2023 Season Gets Underway Sunday With Our Women/Trans/Femme Clinic!

The track is officially open again after a few weeks of repair! Our calendar will resume starting on Sunday!

The W/T/F Intro to Track Cycling Clinic is on for this Sunday, June 4th and the weather looks like it will be great! This clinic is for our women, trans, femme, and non-binary community and will introduce the track bicycle, velodrome basics, proper track etiquette, and will feature mock track racing, training techniques and group riding skills. A USAC license is NOT required!

This clinic is led by Francine Haas, who is one of our most experienced racers, with countless state and national championship titles and medals.

What to bring - helmet and cycling shoes, track bike with pedals, appropriate cycling gear.

Track bikes are available (bring your own shoes and pedals).

Clinic begins at 8:30AM and runs until noon.

Online registration: registration.erv.veloreg.com

Cost - $15.00

2023 Season Expected Delays

The NCC would like to update our community regarding track repairs and a subsequent delayed start to our 2023 season.

The track is in pretty rough shape in a few places and is currently closed until repair work can be performed. The repair work requires consecutive nightly temperatures of 55 degrees or warmer.  We do not have an anticipated start date for our clinics or race nights. Number pick-up will occur as scheduled on Monday 5/8 from 6 to 8 pm. The Northbrook Park District will keep us updated on the timeline as more information becomes available.

What racers can expect: 
Number pick-up will occur as scheduled on Monday 5/8 from 6 to 8 pm. 
All other NCC clinic and racing dates are postponed until surface repair work is completed. 
When the season starts, we will start with our Opening Night program. Other lost nights (10 mile/5 mile, Keirin, etc.) will not be made up. 

Thank you for your understanding.

September 1st: Madison Championships REDUX & Closing Night BBQ

August 25th: Madison State Championships

August 18th: Elite and Junior Scratch Race featuring the DeLanghe and Neimanas Trophy Races

This Thursday is one of our biggest nights of the year with the Roger DeLanghe Trophy Race and the Greta Neimanas Trophy Race, both with prize lists of $1500!

Also new for this year is a $1000 prize list for our Juniors!

See you this week!

August 11th: Elite and Jr Points Race Championships

August 4th: Keirin State Championships s/b George Garner Cyclery Track Team

For George Garner, growing up during the Great Depression in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California with his three siblings, held no hint of his future lifelong obsession with all things bicycle. However, from 1939 on he raced bikes around dirt tracks and over the Hollywood hills, losing his front teeth and breaking a few bones along the way. George served with the Marine Corps in World War II and witnessed the landing on Iwo Jima and the occupation of Nagasaki. George's love of the bicycle continued into adulthood when he opened his first bike store in 1947. In 1953, George and his friends helped build the Encino Velodrome in Encino California, nearly overturning a steamroller on themselves in the process. George's relationship with the great Schwinn Bicycle Company grew and in 1965 he moved to Northbrook, IL. Sales awards from Schwinn weren't enough. George built his family like his business, with love and dedication, profiting in the form of three sons and five grandchildren. 

George never forgot his first love, the bicycle, spending hours and quite a few dollars supporting another area velodrome, this time in Northbrook, as well as winning many more accolades along the way. Before Father Time took away his ability to pedal, George spent every morning riding a Schwinn Airdyne to the tune of thousands of miles. And for those reading this who never had the chance to know George, you just might learn what really made him tick, by getting outside and riding a bike.

July 28th: 5/10 Mile Record Attempts sponsored by Perkins Law Office

Hello and happy racing!

A mentor once advised me that the way to really expand one’s practice in fulfilling ways is to stay in touch with one’s community. I’m pleased to be back in the track cycling community after such a long hiatus and happy to be supporting the velodrome and all of its dedicated volunteers in the process!

Perkins Law Office is comprised of me, Jeff Perkins, an attorney who is licensed in Iowa and Illinois. I focus on estate planning and administration, elder law, wills, trusts, and probate.

