Black Friday Sale and New I/O Bio Merino Wool Clothing

Come join us for one of the biggest sales of the year. This is your opportunity to save big for all of your holiday shopping. You will find huge savings on everything in the store. Whether you need socks, ski racks, hats or even tools you should come by and see for your self. You can save up to $1,200 on bikes or $80 on a pair of Sidi shoes. Below are the discounts you can take advantage of on this Friday only. 10a - 5p.

15-40% off Store Wide

20-40% off All Bikes

30-50% off All Shoes

25% off Racks and Bags

25% off DVDs

We have great gifts for the cyclist as well as new technical and casual merino wool clothing from I/O Bio Merino. I/O Bio is producing the softest merino wool products on the market. You won’t believe it until you feel it. Trust me. We have men’s and women’s base layers and casual wear that will have people asking what is that and where can I get some.

Come by this Friday only to take advantage of our biggest sale of the year.

Feel the pain

You don’t have to understand what the announcer is saying to interpret the language of PAIN in this video!

Team Newsletter 11-18-09

Team Newsletter - “More Cowbell” Edition Nov 18th, 2009

In This Issue Helena, MT Double Cross Tim Kelley wins again in Boise The Cube #2 Race Announcement Cyclocross Stoke Team Shared Calendar & Upcoming Races Dear Scott, As you begin to read this edition of Fitzgerald’s Bicycles Team newsletter I would like you to imagine standing just outside the barrier tape of a cyclocross course, shoulder-to-shoulder with 5,000 cross-crazed Belgians, all ringing cowbells and/or blowing trumpets, some of whom have been drinking…a lot, while its snowing sideways. Yeah baby! Cross season has turned the corner from ”sunny and inviting” to ”cold and epic”. Are you ready for cold and epic this weekend in Rexburg? Some serious questions will be answered for sure: 1) Can Fitzy really sit on a raft for three weeks and still be fast on his cross bike…for 45 minutes? 2) Will the Fitzy vs. Fiddee battle, which started in Victor at the Kross Kickoff, live up to the hype? 3) Can Mike Piker continue his local winning streak or will a darkhorse step in to steal his glory? Some serious questions indeed. In case you missed the last edition of the newsletter, I wanted to include this important piece of local racing news again: UCJH and ICE (Idaho Cycling Enthusiasts) will offer two BIG days of Crit racing in 2010. July 10, 2010 - Idaho Falls Alan Butler Memorial Crit July 11, 2010 - Jackson Hole Downtown Crit Mark your calendars now. Thanks and please keep the race reports & pics coming. ___________________________________________________________________ Helena, MT - Double-Cross Weekend Byers in a mid-pack battle Piker at the pointy end of the race Helena, MT Cyclocross Race Reports Michelle Byers raced Saturday in Helena, placing 2nd in the Women’s Cat 4 race, and sent in her personal 10 Steps to Cross Racing: Step 1: Walk the course (cuz’ my hubby says that’s what the pros do) Step 2: Warm up lap - good grief it’s cold, 22 degrees and windy! Step 3: GO!!! Step 4: BREATH!!! (cuz’ that’s what JayP tells me to do) Lungs, Legs and Face are burning! Step 5: Can’t feel hands or feet; can’t get clipped in…uh oh! Step 6: Yell at Piker to go faster - Hup Hup Buttercup! WOOHOO!! Step 7: 4 laps to go - WHAT?!?!? Step 8: Dismount while going up run-up - no traction on snow with mountain bike shoes- gahhh!! Step 9: Maintain composure on crazy downhill after an almost spectacular crash (it really would have been good)! Step 10: Cross finish line without wrecking and before hubby laps me! SWEET! - Michelle Your Editor also raced both days in Helena, MT and posted this report from Sunday’s race: Sunday’s Montana Velo CX course was designed by Helena’s Geoff Proctor who is also the Director of Euro Cross Camp and U-23 and Junior National Cyclocross Coach. We were guaranteed a taste of authentic Euro cross. We arrived early and walked our hounds around one lap of the course before riding it and the general theme was “steep & off-camber”. Every corner, descent, and rideable climb was off-camber and there were two sets of concrete stairs to run up as well as one set of double barriers. A modest field lined up for the combined Masters B, Cat 4, and Women’s race including my teammate Mike who was fueled by his first-place-robbing mechanical