4/16/11 – VGP#1 Race Report (email from Jon Gould)
Thanks for racing today! First, a huge thanks to Eastside Cycles and Team Eastside Cycles for sponsoring the race and Team Ascent for assisting with the race. The weather and the racing were perfect. The Cat 3 men’s and women’s races were won by Jeremy Frei and Geneva Ayarra, respectively. The Juniors race winners were Colin Rawlins and Macy Grett.
The Cat 2 Men’s race featured one of the most contested races of the day. Frank Benzing and Russell Thorstrum were never more than a wheel apart going into the fourth lap. Russell took the lead at the start of the final lap but it appeared that he may have had some mechanical issue on the first climb. Frank was able to take the lead and capture the win. Brian Price, riding about 15 second behind the leaders at the start of the final lap, made his move and jumped up to second place. Look for Frank and Russell to battle for podium positions at the National Championships this summer.
The best finish of the day resulted from a sprint between Matt Green and Carl Arriola. Matt was able to hold Carl by less than half a wheel.
Tami topped Kristen Gustafson to win Cat 2 Women’s race. Ashley St. Pierre, a junior racer racing up, took the 3rd spot with an impressive race.
Peggy Boggs was the fasting woman today, riding six consistent laps. Peggy with be more challenged at the next race when last year’s champion, Jana Repulski, returns.
Josh Oppenheimer showed great early season former by turning 12 minutes laps to start the race. Eric Zuber was the fastest Cat 1 racer.
Single speeders Chad Watson and Mike Kennedy battled for all six laps with Chad ending up with enough of a lead to hold off Mike.
Matt Green, entrant #19, was the lucky winner of the drawing for the $140 Smith Optics sunglasses. Armando Mireles was recognized for his good sportsmanship and was awarded the Sierra Trading Post good sportsmanship $50 gift card.
Justin Maines has his work cut out to repeat as Cat 1/Pro series champion with the strong performance of Josh Oppenheimer, Eric Zuber and Doug Herlocker. Peggy Boggs has a nice advantage of last year’s champion, Jana Repulski. Frank Benzing , Brian Price and Russell Thorstrum are in a tight battle for the top spot in the Cat 2 Men’s division. Only 30 seconds separates the Cat 2 Women’s leaders Tami Reed, Kristin Gustafson and Ashley St. Pierre.
The next race is May 7 and should be the funniest course in the history of the Velopark Grand Prix. Sierra Trading Post is sponsoring the May 7th race. Each participant will receive a Sierra Trading Post $10 coupon.
Thanks for supporting the series!
(email from Eric Zuber)
The weather was perfect for the first Velo Park Race of the series. The situation would have been even better if I would have been able to get there with enough time for a pre-lap warm up; but as things go, team Eastside came to my rescue to pick up the slack I let out and got me to the starting line in time for the Cat 1 start. Thanks to Deb and Steve for a quick sign-in “Sign here”, “Show license here”, Matt for affixing my race plate, Joe for pointing me to the free GU provided and Geneva for retention of my license while I fumbled with pre-race excitement! I felt like I had a pit crew in true “Grand Prix” fashion! – there may have been a wheel change in there too, though I didn’t hear the Les Schwab pneumatic wrench?
Twenty of us lined up for Jon to give the countdown and we were off! I battled D-light and Josh Oppenheimer (the song: “John-Jacob-Jingle-Heimer-Smith” rings in my mind – ask and I’ll sing a verse) for the top spot. I led the group, yes, I was first; for about 15ft. Then Oppenheimer powered by to take and hold the lead by an astonishing gap!
The course was speed-limiting with tighter turns, Whistle pig bumps and slightly dry conditions forcing riders to check speed and calculate how best to bank the turns! It was an excellent course! Approaching the start/finish was one turn on loose gravel brining most riders to a walking pace followed by a sprint to a short single track section and grueling gravel road climb where racers battled to maintain their position for the single track. Upon reaching the single track, it was likely you’d maintain your position until you would glide around the Velodrome or sprint to the start finish again.
All racers did great, no known crashes or mechanicals, a few missed turns and a lot of grins! Until May 7th for VGP #2!
Z
4/14/11 – Thursday Night Ride Recap (Eric Zuber)
Nine brave souls showed up at 6:15 to temp the haphazardly suggested ride linking Sidewinder with Watchmans with a 3-bear finish via a push-a-bike climb up 6, or Curlew.
You’ll feel silly if you show up unadorned, absent an Eastside kit; but you’ll not be refused.
Bryan correctly deciphered “DP” and along with Carl not showing up at “CB” joined in the calorie dump on the climbs.
Turns out the ‘long’ route to Watchmans returning on 3-bears does not take about 2 hours, but closer to 1hr 30min.
All suffered happily while comparing heart rates and commenting on the pace as we chased down the newest bike on the ride: Brian on his Carbon Niner…
Post ride at a new location with proved fruitful with Steve landing discounted pitchers for the team for the year at the Falcon Tavern!
6 others joined in for the post ride libations to give Eastside a good showing to our hosts of the evening!
All said and done, we only lost one rider; Andy succumbed to Hailey’s will and failed to replenish lost calories with suds and street tacos!
Hope to see more of you out there – perhaps a peloton on Curlew next time?
Cheers,
Z
4/10/11 – Barking Spider Recap (Eric Zuber)
Well, I must say; I’m impressed!
I’m certain we were the most represented team out there! I counted at least a dozen Eastsiders! I heard some racers saying every time they looked up, there was another Eastside kit!
Be sure to list Eastside Cycles on your entry forms so it shows up on the results; this might explain why I missed some in the below recap:
The start was somewhat of a frenzy as each group was started one minute following the previous. The Cat 1 start was fun as at least 6 of us raced ahead trying to run over the single speeders! (to some success) The field was packed and the view of the trail obscured. I ate some mud off of Steve’s tires as we all fought our way to the front to see where we were going… Steve, I still have my glasses waiting for you to clean up!
As we all started in fast succession we never got to see our companions fighting it out in their respective categories; but rising to the top: Kirsten snagged a podium spot (2nd!) in Cat 2 and Geneva grabbed the coveted top spot in Cat 3! Way to go ladies! Page continues to represent grabbing 3rd in Cat 1!
I failed to support Andy as he flew by me on the third lap to catch two Ascent team members working together to claim 2nd and 3rd – but, we have a plan to help Page represent next weekend to balance out Kirsten and Geneva’s efforts!
There were mere minutes separating about 6 of us in Cat1!
Looked like Lenny and Bryan were teaming up out there in Cat 2; we’ll be watching to see you pick off the competition in future races! – Nice teamwork!
