Parks Bond Issue

As most of you know, the dilemma about gaining funding for repairs to our velodrome has been a hot issue for several years. More recently it was revealed that there is a chance for Penrose to receive some funding through a bill in the city called the Parks Bond Bill.

Local cyclist and alderman, Scott Ogilvie (who has consistently raced track when not being a city official) gave us the means to be in contact with other city officials who have some pull when it comes to this bill.

We were given an email address. And as dubious as writing a damn email and actually making a difference seems, we sometimes have more power in our actions than we realize.

So I wrote an email. A four paragrapher and then some at that. It was impassioned and probably really cheesy, especially to a person who is not into cycling. But I wrote it and sent it and thought, 'well, at least I did something, right?'

Then I got a response! I didn't actually think that Mr. Gary Bess would read my email, let alone respond to it.

Here are some of the cheesy bits and pieces from my letter:

"I am writing to you as a plea on behalf of Saint Louis area cyclists....
 I am a competitive, recreational, and commuter cyclist. Three years ago a few
friends convinced me to join them for an evening of racing at Penrose Park
Velodrome. ..."
 "When we arrived, I realized I had passed this strange place many times, without ever
know what it was. After that night of racing I was hooked. Since then I have
become even more actively involved in St. Louis's cycling community. From
volunteering at charity bike events to racing, I try to be as involved as
possible. It has become the core of my friends, recreation, and even
employment. ..."
"There was a time in Saint Louis's cycling history when Penrose Park was a 
destination point for midwestern track cyclists... 

Penrose creates tradition. It has built a community. Last summer a
gentleman came to the track on a Thursday night. We were racing, and he had seen
us there before. This man lives in North City, and works with local kids to get
them involved in sports to inspire healthy living...We 

welcomed him with open arms, because we love expanding our community."

...This year our Track Series has started strong. Perhaps it is word of mouth, and
all the positivity surrounding racing at Penrose. Maybe it was the t.v. spot
done on KSDK. It's certainly encouraging to see new faces return again and
again. My only lament is for the surface of the Velodrome. It was fallen to such
disrepair that I fear this could be our last season on it. We have literally
taped the track together in some spots. We have a dedicated group, and many of
us will arrive early each Thursday to spend hours sweeping away thorns and
mulch, checking for additional corrosion, and picking up trash. We even have
guys that come on non race days to spray for weeds.
We do what we can, but none of us can afford to put the money into Penrose that
it really needs. We work hard for what we have, and try not to complain. "

I thanked him for reading it, yadda yadda, signed my name and sent the damn thing.

Here was his reply:

"Thanks for your comments  The veledrome is on our list of improvements in Penrose park  The Comptrollers Office will be handling the sale of the bonds and have advised us the earliest funds would be available is July 2013" 

 Short, but very very sweet. 

Lets keep the positivity alive, lets keep pushing for what we need. 

-Molly

Various Velodromes

Thinking about starting an intermittently consistent group of posts about velodromes. Me thinks that I'll limit this genre of post to one image only, that way I'll be able to stretch out the material I have for at least a half of dozen posts.

Starting off with a bang, here is the first one. A time-lapse movie of the London Olympic velodrome

Here is more official information about the venue. GO USA!

@swikles

Snowballs and the Dark Track Sorcerer

Thanks to all for an awesome night of racing last night!

I started the night by working registration. I think I had at least seven "new" people register. These were either returners from last year or folks brand new to the track.

We certainly missed some of the gals, but Allison came back and held her own out there. None of the Wolfpack dudes made it out to dominate that C race either. Eduardo wasn't there to push that A race, but Devin finally showed his face and did a nice job working some tactics.

Last nights races were some slightly longer ones, and we even had the opportunity to run two different Juniors races! The races were as follows:

Scratch Race (5 laps)

Snowball (9 laps)

Points Race (20-30 laps)

Miss and Out

For those not acquainted with some of those races, here is a brief description from our friends up at Northbrook

It seemed like all the races were running pretty fast. It was kind of a strange night as far as weather goes. The day had been pretty damn hot and really freaking windy. By race time the sky had clouded over pretty good and for those of us who occasionally use shadows around turn 2 and into the straightaway on the backside of the track, it just wasn't happening. The wind was especially strong it seemed as soon as you hit turn one and continued until turn three. Midway through the night it had either died down considerably or we were all just acclimated and the heat had let up as well.

