Monday, June 30, 2008

Support for local racer

There is a HUGE 5 day juniors stage race (The Tour de l’abitibi) held in Canada (40th annual this year) at the end of July that has been touted as the largest junior stage race in the world, and is part of the UCI Juniors Nations’ Cup.

Two of our fellow Central Florida Cyclists have been invited to attend as members of the Florida Velo Development Team (Jimmy Page of Citrus Cycling and Will Willis of ASV/Gold’s). Obviously this is a HUGE opportunity for these guys as well as the rest of their team plucked from South Florida (Preferred Alliance) and North Carolina (Hincapie) as these guys will be competing against 26 other teams from around the WORLD (including the USA National Development Team)!! This international competition is considered the most important development road race of its category. It is also North-America’s most difficult and longest in duration and distance.

Obviously, traveling and supporting a 5 day stage race takes some funds, so Citrus Cycling is holding a benefit ride (metric century and some shorter distances) to help these guys pay for their trip the weekend after Independence Day. It would be great if we could get a bunch of us to show up and support these guys and ride alongside the future legends.

I’ve attached some links that explain the race and the benefit ride below.

floridacycling.com

TourAbitibi
(click on the English tab at the top right if you cannot read French)

Citrus Cycling

Team Armada


JP/CL

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

They're Here!

The long-awaited, much anticipated photos from our trip to the Tour of Georgia. There are many many many photos, some may seem like duplicates, but this slideshow was generated by compiling the photos from three different groups of people.

A large amount of work went into trying to add captions and descriptions for most (at least the fist half) of the pictures...so make all the time spent on this stupid thing worth while by reading a few of them.

If anybody would like a high resolution version of any of the pictures in this slideshow, contact the team and we'll work something out for $20-$30/photo.

Enjoy the photos by clicking HERE
-OR-
Go to www.5count.com/ToG-Gallery/

Catching Up

Be sure to scroll down our blog to find new additions, announcement and results. We have also updated some older posts with great photos thanks to our resident pro, Gerry Bouchard. We've been lax in our updates and have recently made a concerted effort to bring you back up to speed, "Catchup", if you will. Some entries of note:
Stolen Bikes!!!
• State Road Races, Age Day and Category Day
• New Member: Tal Mincey
• Sugarloaf photos by Gerry Bouchard
A State Crit report by Scott Pfaff
• Photo Slide show from the trip to North Georgia for the Tour of Georgia

STOLEN BIKES

This past weekend, two of our teammates had their bikes stolen. Below is the original email from our very own Rachel Hallum regarding this heinous act.

Hey everyone,

Last night Roger and I had our bikes stolen from the Turkey Creek area (off Hwy. 441, near Alachua). Some jerks literally ripped them off our roof racks.

The bikes are a silver and black CANNONDALE SYSTEM 6 and a black and white SPECIALIZED TARMAC EXPERT with red handlebar tape (both are between 49 and 52 cm; I can't remember the exact frame sizes). The Specialized has a couple of scratches on the top tube. Both of them are missing their front wheels, and the Cannondale is also missing the back wheel.

PLEASE, if you see these frames anywhere, or if someone tries to sell them to a local bike shop, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

My number is 386-956-9231.

Roger's number is 352-870-8600.

Monday, June 16, 2008

State Road Race Championships-Age Day

photos by Gerry Bouchard
It was once said, "To be a cyclist is to be a student of pain....at cycling's core lies pain, hard and bitter as the pit inside a juicy peach. It doesn't matter if you're sprinting for an Olympic medal, a town sign, a trailhead, or the rest stop with the homemade brownies. If you never confront pain, you're missing the essence of the sport." -Scott Martin

Members of Cycle Logic confronted pain this past weekend on the beautiful State Road Race course surrounded by horse farms in the Ocala area. Saturday's races were reserved for all the age-groupers and Cycle Logic made it to the podium on more that one occasion.

The Juniors 10-12 race once again saw Justin Pfaff step up onto the top of the podium as he took his second State Championship jersey of the year (ed. Justin also won the State Criterium Championship back in May).

Kerry Duggan, Ken Sallot, Rob Robins, Tal Mincey and Scott Pfaff were the other brave teammates to vie for a State Championship crown.

