Stampede RR pics

Speed Theory WNS July 21

Next Wednesday we will do a 3 or 4 up TTT. Harley, Simon and I tested the course on Saturday and it will make you suffer. Nothing like a few good hills when you are trying to hang on to your team. If enough people show up we will do a four person team with the third person's time counting but otherwise a three person team.

To get there, go towards Springbank airport but turn north a mile or two before the airport on Range Road 32, aka Springbank Heights Road. About a km up you will see a new development on the left called Aventerra Estates. There's lots of parking there, that's also the start and finish.

I will need a few volunteers to run this safely, please leave a comment if you can volunteer. Bring any bike you like, because of the hills a road bike might work best. Try to be there for a 6:30 PM start.

Who has the Crankmasters stopwatches? I'll need them for the race.



View WNS July 21 in a larger map

Though I'd let the Team know Kailee took a nasty spill this morning, she's ok overall, but... has a broken wing. She'll be in surgery tomorrow for some bionic commando parts installation.
- This would be a fractured Olecranon process, quite nasty, otherwise known as a 'broken elbow'.
Rest up Kailee ! See ya soon slugger.

Dallas

Watching the Tour

What are people watching Le Tour on? OLN is only showing it 6:30-9:30am, right? What are the internet options?

Stampede Road Race July 18th

Stampede Road Race Is approaching fast & wanted to get a tally of Elite or Masters Speed Theory Members.

Elite Men- Clarke, Jevon, Kyle, Lachlan, Frank, Trev, Carson, Hooper, Jared, Charles

Masters A1- Harley B

Masters A2-

Masters B1- Tom K

Masters B2-

Masters C1- Jay R, Mike H

Masters C2-

Elite Women- Kailee, Natalie

Hopeless Holmes in breathtaking Bozeman

It seems I may have issues with getting places on time... No kidding, you might say, but when you're only in a town for 36 hours, and by the second day fellow racers are already congratulating you for making it to the race on time, there's a problem. :)

On Friday, I drove to southern Montana for the Tour de Bozeman. I was a bit concerned about doing the drive solo, since it was around 9 hours, but shortly after crossing the border, I was so blown away by the beautiful scenery that I spent the whole time gawking left and right, taking terrible photos of the scenery through a bug-splattered windshield, eating, and generally being an excellent driver, that I didn't get the least bit drowzy. If you ever have a excuse to drive south on Interstate 15, do it - it's amazing!

Got to my host's house late Fri night and was treated to the "west wing" of Amy's luxo house. Thanks again, Amy!


Sat morning I saw Bozeman in the daylight for the first time...as you can guess, amazing: mountain ranges in every direction. The TT was a fairly flat 20km. I made it with plenty of time, had a good warmup, and was able to chill on the steps of the start ramp for a bit before my start (doesn't happen very often!). Up to the holder, 3,2,1, go! I start, thinking 'this is some thick carpet on the start ramp!'...then I start rolling down the ramp, thinking 'wow...REALLY thick!'...then I hit the road and I'm still pushing crazy watts to keep moving. Oh... I jump off my bike, brake must be jammed on the wheel, push the brake off, back on the bike, no luck, off the bike again, release and close the quick-release, back on, still jammed...meanwhile other racers are passing me...I finally figure out the quick-release just isn't tight enough, go back to the start, no dice on a re-start, so I rode anyway. Not a bad ride, but it was a strong field, with "Freight Train" Fryckman laying down a 25 minute TT, and another dude just ten seconds back - wow - so I was last by miles.

Had lunch with Amy and Dave, then had a nap. That evening were the 300m match sprints down Main St. The tech guide said they'd be from 6 to 9pm, so I figured I wouldn't start earlier than 8. Rocked up at 7:30...to catch the end of the presentations for the sprint winners... Oops. Headed out on the town afterwards, to catch a little of Bozeman's surprisingly happening Main St, with some of the fun GAS team.


Sunday RR. The combined 1-2-3 field made for a good group of 20 or so, with a number of racers representing GAS and Montana Velo. An attack went almost immediately, with GAS and MV riders, but the peleton kept up a solid pace and they were brought back before the turn-around. More attacks on the hills at turnaround, on awesome Road To Nepal-like terrain, but nothing got away. Then on the way back north (and back up to 6,000 ft) another breakaway went, again representing the two predominant teams. I shared the pacemaking with a guy Charlie from the Radioshack junior/U23? team and they were brought back in time for the run up Battle Ridge. More attacks on the climb sent the pace through the roof on a painful 500m or so of 10%, and I could only watch through my tears as half the pack went clear. Fortunately we got a good paceline going and hit it hard to catch them on the descent.

Riding out in the rolling farmland we were treated to views of distant mountains. A solo rider went clear and good a good gap. On the return Charlie was on the front at least half the time, while I cowered mid-pack, and solo dude got reeled in. People
hit it on most of the hills, and at Battle Ridge, the race was on. It broke apart but a group of 4 formed at the top, getting clear of a chase group of 3, and then me and another dude. We pace-lined on the fast decent and flats, but didn't catch the next guys, then a turn off the main road and I buried myself for the final 500m and the kicker to the finish line to finish 8th. I hear Charlie looked to be enjoying himself as he crossed in first.