yesterday. Also in the race was Mike’s good friend and stage race partner, Tim from O-Canada, who also suffered a mechanical Saturday which took him out of contention for the win. Part of racing cross is the hole shot and I didn’t have it on Sunday. Going into the first technical section I got stuck behind a group who piled it up in the tight left-hander while the leaders sped off and put 20 seconds on us within half a lap. Doh! But the day’s battle was unfolding just in front of me. A rider from the Gallatin Alpine Sports Team, who will from this point forward be known as Mr. GAS, was a few wheel lengths in front of me and appeared to be a very worthy opponent. We were only a half lap into the race but it was clear that he would be the main protagonist in my personal “race within the race”. Once out of the first bottleneck, Mr. GAS displayed some serious power on the pavement section leading into the barriers. He quickly opened a 10+ yard gap on me but a strategic error cost Mr. GAS his lead in an instant. The devilish course featured a concrete curb immediately after the double barriers which caused many riders trouble: Do you remount and try to bunny hop the curb or simply keep running? I chose to run past the curb every time and passed Mr. GAS while he was indecisive. Mr. GAS responded with a furious acceleration on the next piece of pavement and passed me again leading into the twisty grass section. An excellent battle this was. Only seconds later, I was able pass Mr. GAS by diving inside on an off-camber 180 degree turn and I could feel Mr. GAS settle in for a ride on my wheel. Did I mention that Mr. GAS was much taller than me? Yeah, well, when we hit the first set of stairs Mr. GAS was clearing every other stair like Bo Jackson in his prime while I had to touch every stair and just like that he had another 10+ yard gap on me. Note to self: Practice the dismount-to-shoulder technique…lots. Again, Mr. GAS was powerful on the pavement but I ran the barriers well and closed the gap down to 5 yards heading into the twisty grass. I continued to chase the orange jersey around the course for what seemed like an eternity until the defining moment: Mr. GAS came into a downhill right-hander too hot, went into the barrier tape, and I scooted by on the inside to pass him for the final time. He never quit chasing but would not recover and I would finish the race riding in “no man’s land” and take 5th. Piker had a solid race and took 2nd to his buddy, O-Canada. I have a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. - Dave Byers _______________________________________________________________________________________ Tim Kelley wins AGAIN in Boise In a suprise move, TK chose leg warmers over embrocation but it obviously worked Coming off a great weekend and a win on Sunday I spent the week trying not to get to excited for the big race…but when you sorta know you can win again, it’s not far from your mind all week long. Simmering on good form is nice…yet certainly a bit tedious on the psyche. Saturday dawned with an inch of snow in Boise…”a first here” they said at the race. I had won just about every time it snowed…so things were lining up perfectly. All this winning talk can be put in perspective- it’s very rare! It almost never happens to me. It’s still the most exciting thing on earth. So, as they said go…and the 1′s and 2′s began to slip, bobble and brake towards the first turn…I cranked, pushed and skidded my way around the tree into third wheel overall. Crashes, screams, pileups were rising in concert behind me as the snow covered grass began its transformation to a mud strip of black gold through the leaf strewn park. I was 3rd wheel…we were riding away…through the sand, over the barriers down the long paved section…one lap down and me, again, at the front of the race with the 1′s and 2′s. What’s going on? Just like last Sunday I was riding a category ahead physically, and starting to think about winning the whole race, not just my Cat III division. Chellie snapped a photo of me, my mind drifted for a second…and I cased it on a turn. Trying to hold the front wheel skid, the bars turned and I headered into the muddy strip. I jumped up and remounted but my handlebars were at a 45 degree angle. Stop and twist…not budging. Don’t break the carbon steerer tube I thought….as I chased off racing to catch up and looking far ahead as my bars looked like