Team Newsletters - Fitzgerald’s Bicycles

July 19th Team Newsletter

Andy wrote this instead of riding his bike. He mumbled something about a Blog, Team Newsletters. Wednesday, July 21, 2010
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Team Newsletter July 19th, 2010

In This Issue

Idaho Triathlon Update

Team Shared Calendar & Upcoming Races

A great time was had by all who attended the Team Party at the Pikers house Saturday night. Huge thanks to the Pikers for hosting the party and to Snake River Brewing for the delicious Snake River adult beverages. If you missed the party and submitted a payback request, you can pick it up at Fitzy’s. Dave’s Saurman’s animated crash-by-crash description of his Cream Puff race stands out as a highlight.

Team Newsletter

Andy wrote this instead of riding his bike. He mumbled something about a Blog, Team Newsletters. Thursday, July 8, 2010
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Team Newsletter June 30th, 2010

In This Issue

Taming the Tetons

Tues Night Drama

Dina Mishev checks in

Pyrenees Road Trip

Team Shared Calendar & Upcoming Races

Announcement: We are planning a team party for Saturday, July 17th at the home of the Pikers in Jackson. Stay tuned for details.

We have lots of racing coming up including two great races in our backyard…WYDAHO at Grand Targhee on July 3rd and the Jackson downtown crit on July 11th. Speaking of the crit, I have heard through the grapevine that some folks are on the fence about doing the crit. We have some experienced racers on our team and I encourage you to leverage their experience. The next two Thursday night rides will begin with a short “crit practice” to help anyone who has questions or wants to learn a little more about racing/surviving a crit. Last year’s Torch Criterium was my first crit and I had a blast!

Lastly, how cool is the new Game Creek reroute? I can’t believe how fast it was completed and how well it is riding already.

Thanks to everyone who sent in reports & photos.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Team Newsletter June 3rd, 2010

Fitzy wrote this instead of riding his bike. He mumbled something about a Blog, Team Newsletters. Saturday, June 5, 2010
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One of the best things about reading race reports from teammates is discovering new races through their adventures. Sure, I love to hear about the glorious suffering but I also like to hear about a race that was organized well, offered a great vibe, and/or is held on a great course. Thanks to Mark Hershberger’s report, I will add the Rabbit Valley Rally to my list for next year.

Speaking of races, can I get a roll call of everyone heading to the Boise 9 to 5 endurance mtn bike race on June 12th. Michelle and I are entered and rumors of Bergy, Kyle, Saurman, Mark H, JayP & T-Race, Piker, Nash, and even Hami have been floating around. Shoot me an email if you are racing in Boise.

Read Full Newsletter

Fitzy wrote this instead of riding his bike. He mumbled something about a Team Newsletters. Wednesday, May 26, 2010
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Team Newsletter May 19, 2010

In This Issue:

Jill Damman takes 3rd in TN
Bear Lake Report
Yellowstone Loop Ride
Bike Swap this Saturday
Team Shared Calendar & Upcoming Races

FULL NEWSLETTER

January 5th Team Newsletter

Fitzy wrote this instead of riding his bike. He mumbled something about a Blog, Team Newsletters. Tuesday, January 12, 2010
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jan-5th-newsletter_ver001

Team Newsletter - Snow Bike Edition
In This Issue:

Snow Bike Night
Togwotee Winter Classic
Local Snow Bike Rides
Team Shared Calendar & Upcoming Races

READ FULL NEWSLETTER

Team Newsletter 11-18-09

Fitzy wrote this instead of riding his bike. He mumbled something about a Blog, Team Newsletters. Tuesday, November 24, 2009
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Team Newsletter - “More Cowbell” Edition Nov 18th, 2009

In This Issue

Helena, MT Double Cross

Tim Kelley wins again in Boise

The Cube #2

Race Announcement

Cyclocross Stoke

Team Shared Calendar & Upcoming Races

Dear Scott,

As you begin to read this edition of Fitzgerald’s Bicycles Team newsletter I would like you to imagine standing just outside the barrier tape of a cyclocross course, shoulder-to-shoulder with 5,000 cross-crazed Belgians, all ringing cowbells and/or blowing trumpets, some of whom have been drinking…a lot, while its snowing sideways. Yeah baby! Cross season has turned the corner from ”sunny and inviting” to ”cold and epic”.

