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Blomingdale, IL

by: John Gatto

Guest editor, Casey Gatto Today is New Years Day, I spent it with my family. We are at the New Years Resolution Cyclocross race, at Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, Il. it was pretty great. My dad raced both New Years eve and New Years day. The course was changed a bit today because of how muddy it was today, they shortened it. It rained A LOT this morning,there wasn't as many racers today as the weather unfortunately was not cooperating. We met some friends there, as they were scattered around the golf course. We did a lot of things together that I don't get to do normally. Today I got to hang out in the Pits. I learned a lot and got real dirty. My dad took third place both days. His bike was real dirty, and he broke his seat! But I had a good time. The first part of this was written by my oldest daughter Casey, she's nine. This race was a C2 UCI category race just outside of Chicago. With the Nationals next week just up north, quite a few pros were in town to gobble up some points. Day one started off frosty, ground semi solid temps quite cool. But then the sun came up and the mud began to flow. Luckily we were the second group to roll. After 3 laps the hill was not able to be ridden. But the rest of the course just barely held up. I pulled in a solid third and was fine with that. Today was a different course with the rain and temps all over the place. The wind gusts up to 30mph on a golf course is brutal. But the mud/water mix and 36-45deg temps didn't help. I battled to the final three laps then opened up some day light to secure third, but managed to brake my saddle rail, on a solid field prepping for Nationals. Third on the last day of the year and 3rd on the first day of the year. I'll take it... Thanks to my co-writer for helping take some photos, helping in the pits and just being awesome today even after partying hard with her cousins last night. Check it... www.cxmagazine.com/trebon-new-years-resolution-race-2011 or www.chicrosscup.com/