After spending a few years in a wide range of legal fields, I was drawn to working directly with people who value the role an attorney plays in their own life as well as the lives of their loved ones. I’ve found purpose in being accessible to people who wish to plan their affairs or need to navigate all the processes involved after losing a loved one.

It isn’t an easy subject to discuss, but please know I’m happy to help if you have any questions or needs on the topic.

Otherwise, I hope you enjoy the track!

Sincerely,

Jeff

July 21st: International Omnium State Championships sponsored by SRAM

SRAM is a Chicago-based manufacturer of innovative bicycle components founded in September of 1987, with the invention of its first product, Grip Shift®. Throughout its 35-year history, SRAM has focused on its product development innovation expertise in all bicycling disciplines. SRAM has also acquired some of bicycling’s most exciting brands. With 4000- plus employees, offices, and manufacturing in 16 countries, SRAM and its brands RockShox®, TRUVATIV®, Zipp®, Quarq®, TIME®, Hammerhead®, and Velocio is one of the largest manufacturers of bike parts in the world.

SRAM was founded on a single product in 1987 and introduced the Grip Shift (or twist shift) shifter to the road bike market in 1988. In 1991 that technology was adapted for mountain bikes, and SRAM quickly grew.

SRAM's story begins In early 1987 with founder Stan Day training for and racing in triathlons. Stan was convinced there was a better way to shift and found that reaching for the downtube to shift gears was awkward and inefficient. "Why couldn't you put the shifter on the handlebar?" he asked. "You rotate a grip, and the gear changes."

Stan enlisted a group of like-minded entrepreneurs and cyclists to bring the product to market, and they went to work. They rented a slice of a 100-year-old brick warehouse on Chicago's west side. The masonry was so porous that snow piled up inside, and tea leaves periodically rained down from the rafters, courtesy of a previous tenant. But it was home-sweet-home as they raced to debut at the Long Beach bike show in January 1988.

Pressed to develop a company name as the Long Beach show approached, they combined several of the founders' initials and came up with SRAM. Upon arriving at the show, they opened the catalog to find that the organizers had mistakenly inserted an extra letter; they were welcomed to the industry as SCRAM.

Initially manufactured just down the street from SRAM's current Fulton Market global headquarters, Grip Shift was originally designed for road applications and eventually modified for triathlon and MTB, which began the company's transition into one of the largest bike component suppliers in the world.

July 14th: W/T/F Night featuring Tremelling/Panveno/Kron Memorial Points Race

THE AMY TREMELLING/FRANCO PANVENO MEMORIAL POINTS RACE HAS A GUARANTEED PAYOUT OF AT LEAST $475

Amy Tremelling was a lifelong cyclist. Amy started cycling in the stock bike program in Kenosha, and she graduated to Kenosha’s Tuesday Night USCF races. She competed in all national track cycling events from 1991 to 2002. Amy competed and placed well in the 1995 Olympic Festival. Amy also competed internationally in the Netherlands International Track Cup Race, where she took the silver medal in the Points Race. In 2000, Amy rode professionally for the Trek Regional Road Team, and in 2001 and 2002, she rode for Trek Plus Women’s Road Race Team. Amy’s last women’s pro race was the Tour of Kentucky where she won the Pro/1 women’s race.Franco Panveno was a wonderful ambassador for the sport of track racing  and for those of us who race in Northbrook.  His welcoming demeanor shined on every group and across every team at the track.  His friendship extended to many of the racers who call the Ed Rudolph Velodrome their home track and he was loved by us all. Out of respect and love for him, #97 has been permanently retired. 