Are you ready for cold and epic this weekend in Rexburg? Some serious questions will be answered for sure:

1) Can Fitzy really sit on a raft for three weeks and still be fast on his cross bike…for 45 minutes?

2) Will the Fitzy vs. Fiddee battle, which started in Victor at the Kross Kickoff, live up to the hype?

3) Can Mike Piker continue his local winning streak or will a darkhorse step in to steal his glory?

Some serious questions indeed.

In case you missed the last edition of the newsletter, I wanted to include this important piece of local racing news again:

UCJH and ICE (Idaho Cycling Enthusiasts) will offer two BIG days of Crit racing in 2010.

July 10, 2010 - Idaho Falls Alan Butler Memorial Crit
July 11, 2010 - Jackson Hole Downtown Crit

Mark your calendars now.

Thanks and please keep the race reports & pics coming.

___________________________________________________________________

Helena, MT - Double-Cross Weekend

Byers in a mid-pack battle

Piker at the pointy end of the race

Helena, MT Cyclocross Race Reports

Michelle Byers raced Saturday in Helena, placing 2nd in the Women’s Cat 4 race, and sent in her personal 10 Steps to Cross Racing:

Step 1: Walk the course (cuz’ my hubby says that’s what the pros do)
Step 2: Warm up lap - good grief it’s cold, 22 degrees and windy!
Step 3: GO!!!
Step 4: BREATH!!! (cuz’ that’s what JayP tells me to do) Lungs, Legs and Face are burning!
Step 5: Can’t feel hands or feet; can’t get clipped in…uh oh!
Step 6: Yell at Piker to go faster - Hup Hup Buttercup! WOOHOO!!
Step 7: 4 laps to go - WHAT?!?!?
Step 8: Dismount while going up run-up - no traction on snow with mountain bike shoes- gahhh!!
Step 9: Maintain composure on crazy downhill after an almost spectacular crash (it really would have been good)!
Step 10: Cross finish line without wrecking and before hubby laps me! SWEET! - Michelle

Your Editor also raced both days in Helena, MT and posted this report from Sunday’s race:

Sunday’s Montana Velo CX course was designed by Helena’s Geoff Proctor who is also the Director of Euro Cross Camp and U-23 and Junior National Cyclocross Coach. We were guaranteed a taste of authentic Euro cross.

We arrived early and walked our hounds around one lap of the course before riding it and the general theme was “steep & off-camber”. Every corner, descent, and rideable climb was off-camber and there were two sets of concrete stairs to run up as well as one set of double barriers.

A modest field lined up for the combined Masters B, Cat 4, and Women’s race including my teammate Mike who was fueled by his first-place-robbing mechanical yesterday. Also in the race was Mike’s good friend and stage race partner, Tim from O-Canada, who also suffered a mechanical Saturday which took him out of contention for the win.

Part of racing cross is the hole shot and I didn’t have it on Sunday. Going into the first technical section I got stuck behind a group who piled it up in the tight left-hander while the leaders sped off and put 20 seconds on us within half a lap. Doh! But the day’s battle was unfolding just in front of me.

A rider from the Gallatin Alpine Sports Team, who will from this point forward be known as Mr. GAS, was a few wheel lengths in front of me and appeared to be a very worthy opponent. We were only a half lap into the race but it was clear that he would be the main protagonist in my personal “race within the race”. Once out of the first bottleneck, Mr. GAS displayed some serious power on the pavement section leading into the barriers. He quickly opened a 10+ yard gap on me but a strategic error cost Mr. GAS his lead in an instant. The devilish course featured a concrete curb immediately after the double barriers which caused many riders trouble: Do you remount and try to bunny hop the curb or simply keep running? I chose to run past the curb every time and passed Mr. GAS while he was indecisive. Mr. GAS responded with a furious acceleration on the next piece of pavement and passed me again leading into the twisty grass section. An excellent battle this was. Only seconds later, I was able pass Mr. GAS by diving inside on an off-camber 180 degree turn and I could feel Mr. GAS settle in for a ride on my wheel.