The races were wrapping up and us ladies had just finished that brutal points race (which somehow always seems to be a favorite of mine. What does that say?) and I was peeling my nasty kit off when a man approached the track. He was tall and lanky with greying hair and a patch on one eye. I said to myself "Some local's first time here and he gets to see me change my nasty shorts, awesome." This guy seemed to just be some guy rollin by who decided to see what we were all about and asked Steven about the races we were doing. Soon I forgot that he was there, he had sort of wandered off, but when the races were all over he asked Steven if he could ride his bike on the track. With the go ahead he again disappeared, presumably to get his bike. The next thing we knew this man was sprinting around the track, in full kit, on a fixed gear with Zipp wheels. I was amazed. After a few laps he again disappeared. He returned on a different bike, tucked into an aero position, once again on Zipp wheels. Where did this track sorcerer come from? It was then that my attention was directed to the hearse he had arrived in. It was complete with a roof rack and license plate proclaiming residency in Kansas City. He sprinted and sprinted some more before breaking out a final bike more insane than the rest.

Imagine this without the shock, as a fixed gear, full carbon, and aero as fuck.

I left before I could see what else he might pull from the magic hearse. I was hungry and needed a shower, but hopefully the dark track sorcerer will return and give some of his magic sprint action to the rest of us.

The end. 

p.s. Thanks again to our wonderful officials, those who help to set up and break down, and anyone bringing new folks out to race. Every bit helps!

-Molly

Schedule for May 24th

 Just a quick post to announce what events we are having tonight. During the warm up please look out for the juniors we will have tonight.

Round One    Scratch Races

Women           5 Laps for all groups

Men A’s         

Men B’s

Men C’s

Junior Round (optional)           Scratch Race

Round Two     Snowball

Women           9 laps for all groups

Men A’s    

Men B’s    

Men C’s

Junior Round (optional)           Devil takes the Hindmost (Miss n Out)

Double or triple elimination TBD

Round Three     Points Races

Women           20 laps

Men A’s          30 laps

Men B’s          20 laps or handicap with C’s

Men C’s          20 laps or…

Round Four(?) Depends on the amount of daylight remaining.

@swikles

May 10th & 17th Results

The track looked like hell when we first got there. Apparently those cutting the grass just had to run the mower along the section between the fence and the race surface. What took minutes to mess up took hours to sweep up. Thanks so much to everyone who swept and especially to those who brought out their blowers. Yes I will be shopping for one if there is enough entry fees to cover the costs. One that note some of the entry fees are going towards a porta john. One unit is being delivered each Thursday and is being picked up the next day. I just wish there was better coordination with the company just in case there is rain threatening.

There were some exciting events during last Thursday’s track racing. Many of the races had a few tactics and strategies applied, some worked and some did not. There are some riders like Edwardo and Emilie who are dominating and then there are some that are winning their first race. Not only did Ms. Flanigan win all of the women’s events she won two of the three Men’s B’s placed third in the other B and also won one of the Chariot races at the end of the evening. Chak did give her a hell of a push but it is a little easier to push a 90 lb. rider than the 250ish I was holding, (good try Micah, you did not give up).

Here are the results

         Mr. Bumpy Results May 17th               

                       

            Round One             Scratch Races

Place   Women           5 Laps

1          48       Emilie Flanigan

2          51       Ashley Rethemeyer

3          0          Molly Brady

4          241     Kate Hrubes

5          240     Eva Berger

                       

            Men A's          7 Laps

1          7          Edwardo Niewenhuyzen

2          16       Robert Mayfield

3          45       Darrell Bratton

4          11       Joe Walsh

5          47       Mike Flanigan

6          38       Rob Ollermann

7          19       Tyler Bicknese

                       

            Men B's          6 Laps

1          48       Emilie Flanigan

2          49       Dan Wenzelburger

3          51       Ashley Rethemeyer

4          9          Andrew Petty

5          46       Chak Lattanand

6          32       Tom Petty

7          239     Dave Stone

8          12       Kayce Shelton

                       

