not NOT First

"I'd rather have nothing than not first."

I actually said that in a state of post-hypoxia at the Habitat for Humanity's hilly road race this past Saturday.

I was apologizing to the guy who I selfishly forced to lead me out for the win as we chatted on the podium steps. My first 55+ race was also my first win in 19 years.
After exchanging names, smiles and handshakes I was accosted by Tal who put his hand on my shoulder and incredulously exclaimed, "did I actually hear you apologise for winning the sprint!? What's up with that!? That's what sprinters do!"

It seemed the right thing to do in a 55+ race. There is no money, little adoration (even my kids make geriatric jokes) and certainly no reason to ever be rude.
We're all just stoked to be healthy, competitive and alive. We have the same head movies of glory as a first year pro, but with no illusions of immortality that lead to risky behavior. We all have to work in the morning. We all take a really long time to heal, at least I do.

My first 55+ race was still hard but a little more survivable than other longer-mileage categories. While shorter it was still very animated and painful -just a bit more civilized.

I heard no cursing, screaming or bad behavior. Twice, fading 3/4 woman racers were "assisted" up the hills by kindly gentlemen. When chains were dropped, helping hands kept things going. When scary riders, badly in need of pack skills, bounced around they were just quietly pointed out and avoided - ending up at the back eventually.

How refreshing.

When the final 1K or so sprint loomed two guys from the same team lined up at the front. I latched on. We got a small gap as teammate #1 pulled off. Teammate #2 went hard. When he slowed I countered with 1/2 k to go. He managed to claw back onto my wheel. I pulled a bit then swung off and stopped pedaling. I thought, "I'd rather have nothing than not first." He looked at me and then at the peleton 50 feet behind and put his head down and lead me all the way to the line where I was almost caught by someone who jumped out of the pack.

I didn't get not first.

Hello selfishness.

K-Dogg

Swamp Classic

Here's a compilation of Cat. 3 footage shot at the Swamp Classic Criterium on February 7th, 2010. This downtown Gainesville race is truly a classic, passing over it's old-world brick "pave" in front of the Hippodrome State Theater which was the original Gainesville Post Office completed in 1911.



This video was shot and edited and produced by Paul Messal of Cycle Logic

Another great perspective of this same race can be seen on YouTube here

A review of "Bring it On"

Florida Racing Magazine has generously agreed to run a full feature article on the 2010 Bring it On races. The issue will hit virtual newsstands today (Wednesday, February 3rd).

Be sure to check out the magazine and read all the specifics of this year's Bring it On races. In addition to the Bring it On article written by our very own Rob Robins, there is a very entertaining and well-written Op-Ed piece written by Rob's wife, Mary. She recaps the "Bring it On" experience through the eyes of a non-cycling wife.

Florida Racing Magazine will also be running a feature article on the Cycle Logic team in an upcoming issue. Stay tuned for more details.

Bring it On - Week #1 Recap

Photos courtesy of Cathy Bester

A-race recap: With a forecast for spotty weather, turnout for the first Bring it On race of 2010 was less than in previous years, still a field of 26 lined up for the A race.

The race started out with one lone rider mistaking the A race for a "Win and Out", but he was quickly reminded otherwise. Shortly into the race, A break of ~10 including Kent Lofton (Velobrew), Phil Gaimon (Kenda Tires), Phil Bailey (Cycle Logic), Ryan Saylor (Velobrew), Eric Stubbs (352), Jacquie Crowell (Team type 1), and others got established within 5 laps. A few laps later the break exploded when Gaimon attacked, the only two who were able to cover were Eric Stubbs, and Derek Schanze (Cycle Logic). The 3 riders continued on, chased by the remnants of the break. Eventually, the three leaders lapped the field, but pressed on through the field and broke away again. The chase group also lapped the field and re-integrated with two laps to go. On the final lap, Schanze attacked, Gaimon countered, and Stubbs snuck by for the win.

Women's recap: It started raining at the start of the women's race. The cat4 women were given an assist and sent off with a 90 second lead. In the 1/2/3 field were Heather Davis (Team Florida), Amy Horstmeyer (352), Cindy Tompkins (Cycle Logic), plus several others. The 1-2-3 women quickly caught the three lone cat4 women within four laps. With five laps to go, Tompkins demonstrated why she had previously worn the Florida State TT Champion jersey by breaking away solo and holding on for the win.

