Team Newsletter 7-30-08

I am guessing that there are a lot of sore legs in Jackson and surrounding areas at the moment. We had a lot of racing going on over the weekend and the orange team was well represented on both pavement and dirt.
Look for another Newsletter later this week…there is just too much for one Newsletter and Tim Kelley needs something to read at the office.

Jill Damman Wins Race Across Oregon

What is Race Across Oregon? It’s a bicycle race in which competitors climb over 40,000 feet in their 535 mile campaign to reach the finish line at Mount Hood and Timberline Lodge approximately 30 hours later. Divisions included in the race are: Male/Female Soloist; Tandem; 2 or 4 Person teams; and Corporate (8 person) teams. And you thought your last ride was long? Ha!

Jill is one of Fitzgerald’s Bicycles newest team members and we couldn’t be more happy to have her on the team. Congrats on your HUGE accomplishment Jill!

Jill sent in this great report:

“When I lined up at the start line in Portland on Saturday at 5a, boy did I have high expectations. Since I have never been to Oregon my thoughts were to have fun and finish. Going into this being a rookie all I knew is 536 miles and 40,000 vertical of climbing sounded like a lot of fun and great way to see Oregon. This was my first attempt and I learned a lot. All I can say is WOW! What a fantastic ride!

Here are my thoughts during the race:
Actually my thoughts were pretty scattered during the day. Well one of my many thoughts were boy I hope the boys give me the raspberry flavor gel instead of mango.
Night riding was unbelievable with the temps ideal for me and just cruising along with the full moon and this one abundant star continuing to beam down at me. I loved it!
I never thought about how far I have ridden, how much have I climbed, how hot or cold it is or how my competition was doing. It was all about me and “my race.”
I would think about my husband support and what a wonderful job he was doing. How every feed hand-off I would look forward to see his smiling face. I also thought about my friend Erik who supported me too. He was amazing from respecting my modest pee breaks to soaking me down with water during the 100+ temps. These two guys did great and thank you for crewing for me.

In description of the race:
To say the least, lots of climbing and staring at the white lane line on the road. The course went from a misty, cloudy morning to coming over the mountain to blue skies. I loved riding along the climbs where there were mountains and evergreens by my side. The desolate feeling on the eastern side of the state was killing me though with hot temps, lots and lots of chip seal (more like rock seal) roads to horrible drivers that would buzz and honk at me as they pass bye. I couldn’t wait to get out of that climate and back to the mountains. In counting down the last miles of climbing and making my way closer to the finish line I was celebrating in my mind to get me there. I was pushing 40 hours of nonstop riding and the last 20 miles was another 10,000 vert of climbing. I knew I could do it, I knew that all I needed to do was get there and I’d be done. What help me the most was knowing Andy and Erik were driving behind me. I knew they were tired too and wanted me to finish. They kept cheering me on and ringing cow bells. I honestly could have done without the cow bells… they annoyed me to a point that I would spin my legs faster to get me to the finish. It worked! My finish was great with organizers of the race and my crew waiting for me. I also knew all my friends and family that had been watching the results online were there too. I’m so happy to have so many thoughtful people in my life and believed in me. I thought about each and every one of you during my race and you kept me going with every pedal stroke.

My thoughts after RAO:
I did it! Finished 6th solo overall, 1st place female finisher and Rookie of the year. My time was 43 hours and 27 minutes. Check out other finishers at http://www.raceacrossoregon.com/race_results

I’m now back in Jackson and recovering well. I’m still beaming with accomplishment from this race. I’m hungry but not sure what for… maybe raspberry gel? Oh gosh no! I know I would mini puke if I ate that.

My sponsors were a huge support too which I thank IBEX for my wool cycling apparel and Fitzgerald’s Bicycles for my Team Sponsorship and bike fitting.” – Jill

Jay Petervary takes 9th at 24 Hour Solo Worlds in Canmore, Alberta Canada

JayP was the highest placing finisher from the USA in the Elite Men’s race. Hopefully we will get a full report from Jay once he gets some sleep but torrential rain, mud, and a very technical course made for an epic race. Jay continued to improve his position throughout the race as others faded or dropped out completely.

Laramie Enduro 111K MTB Race

The Laramie Enduro is favorite of many Jackson mtb racers and this year team Fitzy was well represented in a freaky-fast field of 350 racers.