            Men C's          5 Laps

1          237     Jon Reinhart

2          44       Andrew Mullins

3          246     Micah Goulet

4          247     Nikita Lindgren

5          50       Matthew Karnowski

6          251     Jeff Stein

7          40       Jim Smith

8          0          Molly Brady

9          262     Kurt Schenk

                       

            Round Two            Danish (Win & Out)

            Women          

1          48       Emilie Flanigan

2          51       Ashley Rethemeyer

3          0          Molly Brady

4          241     Kate Hrubes

5          69       Mariasol Johannes

6          240     Eva Berger

                       

            Men A's         

1          7          Edwardo Niewenhuyzen

2          19       Tyler Bicknese

3          45       Darrell Bratton

4          47       Mike Flanigan

5          11       Joe Walsh

6          38       Rob Ollermann

7          16       Robert Mayfield

                       

            Men B's         

1          47       Mike Flanigan

2          70       Tim Gaidis

3          48       Emilie Flanigan

4          49       Dan Wenzelburger

5          9          Andrew Petty

6          32       Tom Petty

7          239     Dave Stone

8          52       Zachary Slavens

9          51       Ashley Rethemeyer

                       

            Men C's         

1          50       Matthew Karnowski

2          44       Andrew Mullins

3          237     Jon Reinhart

4          9          Andrew Petty

5          32       Tom Petty

6          247     Nikita Lindgren

7          262     Kurt Schenk

8          251     Jeff Stein

9          40       Jim Smith

10       246     Micah Goulet

                       

            Round Three         Unknown

            Women           10 Laps

1          48       Emilie Flanigan

2          51       Ashley Rethemeyer

3          0          Molly Brady

4          241     Kate Hrubes

5          240     Eva Berger

                       

            Men A's          13 Laps

1          7          Edwardo Niewenhuyzen

2          45       Darrell Bratton

3          16       Robert Mayfield

4          47       Mike Flanigan

5          19       Tyler Bicknese

6          11       Joe Walsh

7          38       Rob Ollermann

                       

            Men B's          11 Laps

1          48       Emilie Flanigan

2          38       Rob Ollermann

3          70       Tim Gaidis

4          32       Tom Petty

5          52       Zachary Slavens

6          49       Dan Wenzelburger

7          239     Dave Stone

8          46       Chak Lattanand

9          9          Andrew Petty

10       12       Kayce Shelton

                       

            Men C's          10 Laps

1          9          Andrew Petty

2          247     Nikita Lindgren

3          32       Tom Petty

4          237     Jon Reinhart

5          248     George Jordon

6          44       Andrew Mullins

7          246     Micah Goulet

8          251     Jeff Stein

9          50       Matthew Karnowski

10       262     Kurt Schenk

11       40       Jim Smith

                       

            Round Four          

            Chariot Races One Lap

First Race                  

1          237     Jon Reinhart

2          32       Tom Petty

3          9          Andrew Petty

4          247     Nikita Lindgren

5          248     George Jordon

                       

Second Race              

1          48       Emilie Flanigan

2          47       Mike Flanigan

3          52       Zachary Slavens

4          246     Micah Goulet

And if that were not enough here are the results from the previous week, that being the first week of track racing this season.

         Mr. Bumpy Results May 10th      

                       

            Round One             Scratch Races

Place   Women           7 Laps

1          27       Cristel Santiago

2          3          Soli Johannes

3          18       Stephanie Nadeu

4          240     Eva Berger

                       

            Men A's          8 Laps

1          7          Edwardo Niewenhuyzen

2          242     Russ Murphy

3          16       Robert Mayfield

4          43       Rubin Ayuerich

5          19       Tyler Bicknese

6          26       Kevin Weyman

7          87       Karl Stover

                       

            Men B's          7 Laps

1          245     Michael McCullough

2          46       Chak Lattanand

3          31       Tom Grehn

4          49       Dan Wenzelberger

5          238     Bill Howells

6          239     Dave Stone

7          5          Eric Seaver

8          6          Phil Nadeu

9          4          Todd Nowlin

10       12       Kayce Shelton

                       

