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Brighton Stage RaceSaturday + Sunday May 14th + 15th, 2011 (Brighton, MI) – Brighton Recreation Area was stop number two on the 2011 Tailwind Racing USAC sanctioned mountain bike series calendar, a favorite event of mine due to its two day multi-discipline stage race format. Participation was light this year and one could speculate any number of factors contributed to the turnout, weather, economy, competing races schedules. I would venture to say the number of racers was half of what it was last year.
Cohutta 100 NUE SeriesSaturday April 30, 2011 (Ducktown, Tennesse) - Well I didn't get the result I wanted but it was still fun. Throughout the race I had to stop 5 times for a flat rear tire. These weren't the side wall gashing, Stan’s gushing flat tires. They were the slow leaking type that has you wondering how far you can make it before you have to stop. I had a good start. I was sitting in about 10th position going into the single track. As I got about half way through this section I started to notice that the rear end felt a little squirrely if I railed a turn too hard. I wasn't sure what the problem was. Maybe I burped some air? It didn't seem to get worse so I choose to keep rolling. I knew if I stopped at this point that a train of about 50 racers would pass and it would be tough to pass back until we got out of the single track. We got to a short paved section before finishing up the trail. I assessed the tire and decided to try and make it to an aid station to use a floor pump. No luck. I suppose at this point I should have thrown in a tube but decided to use my air cartridge to air it up. Before I got rolling I checked out the tire and rim. No sign of a leak. I went another 8 miles before it was flat again. I blew another cartridge, still thinking it would be better to limp my slow leaking tire to the aid station. Ended up having to stop again and using a pump I borrowed from someone. I was just getting going again and Robert Herriman came rolling up. I was glad to see him because I knew that the two of us would ride good together on the dirt roads. Made it to aid 2 and used the floor pump. Robert and I were steadily catching and passing people all the way to aid 3. At aid 3 I finally threw in a tube and said goodbye to Robert. Got going again trying to just keep passing people. Ended up flatting the rear again at about mile 50. Luckily I just caught up to Collin Snyder who gave me a tube. This was my last stop. It was hard to stay motivated but I just kept telling myself that it’s good training. It was nice to ride with Adam Naish from mile 65 to 75. Perfect weather and riding with friends in the mountains savaged the day. Looking forward to the next one. –GK-
Pontiac Lake Time TrialSunday April 23, 2011 (Waterford, MI) - Pontiac Lake Time Trial was the first Tailwind Racing USAC race of the 2011 year. This year, anticipation for the race had been higher than others for two reasons. 1st was that we had rainy weather for several days leading up to the race and I was concerned that the course would be in poor conditions. 2nd was that Tailwind was now Tailwind-Racing and was under new ownership. Everyone was anxious to see how the new check-in system was to be streamlined. Unfortunately, there were many glitches and a normal 10 minute check-in ended up being over an hour for most. This ended up delaying the start of the races and many, like me had no warm-up time. As I entered the trail, I was relieved to see that conditions were quite dry with only a mud spot here or there. I had hoped to be around the same time as last year but fell short due to some brake issues I wasn't able to fix a few days prior. The sun ended up coming out and added to the joy of racing. Several members on our team placed in the top 5, and some even raced two expert laps and one lap on their single-speed. There was a bit more difficulty at the end of the race with the new system and pushed back results over an hour. My name was not initially on the results sheets. All in all I had a good time and was especially the weather had turned out better than expected. -RL-
Paris to Ancaster Race ReportSunday April 17, 2011 
(Rochester, MI) - If you have watched the ‘real’ Paris - Roubaix race and thought ‘Oooo, I wonder what it would be like to ride’, then you should go and have a bash at Paris to Ancaster in Ontario, Canada. Yes, of course the real Paris - Roubaix is some 250KM and P2A is only 60 KM, but I think it gives you a little glimpse of what they have to go through over in the those French fields. P2A is a ton of fast, fun, balls to the wall riding with a tricky little mix of terrain, sneaky little ‘mud chutes’ and a field packed with talent. From the gun the whole ride goes ballistic, as if being shot out of a cannon from all the winter basement riding. Add in some 50 mph winds, sleet, snow, hail and the now infamous ‘mud chutes’ and there you have it - Paris to Ancaster – Canada’s answer to Michigan’s Iceman. Highly recommended. –AJN-
Check Out the 2011 RBS Cycling Team Jersey!March 11, 2011 2011 RBS Trek MTB Team Jersey design!February 24, 2011 Rochester Bike Shop is proud to announce the formation of the RBS Trek MTB Team!January 21, 2011 (Rochester, MI)- Rochester Bike Shop proudly announces the formation of the RBS Trek MTB Team in partnership with Trek Bicycles and CPA Crossings. The RBS Trek MTB Team consists of seven riders: Mike Simonson - Greg Kuhn - Dan Klein - Adam Naish - Paul Borden - Greg Witt. Team members will all be competing on 2011 Trek Gary Fisher Collection Superflys beginning in early April. RBS Trek MTB Team members will be focusing on the NUE 100 Series, Mid-West Triple crown and a whole host of other local, regional and national events throughout the 2011 season. The team would like to welcome aboard the following sponsors:
The RBS Trek MTB Team is looking forward to a successful 2011 season.
To keep up to date with the RBS Trek MTB Team check for regular updates
on the RBS Cycling Team website (www.rbs-cyclingteam.com), Facebook
(RBS Trek MTB Team) and Twitter (@RBSTREKMTBTEAM) |
