| Upcoming Events
Thursday Night Lights - July 7 |
| Intro Track Class
Session 1: May 3, 10, 17, 24
Session 2: June 7, 14, 21, 28
Session 3: July 5, 12, 26, Aug. 2
Session 4: Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27
Women's Class: May 11, 18, 25, June 1
Licensed Rider's Class (open only to riders with USAC racing license): May 15, 22
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Race Report/News
Anderson dominates small but scrappy Cat 3 field
With dark clouds looming and temperatures on the cool side, small fields turned out for Thursday Night Lights. The few who showed up came ready for a good fight, and Jeff Anderson (Speedfix) dared them to take him down.
Eight category 3 racers lined up at the rail for the Coldstone Warmup, a 12-lap Tempo race. At the gun, Rich Bergstrom (Speedfix) wound up the pace with teammate John McGuire and Dan Jacobson (Omnium) in tow. After taking the first three laps-with Jacobson taking 1 point in the first two and Bergstrom earning 1 point in the third-McGuire rejoined the field, and his teammate Jeff Anderson decidedly took over. Anderson took 2 points followed by Jason Goldberg (Bianchi/GP), and then a two-man race ensued between Anderson and Mark Stewart (unattached). Anderson continued raking in 2 points a lap-and Stewart 1-for the next five laps before gaining one on the field and deciding the race. Anderson took first, followed by Stewart, McGuire, Jacobson and Goldberg.
In a rapid-but-engaging Miss & Out, Terra James (Sweet n Salty), Pat Whelan (PJW Racing) and Jacobsen made early exits and Stewart played the devil until Goldberg put an end to it. After squeezing Goldberg out of contention, Bergstrom and Anderson faced off in a battle of wits. Bergstrom held Anderson to the rail, but seizing his opportunity to move, Anderson plowed ahead in the backstretch and clinched the win.
Finally, four teams participated in a 60-lap Madison. The pink team of Bergstrom and Tom Hagerty (Behind Bars/LGR) made the first exchange and accelerated for the first sprint only to be outpaced by the white team of Stewart and Dan Schueller (Gopher Wheelmen). A missed exchange before the second sprint, won by the purple team of McGuire and Anderson, left the red team of Whelan and Linsey Hamilton (Synergy) scrambling to stay in the mix. From there, the purple and white teams took control of the remaining sprints and gained a lap with 12 to go. As the number dwindled, Schueller successfully fought to close a 40-meter gap between him and Anderson. The teams made what appeared to be final exchanges, and Schueller motored away with McGuire trailing. Tagged in at the last minute, Anderson pursued Schueller for a purple victory by one point.
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What's Happening
Buca night! Win dinner for four on the Party Deck!
You'll want to be sure to attend this Thursday's racing. Buca will be on-site with tasty samples - pasta and desserts! Best of all, it's FREE! Of course, if you stick around for the Buca Blaster, you just might win a chance to get your hands on some more of their yummy food.
Buca will also be serving dinner on the party deck for 4 lucky fans. Come early to get your name in the drawing for the chance to win the best seats in the house - and a great dinner from Buca.
Donate Used Bicycles to Full Cycle this Thursday
Full Cycle Bike Shop will also be collecting bicycles this Thursday at the Velodrome for their community bike shop program in Minneapolis. Full Cycle provides homeless and at-risk youth with access to free and healthy transportation, employment opportunities, and connections to other essential resources.. Full Cycle teaches young people the importance of biking and recycling, and provides free bikes to kids in need. |
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Racing 101
Prime
Prime, (pronounced "preem") is a prize given to a rider who wins a sprint during a race. This is not the finish. The race continues after the prime sprint. Money for a "crowd prime" is collected from the spectators. Crowd primes are particularly popular with racers. |
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Rider to Watch
Linsey Hamilton
 On any given Thursday night, you'll hear little girls screaming "Go Linsey!" at the top of their lungs from the bleachers at the NSC Velodrome. They're pulling for Linsey Hamilton (Synergy), a four-time Master's National Champion and one of the strongest female riders to appear in Blaine week after week. Hamilton loves to see them when she lines up at the rail, offering them high-fives and encouraging them to cheer loudly.
In 2007, at age 27, the collegiate gymnast-turned trialthelete started track racing. Her first-ever velodrome win was the Handicap, which she calls her favorite race because it allows an underdog to snatch up a win. In 2010, at age 30 she headed to Master's Nationals and earned gold in the Individual Pursuit, 500m TT, Points Race and Match Sprint. She calls that the 2K the most intense and gratifying experience she's had on a bike. After hearing her splits yelled out, she knew her competitor was slightly ahead the entire race. With a lap to go she glanced across the track to see the other rider looked even. At that, she pounded her pedals with "all her might" and won by .122 seconds.
She's competed on tracks in Frisco, Texas; Kenosha, Wis.; and Northbrook, Ill.; and Los Angeles, in addition to visiting the Offne Rengahn in Zurich, Switzerland. One day she hopes to race the T-Town Velodrome in Breinigsville, Pa.
Hamilton is dedicated to nourishing the track and its ridership. She teaches the Velokids program and cofounded the Women's Track Fund, which helps raise money to develop women's participation and programming. She also assists Bob Williams with track maintenance and repairs-something she encourages all riders to do for a handful of hours each year. When she's not at the velodrome, Hamilton is a physical therapist with a specialty practice in shoulder and elbow rehabilitation, a first responder and a gymnastics judge. Just this year, she started racing mountain bikes. |
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About Us
Contact Bob Williams at 763.785.5614 for more information about cycling at the velodrome. | |
