Are you new to racing and don’t have a ton of experience to draw from? No worries, step one to reading a race is as simple as using Google maps! Whether a cyclist or triathlete, know the course and all of its nuances is the first step in achieving success on race day. For the bike racer facing a new event and course, the first step is to ask your team mates who have done the event for their insight (like we did with the fabled Battenkill road race). First hand knowledge of what you can expect will help you be better prepared. Will you need different gearing for the route (as I did for Berkshire)? How are the road surfaces? Are your lightweight race wheels advisable? If a crit or circuit race, how many corners? Are any greater than 90 degrees? And how far is the finish line from the last corner? Continue reading
Race Report: Weekend of May 12th
There were a lot of events in our area this past weekend … Team Rockstar Games / Signature Cycles had a solid presence at most of them!
Hunter Mountain Road Race
Jeffrey Lesser and Peter Nicolardi lined up for the Cat 5 race. The race consisted of two 39 mile laps with technical descending at speed over 50mph. A stiff tempo on the last big climb shattered what was left of the field. Two riders broke away on the last descent, leaving a group of three – including Jeffrey – to sprint for the remaining places. Jeffery came through in 4th, Peter in 15th.
Luci Olewinski took 3rd in the Women’s Cat 4 field at Hunter Mountain Road race this weekend.
Orchard Beach Criterium
Continue reading
Race Report: Weekend of May 5th
Berkshire Classic – http://berkshirecyclingclassic.com/
Mikael H, Aaron M and Peter N made the trip to Lenox MA for this unbelievable ride. As a UCI worlds qualifier, this was not your Father’s Gran Fondo, but more of a no holds barred open category road race! It was also both most fun I have had on a bike in a long time and one of the most painful rides ever. An 81mi course with 6000ft of climbing that boasted about 350 at the start. The 1st natural selection came at a 4mi hill at mile 18, where I was dropped but caught back on thanks to some strong work by 4 guys from the Rapha team (lead group down to 100). Next selection came at 5mi climb at mile 31, where I lost contact over last 200yds and chased for 3mi with 7 others. Caught back on then puked (lead group now 30). Raced hard until some rollers at mile 70 and got spit out. Finished in 3:42 and 26th overall (4th in my division). Aaron finished in 3:54 (3rd in his division) and Peter in 4:14. Awesome ride and should be on everyone’s calendar for 2013!
Tour of Colts Neck Continue reading
Race Report: Weekend of April 28th
Race Reports from the Women’s Team, who was very busy this past weekend!
Quabbin Reservoir Road Race
We had 3 team members in the Women’s Open field at Quabbin this weekend, Emily, Lucia M and Susan. From all accounts, it sounded like a really intense and difficult race, both due to the terrain and the stacked field of very strong Cat 1/2 women. Lucia M’s quote: “Quabbin. It sounds like a place from Lord of The Rings…and it felt like that.” Our resident mountain goat, Susan came away with the best result at 22nd, being able to hang on to the front pack the longest. Emily and Lucia M both really dug deep, working their way back to the main field, forming chase groups and picking off dropped riders along the way. With Battenkill and now, Quabbin being Lucia M’s first and second road races ever, she is clearly well on her way to clenching the title for “The Most Difficult First Year Road Race Choices Possible.” A really long and hard fought race for all – good job ladies!
The Importance of Rest
by Mikael Hanson, Enhance Sports
With the early arrival of spring, I have some observations to share. First, this was the earliest I can remember being able to ride outside with shorts on. Second, I logged more bike miles this January and February than ever before. Lastly, all this extra time on the bike so early in the year does take takes it toll to a body just coming off a winter break!
In my twenties recovery came easy and rest days, well those were few and far between and in my opinion for the weak minded. I used to become overcome with guilt for skipping a training day, even when I was sick and lived by the mantra that somewhere someone is training and when you meet them in competition, they will beat you. They say, with age comes wisdom. Continue reading
Race Report: Weekend of April 7th
Augusta Training Series – Masters Race
• Keith Hala 1st
• Joe Straub 3rd
After a rather uneventful start of the race Joe Straub dumped some serious wattage onto the pavement to close down a breakaway that had formed in the last few laps. This set up Keith Hala for some easy sprinting to grab the win. Joe, after all that effort, still managed to hang on to 3rd.
Augusta Training Series – 1,2,3 Race
• Keith Hala 4th
• Joe Straub 7th
• Glenn Babikain 8th Continue reading
Rider Profile: Jeffrey Lesser
Jeffrey Lesser is in his second year on Team Rockstar Games / Signature Cycles. Based in Fairfield County, CT, he races regionally in the category five field and is consistently in the hunt for the podium and the win. We’re looking forward to seeing what Jeffery can do for the team at the Tour of the Battenkill this weekend!
What was your first bike?
My first race bike was an aluminum Klein (orange sparkle). I bought it on my 40th birthday while driving home from work.
Describe your first race. Continue reading
Race Report: Weekend of March 24
From the first installment of the Augusta Training Series at the Sussex County State Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ. Joe Straub took the sprint in the Masters race with Keith Hala taking third. In the A race (Cat 1-3) Glenn Babikian sacrificed himself on the final lap to minimize a gap to the breakaway giving Joe a chance and ultimately 2nd in the field sprint which put him in 6th overall. Keith Hala, battling a stomach virus, finished in 10th. Glenn Babikian rounded out the scoring with a respectable 20th after his monster effort.
Next report comes from Cheryl Wolf, who along with Brian Wolf and Niel Suto represented Rockstar/Signature Cycles today at the memorial for Markus Bohler (the rider who passed away last weekend as a result of a crash in the Bethel race). Continue reading
Race Report: Weekend of March 17th
This past weekend was a tad more quiet than last. The big news out of the Bethel Series was a horrible crash in the 3-4 race that ultimately ended in very tragic news, the death of Markus Bohler. Our hearts go out to him and those he leaves behind.
In the other races during the day, Cheryl Wolf took 8th as the only Rockstar Games rider in the women’s race which had about 40 starters. In the Master’s race, Rockstar had two racers in the top 10, with Joe Straub taking 5th, Brian Wolf in 7th. I did not get any results from the Cat 5 or Cat 4 races, but heard we had riders in both events.
Race Report: Weekend of March 10th
Peter has a selection of photos from last weekend’s racing posted here, be sure to check them out.
Team Rockstar Games / Signature Cycles had a couple guys in action at the Grant’s Tomb Criterium, with Aaron M and Wilson T both racing the Cat 4 event and finishing in the field (Wilson would try a flyer with 4 to go, but alas got caught – or perhaps was saving his legs for his Collegiate race a couple hours later!). Emily U was in the women’s race, but unfortunately she got boxed out of the sprint.
Our CT based riders have been very active in the Bethel Spring Series and last weekend was no different. Jeffery took 9th in the Cat 5 race, the NYC Rockstar/Signature women’s squad had a nice size group at Bethel. Emily Underwood took 6th, with Luci Olewinski, Courtney Hehre, and Cheryl Wolf all having strong showings. In an action packed 45+ race that had an 8 man break that was caught 100 meters from the finish, Joe Straub placed 3rd, Brian Wolf was 7th, and Cheryl was 32nd. In the 3-4 race of about 90 riders, the team tried help 20-year old Neil Suto but he was unable to stay with us at the end. Joe Straub placed 9th and Brian Wolf was 11th. Nice work to all!