Fit-Pic: The Climber and the Sprinter, Vande Velde and Farrar

Look who we found at the Garmin store on Michigan Avenue Thursday night. Tyler Farrar (seated left) and Christian Vande Velde (seated right) of Team Garmin stopped by to talk cycling, answer any questions the crowd threw at them and sign Team Garmin "Chicago" posters given to those in attendance. Now I realize this is far from a great picture, but if you want to see more from the event--and even catch me asking the CVV about the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, which he won--check out the write-up on the Garmin blog.

Fit-Pic: Christian Vande Velde Visits Garmin

How's this for a holiday greeting? Christian Vande Velde, a professional cyclist who races with Team Garmin-Cervélo, answered questions, talked cycling and signed autographs at the Garmin store on Michigan Avenue. He has turned in some impressive finishes this year: 4th overall at the Tour of California and 2nd overall at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Vande Velde grew up in the Chicago area, and lives and trains in Libertyville, Ill., most of the year--he was out riding his bike this morning with Bo Jackson, and Robbie Ventura and Dave Noda of Vision Quest and says that he'll ride outside until the temperatures dip below 20 degrees. 

Christian Vande Velde Visits Garmin Chicago

Christian Vande Velde at 2008 USA Pro Cycling Championships

He's a world-class professional cyclist. He races with Team Garmin-Transitions. He contended for the yellow jersey at the 2010 Tour de France before pulling out with two broken ribs. He's won a stage of the Giro d'Italia and finished as the overall champion of the 2008 Tour of Missouri. He's the one and only Christian Vande Velde, a familiar name among the cycling world and even more familiar, perhaps, among Chicago circles thanks to his suburban roots (Vande Velde was born in Lemont).

It's not every day that you have the opportunity to meet a cyclist of Vande Velde's caliber, but your chance comes this week for Chicagoans or anyone else hanging out along Michigan Avenue come Wednesday. Vande Velde will be at the Garmin Store at 663 N. Michigan Ave., on Wednesday, December 29. From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., the 34-year-old cyclist will be on hand to sign autographs. And maybe you can sneak in a photo op or a question that needs a pro's answer.

Whether you're off from work this week or still plugging in a few days before the New Year, this is one diversion you could use. But be sure to arrive early...I've heard that a similar event last year had crowds in the store and out the door. And do you really want to pass up a meeting with this cyclist who's not only the Team Garmin leader but a leader among the field?

For more details about the event, contact Garmin Chicago.


Photo grabbed from fsteele770 at flickr.