Marianne Kron was a supporter of track racing at Northbrook since the early 1970s and has won numerous state, national, and world masters titles. In addition to collecting her share of trophies, Kron inspired countless Chicago-area women to get into racing. “I once gave Marianne a ‘Paving the Way’ award at a women's dinner,” Francine Haas said. “As a cyclist, she has paved the way for other women to compete. She's earned many accolades in cycling, but she also encourages younger women to get out there and compete and to follow in her footsteps, and beyond! There are no excuses with Marianne and that's the way it should be.” Still passionate about track racing, our recent racers would know Marianne as a frequent Thursday Night spectator often sitting in turn one with other local legends.
*Quote courtesy of South Chicago Wheelman
https://wheelmen.com/marianne_kron.asp

July 7th: Madison sponsored by Freeman Kevenides Law Firm

At Freeman Kevenides Law Firm, we are a personal injury law firm that is dedicated to representing bicyclists and other vulnerable roadway users, and have been doing so since 2006. Those are the only types of cases we handle. 

Bicyclists are among the most vulnerable users of our city’s and our state’s roads and streets. We know this first hand because all of the attorneys and staff at Freeman Kevenides are cyclists themselves. Chances are you have raced with or run into us at a local race or cycling event before. We are bicyclists helping bicyclists, and we represent injured bicyclists throughout the entire State of Illinois.

Many parallels exist between cases involving cyclists and those involving pedestrians. Because of their shared status as vulnerable roadway users, people from both groups are often injured. Our attorneys have represented pedestrian users as successfully as they have those traveling by bicycle.

All members of the FK Law team are cyclists who participate in the local bicycling community by donating time and finances to groups that promote cycling and improve conditions for bicyclists. They also attend group rides, sponsor racing teams, and frequently commute to work by bicycle.

Freeman Kevenides Law Firm
120 S State St Suite 200
Chicago, IL 60603
312-629-1901
www.fklawillinois.com

June 30th: Junior Invitational Points Race s/b Northbrook Garner Bicycle Club

The 9th Annual 30 Lap Junior Invitational Points Race features a variety of prizes and primes and is open to all juniors with track racing experience.

This race has become a staple of the Northbrook Thursday Night Racing calendar in large part due to the continued support of Tim Harrison, as well as all of our juniors, their parents, friends, and fans. Thank you very much!

The podium, featuring all juniors, will follow the Masters race in session 3.

June 23rd: Keirin sponsored by George Garner Cyclery

If you are looking for experience in the cycling industry, we just can’t be beat. George Garner has been a part of the cycling industry since 1947 when he opened his first bike shop in southern California. He quickly became one of the nation’s top bike dealers and was recognized as such by the Schwinn bicycle company. So much so that they asked him to come on as a consultant who would be responsible for shaping their dealer network.In 1964 we opened our first location in Illinois, the model store in Northbrook. We’ve been in Libertyville since 1977, and Lake Zurich since 1980.

We can put you on the right bike for your purposes. We are a full service bike shop, and carry everything you need to make the most of your cycling experience. Our salespeople are not commissioned. We will sell you only what you need and make suggestions based on your criteria not ours.

Every new bike from George Garner Cyclery is assembled by full-time, experienced, professional mechanics. George Garner Cyclery has some of the most experienced people in the industry. Some of our mechanics have over 30 years of bike knowledge.

1111 WAUKEGAN ROAD       740 N. MILWAUKEE
NORTHBROOK, IL                   LIBERTYVILLE, IL
847-272-2100                         847-362-6030 

575 ELA ROAD
LAKE ZURICH, IL
847-438-9600

June 16th: International Omnium sponsored by Team Veloz

Team Veloz is a cycling team based in Chicago that was founded in 2018. Local racer Jafet Torres and his wife Raquel Bagdocimo rallied friends and teammates to create a team dedicated to creating a space for other Latino cyclists in Chicago. Team Veloz values teamwork, good sportsmanship, and representation for all cyclists of color. Team Veloz is sponsored by the Bike Lane which has been a staple in the Chicago community for years. Our members race in all disciplines including track, road, and cyclocross. We plan on hosting open group rides this summer to welcome all so please check our Instagram and stay tuned!

