Sacramento's bike-friendly pizzeria Hot Italian has quietly relaunched its Savage Sprints competition for a second year, bringing back the popular but intense micro-races in which riders compete on stationary bikes for the best sprint times. The restaurant, which borrowed the idea from Rex Cycles, hopes to raise money for the Sacramento Velodrome initiative.
Savage Sprints began its second season in late October, and there are four events remaining on the calendar: January 8th, January 22nd, February 5th and February 19th. Cycling fans typically show up on race day in advance of the 5pm races, sign up, then relax and mingle with other spectators and contestants in the informal atmosphere of the restaurant. Riders can also sign up online beforehand.
The races simulate a 250m sprint, with each stationary bicycle having a small video screen indicating the rider's progress. Competitors go head-to-head, although the ultimate goal is to get the best overall time. After riders are seeded, cyclists are divided into a classic tournament schedule, where they progress throughout the evening until someone wins the men's and women's finals.
Hot Italian owner Andrea Lepore brought Savage Sprints to her restaurant after seeing riders in action at the local bike shop Rex Cycles, owned by Steve Rex. Rex agreed to supply the racing hardware to Hot Italian, and the ultimate beneficiary will be the Sacramento Velodrome project, which local enthusiasts hope to build in Granite Bay, Natomas, or River Park.
Hot Italian is at 1627 16th St in Midtown.
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