Logansport pics

Thanks for sharing, Matt L!

Someone smashed the competition in her first race!

Here is some teamwork!

Our loyal fans....

Meredith should get used to standing on the podium.

Mike B is focused.

Blake sometimes gives pushes to unsuspecting female riders during the race.

Note to self: Don't cut through the tape in the pre-ride.

Back-to-back Racing

Team Bicycle Station enjoyed back-to-back racing two weekends in a row with Versailles and Logansport on the schedule. Both weekends provided HOT temps and great results.

Coach Battin summed it up well for the Versailles race. This state park is an awesome place to ride. Thanks, again, to Jeff & Amy for the cookout following the race.

Below is a pic I lifted from the HMBA site (credit to Paul A.) showing one of the features of the trail.


We had great results and welcomed John W to his first mt bike race. He came back smiling, so maybe he'll get some more trail time in. Kudos to all the racers where many earned podium spots!

I would just like to note after Clasen's tire busted during the race, and interesting discussion followed. It turns out one teammate, who shall remain nameless, is exceptional at power-braking. In fact, the rubber just melts away under his power. If we could all put out that kind of wattage.....In other news Denny B. is teaching the other guys how to be complete gentlemen after admitting buying roses for his lovely wife. If you ask me, I don't think he's a good teacher. During the Logansport race, I asked him to be a gentleman and carry my bike up the second run-up hill. He didn't even respond. And I think I know why with Dave McComb not far behind.

The Logansport course welcomed our PA buddy, JL. It's always good to see old friends and new ones. But the biggest surprise of the day was the first race for Melissa Rose who cleaned up the Cat 3 women's race. In fact, all the women were successful with podium spots. Congrats Mer (and me)!

I should also mention Larry Wasson who competed in both triathlons and the Logansport race. Superb effort, Larry!

I always miss some things, so feel free to comment or post. Have a terrific week and see you in Indy.

Mr. Power tells us a story while his support crew looks on.

Ever resourceful, Clasen seals the tire enough to hold air with a power bar wrapper. See the red?

With two postponements, many people having plans already, and a Kentucky points series race so close in Louisville the turnout at Versailles expected to be low. As it was, there was no shortage of talent in all Cat's. Course conditions were very very good considering the rain and newness of the trail. If you haven't been to Versailles it is a great place to ride. The trail is fast and flowing not too much climbing and very scenic. Hat's and shorts off to the trail builders who put this one together. Thanks to all of the Bicycle Station riders who went down there and had a great time. I'd also like to thank Amy and Jeff for the awesome cookout and pool party! Looking forward to next weekend! May the Force be with you.

Whip Your Hiney...

...at Wapehani. Known for its twisty, technical paths with a couple of steep hills, Wapehani is Bloomington's mountain bike park. Read a short history of the park here. In fact, the mountain biking community has been holding races there since the early 1990s. DINO races were very popular back then, too. Some old results are posted on DINO's site. Do you recognize any of the names?

Last Sunday, 4 Bicycle Station team members with twice as many fans, participated in the DRT race. The Pro/Expert men suffered through 6 grueling laps while the sport men rode 4 or 5. (It sure is hard keeping track of laps as a spectator; maybe Blake can give some pointers.) Meanwhile, the fans cheered, dodged water bottles being hurled at them, provided hand-ups, took pictures, and swatted mosquitos.

While Sport racer, Jay R suffered some mechanicals right from the start, the Pro/Expert field had 4 strong leading riders that included Matt B. and former Bicycle Station employee, Art K. Not far back was Mike B. on his seemingly weightless bike. Bad luck continued to plague the field with more flat tires as Mike & Matt both had to stop and make some repairs. This left Art & Andy riding together for a couple of laps. Art put the hammer down in the final 2 laps emerging as the victor with Matt taking a podium spot. Congrats to all the riders on this challenging course.

Matt chases after fixing a flat tire early in the race.

Mike prepares to hop the log.

Peek-a-boo

Art leads the way.....hey, that bike looks familiar.

Some team members and a fan pose for a post-race pic.

It wouldn't be right without Mud - Muscatatuck

What more can I say? The North Vernon AMBC race seems to attract the rain. More often than not, this particular race teaches us how to negotiate peanut butter corners and mud bogs. With the last 2 races in these conditions, learning to ride in the mud is quickly climbing on my To Do list.

However, the conditions weren't a deterrent for the 160+ racers that attended DINO #4. Even our Cat 3 team members, Baylee, Zane, and Loren came out to get dirty with superb results. Congrats to Baylee on her podium spot!


