Team Newsletter 8-21-08

Let’s get this newsletter back on track shall we? Last week was a little…um…hectic for the editor. Sorry about that.
We are going to get you caught up on the last couple weeks of racing and let you know about some upcoming events.

Two of the biggest (literally) races on the calendar are coming up soon. This weekend is the 24 Hours of Grand Targhee and of course September 6th is LOTOJA. If you are not racing, try to get out there and cheer on the team or offer your support. I have seen a couple of the ladeez from the Fitzy Team out training for Targhee and I can tell you that there will be many dudes getting “chicked” this year up at the Ghee.

Boulder Roubaix

Boulder Roubaix 2008. Boulder, Colorado.
Cat IV, 35+
Our own cyclocross nutjob is trying to get an early start to his favorite season this year. Tim endured some brutal conditions to take his first road podium. Nice work Tim! Our readers want to know how you were able to reach back into the tiny “seatbag of courage” in such slippery conditions?

A report from Tim Kelley:
“Boulder Roubaix is a classic down here…a 40 mile, Moose Roubaix like race…but with 80% on dirt. It was cancelled this spring and rescheduled for August. It’s been record heat and no rain all summer….but in a Hollywood moment..the forecast changed dramatically. It rained all day and all night Friday…dropping to 50 degrees. I worked late getting the cross bike ready as it was going to be survival riding, not a road race. But in my warm up, it’s shifting malfunctioned, hence the dreaded moment, on a super muddy, downporing dirt road ….I had to pull the Colnago out of the car. Better make it worth it I thought.

Gone were the pinch flat worries, in 2″ mud…granted, you couldn’t tell how deep the water filled potholes were. Off we went in a deluge…chewing mud if you drafted …and the only pavement section was full on carwash spray behind the others. On the crux hill, I struggled to stay with the two strongmen…and sensed that the shivering couple under an umbrella at the top of the hill, in the middle of nowhere, might be my friends Ian and Suzanne Reid…so I dug even deeper. Sure enough…and I hadn’t even told them today was the race. Unreal friends and race fans!

That was it…the 3 of us rode away. We couldn’t hold the leader, working together to limit his gain. The time splits came from the race moto…1 minute…then two minute gap to the field. The eventural 2nd place rider road away as my back was in agony and body was soaked and feeling shocky. I burried it on lap 3 to try to keep my gap to the field (thinking I might be able to ease up and stave off my back issues on lap 4). Sweet! They shortened the race from 5 laps to 4 (as our category was racing in the worst of the days weather). I tried to accelerate, but anything more than steady effort resulted in legs that felt blown, or was it hypothermic and waterlogged. With 2 miles left I snuck a look back….nobody. Amazing, my first road podium (3rd Place). Pretty psyched, especially when an enthusiastic chase group came across the line and blurted out…”man, we tried so hard and couldn’t catch you 3 guys!”
A special thanks to Fitzy teamate Chris Erickson who instilled my love of Paris Roubaix and muddy, dirt road epics!” - Tim Kelley

Leadville 100 MTB Race
August 9th, 2008 - Leadville, CO

This race is often the biggest “red circle” on a mountain biker’s race calendar and the pursuit of the 9 hour time barrier has driven many sane folks into an early shuffleboard career.

Dave Saurman reported after this year’s Leadville 100:

“Well a tough weekend for this cowboy in Leadville. Disappointing to say the least. Going for the third and final time in the Leadville 100, my goal was once again sub 9 hours.

The first year, I had a good race and finished in 9:20 despite a mechanical in which my free hub seized up at mile 7 and then with the chain slapping the spokes, one broke. With the hub seized I was having to pedal up and down technical single track, I was able to get to the first aid station at mile 25 and luck would have it my friend Cathy who was doing my support happened to have her bike and a wheel for me and her wheel and cassette happened to mesh with my bike and chain. I rode the next 75 miles on her wheel. Finished feeling very strong. Definitely lost a lot of time with the mechanical. Oh well.

Year 2, Ready…get set….go….BONK. I had nothing that day. Over trained? Over Rested? Bad Day? Who knows? I finished in 10:30, compounded only by torrential rain and lightning for the last 3 hours of the race.

