Race 2 11.20.11 Hendersonville, NC C2
* Jingle Cross Rock – Rock 1 11.25.11 Iowa City, IA C2
* Jingle Cross Rock – Rock 2 11.26.11 Iowa City, IA C2
* Jingle Cross Rock – Rock 3 11.27.11 Iowa City, IA C1
* Baystate Cyclo-cross 11.27.11 Sterling, MA C2
* NBX GP 1 12.3.11 Warwick, RI C2
* Cyclocross LA 12.3.11 Los Angeles, CA C2
* NBX GP 2 12.4.11 Warwick ,RI C2
* Cyclocross LA 12.4.11 Los Angeles, CA C2
* USGP of Cyclocross Portland Cup 12.10.11 Portland, OR C1
* Kingsport Cyclo-cross Cup 12.10.11 Kingsport, TN C2
* USGP of Cyclocross Portland Cup 12.11.11 Portland, OR C2
* Chicago Cyclocross Cup New Year’s Resolution 12.31.11 Bloomingdale, IL C2
* Chicago Cyclocross Cup New Year’s Resolution 1.1.12 Bloomingdale, IL C2
* American National Championships 1.6-8.12 Madison, WI

Cats..

This is blog-abuse but it's my blog so....
I'm looking for a home for my two cats. They have distinct personalities to suit any household and have all their shots etc. No worries on financial concerns as we can also sort that out. Let me know if you are interested... they are both VERY cute!
Olive

Link

Hillsboro-Roubaix

Registration opens for this Midwest classic on Tuesday AM (race is April 2nd). Fills up fast, especially in lower/master categories. Pro/1/2 need not worry as they are too cool to register early.

Better weather, what we learnt..

Temps in the mid 30s meant there were more riders out on the road. Apparently there is an 'ice-storm' coming this week that send people back inside. So what did we learn this weekend....

1. The coming man is Rob Smallman. Second in the Marian indoor TT means this former IU track guy has put down an early marker for this years race. The Hoosier Climber dudes are training hard and are no longer under the radar.
2. Army women looking to stwp it up to the next level in 2011 and are riding strong and beating some good Marian girls in the indoor TTs! Intriguing one of their riders DNF the TT, I hope she didn't crash!
3. Cutters seen riding their Little 500 bikes. Shocking!! My advice to others teams...follow their example, do specific training on those bikes. It ain't rocket science!
4. Good bike riders are easily spotted by the ease of their spin, not many here in town but I rode with one today.
5. Late nights are not good for recovery.
6. Sigma Chi are the latest team with a new jersey and look pretty 'fly'.
7. It's enjoyable to ride with big mixed groups. Over 10 riders from the Bakehouse both days, come join us in future!

Top Female Road Racers 2002- present

Easily the hardest list to put together. Most of these riders are now away from Bloomington but this list reflects their quality both during and after their time in town. Sorry ladies that I don’t have much to write!
10. Randi Cox
The major motivational force for Women’s cycling in Bloomington. Doesn’t race these days but has been keeping upstart Little 5ers in their place for most of the past decade! Took THE big win by taking the Bloomington Crit in 2004!
Randi TTing at the Tree City SR
9. Sydney Hatten
Kept it rolling after a solid Little 500 career and now is racing strongly throughout the Midwest for Team Nebo Ridge. Almost caused a huge shock by coming within a wheel of snatching the 2010 Bloomington Crit from dominant Alderfer Bergen.
8. Nicole Vincent
Took a few years off after Little 500 and collegiate successes but now back racing as a Cat1 in North Carolina as part of the Performance Bicycle team. Her big strength is her finishing speed.
Nicole critting at Sunny-king
7. Pam Loebig
From Little 500 contender to IU rider on road and track to an accomplished Cat2 on road, track and cross. Often present at the big Midwest races throughout the summer and got a big NRC top 10 last summer at Tour de Grove in Missouri. Expect more from Pam once she has time for spring training!
6. Louise Turner
British invader who started racing in the final years of her PhD studies. Took to racing like a duck to water where she put in some great performances both for IU and in the big Midwest races for Alderfer Bergen.
Louise in her early career on MT
5. Abby Cooper
Kept well below the radar when at IU rising up through the categories to be the only Women that has taken advantage of the Cat2 Little 500 rule. After graduation she headed west to race where she turned PRO for a few years before now living in Germany as Global Women’s Product Developer for Giant.
Abby whilst on Team PROMAN
4. Tracie Morris
An AGD Little 500 rider in the 1990s, Tracie continued to race in the early years of the 2000s as a Cat1 and always a tough wheel to follow. Founder of the Morris trucking team that has helped so many racers through the years in Bloomington.
3. Bri Kovac
Winner of an NRC Crit in Louisville in 2008 and a constant presence throughout the Midwest scene. Leader and driving force of the new Racing for Riley (nee Alderfer Bergen) team. The perfect example of a Little 500 graduate going on to bigger and better things.
Bri, Sydney and Pam, Bloomington 2010
2. Heather Woodhouse
Rode and raced for IU as a graduate student after winning Collegiate road champs in 1999 for Purdue. A waver-thin climber who could TT with the best of them. Headed out to Arizona after her time in Bloomington.
Heather, Bloomington 2003?
1. Jenn Wangerin
National Criterium Collegiate champion for IU in 2004 and a part of the Olympic track training center. Excelled in every form of cycling she attempted!
Jenn, riding for Jamba Juice, before the Quads cities crit

Armstrong guilty!

Picked this up from 2JohnsPodcast- R-rated!

Stolen L5 Bikes

I got this in an group email-
Black Key Bulls had two new 2010 race Little 500 bikes stolen. There was also an extra wheel set taken. The bikes were recently built up, so should look pretty new.
Contact wischmeiera@gmail.com or reshei@indiana.edu with any info.