Did I mention that Mr. GAS was much taller than me? Yeah, well, when we hit the first set of stairs Mr. GAS was clearing every other stair like Bo Jackson in his prime while I had to touch every stair and just like that he had another 10+ yard gap on me. Note to self: Practice the dismount-to-shoulder technique…lots.

Again, Mr. GAS was powerful on the pavement but I ran the barriers well and closed the gap down to 5 yards heading into the twisty grass. I continued to chase the orange jersey around the course for what seemed like an eternity until the defining moment: Mr. GAS came into a downhill right-hander too hot, went into the barrier tape, and I scooted by on the inside to pass him for the final time. He never quit chasing but would not recover and I would finish the race riding in “no man’s land” and take 5th. Piker had a solid race and took 2nd to his buddy, O-Canada.

I have a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. - Dave Byers
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Tim Kelley wins AGAIN in Boise

TK Wins again

In a suprise move, TK chose leg warmers over embrocation but it obviously worked

Coming off a great weekend and a win on Sunday I spent the week trying not to get to excited for the big race…but when you sorta know you can win again, it’s not far from your mind all week long. Simmering on good form is nice…yet certainly a bit tedious on the psyche. Saturday dawned with an inch of snow in Boise…”a first here” they said at the race. I had won just about every time it snowed…so things were lining up perfectly. All this winning talk can be put in perspective- it’s very rare! It almost never happens to me. It’s still the most exciting thing on earth.

So, as they said go…and the 1’s and 2’s began to slip, bobble and brake towards the first turn…I cranked, pushed and skidded my way around the tree into third wheel overall. Crashes, screams, pileups were rising in concert behind me as the snow covered grass began its transformation to a mud strip of black gold through the leaf strewn park. I was 3rd wheel…we were riding away…through the sand, over the barriers down the long paved section…one lap down and me, again, at the front of the race with the 1’s and 2’s. What’s going on? Just like last Sunday I was riding a category ahead physically, and starting to think about winning the whole race, not just my Cat III division.

Chellie snapped a photo of me, my mind drifted for a second…and I cased it on a turn. Trying to hold the front wheel skid, the bars turned and I headered into the muddy strip. I jumped up and remounted but my handlebars were at a 45 degree angle. Stop and twist…not budging. Don’t break the carbon steerer tube I thought….as I chased off racing to catch up and looking far ahead as my bars looked like a bad joke. Drop the Jamis in the pit, grab for the Ritchey…..on my usual “A” bike and chasing I had one problem- the brakes were not stopping the carbon wheels causing me to come into slick black mud chicane turns …(the kind that dropped down, turned and climbed up, where you crash through the course tape on the apex if you have too much speed) WITH TO MUCH SPEED! Argh! I was winning, yet had 50 more minutes to go..only 10 mins into a race that was greasing up into a classic.

Fast forward…the dreaded feelings, all the things Mike Piker recounted in his recent win, the seeing of dead people in your own special pain cave…it all happens. Yet on the best of days, it’s sort of embraced. It’s like you are savoring the moment. One lap to go…”oh, I have this (win)” …I’m going to push even deeper just to roll this dreaded and dreamed of feeling around on my tongue. A second W! Sweet.

As you pull into the driveway to a wife, son and dog who all have that look on their face like , you just missed the better part of a key “family time weekend day…” You quietly slip out of your superhero outfit and carefully slip back into your everyday life…head out to rake the leaves, do the dishes, walk the dog…and hope they aren’t too upset at your morning of self indulgence. Ahhhh…it’s such small time thing winning my race. Conquistadors of the Minutia really. But for another week…I’m the fastest damn Cat III cyclocross racer in Boise. That’ll have to carry me for six more days. Next Saturday…it all starts over again. - Fitzy’s Boise Representative, TK
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The Cube Cyclocross, Rexburg, ID - Race #2

T-Race came into the corner a little too hot!