Result Highlights include:
Travis Ward – 12th Pro 35-39, 26th overall
Tim Kelley – 16th Pro 35-39, 39th overall
Greg Buchko – 5th Pro 40-44, 30th overall
Brandon Campisi – 5th Pro 29 & Under, first Laramie Enduro ever
Hamilton Smith – 20th Singlespeed (there were a ton of fast singlespeeders)
David Saurman – 5th Sport 40-49

Travis Ward, Brandon Campisi, and Tim Kelley in the pre-Enduro fog

Tim Kelley, ex-roadie, sent this report from the Enduro:
“Laramie Enduro- First off, I can’t tell you how cool it was to finally be around some of my teammates. The excitement of the 5am hotel room talk with Dave and Travis on which Fitzy Socks are the “Big Day Socks” to debating tire pressure…or in Byers case…which wheels to run…and seeing for the first time in a race what it say’s on the back of out new kits, meeting Hamilton mid race…getting “go Fitzy rider” yelled to me throughout the race…seeing Sourman basking in the glow of finish line euphoria and agony…truly awesome. And…for the rest of you – It’s 80% great single track in stunning country.

Race Report- Well, my head wasn’t in it on the drive up. Only 6 days since another epic ride (Mt. Evans) and the views of the inside of the pain cave too fresh in my mind, I was wondering what I was doing there. But I ran into my good friend Drew Gillingwaters from Jackson…and we talked of priorities, life, and how cool it was we got to do this type of stuff as old guys…then we stopped and saw his wife and magical little one year old. Done…I was gonna race my heart out, as someday I might not be able to.

I pinned it from the start. Why, I don’t know. Racing for the hole shot with the big names I somehow ended up amongst. Shoulder to shoulder up the climb, I entered the woods with Buchko and the mega stars (yes, this was my first Expert race and I got a kick out of the Pro/Expert category listing I had found myself in)…then…5 minutes in…dicing with the pros…the wheels came off. Not really…but what was I doing at 185hr, racing!!! With six+ hours to go? I had packed one big strike anywhere match….and just used it up.

Deliriousness, with waves of nausea from a screaming back (Note- road biking and laying on the couch do not equal core strength for mt. bike marathons) broken up by high speed single track… delusions of grandeur…with motivational mantras repeated as I sped along. Then, back inside the Pedro’s mini underseat bag of courage…for vitamin-I and e-caps…and another dismount to push my bike and wonder where all the others were. All in all it hurt, was hard, hurt some more…but again, like all epics I’ve searched out- I drove away wanting it to be next year, so I could erase the 15 minute wrong turn and show up with new core strength from a year of getting stronger and it was about 15 minutes into my drive home that I decided- I’m coming back…and am aiming at 6hrs in 2009! (Yes Byers…we can break the 6hr barrier!) But alas, who the heck knows where I’ll be or what shape I’ll be in next year…so, my new resolution…appreciate every ride and race!” – TK

David Saurman sent in this report from the Enduro weekend after setting a new PR:
“Another Big fun weekend in Laramie. Huge Fitzy turnout there and a bunch of non Fitzy Jacksonites showed up too. I drove down with Hamilton Smith and Jim Mitchell. A brief stop in Lander to pick up Jim and see the ruins of his newly burned apartment building. He finished building it only one year ago. Wow, fires bad. Drove down, Did the race, and zipped back to JH in a 36 hours blitz.

But the race was good over all. Got lost around the 10 mile mark along with about 35 others. The second time in 3 yrs. Damn. Lost 5-10 minutes I think? Jim Mitchell was with me too. Back on course I was flying. I passed at least a 100 riders. No one passed me for the next 60 miles. One guy tried but I reeled him back in. Good race for me. I felt like crap after mile 50 but it was because I was pushing and going fast I guess? I rode 73 miles in 6:28, was 4th in my age class, 8th over all in Sport racers of 150 or so, and took 20:32 off last years time – Despite getting lost.

Paul Nash of Jackson cleaned me by a solid 20 minutes, but I will take 10 back for getting lost. Paul Jim and I are headed to Leadville in 2 weeks for the 100.

Hamilton had a good ride on the single speed. He cramped at mile 45 or so, followed by vomiting x 6 and felt better, got back on his bike only to vomit one more time all over his bike! He ripped it in about 7:00 hours flat. Jim crashed and had to be treated for his road rash at a mid course first aid tent but finished well about 20 minutes behind me. He works too much. Needs to quit his job.

Many other Fitzy riders, including a guest appearance by Tim Kelly. Everyone of us did well. Good race, well supported, course needs to be marked better.” – DavidS

Teton Pass Hillclimb

Kris Lunning is bad man! Congrats to everyone who got their climb on this past Sunday.