a bad joke. Drop the Jamis in the pit, grab for the Ritchey…..on my usual “A” bike and chasing I had one problem- the brakes were not stopping the carbon wheels causing me to come into slick black mud chicane turns …(the kind that dropped down, turned and climbed up, where you crash through the course tape on the apex if you have too much speed) WITH TO MUCH SPEED! Argh! I was winning, yet had 50 more minutes to go..only 10 mins into a race that was greasing up into a classic. Fast forward…the dreaded feelings, all the things Mike Piker recounted in his recent win, the seeing of dead people in your own special pain cave…it all happens. Yet on the best of days, it’s sort of embraced. It’s like you are savoring the moment. One lap to go…”oh, I have this (win)” …I’m going to push even deeper just to roll this dreaded and dreamed of feeling around on my tongue. A second W! Sweet. As you pull into the driveway to a wife, son and dog who all have that look on their face like , you just missed the better part of a key “family time weekend day…” You quietly slip out of your superhero outfit and carefully slip back into your everyday life…head out to rake the leaves, do the dishes, walk the dog…and hope they aren’t too upset at your morning of self indulgence. Ahhhh…it’s such small time thing winning my race. Conquistadors of the Minutia really. But for another week…I’m the fastest damn Cat III cyclocross racer in Boise. That’ll have to carry me for six more days. Next Saturday…it all starts over again. - Fitzy’s Boise Representative, TK _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Cube Cyclocross, Rexburg, ID - Race #2 T-Race came into the corner a little too hot! Dave Hutchinson looking fast over the barriers Bergy looking very relaxed at the front of the race Nice barrier technique T-Race! Race Reports from The Cube Cyclocross, Race #2 Dave Hutchinson reports: Well, I went over to Rexburg once again for the weekly sufferfest. It was cold and snowy but I went anyways because that is what it is all about, right? I obviously still have a lot to learn and have plenty of room for improvement. It was a lot of fun though. I felt pretty good starting out and when we hit the single track section by the lake it was pretty sketchy. The course was reversed from the previous week and the single track was pretty slick. There was a 3 bike pile up in front of me in the single track section and by the time we got out of this the main group was well ahead of us. I spent the rest of the time on my own, passed a few guys, could not seem to catch fast Tracey and got lapped by Bergy with about a lap to go. Nothing makes you feel better than getting lapped. It was at least nice to see yet another Fitzy team member win the race. I will go again next week and hope that it will keep getting easier, I wish the season was longer! - Dave H. T-Race also reports from The Cube: That was FUN! So The CUBE in Rexburg, ID has been doing an AWESOME job of making a challenging, supa fun cross track AND I think they topped themselves! Race #2 was outstanding! 1st off it they ran the course backwards! Something I don’t think they have ever done before! The grass to start off with was, well, like ice, I had a nice supergirl the 2nd lap, snow and ice covered bridges made for some steady riding, heading into the steep, rooty, twisted singletrack, where the branch softly wacked you in the head enough that you couldn’t see for a second along the pond made for a nice adventure, off to more grass, barriers, a choice run up/ride hill, speedy section, onto a off camber piece of singletrack, where I won’t mention names but 2 of my teamates ATE it right in front of me, thru ducks, more grass, whoop de do’s, pavement and repeat! It was REALLY fun! I sure do hope more peeps/teamates can come, ride, cheer, support and enjoy all the hard work these gals and guys have done in Rexburg, ya know, I don’t think they even ride. Enough raffles for everyone and I’m on my 2nd 10lbs of potatoe winnings! Potatoe gumbo, potatoe pancakes, potatoe soup, fried potatoes, mashed potatoes, potatoe face mask-you get it! Truley amazing! Can’t wait for Race #3! - T-Race ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Race Announcement - Dreamchasers 12/24 Hour Snow Race - Teton Springs Resort Run, Snowshoe, Skate Ski, or Snow Bike for 12 or 24 Hours! 12:01am December 31st, 2009 til 12:01am January 1st, 2010

