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WP - Super D - Jesse Swift

Bill, Chad, Tate and I headed up for the 1st ‘official’ Winter Park Super D this past Sunday.  The course was very similar to last years Crankworx Super D, so that was comforting.  And, we were excited to have a Super D that was longer then 7mins, (Snowmass SD)!  Having flatted at the last 2 Super D races this year, I was eager to get out and do well.  The gun went off, and the run was nice and short, but there was a short fire road climb to the single track.  I got into the twisty trail first and was exhausted from the sprint to the trail.  2nd was breathing down my neck and passed me on the fire road climb about 1/2 down.  At the climb just near the finish, I looked back and saw a blue and white jersey chasing me down.  It end up being my BC Bike Race partner, Tate!  It was awesome to finish with him right there!  It was a great race with lots of Support!  Tates father, brother and son were up there cheering, as well as Jessica, Matt, Sue and newborn, Hailey!  
Check out the Velonews.com write up about the inaugural Winter Park Super D! 
I am looking forward to see what Winter Park puts together for the Crankworx Super D and the ‘All Mountain Super Downhill’! – Jesse Swift

WP - Pro XC Podium - Micah

This week’s Winter Park XC race started by climbing Turnpike, a super steep service road, before jumping into an amazing singletrack decent. Doug Ryden and Michael Mathers pushed the pace from the start. 
Five riders had a 30 sec. gap going into the singletrack. By the time we started climbing again, there were four of us attacking each other for the lead. I exited Blue Sky in the lead, with Doug and Michael right behind. We worked together on the next “road section”. More beautiful singletrack and steep climbs followed, along with a screaming fast service road decent.  In the end Doug, Matthew and I finished within 30 seconds. Good work guys!

Tate is finding his form after racing the BC race. Talk about a totally different race format! He’s transitioning from five hour epic race days to 1 hour slug fests!
 
Brendan put in an incredible time to finish his first race of the season in first place! To clarify; yes, it was his first race of the season . . . and yes, he did win. Great job.
 
This weekend was also Winter Park’s First Super D race. (HOW’D SUPER D GO JESSE?)
Congrats to everyone representing our team last weekend.  – Micah Joseph

WP - XC - Micah

Found on Velonews….  http://www.velonews.com/article/80450

“USA Cycling announced that the 2009 national mountain bike championships will be held at the Sol Vista ski resort just outside of Winter Park, Colorado.”

What?! What?!

CU ST Series

So the Boulder short track races started a few weeks ago.  I learned that patience is a virtue in bike racing.  On Saturday, at the Teva games, I got too excited and went out hard at the start with everyone else.  I also had the anchor come out about 10 minutes into the race after blowing up as did most everyone else who went out too hard.  Last night, even though it is short track racing and only half an hour, I decided to make myself be patient at the start.  I started easy and fell into position at the beginning of the race.  Watching my clock, after a few minutes of settling in, I slowly turned it up and began passing people.  It turned out to be a really good race and I finished 7th! Here are the results for the Men’s A:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=ps1nFh9G8ciKVE8G7lPXiVg&gid=5

Tim was out there representin’ as well. I know the shop ride is on Wed nights, but maybe one of these weeks, you guys should head up to Boulder for one of these.  They usually lay out a pretty good course with some good turns and the occasional jump. -Jon Watt

Firecracker 50 Parade

My class started really fast – about the same pace as if it was a 2 hour xc race.  I was surprised, but let them go and tried to pace myself.  I was feeling pretty good the whole first lap.  With about 2 miles to go in the first lap, I flatted on a sharp, rocky descent.  I pulled off, switched out my tube, and went to inflate it with my big-air canister.  As I screwed the air canister on the valve, all the air shot out the side of the valve and none of it went into the tube!  I didn’t have a pump with me either.  So I put my wheel back on and rode /  jogged the last 2 miles of the lap.  Along the way, I found a guy with a pump, but when I went to pump it up, I found that the valve in my tube had broken off from riding it flat. 

I made it back to the start/finish area and asked around for a tube and pump, but nobody had one.  We had parked a few miles away so it was too far to get back to the van.  At this point, I was starting to think that I was done, and ready to give in to my first DNF.  I waited about 20 minutes, then saw the Fox trailer in the pit section.  I know those guys, so I went and asked them and they hooked me up.  With my flat I did the first lap in about 2:15 – I think it would have been around 2:05 without after looking at my gps.  With my tire fixed, I went out for my second lap.  I knew I was going to have a bad result, but figured I paid for the full 50, so I was going to do it.  My second lap took 2:24 (even though it felt like I was going a lot harder than the first lap) Tough race, but fun trails and good singletrack.  And the parade start was really cool.

– Jon Watt

Yet another reason to ride your bike more.

The argument makes some sense.

http://www.pickensplan.com/

Congrats to Micah, Colin M, Bill, and Tate for racing up the mountain at Winter Park this past Saturday.  The course was 4.7 miles and climbs over 2,000 ft for a top elevation of 11,250 ft!  Micah did very well and placed 5th in the Pro Class with an awesome climb at 34:49 min!  Colin M killed it on the SS too and placed 4th at 39:08 min!!!!  Click here for the official results and click here for Tate’s GPS of the race!

Colin M’s Gunnison Growler Condensed Race Report – “Ow.  Yay! No, really I feel lucky to have ridden the 32 miles of Hartman Rocks trails (twice).  Beautiful scenery, excellent moto sculpted trails, great volunteers, and a well marked course.  The 7am Sunday start was a little drizzly and cold which had us sorting through clothes for warmer gear.  Thanks to Dave Weins for the Growler history lesson.  Yes there were carcasses out on course and I hope that the mountain lions enjoyed their meal.  Thanks for the private land owners for opening up their property for the race.”

64 miles, 1 clif bar, 4 gels, 1/2 banana, 1/4 orange, 6 Brawndo (THE THIRST MUTILATOR) drinks, one rigid singlespeed, and no blisters later I finished with a snot and salt infused smile.

Colin M

Team bikeparts.com rider, Charlie Knoll, headed to Vail the day after the XC to do the Vail Pass TT.  Here is his report… “it went well, not as well as last year but good enough for 3rd (Masters 35+).  Ben Day and Chris Baldwin both broke Andy Hampsten’s record to finish 1st and 2nd in the Open field.  I ran into them while doing the pre ride on Saturday, really nice guys.”  Congrats on the podium finish Charlie!  

Charlie Knoll on the Podium