I have wanted for the last few years to ride an unreasonably long distance to a spring training race, do the race, then bum a ride home. Probably not the smartest idea in the world, but whatever. In past springs, my plans have always been foiled by either bad weather or lack of the aforementioned ride home, but things finally worked themselves out, and today I was able to ride the ~65 miles from East Lansing to the training series at Waterford raceway on the east side of the state. Of course I spent all of 3 minutes planning the route and something like 50% of it turned out to be on dirt roads; luckily they were fairly high quality ones so I did not get any flat tires.  Also, since I am not a member of a pro-tour team, and I also do not have a groupie or personal assistant who is willing to drive behind me when I train, the number of point-to-point rides that I have done is rather limited. As it turns out, riding is a bit harder/slower going when you have a strong headwind the entire time.

Anyway, on to the race.  It’s your standard racetrack course: lots of sweeping corners and a small hill somewhere in the middle. 90 min + 2 laps format and a field of around 50. Larger than I expected given that a competing event was going on in the same state on the same day. There were many breakaway attempts throughout the day, and I tried to join every one that looked promising.  However, the right combination never materialized and the finish was destined to be a sprint.  I was sitting in good position on the last lap when a junior rider from Mesa cycles attacked with two others on his wheel.  In retrospect I should have followed them immediately, but instead I slotted in behind another rider who led the chase. He pulled off just before the last corner and I was left to start my sprint from the front with too large of a gap to close before the finish.  Got passed by a few more people and ended up 7th or 8th I believe.

-Greg Christian

I live about twenty miles south of Lake Erie in northeast Ohio, which for the better part of December through March is a giant snow machine. So when the weather here clears up, the snow melts, the sun comes out and the first opportunity to race comes along I am ready to go.

That opportunity was Saturday at Malabar Farm State Park, in the hills between Cleveland and Columbus. We had five riders from Panther p/b Competitive Cyclist at the race – myself, Andy Moskal, Andy Clarke and two of our regional team riders, Erik Lesco and Brent Martin. We got Erik and Brent set up with their new Capo team kits and rolled out to warm up.

OK so there are no mountains in Ohio, but there are plenty of hills, about 2400 vertical feet worth in this 40 mile race according to Andy’s SRM. Combine that with this being the first race of the year, no one exactly sure of our form, and us being without last year’s Malabar winner and teammate Dan Campbell, our plan was to cover the breaks and try to get the numbers in our favor at the end.

The 45 rider field rolled out slowly but the first time up the 1 mile hill split the field and triggered several counterattacks. We put two riders in the initial split, with two more riders coming up when the field regrouped on the second lap. Andy Clarke went clear with two riders, one being Brian Batke, a local strongman and good climber. Andy’s group started to build a good time gap as our team and Brian’s team covered chasing moves. With 15 miles to go, Erik got in a chasing group of 4 riders. Coming into the final lap I jumped on the hill and bridged across to Erik’s group. We were rolling at a good clip and I saw the opportunity to get across the gap to the lead group alone and give our team the numbers. I made it up to Andy’s group of three with about two miles to go, giving us the chance to counterattack.  We dropped one rider, but not Brian. Andy drilled it up the final hill to the finish with a strong lead out where I was able to hold off Brian, giving us first and third. Moskal and Erik finished strongly the field sprint for fifth, a good way to start the racing season for the Ohio group.

-Paul Martin

There are a few races early in the calendar that stand out as must do races when you are in the South central region of the country. Of those includes a stage race equidistant from Austin and Houston, TX in a small town claiming to be the most bike friendly town in the state, Fayetteville. A small town it is with a strong population of 261 people (and 35 head of cattle). As a veteran of the course and event I knew what I had coming and felt prepared.

At the start I was far from prepared for the conditions the field would face on that Saturday morning. Just a short time before our slated start a cold front had moved through, with a band of thunderstorms that had pummeled the earlier races. The storms were not quite passed though when our flag dropped and the race was off. No time was wasted in early attacks and accelerations as we all knew if you were able to get away on this day you would find it rather simple to stay there. I stayed near the front trying to make the split when it happened. I found myself uneasy on the bike that day as I had started riding the new team bike only three days before and had zero time in the wet on the tubulars I was running. Near the end of the full first lap in a hard crosswind section a few strong men went to the front and began to split the field. Dripping wet and the temperature dropping I had put myself in no condition to chase, so six or so of use went grupetto and just sought to finish the day. After the second of three laps and most of the group falling off or stopping altogether, I had a front puncture and needed to find a spare. My brother a spectator that day noticed my slow pace and pulled out a spare wheel so I could finish. Shivering cold and wet I had a flashback to my days early in the season last year in Belgium, but the difference is I finished and would continue the weekend.

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When we think of Vegas we all think partying (no,  not Interbike). When we think of Fayetteville, AR similar scenes flash through our heads. Let it be known that just as Vegas means business, Fayetteville means bike racing. The Natural State is known mostly for the Joe Martin Stage Race which rolls around each May, but that weekend is surrounded by oodles and noodles of good, clean racing. This past weekend Kris, Chris, Wade and myself headed up to throw down on the states season opener road race.

Upon arrival on Saturday I did my standard one hour loop North of town. It includes riding past the Waste Management dump, through the Tyson Country Club (yes, that Tyson) neighborhood, and then past the old-drive in movie theater. It’s like one of those rides at Disney World that takes you through all the different cultures in one big swoop. This time I was halted at the gates of the club for the first time and forced out to ride the highway with the common folk, where I suppose I belong. At least I still got to see the club house where the Chicken slingers drive their Titleist balls.

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Rouge Roubaix is a race I’ve wanted to do since they day I knew of its existence. I have had this penciled on my calendar for about five years now. In the past I have always either been at school in Durango, CO or life just got in the way. Finally, in 2010 I made it happen. Zach Spinhirne-Martin, Shannon and I made the trip down together. About an hour from our destination we needed some fuel and scored gold. Rather than Taco Bell (see my post from Monroe, LA) our trusty Garmin sent us in the direction of a local mom & pop Italian restaurant in the heart of historic downtown Natchez, Mississippi. We ended up spending almost two hours at dinner enjoying Chianti and calamari, a far cry from the expected “4th meal” at the bell. It was fun soaking up the local culture and taking a moment to sit back and relax.

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It’s been referred to as Christmas in March. The time of the year when all the bits and pieces from you team fall into place and are delivered in one nice package. In the past I have received such packages from SoBe/Cannondale, BearNaked/Cannondale and then LaGrange. This year, I was lucky enough to have received the package I was also on the team that built all 12 packages for the riders. I have a whole new appreciation for the efforts involved. Team members Kris French, Zach Spinhirne-Martin and myself, along with two volunteer mechanics Dave Fike and Mike Marrow stayed late into the night (past midnight) to get everything built, sorted and palletized for the Panther Expedite pickup the next morning.

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