B's race recap: The rain started coming down in buckets by the start of the B's race, and definitely benefited the strong and fearless. From the gun there were a flurry of attacks, causing the B's race to be strung out in a single file for the first several laps. Eventually a break of ~10 was established, including David Monnismith (352) and Kyle Rohan (Chain Reaction). With about four laps to go, three riders broke away from the lead group, with Kyle Rohan pulling out the win.


To view Finish line videos:
A-Race - Click here
B-Race - Click here

Visit the Bring It On event page on facebook.

Presenting the 2010 kit

For those of you who attended the soggy affair that was the Bring it On race this past Saturday, you got a chance to see the new 2010 Cycle Logic kits live and in action.

For those of you who have been following the teaser images with great anticipation of what the final design looked like in its entirety, I present to you our 2010 kit. Click on the image at the left for a larger view.

This year's design contains a fair amount of subtlety in it's background "texture". Thirty different icons were illustrated and positioned throughout the different pieces of apparel. The icons all pertain to (in varying ways) our team, our sport, our state, our culture and our community. Together they blend to create a subdued background that offers the viewer an atypical interaction with the kit.

Keep an eye out for Cycle Logic throughout the racing season, hopefully we won't be hard to miss.

Sneak Peek #5

Our Voler order is currently on the UPS truck and headed to us right now. Here's the last teaser before we reveal the 2010 Cycle Logic kit.

Sneak Peek #4

We're only ONE day away from delivery! The big reveal is just around the corner.

Sneak Peek #3

Sneak Peek #2

2010 Kit - Sneak Peek 1

We're anxiously awaiting the arrival of our 2010 apparel. We're HOPING that the delivery lands on our doorstep before this weekend's Bring it On race. We told you earlier that we'd be giving you some sneak peaks of the new kit prior to it being revealed completely, so here's the first tease...stay tuned.

Bring it On - facebook

Are you a facebook'er? Wanna see who's coming to the Bring it On race? Check out the Bring it On event page on facebook. While you're there, let us know if you'll be attending as well...we'll save a race number for you.

2010 Kit design

Stay tuned to CycleLogic.org for the unveiling of Cycle Logic's new 2010 kit.

Currently in production, the 2010 kit will arrive in early January, but we'll be showing a sneak peak here on the team blog prior to its arrival.

We're excited to showcase our new sponsors with a fresh look for the upcoming racing season.

Stay tuned...

Saylor Socks!

Our generous sock sponsor for 2010 and 2011 is none other than Gainesville resident and bike racer extraordinaire, Ryan Saylor a.k.a. "The Cyclist's Realtor".

In addition to racing bikes and selling houses, Ryan has become locally infamous for his cycling socks. Cycle Logic will be receiving a redesigned version of the Saylor Socks with our very own orange and gray color scheme.

While the delivery of socks will be here in plenty of time for the 2010 racing season, we have been sent a photo of a sample pair. Just for reference, the back of the cuff has a stylish placement of our sponsor's name.

It's that time of year once again. The days are shorter, the evenings are darker and bike racers all over the state are spending time on indoor trainers or squeezing in rides whenever or wherever they can...all in an effort to be ready for the start of the racing season.

Cycle Logic will be kicking things off once again in 2010. Two weekends of training criteriums on a wide, flat, 2-turn,1-mile course in Alachua, Florida. The Bring it On races have been a staple of early season racing for a long time. They allow everyone to reintroduce themselves to the racing peloton in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Come out and be a part of the tradition:

Saturday, January 16th and 23rd 2010
Races start at 2:00pm
Registration opens at 1:15pm

Click here for a PDF of the RACE FLYER

Team Apparel -2010

Cycle Logic's team apparel for the 2010 season will be produced by California based Voler. A well-known and well-respected company with a long history of supplying cycling teams, clubs and organizers with a quality product, Voler will be a great fit for our team.

We are all looking forward to another successful season and we're looking forward to it while wearing Voler kits.

...by the way, it's pronounced, vo•LAY