2008 NC Road Race State Championships-Salisbury,NC

6/14-15/08

For 2008 the North Carolina State Championship road race was separated from South Carolina’s.  The race was also moved to Salisbury and held on a somewhat flat course.  Saturday would feature the masters racing and the catagorized events would be on Sunday.  This year Chris Emory would not be defending his Cat. 3 title, since he has upgraded to Cat. 2.  Instead he and Andy Pooser were going after the Masters 30-40 jersey.  In their race the competition was fierce.  An early break and a chase group not containing either Andy or Chris was off the front.  By using strong teamwork the remaining riders in the field controled the race well.  This set up the field for the field sprint for 5th place.  Andy gave Chris a leadout a bit early forcing Chris to get swarmed.  But he regrouped and threaded his way through the field to take 2nd in the sprint.  This was some nice work considering the amount of competition.

In the 40-50 Masters field Mike Small decided to team up with local legend Brian Jones and Smith Barney-BioWheels strongman Bob Wright.  In their long hard race, Mike was able to position himself into what could have been the winning break.  However a lack of cooperation led to them being caught by the field.  Coming into the field sprint Brian was outgunned by David LeDuc.

Sunday Travis Fender was the only BioWheels team member to race.  It would be his first Cat. 3 race since getting his upgrade 3 days before the weekend.  There were many unsuccesfull breaks untill one finaly stuck.  Missing the move meant that Travis would have to bridge up solo, or organize a chase.  Having trouble bridging, he tried to organize.  But with teams in the field the had teamates in the break, they were going to shut it down.  Then sudenly with about 2 miles to the finish, a suicidal turtle jumped in front of Travis.  He ate pavement and was taken out of the race.  He would later say,”That turtle came out of nowhere!”.  Luckily he was OK, but his bike was unrideable.

So this years competition ended with better stories than results.  Maybe next year will be better for the team. 

BioWheels-Deltec First at Roan Groan Weekend

Travis Fender wins the omnium, Mike Jackson second in the RR.

6/7/08

Last weekend the Settler’s Life Bristol Omnium took place in Eastern TN.  Heading up this year for BioWheels were: Mike Jackson, Mike Small, Travis Fender, and Nicole Crane.  In the road race up Roan Mountain Mike Small was able to help Mike Jackson take second place in the 40+Masters catagory.  This is Mike J’s biggest result so far, and he was very happy.  Nicole Crane made a return to competition to finish mid-field in the women’s race.  Travis Fender settled for 4th in the cat.4 race.  He was also thinking about the overall and was the only one competing in the entire omnium. Continue reading BioWheels-Deltec First at Roan Groan Weekend…

BioWheels-Deltec Team Podiums again at Ring of Fire#3

Chris Emory now second in the series.

6/4/08

Last Wednesday night was the third race in the Ring of Fire series.  Representing the team were Chris Emory, Andy Pooser and myself.  Our goal in this series is becoming very clear.  Chris has the potential to win, so we try and get him as many points as possible.  In this race Andy and I were also able to get a few points.  It will be interesting as the summer plays out.  Right now it’s looking like Chris Emory and Chris Earnst (Industry-Nine/BioWheels)  will be the ones to beat for the overall.

posted by: Zach Bannow

CORA (Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance) MTB Series Rules

Welcome to the Cincinnati Off Road Alliance Mountain Bike Race Series FAQ sheet.
Here on referred to as the CORA Series.

The CORA Series objectives are;

1) Promote Cincinnati area mountain bike racing participation,
2) Promote Camaraderie within the local Mountain bike community,
3) Promote trail advocacy awareness,
4) And most importantly, promote fun and health.

Continue reading CORA (Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance) MTB Series Rules…

BioWheels-Deltec Road Squad rolls the WRFF at The Mountain Sport’s Festival

Wheel Ride For Food

5/31/08

This year a new metric century came to life in Asheville.  The ride was sponsored by many local businesses and raised money for the Meals on Wheels organization.  With the Roan Groan being one week away, several riders on the team were looking to fine tune their form, stick around town for the weekend, and support a good cause.  So we had some great representation from the team.  Representing BioWheels-Deltec Road were: Travis Fender, Mike Small, Jason Smith, Chad Schoenhauer, Andy Pooser, Chris Emory, and myself.  Also making a very strong appearance was BioWheels shop owner Eric Krause.

