TT BIKES

TT BIKES
HOW WE ROLL

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Roanoke Bound

This will be the third season we've headed to Roanoke for the ID3 races. This is a great venue, a hill climb TT covers 900 of climbing in just 1.87 miles. This is a short steep climb and all I know is that I always feel like I have an alien about to burst out of my chest the last two times I've climbed this mountain. The crits are fun. One course is flat and technical with cobbles and the other is fast with a two short kickers to keep everyone honest.
The full team won't be attending we still have two gals on the injured reserve list. BUT, the folks we're bringing have been focusing on these races, should make for a great weekend of racing.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Cranky Monkey Win

Here's an abosolute SHOUT OUT to my teammate Paula... she WON at Cranky Monkey..
to quote her FB site
"8 laps (80 miles) 1st place Solo Women's category"

we've had record setting heat all across the East coast and this lady goes out and just rips the field.... you go girl

Well done Paula

Monday, June 21, 2010

ROSTELLO JUNIOR WINS MEN’S CAT 4 RACE, TWO PODIUMS AT PLT #1

Saturday, June 19th found the Rostello team racing and officiating the Team Nature’s Path circuit race. Karen Hanson and Sharon Leary donned their USA cycling blue official’s shirts for a day of racing at a wonderful new venue just north of Richmond near King’s Dominion. Based on the feedback from the cyclist this is a must do race, smooth pavement, 9 corners and a hill, everything you want in a bike race.
The highlight of the day was Hugh Brown’s effort in the men’s CAT 4 race. Hugh is still a junior and required to race junior gearing, but what makes this win so spectacular was Hugh’s head’s up racing.
Early in the race there was a lone cyclist off the front, almost from the starters whistle. The peleton was content to let him go probably figuring a lone cyclist could not stay way especially considering how hot it was and the fact he didn’t have a teammate to keep the peleton check. As the race progressed you could see the lone cyclist fading and the whole time Hugh was sitting about 4th wheel.

Hugh stayed exactly where he needed to be… near the front but not on the front… every lap there he was in the perfect position. About 2/3 of the way through the 30 mile race, Hugh crashed on the hill on the back side of the course. He reported to the official’s tent and waited until the main field came around again and was inserted back in the main field. From a spectator’s stand point, Hugh's adrenilin must have still been surging because he attacked bridged the gap to the leader pulling two other’s with him. The 4 off the front worked together for the last few laps staying away from the main field. Hugh over cooked the last turn just a little, recovered and still managed to win by almost a bike length. Well done Hugh.


Sunday found a good portion of the team in Chesapeake competing in PLT #1. The weather man was predicting record setting temperatures of near 100 on Sunday. So Team Rostello rolled out the “Rostello Command Post” aka Sharon’s travel trailer. Mark North, Brian, Bill, Mark Pye, Sharon, Steve, and Pam all trekked southeast for the time trial. This is a familiar course that all of us had raced at least once before; the biggest difference was the heat and the starters’ ramp. Sharon definitely had an issue with the ramp rolling too far right and off the road for a second. Mark Pye’s one minute man went into the ditch in front of him and then popped up and almost took Mark Pye out as Mark rolled down the starter’s ramp. A couple of close calls but everyone stayed upright on their bikes. Pam and Sharon both finally broke the hour mark and finished 3rd in their categories, Women’s CAT 4 and 40+ respectively. Well done ladies.

The highlight of the race was the AC in the “team bus” this allowed everyone to come in, sit a minute or two, grab a cold beverage while we waited for results. I won’t tell you how long we waited nor what the cold beverage was we drunk, but I will tell you we were the last ones to leave the staging area and head back towards Richmond.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

ROUTINE

Seems like the entire month of May just flew by and now were past the middle of June and my routine hasn’t changed much
Monday active recovery ride, Tuesday TT bike ride at West Creek, Wednesday daughter has gymnastics so mom duties have priority over cycling. Thursday’s are East End ride, Friday easy ride, Saturday depending on mom chores ride tempo OR easy spin of the legs if I’m racing on Sunday, Sunday race. This has been my routine for the last few weeks.
I’m racing well and actually made the break at the Amphib Crit a couple of weeks ago. This was my first experience making the break, DANG there’s a lot of work in a break. No real sitting in and taking advantage of the field, I didn’t feel like I worked TOO much but I wanted the break to stick, I still have a lot of work to do though to hang with the CAT 1 gals when they bridge the gap and up the pace.
Langely was HOT and a small field I failed to warm up properly so I was quickly shelled.
This Saturday I’m one of the officials a the TNP circuit race so I won’t be racing but look out Sunday. I’ve put in a lot more miles on my TT bike this year, I’m confident that the work will pay off. Just wish it wasn’t going to be so DANG hot.