Special thanks to Chicago's 16th Ward, Ald. Thompson, and XXX-Athletico

Team Get A Grip Cycles would like to thank Ald. Joann Thompson, the residents of the 16th Ward, and the XXX-Athletico racing team for putting on an excellent event in Chicago's Sherman Park. Despite the extreme weather in the days and hours preceding the event, XXX Racing put on a thrilling and competitive set of races.

Some members of our team live just minutes away from Sherman Park in the Hyde Park neighborhood. We are truly grateful to have this event in our neighborhood. Thanks for bringing people to the South Side and showing them how dynamic and exciting this part of Chicago can be.

The category 3 squad would like to extend our personal thanks to the announcer of the Category 3/4 race. You were a fresh alternative to the usual. Thanks Brandon!

Thanks

Angelo here, typing in from foggy San Francisco. --I was cold on tonight's ride while wearing long-sleeves, vest, knickers and wool gloves!

I just wanted to say thanks to my teammates and the awesome staff at the shop. I've had countless great times hanging at the shop and racing with you all. I'm sad to say that I'm retiring my green TGAGC kit. Being the solo representation out west has been fun..."cool kit and bike, where is Get A Grip out of?", "Get A Grip, that's in Chicago isn't it?" and I've recently had other riders comment on the team's Superweek results!, but it's time for me to join up with a local team. I've made the jump to Kovarus/Squadra Ovest, based out of San Francisco.

Good luck to you all. As you know, the door is always open at your SF training camp.

Podiums in Lombard Cont...

The women's field at the Lombard crit was also small at the starting line. Most of them were wearing the orange of ABD. I (Devon) felt a bit lonely without my teammates with me. Sadly the mountains of Colorado and other engagements kept them from racing in Lombard this weekend.

ABD attacked from the starting line, but I stayed in the pack patiently waiting for their two strongest riders to initiate an attack. It wasn't long before the initial attack was brought back and the two powerhouse riders of ABD came zooming by. I went with them and we opened up a large gap from the small field behind.

For a while, the three of us took turns pulling, but I knew our cooperative riding wouldn't last long. About half-way into the race, the tag-team attacks began. Knowing that I wouldn't be able to survive their attacks for long, I decided to try attacking myself and managed to split up the two teammates.

I had one rider still on my wheel and soon she eventually flew past me, opening up a 5 second gap. For the last 20 minutes I rode with her in sight. She had me working pretty hard, but with half a lap to go, I was able to close the gap.

The race came down to the final sprint and I'm happy to say that my Speedy System Six didn't let me down!