            Men C's          6 Laps

1          237     Jon Rinehart

2          243     Ted Weiss

3          31       Tom Grehn

4          41       Dennis Roberts

5          35       Mark Hasler

6          50       Matt Karnowski

7          244     Brad Gutting

                       

            Round Two            Miss n Out

            Women          

1          3          Soli Johannes

2          27       Cristel Santiago

3          241     Kate Hrubes

4          18       Stephanie Nadeu

5          240     Eva Berger

                       

            Men A's         

1          7          Edwardo Niewenhuyzen

2          87       Karl Stover

3          43       Rubin Ayuerich

4          19       Tyler Bicknese

5          242     Russ Murphy

6          16       Robert Mayfield

7          26       Kevin Weyman

                       

            Men B's         

1          5          Eric Seaver

2          49       Dan Wenzelberger

3          238     Bill Howells

4          46       Chak Lattanand

5          245     Michael McCullough

6          6          Phil Nadeu

7          4          Todd Nowlin

8          12       Kayce Shelton

9          31       Tom Grehn

10       239     Dave Stone

                       

            Men C's         

1          31       Tom Grehn

2          237     Jon Rinehart

3          243     Ted Weiss

4          41       Dennis Roberts

5          50       Matt Karnowski

6          35       Mark Hasler

7          244     Brad Gutting

8          246     Micah Goulet

                       

            Round Three         Tempo

            Women           8 Laps

1          3          Soli Johannes (15)

2          241     Kate Hrubes (14)

3          27       Cristel Santiago (2)

4          240     Eva Berger (1)

                       

            Men A's          10 Laps

1          19       Tyler Bicknese (16)

2          16       Robert Mayfield (13)

3          43       Rubin Ayuerich (6)

4          26       Kevin Weyman (5)

5          31       Tom Grehn (1)

                       

            Men B's          9 Laps

1          245     Michael McCullough (15)

2          49       Dan Wenzelburger (8)

3          31       Tom Grehn (5)

4          238     Bill Howells (4)

5          239     Dave Stone (3)

6          5          Eric Seaver

7          6          Phil Nadeu

8          46       Chak Lattanand

9          12       Kayce Shelton

                       

            Men C's          7 Laps

1          243     Ted Weiss (16)

2          237     Jon Rinehart (9)

3          41       Dennis Roberts (2)

4          50       Matt Karnowski (1)

5          244     Brad Gutting (1)

6          M (246?)        Micah Goulet

7          35       Mark Hasler

What another great night of racing up at Penrose Park. I will try to take better notes for later posts here on Molly’s blog for future races. We had another great turnout and are expecting more to show up next week. We may just have a couple of “Junior Only” events on the 24^th. Also if you come up next week be sure to bring plenty of water or other beverage and a towel or two would be nice.

Thanks again to everyone who shows interest and especially to those who make this happen. See you all next week.

@swikles

Mr. Bumpy Face Track series by PaulaCrilch at Garmin Connect - Details

Mr. Bumpy Face Track series by PaulaCrilch at Garmin Connect - Details

For those of you without a computer on your bike, this might give you an idea of how fast and far you go in a night. Remember that I am far from the fastest lady out there. 

This includes the neutral lap and cool down lap with every race.

I just thought this might be helpful/interesting to someone.

Anyone else with data from last nights races should post them in the comments! I want to know what the maximum speed is for an A racer!

Week three of the new season!

So I missed the clinic. Couldn't get a ride? Or some excuse.
Then I missed week one, and I'll blame that one on Cedar Cross.
But here is week three!

It was very cool to get back out there and see that so many people are still interested. We also had quite a few new additions, which is always rad. Guys, keep coming back!

I must admit that it was a little shocking to see the condition of Mr. Bumpy's surface after being gone from the track for almost a year. It is literally taped together. As disheartening as it can be to see this once great race surface in such disrepair, getting there early and working with my fellow racers to sweep the mulch off and get things set up is encouraging.

The races ran as follows:

Scratch Race (5 laps)
women
A
B
C

Win and out
Women
A
B
C

Unknown Distance (7-15 laps)
Women
A
B
C

Grand Master Wilkes will have results posted on STLBIKING

I'm going to try and be more diligent about updating, but this is all for now. I'm hungry and we are about to have a pool party on the roof.

-Molly