Season Coming to a Close

Well I finally got this Blogging thing down. I think:)
My season is winding down as I don't ride track, mountain or Cross. I have one more Tuesday night race this week, the Blackberry Crit in Bremerton, WA next Sunday and then the Mt. Baker hillclimb in two weeks. Overall I have been pleased with 2008. I did not do any real road races or the Elkhorn Classic Stage race in June (due to a stupid training accident), but my Tuesday night races have gone very well. I also did a good job in April at the Deschutes River TT festival in Maupin, OR, and was pleased with my effort last week in hot and windy conditions for the Crystal Mtn hillclimb. I think I represented the squad with honor and dignity and always put a positive spin on things. I cannot wait for 2009. I will write more later.
All the best to my teammatres. Keep the rubber side down.
T

Summer Update from Rich

The cosmos is out to get me.
Something keeps me from racing each year. After a great spring training last year, pneumonia hit. This year I got in a couple races before ending up with a broken tailbone, caused by the Velo Bella I'm married too but that''s another story. I started riding again, we then we took a direct hit from a tornado the same day RAGBRAI came to town. I've been far too busy to find my bike the last few weeks.

Anyhow, I realized I never posted my last race report:

The Iowa City Road Race was a brutal one. Did I mention it was 45-50 degrees that day with 30mph winds? Our group also had to start 30 minutes late, due to a road closing accident on course. So much for warming up.
The side wind was hard and you hand to hang on between tree breaks. We turned with the wind, and the pack soared down the road at 35mph. Halfway down the stretch, there was the big hill. The pack split with some stronger riders breaking off. I hit the top with another rider as we watched the lead pack break away. He looked at me and said "If we don't catch them, the wind will be hell heading back" So we took off. In 53x11 gearing, we spun out our legs. We had a conversation at 41mph --- Yes, we were able to talk easily --- I jokingly clicked at my shifter and said "I'm out of gears." I also made the prediction of the day, of our return speed. 40 down, 14 back. Sadly, I would be right.
Over the next 3 miles, we got back on the pack before the turn South. Luckily, the course tapered down to a short section here. It was 1/2 mile until it turned West again. No one expected it, and a few people tried to go straight and made a mess. I just found the first wheel I could, hoping for some shelter. I somehow ended up with a rider that had the same power output as me. We ended up taking long pulls, and right when you got tired, the other was there. I turned North for the start of the second lap, and after a few moments, I looked back and my counterpart was gone.
I made a solo attempt with my tailwind, another 7 mile, 40+ mph effort. I hit the headwind again, and had to time-trial it back to the finish line, 7 more miles. I kept searching fore and aft, no one was in sight.
I was never so excited to see the steeple of the Mennonite church we started at. At a mile left, I kicked up the pace to finish strong. Then at 1/2 mile, bikes started creeping around me. I saw a few familiar jerseys and realized the trailing pack caught back up, along with my two missing helpers. I jumped in and was just getting into groove. Then I saw the move.
The move, where one guy had to just get out in front. And then it happened. All 15-20 people went from a 3 rider thick mass to a road filling sprint. You know the final highlights of the Tour, where they show that happening and sprinting to the line? Well, it looks amazing when you see it in reverse.
I hads no sprint left due to my solo effort, but I hung into the back of that pack.
The back of the pack! That's an improvement. I'm usually one of those stragglers just behind the pack!
------
Hopefully, I get enough of my barn out of the neighboring cornfield to get on the bike and make a few final events this year. Maybe I'll get a cyclocross bike built and try another season too. There are a lot of gravel road races around here in the fall.

53x11coffee Team rider Wade Patton

Wade has been ramping up this season with continued progress in the right direction (fast forward). We are looking forward to his next race report as he is on his way to the podium. Keep up the great work Wade.

Sam Schultz Short track win Sea Otter classic

Well it's been almost two weekends since we were at the Sea otter Classic in Monterey CA. It was the first time 53x11 coffee attended and sampled coffee there. Everyone was stoked to see us. We also were able to watch a couple friends of ours do their thing during the mens Pro MTB races. The Schultz brothers ( Sam and Andy) are at the top of their game these days. Having watched these two come up through the ranks over the years has been very exciting. 

Sam and Andy have both just come off of a full winter training schedule at (The Cycling House) in Tucson AZ. I believe the training has paid off. 

Sam stopped by the booth before his start of the mens short track and was fueled up with our Big Ring coffee. It seemed to do the trick as he rode away from his break away companion on the last lap and was able to take his first pro short track win.

Andy Schultz also pulled off a podium spot in 5th place. It was very cool to see these two brothers a top the podium at the 2008 Sea Otter classic. Hats off guys.

Race season is underway

Rubbing is racing and flat tires are a part of life. Al least our team rider has a great cup of coffee to go home to. We'll get em next weekend.

Summer Schedule

It's that time of year. The time has come to plan out our summer event sponsorships. It's not an easy task. Everyone wants to have the 53x11coffee tent set up serving delicious organic coffees to their athletes.

First on the list will be the 2008 Solvang Century in beautiful solvang CA. If you are at the event please stop by and say hello.

2nd- The 2008 Sea otter classic. We'll be serving up coffee and treats from the expo area. Look for the big white tent with our logo.

At all our events this summer, we will be offering all of our cycling gear and coffee equipent. Check back for updates.

The Cycling House 2008

The past week and a half has been a busy one. Owen and I, mainly Owen, have been busy getting The Cycling House ready for operation. At the same time, after a long break from the bike this fall, I have slowly been getting back into the riding routine. Here are a few pictures of the house, near completion.


After all the work on the house Owen finally found time for some R&R

We should have some more photos of the house up on The Cycling House website in the next few days.