Continue reading BioWheels-Deltec Road Squad rolls the WRFF at The Mountain Sport’s Festival…

A Beer With Floyd: 2008 Mohican 100 Race Report

Good times: Floyd Landis and I at Mohican 100, just when I thought I was thin!

Results: http://usmtb100.com/images/Mohican%20MTB100%20Final.pdf

The following photos are from the Mansfield News Journal Photo Link

Mansfield News Journal Story Link

Mount Vernon NewsRace Video Photo & Story Link

According to Earl Hickey, Karma is supposed to work like this, you do something good for someone else and something good happens to you.  I cracked open an ice cold Magic Hat Ale the night before the Mohican 100 NUE Series race and handed it to Floyd Landis.   How could that be bad karma?  Like giving a spare tube to a stranger with a flat, giving a beer to someone should bring good things.  Regardless, my Mohican 100 turned into a horrifying exercise in heat management and I don’t think Floyd’s went as well as he wished either.

Friday night, before the Mohican 100 in Loudonville, Ohio I was hanging out with my BioWheels teammates at cabin #3 at Camp Nuhop, on the race course about a quarter mile from the finish.  We had already got a nice pre-ride in, got the team tent up and were making the last tweaks to our 29’ers, getting the grill going and relaxing on the porch.  As we lubed the bikes and tied the cowbell to the tent, riders would make their way past our cabin, pre-riding the last few miles of the course.  Around 4:30 or so, Floyd Landis rounded the corner with two buddies.  He shot us a big wave and a smile as he rode by, and I said, “Hey stop by on your way back for a beer!”  He said they would.

They did!  So, I stole a Magic Hat out of Nate’s cooler, cracked it open on the work stand and handed it to him.  Floyd hung out for a good twenty minutes, just like one of the boys, shooting’ the shit as my dad would say.  He looked fit.  His quads weren’t sneaking out the bottom of his Floyd Landis Foundation shorts like some of the other big hammed pros in town.  But, good riders come in all shapes and sizes.  Floyd was pretty solid looking.  I’d guess he weighed 150ish; all muscle, except for his trademark old-man-isque chin.  Like a lot of pros, his stomach kind of stuck out, not a beer belly, just a well developed core.  Just like I thought he did with Phonak, under a bike helmet, framed between the straps, his bulging chin and facial features make him look a little grandpa-ish. 

Now, in my line of work at a radio station, I meet more than my share of famous people.  I rarely get autographs or pictures, because I feel like signatures and snapshots should be reserved for only the most die hard fans.  The only time I really felt star struck was meeting Garth Brooks.  For the record, the way I was feeling, Floyd ranks right up there with Garth.  Just as nice and down to earth too.  We all talked about bikes, beer and the storm that was forecast for overnight.  Floyd asked my opinion on his helmet.  I said I thought it looked a little motocross like.  I held back my grandpa thoughts.  Since we had pre-rode different sections of the course, we told Floyd how sweet the first stretch of single track was and he and his boys gave us some insight to the last few miles. 

I remember telling Floyd that BioWheels Charlie Miller told me that even when Mohican gets muddy it doesn’t get muddy.  Mountain bike speak for the trails drain well.  Out of all BioWheels racers, Charlie rides Mohican the most.  We were pretty confident that even if it rained hard, the trails would be fine, or at least that what we told ourselves.  Floyd brought up how it had rained at the first NUE race in Tennessee and caused some mechanical headaches for him.  But, now I can’t help but think that something I did or said when Floyd was around had a play in my unfortunate race.  While I don’t know where Floyd finished, I know he didn’t snag a podium spot on Saturday.  It rained all night before the race and turned about 75 percent of the first 25-27 miles of sweet single-track into a snotty deep sloppy mess.

Saturday morning the gun went off and 300 riders shot out of downtown Loudonville and up what seemed like a five mile climb that disintegrated from pavement to a steep snotty-mud 50 yard hike a bike.   I managed to stick with the front group of 40 or so when the pack split near the top.  There was a $100 prime for the first rider to hit the hole-shot and pro’s had the race strung out in the front.  I was close to red-lining, but who isn’t headed into a hole shot at a mountain bike race.  I fell into a good groove at the top and once we got in the woods, the pace was fast, butnot too bad.  I didn’t feel like I had gone out too hard.  A few passed me.  I was riding hard, but not as hard as at shorter races.  My HRM, set so 100 percent registered my lactate threshold, went between 95 and 98.  Close, but still 5-10 beats from the red zone.  I had trained well, we rode this section the day before, and I’ve spent many days right at those numbers for two hour rides.  This was the start.  Within a bit, the line of riders would stretch out, I’d find my rhythm for the day, my heart rate would drop down to an all day pace and all would be good.