This year, No mechanical’s, weather was overcast and partly cloudy, cool, temps in the 60′s -perfect. I started towards the front in good position. I felt good, not “on fire” like in Laramie, but good. But at times felt like I was riding on flat tires-no spark. I knew I was just a bit behind the split times I needed. And after going through the final unsupported aid station, and hearing a guy say “Well I guess no one is going to finish sub 9 now…..” a couple gals cheered me on despite his remark and I found something in the tank and hammered hard the last 10 miles. Cramped like I never have before in my left leg, with about 3 miles to go, but popped some ecaps and the cramps stopped really quickly. I finished in 9:04. Just missing the Plato Grande-the Large trophy belt buckle. I now have 3 of the sub 12 hour silver buckles. Does anybody know what they are going for on ebay?

Big Thanks to my girl Robin Dabney for her great support during the race and company on the long tirp, especially after my two race partners bailed on me the day before going down. She was right where she needed to be with the everything I required. All I really needed was 4 minutes. Come on Robin! EPO next time!

So a sad day for me, but on to better races. Lotoja, Cream puff? Troy Barry was telling me about the Adirondak 540? Sounds fun….(sick?).

It was really fun seeing Lance. I guess in theory I raced against him. The good news is he smoked my ass but did not win. Dave Weins won by 2 minutes, winning for the 6th year in a row, setting a new course record of 6:45 with Lance coming in at 6:47. Remember Weins beat Landis by 2 minutes last year. Chris Carmichael finally finished sub 9 after his third attempt.

Locally Mark Llinares of JH had a great first race finishing in 8:37 despite 2 flats! Mark Hershberger from Wilson finished sub 9 also on his first attempt. Way to go guys!” - DaveS
Big Hole Challenge MTB Race

August 9th, 2008 - Driggs, ID
The Big Hole Challenge usually competes with several larger regional races which is too bad. It is great to support to the local race scene and hopefully this one will continue to grow.

Gabe Klamer reported from the Big Hole Challenge
Sunday, August 9th…”Peaked Sports put on their annual Big Hole Challenge. This year’s race was actually two race in one. Both a Duathlon and Mountain Bike race were being held simultaneously. The course was different than last year with most of it on new buffed out single track with stunning views and a few exciting creek crossings! I was very pleased with the Teton Valley resident turnout although the JH showing was bleak. I will definitely do this race again, if not for the great workout, but to show my appreciation for all the hard work the Peaked Sports staff has put into building new trail in Horseshoe Canyon.” - Gabe
Road Racin’ in Montana

August 9th - Montana State Time Trial Championships
August 10th - Valley West Crit

Dave Ryan reported from his weekend of road racing in MT:
“Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club hosted a couple of great events in and around Bozeman this weekend including the Montana state time trial championship on Saturday and the Valley West crit on Sunday. The state time trial had the typical turnout of 50 or so cyclists chasing their best solo 25 mile time. Riders came from as far away as Alaska and California but I was the lone Fitzy’s rider with folks away at Leadville elsewhere. The course looks pancake flat but has the typical insidious elevation loss on the outbound leg and power sucking false flat coming home. The weather was great, the winds and traffic were minimal, basically a perfect day for a long TT. I paced a decent start and maintained good focus passing my minute man by the 6 mile mark and several others on the return leg and definitely felt I left it all on the course. It wasn’t my best time of the year at 57:42 but was good enough for 3rd place in the Masters A group and top ten overall.” - Dave Ryan

Congrats on a great weekend Dave!

Employee of the Month July

Jannine Fitzgerald is the unsung hero of the bike shop! As buyer, warranty girl, salesperson, and owner’s wife her time is constantly stretched thin. Of course the owner’s wife part is her biggest challenge! Seriously though, Jannine is truly the glue that holds it all together here. Her plate is ridiculously full everyday since she is the go to person for special orders, re-orders, pre-season orders, employee orders, warranties, receiving, inventory, labeling, merchandising, and special event coordinating. So the next time you here a loud, “I’m OVER IT!” from upstairs give a big thank you shout out to Mrs. Fitzgerald!

Get Out and VOTE Next Tuesday!!!

SANCHEZ and ORBEA Take GOLD!

Sammy Sanchez battled the brutal heat, humidity, and air quality to capture gold in the Olympic Men’s Road Race Saturday on his Orbea Orca! The Spanish climber endured the race of attrition as Gold Medal favorites dropped away as fast as Tibet’s sovereignty.