We appreciate all the support from our fellow cycling community and the chance to sponsor a night at Northbrook Velodrome.

Follow Team Veloz on Instagram!

June 9th: Chris Mosora Memorial Points Races s/b Bouledogue Tout Noir

CHRIS MOSORA MEMORIAL POINTS RACES in memory of local legend Chris Mosora whom the world lost in 2020. 

Chris was well known throughout the Chicagoland area as an accomplished track and road racer and was never one to turn down any race, especially those with “individual” and “time trial” in the title. Indeed, Chris was known to show up to road time trials with a fixed gear bike, both baffling and garnering awe from his competitors. On any given Thursday night, Chris could be found at the velodrome, likely at the pointy end of the field and launching seemingly endless attacks, which was his style. He also was known for tinkering with his position and gear, and we’d like to think he pioneered the extreme shallow drop bars which are prevalent today. Chris was always in the mix in the Category 1/2 Rider of the Year competition, handily winning the competition in 2010. He achieved local legend status when he won the 2010 Roger DeLanghe Trophy Race against a stacked field of strong local and regional racers, previous champions, and even an Olympian.

Off the bike, Chris was soft-spoken with a witty and dry sense of humor that always would leave a smile on your face. Chris was an admitted audiophile and a jazz lover, who took tremendous pride in his home's sound system. He was a person who always had something wise to say, and when he gave advice, you listened. 

Chris and his wife, Stacy, had relocated to Tucson, where they continued their tradition of spreading love and happiness via the bicycle with their coaching business, On The Box Coaching.

---

Tonight’s racing sponsored by Bouledogue Tout Noir:

Racing with Precision and Guts since 2007
One cold, wintry day, a handful of cyclists were discussing the challenges they faced living and training in Chicago. Instead of bemoaning the daily commute, the rides on pot-holed streets strewn with glass, and the miserable winters; they decided to band together and turn these challenges into strengths. On the race course, the team aims to prove that one can build a competitive amateur cycling team regardless of the environment and careers of its members. The team name, Bouledogue Tout Noir, translates to “All Black Bulldog” (considered a fault in pure-bred bulldogs), and reflects both the tenacity and interests of the team’s riders. Indeed, riders have placed in and won Elite National, Masters National, and countless State Championship events, showing that high-level goals are not just limited to full-time athletes.

While Bouledogue riders always race to win, they have found that victories come more often in an environment of mutual support, friendship, and solidarity. 

June 2nd: The Madison s/b The Bike Lane

The Madison sponsored by The Bike Lane!

Madison team registration closes at 6:45, please enter your team on the start sheets!
** Category 3 / 4 Madison teams must have at least one partner who is a cat 4
NOTE: There must be at least 3 teams for each Madison for the event to be held. If field size is not met, then a Points Race will be substituted for the Madison.

The Bike Lane is a full-service retail bicycle shop located in the Logan Square neighborhood in the city of Chicago. The Bike Lane offers a variety of unique services with a friendly and open attitude towards our customers. The two owners, Max Hertz and Jon Timmins, are passionate about bikes and hope to share that passion with the community. Whether the customer is here for a lock, tune-up, new bike, or just an adjustment, The Bike Lane is here to serve the Chicago biking community. With a full line of services and custom bike building, The Bike Lane has something for every rider. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been riding for ten years or ten days, The Bike Lane can provide you with the services you need to get on the road today!

The Bike Lane offers:
Build Your Own Bike (BYOB) program - With packages designed around all levels of riders and all price ranges, BYOB will have something for everyone.
Tune Ups
Heavy Overhauls
Custom Wheel builds
Suspension Service
Chris King Service
Classic Restorations
Project Help (Taking things into your own hands? No problem, we're here to help!)

Walk Ins are welcome!