Fog hung in the valley.   It was a hot and humid morning, probably in the mid to upper 60’s and headed for 85.  Within the first few miles of single-track I was covered in mud.  The thick trees kept the wind out of the woods.  The race started stretching out.  I fell into a steady pace, but my heart rate didn’t follow, still half-jacked at 95-98 percent of LT.  Chain suck!  I pulled over, back pedaled, and a few riders snuck by including two teammates.  Mitch and Stevenoffered assistance, but I was good.  Back on the bike.  However, I think the rush of a mechanical put a whammy on me.  I dialed back my pace, let riders pass when they came up on me, but still couldn’t get a groove going.  5 miles later, BioWheels teammate, Bill Baldwin came up, rode a mile with me and I let him go.  Then Amanda McKay, BioWheels teammate and eventual two time female winner of the 100k, rolled up.  We rode together for a couple of miles, stopped at the first aid station at mile 15, and pressed on together. 

The section between miles 15 and 32 was the worst.  While there was a sweet section of single-track that the rain hadn’t affected, the rest was a complete splashy slog fest.  Up and down.  Two hike a bike sections.  BioWheels’ Chad Irey passed.  Later I’d find out he had to MacGyver a pedal for 15 minutes and still caughtme.  If my HRM had an engine heat gauge, the needle would’ve been tickling the “H.”  I started to figure it out,my radiator wanted to blow.  At one point, I did a quick calculation in my head and realized I was in for an eight hour day at this pace.  I’ve never rode a bike longer that 6-7.  My goal was to finish in 6 and a half hours.  I wanted to quit.  I was miserable.  My legs felt decent, but any little push would send me over the edge almost to the point oflightheadedness. 

At mile 29 or so, we crossed Highway 3, a straight shot back to Loudonville.  I nearly headed back to the truck.  I thought about dropping out and laid a bunch of negativity on Amanda.  She smiled and just kept saying, “You can do it Joe.”  Nate caught and passed me too, just before aid station 2 at mile 32, broke his chain and I stopped to assist.  We slapped in a quick link and rolled up to the aid station.  Even stopping to help a teammate didn’t help.  I was cooked.  Literally.  Like a wrestler training to get down to weight, I felt like I was wearing a plastic bag for a jersey.  I was eating and drinking a lot, but I just couldn’t sweat enough to cool down.  Amanda’s encouragement helped me decide to stop for as long as it took to get my temperature down and my wits together and then make a call on pressing on. 

I grabbed five Scott’s thick paper shop towels at the aid station 2, got ‘em wet and pretty much took a bath.  Ahhh!  I downed water and sat down at a little café table with another rider.  We didn’t say a word; just sitting at a table in the middle of a bike race said it all.  I started to cool down and come around.  Fat guys in Performance jerseys started to roll into the rest stop.  I had to get going.  The next aid station was 12 miles away and it was a mostly road section.  I decided to bite off this race one rest stop at a time.  And, so the day went.  Feel good for 5-6 miles, overheat, and slog it out to the next stop.  Rinse and repeat.  Eight hours and 45 minutes after the 7am start, I crossed the finish line and the promoter Ryan O’Dell slapped a Mohican 100 commemorative pint glass in my hand. 

I haven’t seen the official results.  Judging that I didn’t see Floyd at the awards, I’m gathering he didn’t have the best race either.  I’m guessing just like me he’s struggling with a case of the Monday morning post race maybes.  I‘ve thought about it long and hard, giving Floyd a beer had to be good Karma for me.  Shooting the shit with the locals had to be good Karma for Floyd.  The Mohican 100 was just another reminder that Karma only gets you so far.  Bike racing is hard and there’s a lot more suffering than glory.  You can’t train for everything.  You just got to do your best, look for the good times and hold ‘em dear.  Sharing a beer with Floyd was the highlight of my season.  Something I’ll remember far longer than any good showing at a race.  So, I’m feeling like all thosehours of training did pay off in a way.  It gave me the avenue to have a pre-race beer with Floyd Landis.  And, just like Floyd, now I know what it’s like to suffer all day in the saddle and I have a pint glass in the cupboard to prove it.  Here’s to you Floyd!

Joe Bellante

BioWheels Racing 

For more from Joe, google the “Joe Biker” Blog: http://journals.aol.com/joejoebiker/joebiker/