Top 10 Male L5 riders 2003-present..

..according to me. As I wind my time down in Bloomington I'll throw a few 'best of' lists from the time that I have lived in town (from mid 2002). Next up are the Male Little 500 riders. There is no precise metric for this list but a mix of success, teamwork, influence etc (and definitely not giving the 2003 race the same weighting). Comment at your leisure.
Notable omissions- Erik Hamilton (Cutters), David Caughlin (Cutters), Jason Fowler (Gafombi/ Cutters), Luke Isenbarger (Corleones)

10- Issac Neff (BKB)
Not a race winner but clearly the fastest rider on the track in 2008 where he won ITTs by the second largest margin of the decade. Unlucky in the race as was taken out early on by a lapped team. 4th in 2007 where he was involved in the infamous ‘Chartier-bump’ on the final lap. Brought BKB to Little 500 where they remain as an annual contender.
Highlight- 2008 series events
Lowlight- 2008 race
9- Chris Vargo (Cutters)
Best rider on the track in 2004 who took the win after the most controversial finish in race history. Supremely confident and as a Bloomingtonite is a Cutter for life. Who knows what might have happened if he had been allowed to ride in 2003…
Highlight- The backstretch of lap 201 in 2004
Lowlight- 2003 Little 500

8- Matt Davis (Phi Gamma Delta)
Always the bridesmaid yet never the bride! Never won an individual event or the main race but had multiple second places as he anchored the FIJI team between 2003- 2005 (including 2nd in ITTs for 3 consecutive years). Beaten in the final sprint by Leukens in 2005 race and interestingly holds the second fastest ITT of all time.
Highlight- Looking good at all times and smashing the Cutters in 2005 Team Pursuit
Lowlight- Meeting an inspired Leukens in the 2005 finale

7- Alex Bishop (Cutters)
Another Cutter discipline who muscled his way to victory as he anchored the Cutters to the first of their current four-race winning streak. Singularly determined to win and once he took the inside line on the final lap of the 2007 race there was only going to be one winner. Swept the series events in 2007 where it often seemed to be a Man amongst boys. Winner of MnO in 2006 where he upset strong favorite Arnesen by using his raw power to get the jump and maintain his advantage to the line.
Highlight- The dominanting sprint win in 2007
Lowlight- The 2006 race

6- John Grant (Beta/Gafombi)
Swept the 2003 L5 season including leading out and winning a 13up sprint for the 2003 race. It was the culmination of a solid L5 career that progressed from Beta to the independent ‘Gafombi’ with whom he won the ITT and race. If this list was from 2002 then surely would have been higher….
Highlight- Winning the 2003 sprint
Lowlight- ?

5- Clayton Feldman (Cutters)
One of the most polarizing L5 riders of the past decade but one fact speaks for itself. Three rings. Anchored the team in 2009 and 2010 where his ability to ride long sets was key in both those victories. No significant individual results but stepped on race day where arguably his greatest moment came in dragging his team back from a half lap down in 2009. It will be a shame if outside factors stop him getting into the HoF. Oft criticized that ‘he would have never won the race without Young’ but is the opposite not also true?
4- Sasha Land (Cutters)
Two-time race winner who finished his 5 year career by anchoring the winning Cutter team in 2008 even after a spring of injury. 9th in ITTs as a freshman but didn’t get to ride in the race, he won ITTs in 2007 and with Alex Bishop made one of the strongest race tandems of the decade. A complete Cutter discipline who was the true bridge between Caughlin/ Bishop to Young/Feldman.
Highlight- Soloing to victory in 2008
Lowlight- Not making the race team in 2004 although if he had then the above highlight wouldn’t have been possible

3- Craig Leukens (Dodds House)
The leader of the Dodds team between 2003-2005 and finished off his HoF L5 career by winning the race by holding off Matt Davis in the eventful 2005 race. As a freshman was 3rd in ITT yet never improved on that performance (3rd another 2 times) and perhaps more notably was the number one nice guy off of the track.
Highlight- The victory salute in 2005
Lowlight- The poor performance in 2004
2- Eric Young (Cutters)
Many commentators feel he is the fastest rider that has even ridden the cinders. Two sprint wins and has yet to be fully tested in the race due to the buffer afforded by Feldman’s riding. He totally embodies the Cutter ethos and it would be a brave man to bet against him getting 3-rings this spring. 3rd in ITTs as a freshman yet was satisfied not miss out on race selection. A lock for the HoF and will, in 2011, attempt to break the ITT record, gain a win in MnO and truly test himself to utterly crush the field in the main event!
Highlight- Winning the race twice in 2010
Lowlight- Not much…maybe crashing in Quals on the way to a sub 30sec lap (even though they still took pole!)
1- Hans Arnesen (Alpha Tau Omega)
Without doubt had the most varied relationship with Little 500. Part of the team that sprinted for the win in 2003 (8th), in 2004 was the only rider in L5 history to cross the line first but NOT win, crashing in the first corner of 2005 and finally in 2006 lapping the field solo in a crazy 10 lap stretch to finally take a long deserved victory. That final feat has been much maligned as it was achieved under the confusion of crashes and yellow flags but remains the greatest accomplishment of the decade. Arnesen06 vs Young11 would be a true battle for the ages!
Highlight- Lapping the field in 2006
Lowlight- The relegation to 2nd in 2004

Little 500 Call Out

Wednesday 8p (Women) and 9p (Men), Kelley 223, here's the FB page (and nice fresh new 2010 logo). It's go time again, you better all start training as I know Teter and the Cutters have been doing so for a couple of months!
read 2011