The Bike Lane
2130 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647

www.bikelanechicago.com/
773-888-2453

Hours:
Mon-Sat: 8 am-8 pm
Sunday: 10 am-6 pm

May 26th: The Keirin s/b CMIT Solutions

This Thursday is a night the sprinters will love, featuring short races and the headline race, Keirin.

Our sponsor this week is CMIT Solutions helps organizations in Chicago and nationally grow through secure and better use of technology. CMIT stands for Complete Managed Information Technology. We manage your IT so you don’t have to. We understand how systems work and we take the time to get to know your way of doing things. We’re “change experts” too, so we can help your business implement new ways of doing things that will enhance efficiency and reduce your overhead costs. We’ve integrated the most up-to-date IT solutions for thousands of Chicago businesses and we can do the same for you.

Get in touch with CMIT Solutions:
cmitsolutions.com/chicago-downtown
(312) 584-4672

May 19: 5 & 10 Mile Record Attempts sponsored by Evanston Bicycle Club

Week 2 features our 5 and 10 Mile Record Attempts, as well as 1 Mile and 2 Mile races for the Juniors.

CURRENT RECORDS
Women - 5 Mile Scratch
Francine Haas 11:12.01 (2014)

Men (4/5) - 5 Mile Scratch
Nicholas Goossen 10:31.76 (2014)

Men (P/1/2/3) - 10 Mile Scratch
Jake Buescher 19:01.40 (2018)

This week’s racing is sponsored by Evanston Bicycle Club

To find out more about the Evanston Bicycle Club, please visit their website: www.evanstonbikeclub.org

Opening Night sponsored by PSIMET and Enzo's ButtonHole Chamois Cream

We’re really excited to ring in the 2022 season with a beautiful 80 degree night and great racing sponsored by PSIMET and Enzo’s Buttonhole Chamois Cream!

The Northbrook Cycle Committee is able to consistently provide high quality local racing thanks largely to our amazing sponsors. Our sponsors are also part of our community, and are not only business owners but also racers, fans, and volunteers! Please continue to support our track community by supporting our sponsors!

Register for Opening Night Racing HERE. See you Thursday!

2022 Registration

This year we are excited to announce our whole new registration system which is tied directly to our results platform, all developed by Josh Ryan (THANK YOU JOSH!).

All racing registration this year will be at:
registration.erv.veloreg.com

Results will be at:
erv.veloreg.com

THERE WILL BE NO ON SITE REGISTRATION ON THURSDAY NIGHTS!
Registration is open until 6:45 pm, when racing starts.
You will need to fill out a USAC and ATRA waiver in person still (or you can click on our waivers section above and download, print, and fill out your waiver before arriving).

PLEASE RENEW YOUR LICENSES NOW IF YOU HAVE NOT. It may take some time for the USAC database to update and if you are not renewed, you will not be able to register!

Your first time registering, you will need to create an account or log in with your Google account. You will get a verification code via email which you will need to apply to proceed.

You will see an option to select among the current events we are accepting registration for. As of today, 5/10, that will be:
Tuesday Night Training
Opening Night Racing

Once you select an option, you will need to search for yourself. The first time searching, search either by your USAC number or name. (Once you have registered for one night of racing, you will be able to search via your racing number).

Once you select yourself, you will see a screen which gives you your default number only if you raced with us in 2019 or 2021. You can leave that or hit the "change" button next to it to select from available numbers. If you do not have a number for 2019 or 2021, you will be given the option to get a season number or temp. Temporary numbers are valid for one night only. If you are racing with us all season, you need a season number.

If you are eligible for multiple fields (particularly true for women) you will need to select the fields you want. Selected fields will be highlighted in green. The first option will be selected for you, which may not be the field you want to race in. Please change the field/s to what you want to race in. Again, this will mostly be for our women who are eligible to race in the men's/open field. Masters 40+ racers and Juniors will also see multiple field options.

Then checkout and you should be good. If any errors come up a good way to confirm you are registered is to check your email for a Paypal receipt and/or go to erv.veloreg.com and look at the start list.