Team Newsletter 11-10-09

The Cube Cyclocross, Race #1 - Rexburg, ID Our latest cross convert, Dave Hutchinson, unveiled his new cross bike in Rexburg The City of Rexburg has a great three-week cyclocross race series that started Nov 7th for three weeks in a row. The Rexburg Nature Park has everything you could want in a cross venue and the cross-stoke level is high. The Cube Cyclocross Race Reports Mike Piker, winner of the Men’s Advanced Race, reports: There is something very disconcerting when you are at max effort hoping for the hole-shot then “Fonzie” starts to pass you. OK, so it wasn’t Henry Winkler on a motorcycle but it was a 17 year old local kid in jeans, tee shirt, and wearing leather boots riding a black single speed fixie with flat pedals. It should be mentioned that he was wearing a leather jacket but I convinced him to drop it before the race start. Fortunately, I eventually got the hole-shot but I am convinced it was only because he ran out of gearing. Whew!!! Cyclocross is addictive in a masochistic sort of way. I find myself dreading and yet anticipating each race knowing what pain will come and the relief that follows. This past Saturday in Rexburg was no exception. After barely getting by “Fonzie” for the hole-shot, the race was on. I had jumped to the front of the pack and kept it pinned as hard as I dared. It didn’t take long before my heart rate was bouncing against the redline and my lungs were searing. Fortunately, I managed to learn from previous cyclocross race mistakes and kept myself together. It was a good thing since Gabe “Fiddie Cent” was hot on my tail and backing off my pace was out of the question. The first two or three laps went by quickly and though I was pinned, I found myself having huge fun on the course. I savored the woopties and leaned hard through the chicane that followed. I found myself looking forward to the “high mark” single track section and tried to carry more and more speed as I figured out the right line. The run up was a challenge for me but I knew there was a fun descent off the levy towards the best part of the course; the single track by the river. For the first few laps I rode the single track by the river without braking and used momentum and high gearing to power through. Of course as the race wore on my bike handling skills became sloppy and I had to avoid mistakes that would either put me into the river or allow Fiddie to catch me. The last couple laps of any cyclocross race are pretty much the same. It goes something like this: Try to breath, ride smoothly, don’t case it into the barrier, ignore the burning legs, don’t let the drool or snot sling around and smear your sunglasses, etc. Those last two laps can determine the final results of the race, but maybe more importantly, they define who we are. These races are painful and anyone who pushes hard to the end is tough and deserves to be recognized. In conclusion it was a great day of cyclocross racing. The folks in Rexburg put together a great course and the vibe was excellent. But the best part of the day was getting to race with so many teammates. The three Daves, T-Race, Gabe and I all had solid races and it was good to be able to share the experience. I managed to hold on for the win but it was hard fought with Gabe riding in second much of the race and waiting for me to let up or make a mistake. Congratulations to everyone who raced and I am proud to be part of such a great team. There are still 2 more races in Rexburg and even more racing in Montana. The cyclocross season is not nearly over and all I can say is “Thank you sir, may I have another”! - Mike Piker Gabe Klamer reports: Here is a quick dialog of the conversation I had with the devil that lives inside my head during last weekend’s race in Rex Vegas. On your mark, get set, GO! Devil: Don’t let Piker get a gap on you! Me: Get out of my way leather jacket dude. Excuse me Byers. Excuse me Byers. Crap, I fell. Devil: EXCUSE me Byers! Get up you idiot. Close gap on 2nd and 3rd. Take 2nd place. Me: Apologize to everyone behind you. Don’t look back just focus on the Fitzy kit ahead of you. Get faster in the barriers and the run-up to make up time. Keep pinning it. Devil: Piker’s opening up a bigger gap. He can’t even run! Your HR isn’t even over 192 yet! Me: Try to smile. Try not to cry. I think my lungs are bleeding! Pin it! Devil: You’re running out of time. You only have 3 more laps. Me: 3 more laps! Are you kidding me? Piker’s fast! - Gabe T-Race reports: So why is cross racing so fun? Is it the anticipation of getting the hole shot, the challenge of slick bridges, whoop de do’s, burms, barriers, ducks, pavement, run ups, sketchy DH’s while not clipped in, trees trying to take your head off, single track that could lead you into a cold pond or the fun of going around and around as fast as you can doing it again and again, trying to catch your teammates? Well for me, it’s the comradely, the potatoes, the cold beer and reminiscing afterwards that makes it the best! The Cube in Rexburg did a really awesome job improving their course and making the trip worth while! Looking forward to more good times next week! - Tracey David Connor reports: It was great to ride with a bunch o Fitzies in Rexburg this last weekend. Could have done without another practice/warm-up re-injury incident though. I’d share the photos w/y’all but its something more for the Surgery Channel. Next start I’m getting out of T-Race’s way! - David C _______________________________________________________________________________________

