Anyone going to the Downers Grove Criterium ? I know im going. supposed to be a good course. Anyone know what to expect?

Anyone going to the Downers Grove Criterium ? I know im going. supposed to be a good course. Anyone know what to expect?

I'm not racing it this year (did the last two years), but am going to watch the US Pro Championship race on Sunday.

It's a figure 8 course (no, it doesn't cross) with nice, wide corners. It's the biggest event of the season for Chicago, so it's fast in all Cats. I did the 30+ Citizen race last year. It was the squirreliest race I ever done and was faster than any of the Cat4/5 races I did.

TF

Have fun. Wish I could go. I went to that event (as a spectator); oh it must have been about ten years ago, when I lived in Wheaton. Shift/break levers debuted that year; everyone was drooling. The course was a figure eight back then too; maybe they are using the same course today. Anyway, watching the races was exciting. Davis Phinney (some old guy you have probably never heard of) was there with his pro team and their neon yellow Serotta bikes. I also enjoyed being around so many people who loved cycling, and there were lots of good spots to sit and cheer the racers. We hung out all day and loved it.

Enjoy yourself. I am sure it is only gotten better over the years. Someday, you will have to come down to Indiana University and watch the little 500 bike race; it is intense.

It was a good race this year. Here are some pics I took:

http://homepage.mac.com/gregpl/PhotoAlbum5.html

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Szozda,

Thank you **very** much for posting those!! You must have had a lot of fun.

T-shirt

You can see me standing there, filming my daughter doing the big wheel race in pic 2! Black hat, white t-shirt, green shorts, sandals, sunglasses, video camera. That's me! You can't see may daughter though. She's behind some of the other kids. She had a blast!

MisJG,

Hi proud father, It looks like the kids were having a lot of fun on their big wheels. That must have been the best event of the day.

T-shirt.

It certainly was the best for my daughter! She loved getting a medal when she finished. It was really good to get the kids involved. We went to watch the races on Sat, her race was Sun. At first she didn't want to go watch a 'boring bike race'. Once there, she was excited every time the pack came around, jumping and clapping and cheering.

Typically the streets are packed and there are lots of people riding around the course. Where did everyone go this year. I didn't shoot many pictures. I have them here and will post them when I get them all scanned in.


You can see me standing there, filming my daughter doing the big wheel race in pic 2! Black hat, white t-shirt, green shorts, sandals, sunglasses, video camera. That's me! You can't see may daughter though. She's behind some of the other kids. She had a blast!

I copied this one off a local web site