Dave Hutchinson looking fast over the barriers

Bergy looking very relaxed at the front of the race

Nice barrier technique T-Race!

Race Reports from The Cube Cyclocross, Race #2

Dave Hutchinson reports:

Well, I went over to Rexburg once again for the weekly sufferfest. It was cold and snowy but I went anyways because that is what it is all about, right? I obviously still have a lot to learn and have plenty of room for improvement. It was a lot of fun though. I felt pretty good starting out and when we hit the single track section by the lake it was pretty sketchy. The course was reversed from the previous week and the single track was pretty slick. There was a 3 bike pile up in front of me in the single track section and by the time we got out of this the main group was well ahead of us. I spent the rest of the time on my own, passed a few guys, could not seem to catch fast Tracey and got lapped by Bergy with about a lap to go. Nothing makes you feel better than getting lapped. It was at least nice to see yet another Fitzy team member win the race. I will go again next week and hope that it will keep getting easier, I wish the season was longer! - Dave H.

T-Race also reports from The Cube:

That was FUN! So The CUBE in Rexburg, ID has been doing an AWESOME job of making a challenging, supa fun cross track AND I think they topped themselves! Race #2 was outstanding! 1st off it they ran the course backwards! Something I don’t think they have ever done before! The grass to start off with was, well, like ice, I had a nice supergirl the 2nd lap, snow and ice covered bridges made for some steady riding, heading into the steep, rooty, twisted singletrack, where the branch softly wacked you in the head enough that you couldn’t see for a second along the pond made for a nice adventure, off to more grass, barriers, a choice run up/ride hill, speedy section, onto a off camber piece of singletrack, where I won’t mention names but 2 of my teamates ATE it right in front of me, thru ducks, more grass, whoop de do’s, pavement and repeat! It was REALLY fun! I sure do hope more peeps/teamates can come, ride, cheer, support and enjoy all the hard work these gals and guys have done in Rexburg, ya know, I don’t think they even ride. Enough raffles for everyone and I’m on my 2nd 10lbs of potatoe winnings! Potatoe gumbo, potatoe pancakes, potatoe soup, fried potatoes, mashed potatoes, potatoe face mask-you get it! Truley amazing! Can’t wait for Race #3! -
T-Race
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Race Announcement - Dreamchasers 12/24 Hour Snow Race - Teton Springs Resort

Run, Snowshoe, Skate Ski, or Snow Bike for 12 or 24 Hours!

12:01am December 31st, 2009 til 12:01am January 1st, 2010

Team Newsletter 11-10-09

Fitzy wrote this instead of riding his bike. He mumbled something about a Blog, Team Newsletters. Tuesday, November 24, 2009
No one has anything to say?

Greetings cross junkies! Seeing some new team faces at the cross races this season has been great and the team definitely has some newly converted cross addicts. Hopefully the cross gospel will spread and our local scene will be even bigger next year.

Before we apply the embrocation and jump into the race reports I have a HUGE local race announcement from Brian Smith:

UCJH and ICE (Idaho Cycling Enthusiasts) will offer two BIG days of Crit racing in 2010.

July 10, 2010 - Idaho Falls Alan Butler Memorial Crit
July 11, 2010 - Jackson Hole Downtown Crit

Omnium format for the BIG $$ - must race both days to win the big bucks. But, plenty of money and prizes for individual days. Mark your calendars now.

Thanks and please keep the race reports & pics coming.

________________________________________________________________________________________

The Cube Cyclocross, Race #1 - Rexburg, ID

Our latest cross convert, Dave Hutchinson, unveiled his new cross bike in Rexburg

The City of Rexburg has a great three-week cyclocross race series that started Nov 7th for three weeks in a row. The Rexburg Nature Park has everything you could want in a cross venue and the cross-stoke level is high.