Tim Kelley reports from Boise after a big WIN Coming off my ho-hum results at Moosecross, I became both more focused and more dedicated to training, eating…and with Henry and Chellie’s help, sleeping. Flying to Boulder two weeks later, I survived a mudder that grew my bike to 30lbs and had me beaten and bruised. Oddly, I came out tired yet flying on Sunday’s Boulder Cup race. Nothing like many hundreds of fans lining a course to get you going. Grabbing my first top 10 (8th) in a Boulder Cat III race, not to mention the biggest race of their season…I was psyched. So…with higher expectations this weekend I got 3rd in the Cat III race and got up on the box Saturday. Sunday was a bit more of a low key race…Similar course as Sat, but more technical chicanes and a steep, slippery run up…great sand beach crossing, etc. They grouped the 1,2,3,35+ together…which was only about 25+ guys. Not the fastest 1,2′s in attendance, but 1,2′s none the less…and all the 3′s seemed to be there and most of the 35+ guys…. I went to the front early taking a flier past the original whole shot blast. I was surprised to have a big gap…then just rode strong till others caught up. Three of began to distance ourselves from the group….then one crashed. Quick thoughts of “what am I doing up here” shot through my head. The third guy caught us again. I made a bike change (handlebars slipping)…so I lost the two guys and the front of the race for awhile. Oh well, fun while it lasted I thought. Somehow, I bridged back to them through a technical section I just loved and felt like I was flying through. I began thinking…hey, I could win the Cat III’s today! Then the other guy crashed again….so the leader and I were away. He cat and moused a bit on the bell lap so I pulled as hard as I could, still thinking…I could be the fastest Cat 3 if I stay away from the field (not even thinking of beating this 1,2 guy I was duking it out with). As I upped the pace after the run up I started feeling him yoyo’ing off of me…so I pushed to the “seeing dead people point” to get to the chincanes first…railed my turns through the tree strung course tape turns…and heard the twisting..sliding…thwacking of him sliding out and down behind me. ”No way” I thought….I desperately rode the beach like a drunk rider in the snow and got onto the pavement finishing straight….looked back….and woah!!!!!!!!! Zipped up the Fitzgerald’s / Snake River Brewery LS skin suit and sheepishly waived my arms half way (feeling a bit embarrassed to beat the 1,2′s for some reason)….winning the whole damn race! Yo! That felt weird…but good. First W in almost two years. How quickly everyone came to introduce themselves afterwards. One guy even said I sandbagged them (mistaking my cool cyclocross skin suit and big day sock combo for actual fitness and speed). I couldn’t help but stay, drink some of their beer and help take down the course with the bike shop / promoters putting it on. Good times in the Boise fall leaves. - TK _______________________________________________________________________________________