The veteran, Kerry Duggan, had no problem keeping pace with a deceptively strong 45+ Masters field to finish in the lucky 13 spot for his 50-54 age group. In the 30+ Masters race Ken Sallot got caught behind a gap in the peloton and was forced to venture forward solo. Despite having to race the following day, Ken drove it hard to the finish for a respectable 39th on the day.

Competing in the same race as Sallot- Rob Robins, Tal Mincey and Scott Pfaff were left to fight for position in the field while some of the fastest men in the state forced the pace at the front. Tal's first experience in Masters races proved to be a successful one as he was the teams top finisher in the ultra competitive 35-39 age group. Tal finished 12th and more than proved his worth as Cycle Logic's newest teammate. Rob Robins continued to show his great form as he slotted in just two spots behind Tal for 14th.

Still in the same race, but competing against the 40-44 year olds, Scott Pfaff pfinally reaped some glory after sewing the seeds of consistency all year long. Racing against these same guys week in and week out proved to be the advantage for Pfaff as he knew the wheels to watch in the closing laps. Staying close to the front and giving it everything all the way to the line resulted in Scott's first ever podium finish as he placed 2nd in his age group!

State Road Race Championships-Category Day

Cat 3's
With our expanding number of category 3 teammates, Cycle Logic was able to field four strong, smart, competitive cyclists for the Cat 3 race. So Rob Robins, Eric Stubbs, Gerry Bouchard and Kerry Duggan toed the line. (Would have been 5, but some moron stole Roger Montes' bike the night before the race)

With the feed zone packed with other Cycle Logic teammates and supporters, the heat of the day was kept at bay by way of copious amount of ice-cold fluids. The boys in Orange and Gray were vigilant at the front in the early laps and Rob Robins was diligently going with everything that attempted to go up the road.

In the end, it was gruppo compacto and a bunch kick was surely going to be served. Due to Eric Stubbs' pension for finding the front at the end of a race, the boys sacrificed themselves in hopes of yet another good finish by Eric and once again, he didn't disappoint. Placing 7th gave Cycle Logic an outstanding finish in a supremely competitive field. Rob gave it a dig in the sprint but was bumped into the grass and was forced to roll through cyclocross style.

Cat 4's
Ken Sallot, Anthony Musalo, Mike Arena and James Penrod took to the line in the Cat 4 race which started in the heat of the day at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. The blistering sun would soon be replaced by Armageddon-like clouds which ultimately brought hurricane force winds, lightning, thunder and cold rain.

With all our 4's on top form for this race, hopes were high that we'd be able to work some tactics and have a serious card to play in the finale. With Sallot working tirelessly at the front in the early laps covering any promising move, the field thinned under the pressure and heat of the day. Musalo and Arena negotiated the hills effortlessly while Penrod found the pace to be easier than his spirited training rides over these same roads.

As the storm approached the race officials shortened the race by two laps and gave the field "one to go". With lightning strikes hitting the ground only a stones throw away from the finish line and the wind blowing riders all over the road, a portion of the field wisely exited the race and took cover along with the many stranded spectators.

Musalo bravely forged ahead for the final lap managing to stay at the front of the attacking field. As the remnants of the cat 4 field came into view on the finishing stretch, the wind was blowing the rain and the riders sideways. Unable to see the finish line Musalo misjudged his kick slightly and still managed a 9th place finish.

All of our team, friends, family and supporters stayed safe and the worst of the storm passed without casualties.

All in all, a great weekend of racing and some more great results for Cycle Logic. Thanks to all the teammates who came out and raced, volunteered driving wheel trucks and official cars, worked as corner marshals, or picked up trash along the course following the races conclusion. Cycle Logic has once again shown it's support for the Florida racing scene through its willingness to help.

Welcome, Talmadge Mincey

Cycle Logic would like to announce it's newest member, Talmadge "Tal" Mincey.

Tal's incredible work ethic and ability to ride fast will be a valued asset to the team, but his easy-going, friendly personality is what makes Tal such a great aquisition. We look forward to having Tal in the orange and grey and representing our team for years to come.

Tal had one heck of a debut for the team this past weekend at the State Road Race Championships held in Ocala. Only a cat 5 and participating in the most competitive field of the day (the Masters 30+), Tal more than impressed with his 12th place finish in his age group. Just keeping pace with a field chock-full-of Pro,1,2's certainly speaks volumes to the potential of our newest member.

Please join us in welcoming Tal Mincey to the team by leaving a comment.

photo courtesy of Gerry Bouchard