“It was the hardest Olympics I’ve ever ridden. It was a race of attrition,” said George Hincapie, who made his Olympic debut in 1992. “I can count on the back of my hand how many races I’ve started to sweat before the race started.”

Of course I would have much rather seen big George, Levi, or VdV take the Gold, but it sure is nice to have some excitement surrounding the Basque riders again. Iban who?

Full story

KEO CroMo Recall

Team Newsletter Aug 5th

Annual Beartooth Ride Weekend

A report from Fitzy:
“A bunch of Fitzy teammates spent the weekend riding the beartooth highway. Chris Erickson, Kevin Burke, Andy Huta, J9, Len Carlman, Rich Leigh, Bill Field and myself were part of a 20 person peloton of riders who went from Cooke City to Red Lodge Montana on Saturday and back again on Sunday. The trip has been organized by Gene Renner for over 25 years on the first weekend in August every year. This year we had perfect temps, a little cloud cover, and tailwinds that made the rides ideal. We thought the Red Lodge fire would put a damper on the day but the winds stayed in our favor and the smoke was a non-factor. This is as close to riding in the Alps as it gets in the states. Special thanks to Mrs and Mrs Witte (Jannine’s parents) for their great support job while driving the team car. Can’t wait for next year!”- Fitz

Uploaded with plasq‘s Skitch!

Uploaded with plasq‘s Skitch!

Uploaded with plasq‘s Skitch!

Jannine sent in this quick note:
“Have to admit…I am loving the road bike right now. I felt awesome on Beartooth this past weekend. What an amazing ride! 64 miles with 5300 feet of climbing on Sat followed by 64 miles back with 7000 feet of climbing on Sun. Legs felt awesome! What a beautiful ride!!!” - J9

Alan Butler Memorial Criterium
July 26th but results were slow to be posted.

Dave Ryan reported after the Alan Butler Memorial Criterium:

“Fitzy’s was once again well represented at the Alan Butler Memorial Crit in Idaho Falls on Saturday evening, riders in orange included Dina, Shildog, Bergy, fast Kris L and others. This twilight race is a classic downtown crit in the old IF business district with a fast six corner L shaped course on good pavement, good crowds and great promotion. The masters 35+ event was early in the evening and plenty hot both in terms of pace and judging by the thermometer. Roughly 20 old guys started the event which went out fast with a steady string of attacks by the eight odd George’s riders from Boise including Brian Harder. Schildog was doing more than his share of attacking and chasing and after a few laps and only a few very brief turns up front I quickly backed off to hang on and survive mode. Within twenty minutes the field was cut in half but the attacks didn’t stop and riders were simply sitting up and coasting which made for some hard digs to close sudden gaps. With ten laps to go we were down to seven riders in the front group and after a few mellow laps the frenzy resumed. Schildog went with a three man break with two to go that looked promising but was run down on the back stretch and then jumped again with a big attack on the final lap. That was my last straw and I gotta say I was pretty content to cruise the final lap for 6th place. This is a classic downtown crit and a well run event that should be on folk’s calenders for next year!” - Dave Ryan

Find Something Better to Complain About

Ok, we’ve heard loud and clear form the radical anti-bicycle Jackson population: “Cyclists could destroy my world”, “Irreverent cyclists are worse than bad drivers” and so on. Well here’s a couple of comments from the pro-bicycle faction. 1. Next time you see a cyclist stop them… and thank them. Thank them for using less energy to run their errands. Thank them for staying fit and not burdening our health care system. Thank them for not further reducing our air quality. And most importantly, thank them for teaching their kids to be healthy, sustainable, and respectful of the world that our addiction to oil is destroying. 2. Take a look at Idaho’s Bicycle laws. A cyclist may treat a stop sign like a yield sign and a red light like a stop sign. Are there more cycling fatalities in Idaho? No. Maybe it’s time to challenge our local officials to consider such out of the box thinking. 3. Find something better to complain about. Can you honestly tell me that cyclists coasting through stop signs is where you draw the line. This is where you take your stand? Take a look around and I think you’ll find even bigger issues to champion. We appreciate your desire to be active in the community, but I can’t help thinking back to that bumper sticker, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention”. I’m here to tell you, that bumper sticker isn’t talking about cyclists behaivor.