Dave Ryan reports from the Seattle, WA cross scene Dave Ryan using some body english to keep it rolling through the sand And, this is my personal favorite race photo of the 2009 season so far. Good stuff Dave! Sand, hills and gears… Seattle cross is now in full swing with mud season officially here and I’m getting plenty of practice sliding around slick corners and aiming for the deep puddles to get some mud off the rims and brakes but they still managed to throw us a curve ball recently with a sandy, hilly course at Silver Lake with two hundred yard long beach front sand traps and short steep runs. Great day of racing until I pulled a calf muscle on a steep run-up, still managed to finish the race but I’m sidelined for at least a couple of weeks just as the racing is getting interesting. Ahh well, that’s the way this game goes and with a little luck I’ll still manage a race or two before the season ends. - Dave

Team Newsletter 10-23-09

Team Newsletter - Moose Cross Edition
Oct 23rd, 2009

Cyclocross is in full swing all over the country and despite a “weak economy”, cyclocross races are setting attendance records everywhere. I want to thank all of my teammates who supported Moose Cross this year by volunteering and/or racing. I think we have a few cross converts over the weekend.

Moose Cross Cyclocross Festival - Victor, ID

Wow, where to begin? We learned a lot from our first Moose Cross last year and tried to use that knowledge to put on an even better event in 2009. We added a second day of racing but also added an evening of festivities at Pierre’s Playhouse in downtown Victor. Our new course was longer and more challenging with the traditional “cross” sudden direction changes and momentum killers. There were slips, bobbles, and full-on crashes, including by yours truly, on both days of racing.

Let’s start off with a few images from the weekend but scroll down for some excellent race reports.

Dale graciously saves his bike from running into the barriers.

I think we have a new cyclocross addict on the team

The “Grassy Knoll” was the site of many slips and spills

Piker attacks the barriers

We made the marquee!

The stoke level was high on Sat night

Moose Cross Race Reports

Gabe Klamer reports:
My name is Gabe Klamer and I’m addicted to cross racing. People around me are starting to question my sanity lately. I have been filling the voids between work and afternoon rides on cross websites, cross blogs, and miscellaneous cross bike websites. I already can’t wait for my 2010 Fitzy long sleeved skin suit.

Moosecross was awesome. The competition was super high for all race classes. People from all the neighboring states including Colorado were in attendance. The legs are still sore from racing both days. I can’t believe the workout you can get from a 45 minute race. Anyway, just say NO to drugs and YES to cross racing. See ya Halloween. - Gabe

Tim Kelley reports:
Where on earth to start!! Moose Cross 2009 dreams began the moment we drove out of town, past the rain ravaged remains of the announcers area and tattered ribbon of the shicanes….the morning after last year’s race. Expectations were high. I staked my 40th Birthday celebration vacation on this race. I invited folks from Boulder who were cashing in their one free hall pass…choosing this over CX Nationals. I was expecting a Gloucester like event. The bar was set like a triple set of 25″ barriers on the bell lap.

As I rode around Snow King’s base area Wed. night…with my PVC CX barriers set up…repeating intervals and dialing my remounts….and sadly feeling the altitude…..I was a touch worried. It was 6:50pm, I was alone…and twenty minutes prior was the start of the “cyclocross clinic” I offered to put on. Skunked. Hmmmm, I thought. I guess they all learned enough to fly through the barriers like Boom and Niis…good for them.

But, what if this meant the legendary Jackson athletes had all found better things to do than cross???? ….like PPP (contrived) training; Snowbike (just not right) planning; roller skiing (not a sport or that fun); LOTOJA (such a great way to waist your summer grinding out 100miles in a straight line) deep base miles; recovering in bed with your new National Champion Jersey on (ok…good excuse)…. So I was a bit worried nobody showing up meant that nobody would come to Moose Cross.