Todd Johnson checks in after the Teton Pass Hillclimb:
“Another stellar day in the Tetons, and a great local turnout! It’s a good feeling when you see people that don’t normally race get out and push themselves harder than they normally would. The pass hillclimb is a classic, It’s a suffer fest for sure, and also a mid-season test to see where the form is at. I was a little tired from the Taming the Tetons battle, but was thinking of Jay P suffering all day and all night in the 24 Hr. World Solo Championships, so I wasn’t about to complain. The legs opened up mid-way through the climb to finish in a descent time of 33:41 for the road portion and 51: and some change for the MtB. portion. Overall: 6th place on the road and on the mtb. Consistent, both events I felt good, and am getting stronger for my next goals down the road. See you at the group ride on Tuesday!” – Todd Johnson

Dave Ryan also reports from the Pass Hillclimb:
“The pass hillclimb the following morning was the usual sufferfest. Kudos to Brian Smith, Schildog, Mark LLinares, and Jeff Noffsinger for promoting this great event, Jeff actually raced the road portion before slogging up mount Elly to time the finish for the off road segment. A big thanks to Andy and Wilson Backcountry Sports for the generous apres race feed, beer, and swag raffle. The road event went out a bit mellower than last year which allowed me to catch a bit of a draft till we hit the steeps and the sorting began. Lunner was off from the start and Bergy’s orange jersey went up the road pretty quickly as well. I settled into a personal battle with Les Gibson who beat me by roughly a minute last year. We passed each other several times in the steeps but I was able to get away with a surge at the Phillips Canyon turn and managed to run down a few more guys before the top to take 2nd place in the masters 45 race.

The off road race was ridden on a variety of bikes including full suspension mountain bikes, various modified bikes like Bergy’s 18 pound CF rigid mountain bike sans front brake or Lunners vintage steel tank with a skinny front tire. I opted for my 20 year old glued and screwed Alan cyclocross bike with single front chainring and 700x30c cross tires. Believe it or not that bike was a lightweight when I first rode it back in the day but at 23 pounds it’s a tank by today’s standards. The race went out fast on the flats from the Trailcreek nordic center until the race started in earnest on the Old Pass road. By the Crater Lake turn the leaders were disappearing and the suffering had begun. I heard a rider close on my tail and snuck a quick peak at the first switchback to see my Les back there pedaling smoothly and holding steady a bike length back. Knowing he was only 12 seconds back after the road event and riding a mountain bike I didn’t want to start the dirt behind him so I dug a bit deeper through the switchbacks and opened up a gap before we hit the dirt. The single track traverse was a lot tougher than I expected on the cross bike in my fatigued state and I had to pay close attention to avoid dropping a wheel downhill. Lacking the gears and legs I walked the switchbacks through the trees and hopped back on the cross bike as Les and another rider came into sight below me. The final stretch is a piece of cake on a normal day with a mountain bike but I struggled hard to avoid balking at the tiny rocks and rises and finished with nothing left in the tank for 2nd again in the masters and 9th overall for the combined road/mountain race.” – Dave Ryan

Cyclocross Course Work Day – August 10th
What: A work day to buff out the new Victor Cyclocross course for the first annual Moose Cross Race
Where: Victor’s Pioneer Park
When: Sunday, August 10th, 8:30am

Upcoming Races
Here are some of the events being attended by Fitzgerald’s Team members in August 2008:

Around the Block Ride – August 2

Cache-Game – August 5

Huntsville 100 Road Bike Race – August 9

Leadville 100 – August 9

American Mountain Classic MTB Stage Race – August 21 – 24

24 Hours of Grand Targhee – August 23- 24

TFR DIG DAY SATURDAY

Dig-Day

The Teton Freedom Riders are hosting another volunteer Dig-Day sponsored by Jackson Hole Ski Club, D.O.G. (Down On Glenwood) & Tram Bar. Please help us out by appropriately advertising the following information:

When: Saturday, August 2nd

Trail: Lower Lithium

Rendezvous: Trail Creek Trailhead (base of Old Pass Rd.)

Time: 10 A.M. till Dark

Shop Sponsor: Jackson Hole Ski Club

Food Sponsor: D.O.G. (Down On Glenwood) & Tram Bar

Bring: BEER, gloves, water, & extra food

Notes: Jackson Hole Ski Club will have a tent set up at the Trail Creek Trailhead directing volunteers through out the day.