The Cube Cyclocross Race Reports

Mike Piker, winner of the Men’s Advanced Race, reports:

There is something very disconcerting when you are at max effort hoping for the hole-shot then “Fonzie” starts to pass you. OK, so it wasn’t Henry Winkler on a motorcycle but it was a 17 year old local kid in jeans, tee shirt, and wearing leather boots riding a black single speed fixie with flat pedals. It should be mentioned that he was wearing a leather jacket but I convinced him to drop it before the race start. Fortunately, I eventually got the hole-shot but I am convinced it was only because he ran out of gearing. Whew!!!

Cyclocross is addictive in a masochistic sort of way. I find myself dreading and yet anticipating each race knowing what pain will come and the relief that follows. This past Saturday in Rexburg was no exception.

After barely getting by “Fonzie” for the hole-shot, the race was on. I had jumped to the front of the pack and kept it pinned as hard as I dared. It didn’t take long before my heart rate was bouncing against the redline and my lungs were searing. Fortunately, I managed to learn from previous cyclocross race mistakes and kept myself together. It was a good thing since Gabe “Fiddie Cent” was hot on my tail and backing off my pace was out of the question.

The first two or three laps went by quickly and though I was pinned, I found myself having huge fun on the course. I savored the woopties and leaned hard through the chicane that followed. I found myself looking forward to the “high mark” single track section and tried to carry more and more speed as I figured out the right line. The run up was a challenge for me but I knew there was a fun descent off the levy towards the best part of the course; the single track by the river. For the first few laps I rode the single track by the river without braking and used momentum and high gearing to power through. Of course as the race wore on my bike handling skills became sloppy and I had to avoid mistakes that would either put me into the river or allow Fiddie to catch me.

The last couple laps of any cyclocross race are pretty much the same. It goes something like this: Try to breath, ride smoothly, don’t case it into the barrier, ignore the burning legs, don’t let the drool or snot sling around and smear your sunglasses, etc. Those last two laps can determine the final results of the race, but maybe more importantly, they define who we are. These races are painful and anyone who pushes hard to the end is tough and deserves to be recognized.

In conclusion it was a great day of cyclocross racing. The folks in Rexburg put together a great course and the vibe was excellent. But the best part of the day was getting to race with so many teammates. The three Daves, T-Race, Gabe and I all had solid races and it was good to be able to share the experience. I managed to hold on for the win but it was hard fought with Gabe riding in second much of the race and waiting for me to let up or make a mistake. Congratulations to everyone who raced and I am proud to be part of such a great team.

There are still 2 more races in Rexburg and even more racing in Montana. The cyclocross season is not nearly over and all I can say is “Thank you sir, may I have another”! - Mike Piker

Gabe Klamer reports:

Here is a quick dialog of the conversation I had with the devil that lives inside my head during last weekend’s race in Rex Vegas. On your mark, get set, GO!

Devil: Don’t let Piker get a gap on you!

Me: Get out of my way leather jacket dude. Excuse me Byers. Excuse me Byers. Crap, I fell.

Devil: EXCUSE me Byers! Get up you idiot. Close gap on 2nd and 3rd. Take 2nd place.

Me: Apologize to everyone behind you. Don’t look back just focus on the Fitzy kit ahead of you. Get faster in the barriers and the run-up to make up time. Keep pinning it.

Devil: Piker’s opening up a bigger gap. He can’t even run! Your HR isn’t even over 192 yet!

Me: Try to smile. Try not to cry. I think my lungs are bleeding! Pin it!

Devil: You’re running out of time. You only have 3 more laps.

Me: 3 more laps! Are you kidding me? Piker’s fast!
- Gabe

T-Race reports: So why is cross racing so fun? Is it the anticipation of getting the hole shot, the challenge of slick bridges, whoop de do’s, burms, barriers, ducks, pavement, run ups, sketchy DH’s while not clipped in, trees trying to take your head off, single track that could lead you into a cold pond or the fun of going around and around as fast as you can doing it again and again, trying to catch your teammates? Well for me, it’s the comradely, the potatoes, the cold beer and reminiscing afterwards that makes it the best!