As Dave, Jay and I set the final bits of the course on Friday you could see over a dozen kids playing at the new Victor Velo pump track. Parents encouraging this lifestyle for their kids….. “Victor get’s it” I thought. Then…Saturday AM came along and the kids started to show up in droves……kids on every style bike. Kids on wood running bikes. Kids, Kids and more Kids!!! Parents psyched….albeit way to trusting of us sending their kids off on the crazy course on their training wheel bikes! But, oh man….this was the highlight of the weekend, right off the bat…Moose Cross was ON….Like DONKEY KONG!

This was cyclocross….this was what I dreamed Moose Cross could be! Crazy Cow Bells….Jay Petervary having to pedal hard to keep out front of a charging mob of twelve and under cross racers throwing down and hyperventilating in hopes of winning a prize! I was totally moved….as little, round cheeked, kids pulled up to the barriers and run up and tried in vain to get their 30lb bikes over only to have a training wheel get hung up! I was overjoyed to pick their bike up over the barriers and walk it up the run up…as they almost crawled up alongside, holding one handlebar end in hopes of helping me go faster!! Oh man…I was tearing up then….teared up during the movie seeing this again at Pierre’s Playhouse..and tiered up right now writing about it. It was incredible! They all crossed the line…..the fast 12 year old with that eye of the tiger look…..the tiny 3 yr old scared of my huge cow bell ringing in his ears…the cute little girl with purple cruiser and matching outfit…..This was cyclocross…this was a mini version of what goes on in Portland with grown ups every fall weekend….this right here infront of me in Victor, Idaho was why I love cyclocross.

Race Report? That’s my race report. It was the best damn community event I’ve been a part of in my life. It was friends secretly preparing, nervously letting air out of tires, proudly pulling on team jerseys, racing, crashing, volunteering, cheering, drinking and returning all over again on Sunday. I love cyclocross- cuz you’re not going to find that at those other activities I listed earlier or other types of bike races. It is why I love Victor. And why I love Fitzgerald’s Bicycles….why I love my teammates- Especially those who came and made this such a special event! It’s why those same teammates are my best friends…..not because we were faster than Cycleworks back in the day (we weren’t) but because we were WAY more fun and able to make an event like this happen through blood, sweat and tears. That’s CYCLOCROSS!!!! And that’s what happened at Pioneer Park and Moose Cross this weekend.

Dave Hutchinson Reports:
I made the trek over to Victor this past weekend for the Moose Cross festivities and races and I have got to say that it was a blast. I had never done a cross race before. I do not have a cross bike yet so I raced on my mountain bike. It was brutal and my chain broke about half way through the Masters 35/45 race. I was really suffering on my mountain bike. Saurman was there and decided not to do the Cat 4/5 race since he raced the Masters race. He let me use his cross bike so I raced the Cat 4/5 race. I could not believe how much of a difference it made. I still suffered through it but finished about 10th or 11th. I will definitely be going over for the Halloween race and hopefully some of the Rexburg races. Thanks to Dave, Dave, JP and Scott for the great weekend. My two boys raced and took 3rd and 4th in the U12 race. They are stoked also. Nate and I stuck around for the movie, awards and pizza after wards and it was a lot of fun. It was good to get to know some of the guys a little more and experience the Moose Cross atmosphere. This event is definitely going to continue to grow. Thanks again.- Dave H.

Dave Saurman Reports:
Man those Montana Boys are fast. And the old geezers too. Must be something in the water.

