That means a lot to a few.

In 2008, around this time of year, some unwashed friends were sitting around a table at the Hideout, hatching a scheme to put together a bike racing team. Either they didn’t feel like they fit in on their current team, or they wanted to step up from alleycats, but they were making it up as they went along. They had a shop and a ‘packet’ – a ramshackle document they could pass around, soliciting funds to get a spot on the jersey. This is why you should sponsor a bike racing team. As we all know, there’s a lot of love in the sport, as for Return On Investment…well, that’s another story. It’s a tough sell, but there were a few that were down from the start.

A guy at the end of the bar asked the bartender what they were up to. They sent down a packet. Long story short, the guy sends down a check. A big check. We’re talking Platinum-level, ‘nobody’s going to give us this much, but let’s put it in there anyway’ kind of a check. He didn’t want much in return, and he really didn’t even want his name thrown out there, but when pressed to put something on the jersey, he said “just put The Hideout.”

That man was Daniel Blue. He passed away last week.

There are many stories about him, many generous, some unbelievable, and a fraction of which can be found here. The Cuttin Crew would have found some way to put this thing together, but it sure helps when a stranger helps jump start your little scheme.

And what a scheme it became. Cash it before he sobers up! Kits and licenses, rolling deep to their cat 5 debut at the Spring Super Crit. A blazing attack in the last lap! Everyone jumps on it…except for the five guys in the Cuttin Crew leadout train. They take the win and four of the top five spots. oh we got this.

Needless to say, it hasn’t all been that easy, but there have been some bright spots. A bunch of State titles in Road, Track, and Cyclocross. A regional MTB title. National podiums for a current and former teammie. A few Illinois Cup and ChiCrossCup series wins, scholarship dollars to Lees-McRae, a North American Courier Championship, and a whole lotta good times.

Some of us have moved on to better things, and some of us will move on again, but for the most part, once you’re on the Cuttin Crew, you’re down for life. Thanks Dan. We would have done it without you, but you sure made it a lot more fun.

And so, here we are, in the final race week of our fifth year: Cyclocross Nationals. We’re putting our two best guys on it, one of which is a thirteen year old girl. Ella’s in a new age bracket, so last year’s podium might be tough to repeat, but she’s got a taste for Wisconsin mud.

There are only a handful of Chicago riders stepping up for the big show, THE Championship Race, up against the current champ, the fire-breathing Professionals, and the dreamers. Mumford will be there. Big truck driving, boot stomping, brick dragging, bunny hopping Mumford, laughing the stormy, husky, brawling laughter of Youth.

The Afterglow is many things epic, but this year really topped it all.

Not only were riders able to mud it up on a rainy 40 degree day in December, but they were also able to help serve hungry people across Chicago during this special holiday time.

Our dude Fred of the Greater Chicago Food Depository stuck it out all day to collect donations. In his own words:

You Guys, that was amazing!  The warehouse staff couldn’t believe one bike race collected over 1 TON OF FOOD, and
that the entire van was loaded by two guys (with a little help from a two year old). I can’t tell you how much this means.
People are turning up at pantries in unheard of numbers; every single item turned in yesterday will be redistributed to people who
are in serious need.

If people still have things to drop off, they can either:
- stop by the Food Depository, 4100 W. Ann Lurie Place, Chicago, IL 60632 M-F 7Am – 6PM
- drop food in the Food Depository box on my front porch, 2416 W. Palmer.
- call a pantry near them, some accept donations directly:
www.chicagosfoodbank.org/site/PageServer?pagename=member_need_food

Hats off and many thanks to you all!

– Cuttin Crew & Robots

If you haven’t heard it from five of our mutual friends, here goes nothing: Why should you race Afterglow?

1. It’s a race, and you’re a racer. That should be enough.

2. You feel empty after State Champs and the ChiCross series.

3. It’s going to be in the 40s, and it’s in the city. Ride there and save the planet.

4. The Park District is letting us trash a small golf course. Wind it up on the fairway and catch air into the sand trap! You know you want to.

5. If it were any cheaper, it would be an alleycat.

6. There will be several coffee options, any of which would be the best coffee you’ve ever tasted at a bike race. You have multiple baristas competing for your love.

7. There will be two grown men racing over the fate of a stuffed tiger.

8. You get called up to the front row for donating food, and your team will win a trophy if you donate a lot.

9. Men and women get equal payouts (zero), but there will be sweet prizes.

10. All the money that we’d normally make on this race will be donated to West Town and Blackstone youth programs. They teach neighborhood kids to ride, wrench, race, and stay out of trouble, and they literally share bikes while most of you own five. Even if you can’t make it, go ahead and register and invent some BS about how you threw your back out chopping wood.

get yr pre-registration on here: https://www.bikereg.com/Net/17636

(we will have a waiting list for the men’s 4′s)

vs.

Support a TRUE PATRIOT and come out and cheer on Category: Sweet Justice!!

There I was…just minding my own business, when out of the blue my phone got hacked and a series of sinister photos started popping up!

Seems like Supergirl decided to spam me after seeing what I had discovered. It started off innocent…

Reminded me of the good ol’ days of playful fun…

And how I once used to revere that suit with the utmost respect.

But then it turned dark…

“Maybe he will use these for the overbearing geese population?” I naively thought to myself.

“Ahh, yes! A delicious pre-race dinner,” I continued…

What.

So… There we were. Just hangin’ out. Enjoying ourselves with a few laughs, some deep conversations, lively chats, some heart-to-hearts..

Ya know. Straight up chillin’..

Then, naturally, it came time for one of us to part ways..

I went about just soakin it all in. Then I noticed Sweet Justice left something behind..

Now. I ain’t one to snoop but something DID catch my eye..

Ummm….

That. Is. Uh. Strange..

What’s this all about??

…

…

OH IT IS FAHK’N ON!

COME GET SOME.

*the couch being referenced is actually Nico’s

For those of you who didn’t win the M1/2/3 Illinois State Championship yesterday…

Remember how you were supposed to obtain a fat bike? Well let me let you in on a little secret…

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is hosting a competition between teams—-the team that brings the most food BY WEIGHT will be declared the winner and awarded a TROPHY, much akin to a certain 2010 cup! The team’s name will be engraved, and they will hold possession of it til Afterglow 2013,  when the cup is up for grabs once again. Sign up at afterglowfooddrive.blogspot.com!

AAAND, if you bring ANY amount of food, you will get the most coveted of prizes: a CALL UP. We might even give you a head start…

And stay tuned for even MORE tricks we’ve got up our sleeves, including a certain barista and a certain hero…

Step 1: Buy/borrow Fat Bike from your local bike shop.

Step 2: Pre-reg, then tell your friends to pre-reg.

Step 3: Relive last year’s experience as preparation.

Step 4: Roll deep with your Crew.

Step 5: Raceracerace. Then double up!

Check back the following weeks for more *secret* tips on 2012′s BRAND NEW COURSE!

A tradition unlike any other. Cranksgiving. Big ups to Nico for being a fine gentleman and a scholar. Super proud of him getting this together for Chicago this year. Details here.