Second Life

• Team TATI, for all its foibles and shortcomings, had at least one thing going for it this year. (Aside from sweet wool uniforms of course.) We might not have had the fastest or the most disciplined riders in the Chicagoland scene, but we did bring out a large number of first timers to a whole range of races during the road and cyclocross seasons. And not only did the newbies come and watch, but they also raced.

  This worked out for several reasons. The first is just plain old peer pressure. Amidst a team of young riders, even the greenest cyclist felt comfortable and welcome. I'd assure riders that it was all about the experience of racing, and not about scoring points or producing results. We had daily coached group practices, where riders would learn to corner and bump, to crash and clear barriers. And we had a small stable of loaner bikes and a great willingness amongst teammates to share. I don't think there was a single instance of a rider who couldn't enter a race for lack of proper equipment.

  Early on, it became clear that we would be somewhat lacking in smaller cyclocross bikes. Only two of our women riders had their own -- so there would be some serious sharing going on at the races. But given the skills required for cross, we would need at least one additional loaner bike for weekday practices and weekend rides in Palos.

  And so it came to be that the pink bike would have a second life. Cobbled together using Liam's 559mm Schwalbe CX Pro tires and a hodge podge of components: Nitto Pearl stem and B105 handlebars, an old Flite saddle, a sweet pair of Sugino Alpina cranks, and some Shimano Ultegra SL bits -- the pink bike found its way into a dozen races over our unfortunately short season.

  Now that the freeze has come, it's probably time to throw on a pair of studded snow tires and rip it up around Hyde Park. It would make my commute easier and a little safer, at least. And who knows? This do-it-all lightweight might just show up with road slicks at the Hillsboro Roubaix...