But really, is it possible to have more fun than Moose Cross? I mean really. So I missed the first Victor cross race due to another commitment, bummer, and I heard how much fun it was, but it could not be any better than Saturdays race. So despite my plan to get there early with plenty of time to warm up, I barely made it having to do an extra trip to town to pick up my shoes I left at my buddies house…..(thanks for calling to tell me I left them there). Anyway I roll in with little time to spare. I register, and get 2 laps on the course, then I am at the start line. Needless to say this is a brand new(used) cross bike to me. I have ridden one cross race on it(last year). I have not even got the seat adjusted. But do have new rubber, new brake pads and new bar tape.
3…2…1…Go….we are off. I feel terrible, within 30 seconds I am red-lining. (it can only get better). And it does, but slowly. 5 or 6 guys get away, including the infamous S. Fitzgerald. Damn. And I am in a pack of 7, mid way at first but then 2 guys pass me including Rich Pampe. (OH NO!)
Now I am at the tail end, and….I cannot catch the damn wheel. I am hanging on, barely, about 50 feet back and I cannot get there. But I keep hammering. I am loosing hope, I have to catch Pampe, he is in my age class and he is now my rabbit. I seem to be doing the barriers ok but cannot catch.
Suddenly with about 4 laps to go, Something finally happens. We are hammering and I finally catch on, mostly by going really hard through in the bank turns, and then through the barriers and up the hill, I feel something weird in my left foot, but it doesn’t matter because in 3 big steps up the hill I pass Pampe and two others. Then a perfect remount and I pass another. Then in the next lap I easily pass 2 more, and I am suddenly in the lead of the pack and I am putting distance on them. There is still a bunch of guys ahead, but I am gaining on them too. Fitzy is in my sights and I am not sure about the others, as I cannot see them.
Into the last lap, Nate from Salt Lake passes me, no worries ’cause I know he is in the younger age class. I am safely on my own. I think most of the guys ahead must be younger?….I hope. I cross the finish line and wondering about at least making the podium if barely?
I had a great race, clean, no crashes. Now my foot is getting more sore. I have no idea who was in front but I finished 7th overall in the 35/45 race. But at Pierre’s Playhouse I finally realize I am 4th. Three 45+ Montana fast dudes got away. Those sly dogs. No Podium today for this boy. Damn. But Fun Fun Fun.

Sunday morning, foot bad. Not sure I want to race. I go anyway thinking I will try it out and can always bail, but of course I am in the gate. The start, and after the first set of barriers I am having intense pain with each step over the barriers. I back off a bit. Then I am off course, still thinking about yesterdays race…..cannot figure out where I went wrong. Oh crap…..this race is over. I give up but then think I need at least not get dead last. I succeed and pass 1 or 2 guys limping over the barriers. I do finish and not DFL. Oh well. Still fun. Better next time.

I got an x ray and a visit with ortho, and no fracture, but a nice sprain in my foot. Soo, will have to see how I am doing before spooky cross. Knock on wood. Cannot wait.- DS
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Huntsman Senior Games Report from Keith Peters

Well, the following isn’t about cross racing, and is a bit dated, but I missed your last deadline while traveling …

The end of the road racing season for us older folks is celebrated in St George, Utah, at the Huntsman Senior Games. Depending upon your age group, the time trials are 20k or 40k; the road races are 37k, 50k or 62k; and the crits are 30-45 minutes-no matter the distance or age group, all the races are very competitive.

The 5k hill climb up through Snow Canyon State Park kicks things off for everyone, and, this year, I got off to a great start, placing second in my age group in the hill climb in a time of 14:17-a big personal best-and the third fastest time of the day. Fitzy was right, my new Cervelo R3 can really climb!

The following day, I placed second in the 40k TT out in Springdale, with another big personal best. It must have been those Zipp wheels I picked up the day before heading south-thanks Tim and Brandon, those tubies rock!

On the third day we crit-definitely not my specialty, but I did place sixth to earn a valuable point in the omnium. Going round and round

Finally the road race, with some more valuable omnium points on offer. I’d hoped for better than fifth, but the two points I earned were enough to tie for second in the omnium (if fifth and sixth places had been reversed, I would have ended up fourth in the omnium). Lesson learned: never give up - something I learned watching Jeff Noffsinger at the Jackson Crit this summer.

Well, that’s a wrap for the 2009 racing season. Next race on my schedule: the Togwotee Winter Classic. Since I don’t have any photos from St George, I thought I’d send along a reminder of what’s just around the corner …

One more thing: Big kudos to Eric Orton for the coaching that brought along from last place in February to performances beyond my imagination in October! If y’all don’t Train with Eric, you should.