The Cube in Rexburg did a really awesome job improving their course and making the trip worth while! Looking forward to more good times next week! - Tracey

David Connor reports:

It was great to ride with a bunch o Fitzies in Rexburg this last weekend. Could have done without another practice/warm-up re-injury incident though. I’d share the photos w/y’all but its something more for the Surgery Channel. Next start I’m getting out of T-Race’s way! - David C

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Tim Kelley reports from Boise after a big WIN

Coming off my ho-hum results at Moosecross, I became both more focused and more dedicated to training, eating…and with Henry and Chellie’s help, sleeping. Flying to Boulder two weeks later, I survived a mudder that grew my bike to 30lbs and had me beaten and bruised. Oddly, I came out tired yet flying on Sunday’s Boulder Cup race. Nothing like many hundreds of fans lining a course to get you going. Grabbing my first top 10 (8th) in a Boulder Cat III race, not to mention the biggest race of their season…I was psyched.

So…with higher expectations this weekend I got 3rd in the Cat III race and got up on the box Saturday. Sunday was a bit more of a low key race…Similar course as Sat, but more technical chicanes and a steep, slippery run up…great sand beach crossing, etc. They grouped the 1,2,3,35+ together…which was only about 25+ guys. Not the fastest 1,2’s in attendance, but 1,2’s none the less…and all the 3’s seemed to be there and most of the 35+ guys….

I went to the front early taking a flier past the original whole shot blast. I was surprised to have a big gap…then just rode strong till others caught up. Three of began to distance ourselves from the group….then one crashed. Quick thoughts of “what am I doing up here” shot through my head. The third guy caught us again. I made a bike change (handlebars slipping)…so I lost the two guys and the front of the race for awhile. Oh well, fun while it lasted I thought. Somehow, I bridged back to them through a technical section I just loved and felt like I was flying through. I began thinking…hey, I could win the Cat III’s today!

Then the other guy crashed again….so the leader and I were away. He cat and moused a bit on the bell lap so I pulled as hard as I could, still thinking…I could be the fastest Cat 3 if I stay away from the field (not even thinking of beating this 1,2 guy I was duking it out with). As I upped the pace after the run up I started feeling him yoyo’ing off of me…so I pushed to the “seeing dead people point” to get to the chincanes first…railed my turns through the tree strung course tape turns…and heard the twisting..sliding…thwacking of him sliding out and down behind me. ”No way” I thought….I desperately rode the beach like a drunk rider in the snow and got onto the pavement finishing straight….looked back….and woah!!!!!!!!! Zipped up the Fitzgerald’s / Snake River Brewery LS skin suit and sheepishly waived my arms half way (feeling a bit embarrassed to beat the 1,2’s for some reason)….winning the whole damn race! Yo! That felt weird…but good. First W in almost two years.

How quickly everyone came to introduce themselves afterwards. One guy even said I sandbagged them (mistaking my cool cyclocross skin suit and big day sock combo for actual fitness and speed). I couldn’t help but stay, drink some of their beer and help take down the course with the bike shop / promoters putting it on. Good times in the Boise fall leaves. - TK
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Dave Ryan reports from the Seattle, WA cross scene

Dave Ryan using some body english to keep it rolling through the sand

And, this is my personal favorite race photo of the 2009 season so far. Good stuff Dave!

Sand, hills and gears…

Seattle cross is now in full swing with mud season officially here and I’m getting plenty of practice sliding around slick corners and aiming for the deep puddles to get some mud off the rims and brakes but they still managed to throw us a curve ball recently with a sandy, hilly course at Silver Lake with two hundred yard long beach front sand traps and short steep runs. Great day of racing until I pulled a calf muscle on a steep run-up, still managed to finish the race but I’m sidelined for at least a couple of weeks just as the racing is getting interesting. Ahh well, that’s the way this game goes and with a little luck I’ll still manage a race or two before the season ends. - Dave

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July 19th Team Newsletter

Team Newsletter

Team Newsletter June 3rd, 2010

January 5th Team Newsletter

Team Newsletter 11-18-09

Team Newsletter 11-10-09

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