Memorial Day Weekend
This weekend usually signals the "true" beginning of summer. Friends and family are planning cookouts and outings, while others are headed to their favorite vacation spot (BTW, have a great time in the Land of the Grand Banks, and in the Sunshine State).
For the touring cyclists and racer in all of us, this weekend usually helps us to get honed in on our "targets," whether they be training for a charity century or for a specific race. As such, below are a few of the races scheduled for this weekend. (Drop me a line, if you'd like me to list races in your area).
05/26/2007
Dragon's Challenge & NC Criterium Championship
Fort Bragg / Fayetteville, NC
Hellertown Criterium
Hellertown, PA
LĂ„RABAR So Cal Cup #3
Encino, CA
05/27/2007
Granville Grand Prix
Granville, OH
NETWORK CONTROL MT HAMILTON CLASSIC
San Jose, CA
Aliquippa Industrial Park Crits
Aliquippa, PA
05/28/2007
Tour De Gaslight Village
East Grand Rapids, MI
Quad Cities Criterium
Rock Island, IL
TREK BICYCLE STORE MEMORIAL DAY CRITERIUM
Morgan Hill, CA
Biking The Drive
In Chicago, this weekend kicks off the weekly summer ritual of neighborhood street festivals. And, its also time for the annual Bank of America Bike The Drive (formerly sponsored, but still hosted by, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation). For those unfamiliar with the event, simply click HERE to be taken to the official website or HERE for Oude Granny's rundown of last year's event (yes, I was pedalling when I took that photo!)
In the Pink
For those of you who aren't merely following cycling right now to see or hear who will step up to the mic next and proclaim, "Yes, I doped!" (thank you Mr. Riis, and who's next to purge their soul?), the Giro d'Italia is getting really interesting. Granny's favorite to win the race this year, Danilo DiLuca confirmed his form and retook the Maglia Rosa for the third time in this year's race. He did so in dramatic fashion as he won Stage 12 and distanced himself from some of the pre-race favorites, former champions Paolo Salvodelli and Gilberto Simoni.
Although there are many more mountains to come in this race, having the Giro's leader's jersey may be enough of a whip to motivate DiLuca's Liquigas teammates and help him to a long sought after victory.
To see if DiLuca can hang on, catch the Giro this weekend on Versus' Cyclysm Sunday.
A Gift
With the possibility of thunderstorms ruining most outdoor fun this Memorial Day weekend, I thought I'd throw out another review from the ROLL Film library.
This week's offering is Emmanuel's Gift, narrated by Oprah Winfrey. It chronicles the courageous story of a disabled man who cycles across his native Ghana.
What Borzo (the "bike guy") says:
Is being disabled or severely ill a curse or a blessing? Lance Armstrong has said that if he had his life to live over, and it was up to him, he would welcome the cancer. Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, the hero of Emmanuel's Gift, is another cyclist who made the most of a life-altering challenge...MORE.
What Strauss (the "movie guy") says:
I had never heard of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, but after seeing the moving and inspirational documentary, Emmanuel's Gift, I will certainly never forget him. He is a true-life hero and, because it tells his story, this film deserves to be seen...MORE.
FYI, Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is the organizer of Bank of America Bike the Drive. We have a title sponsor that assists us in making this event possible and expanding our advocacy opportunities.
ReplyDeletethanks for the clarification rob. I knew that CBF was still involved.
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