Saturday started the festivities with the short track; the course was perfect with rain just starting to come down toward the end. Coach Battin and Meredith both earned podium spots and State Championship medals for their 30 minutes of pain. Congrats!

Following the circuit race, was the downhill extravaganza. Again, the Jedi Master showed us all how to negotiate the slick rocks and may have been the only one to ride the entire section! Not bad for a guy in spandex, non full face helmet, and an 80mm travel fork (or is it 110mm--can't imagine he'd want the extra weight of a longer travel fork?). Congratulations to all the Bicycle Station team members that braved the gnarly descent. With the wet surface, the rocks were even hard to walk on!

After a day of steady rain, the XC course was nice and slickery for the main event. Foreshadowing what the race would be like, Fett came back from the pre-ride covered in mud with the advice to keep your wheels straight when riding on the wooden bridges. I paid particular attention to this advice and thought of it every lap.

Most everyone stayed upright. Baylee told some superwoman stories of flying over her handle bars at some point but still held on to 3rd place in her division. We had another strong showing of Bicycle Station participants who raced well and hard. Denny & Danny enjoyed the home course advantage. Another friend and teammate decided to wear the orange, green, and blue colors on that day: Dave McComb. Is he a Jean Luc replacement???? We can only speculate at this point.

Thanks all for some good times before, during, and after the race. And thanks to Denny for sitting somewhat close to us this time. Versailles, DINO #5, is coming up soon; are you ready?

Danny gets out of the saddle during the mudfest.

Blake concentrates on the slick root up ahead. Or is he thinking of the lecture he received before the race about acting like a mature adult?

Meredith always manages to stay clean in the muddy conditions. Teach me how to do that.

This is how NOT to do the downhill race:

John and Dave are getting ready for peanut butter and switchbacks.


Noah makes gains in the kids race; and does it with a smile.

Mike is flying! And I'm trying to decide who is a bigger weight weenie: Mike or Matt?

Fett--cleaned up after the spill earlier in the day.

Name That Race ... or is it the Harbinger of Muscatatuck 2009

You be the judge.

Or is this another caption contest in the making...what the hell is Ange doing?

Fort Wayne-Franke Park Race Report

First....

Happy (belated) Birthday to you.
Happy (belated) Birthday to you.
Happy (belated) Birthday, Dear John.
Happy (belated) Birthday to you.

Clasen turned another year older while racing this weekend.

Do you think he looks older?? And on a side note, may I point out the Lefty on the Fisher?

Second - THANK YOU to all the spectators and cheerleaders. Having you at these events make the drives bearable and sometimes entertaining, the pain and discomfort during the race temporarily forgotten when we see you clapping and yelling, and the post-race food and atmosphere pleasurable. Your support is appreciated. Additional thanks to Matt L. for the wonderful pics that are posted on this site.

Here are some regular spectators on the course. "I gotta have more cowbell. I have a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell."

And third....the race.

Friday's wet conditions & the 30-80% chance of rain Friday night made many question how pleasurable the race would be on Saturday. Thankfully no rain fell and the course improved as hundreds of tires and sunshine helped to dry it out as the day went on. I commented that the margin of victory or defeat is only seconds on a course like this. Each muddy, rooty corner or bog can cost a few seconds. Multiply that by the 2,000,000 corners and one can stand to gain or lose a lot of time. This course has certainly made me want to practice skills, specifically cornering, more often.

On the way home, we were trying to decide how many people have made beating Denny a season goal. It must be in the hundreds. Great job, Denny! Keep up the good work. And don't you even think about hanging up the bicycle at the end of the year.

And that determination is why Denny is feared.

Feske passed me in the woods and didn't seem to be breathing hard at all. "Hey, Ange. Thanks [for letting him by]. Keep rolling." And I must point out that Lindsey's peanut butter, graham cracker, chocolate bars were AWESOME after the race.

So, after Jean-Luc and Matt crossed the finished line, the race organizer asked to interview them. I doubt this was their first. While sitting on their bikes, Brian started asking questions about when they started racing how the day's events unfolded.

I didn't catch all of the interview as I was talking to a fellow rider. She looks at the two boys holding the mic and says, "They are unbelievable." I agreed. It's a treat to get to ride with them any time. She added, "And they're no spring chickens are they?" My reply, "They've been doing this a while."

Master and Commander:

The hole shot. And wouldn't I like to corner like that?