Back to shower and jam two bikes and 9 wheels into the buzz box, and a easy 8 hours had me home by midnight. Guys, definitely think about hitting this race next year...strong field, beauty drive down, killer race routes, great people...all round good times.

Wednesday, July 21

Its a rest day on the tour, the day before the Col du Tourmalet. The day in history Floyd erased his 8 minute tour defecit. Its also another Speed Theory hosted Wednesday Night Race Series. What would you like to see in a race? We could repeat the hill climb that was not well attended in early June because of the weather. We could run a 3 or 4 up team time trial, or just about anything. Add a comment and let me know your ideas. A little gravel perhaps?

Go Ryder Go!

Third place in the TdF overall standing - awesome!

It's been a long time since Steve Bauer and Alex Stieda got the yellow jersey, and I'm pretty sure there's never been a Canadian on the podium at the finish.

Tour de Bowness is now the Niklas Group TdB

I just got an email from Bob at Bow Cycling with this message:

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The Niklas Group Tour de Bowness is coming soon. Obvious with the name change we have a title sponsor for the event and will be upping the prizes on the webpage shortly. Speed Theory put on a great showing last year with a few strong cyclists managing four events in three days! We hope to see many of you out there on the August long weekend. All the details can be found at www.tourdebowness.com "Weekend in Canmore for top omnium cats 3-5, women a/b. Sponsor Casel on 17th. Cat 1/2 one week stay in Mexico at Casita Adelaide"

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[editor] Bob is referring to Sandra and I trying to compete in the entire TdB and the Calgary 70.3 all in the same weekend. For me, this ended with getting dropped on the neutral lap of the crit and getting a bunch of 'Keep fighting!' and 'Good try!' comments from the crowd as I battled through 2 more laps before getting lapped!! :)

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Note: The Tour de Bowness is a great event and always very well organized. We are hoping to emulate their crit organization for our event in late Aug. So, just so you have these dates on the calendar, there are now two huge races in Aug. that need to be attended. The NG TdB and the JayLap Memorial, both with awesome crits.....

One step closer....

Well, it was a good meeting today with the Police, Transit, and the City's liaison. Unfortunately, with the timing of the meeting being plunked down the day before the Stampede Parade, two of the decision makers were understandably not able to attend. However, we have an encouragement that it should only be 'process' now. But we can't announce anything at this time.

However, please ensure to keep Aug. 21st open and plan to race a totally unique event that will bring cycling straight to the heart of our city and put it on display! This first year's event will be similar to Banff Bike Fest's first years where they had to rely on overwhelming support from the cycling community to solidify what is now an amazing annual spectacle for the city and the cycling community. Please ensure your club's get pumped for the Jason Lapierre Weekend as a whole, but focus on Sat. evening as a race you can not miss. Your participation in an event as public as this will not only be exciting and fun, but it will do a lot for the cycling community in general.

BC Bike Race 2010

Congrats to Speed Theory member Simon Williams and his brother Mark for finishing this years epic 7 day mountain bike stage race - BC Bike Race - last week, and coming in 6th place overall
in the Team of 2 Open Men category!! Having done this 7 day mountain bike stage race last year, I know how difficult it is, so I give you guys huge props for doing so well!
Way to go guys!

Road Race Report from Master's Nationals

Evening everyone,

Good showings by all Speed Theory racers at Master's Nationals today. The course has a tough headwind heading out, which meant a nice tailwind coming home. Results are here under the "Results Junior/Master" tab.

Speed Theorist Results:

Master Women: Shawna Donaldson, 14th., Laura Bennion, 11th.
Master A 30-39: Harley Borlee, 13th; Thomas Yip, 20th; Darcy Gullacher, 32th; Slayer Dan, 33th.
Master B 40-49: Dennis Bland, 15th; Keith Bayly, 17; Charles Bougie, 44th.
Master C 50-59: Michael Godfrey, 18th; Rick Courtney, 26; Carlos Salas, 28.

Congrats to all the winners!

ITT Results From Master's Nationals

Hey all,

Some Speed Theory members that are little more, um, mature and experienced are in Devon this weekend for the Master's Nationals. The ITT was today, and results are here.

Of note:

Master 50-59: Rick Courtney, 8th; Michael Godfrey, 15th; Mike Healy, 23th; Carlos Salas, 25th.
Master 40-49: Dennis Bland, 10th; Keith Bayly, 12th.
Master 30-39: Thomas Yip, 8th; Slayer Dan, 10th; Darcy Gullacher, 13th (.4 seconds from 12th...)

Tomorrow are the road races.

TdF contest

Quick reminder that tomorrow is the last day to get your entries in for our TdF pool. 100% of the entries go towards the pool winner's choice of charity. The main win is your bragging rights as being the most knowledgeable cycling fan.


Visit calgarytriandbike.blogspot.com for details or email dukyle at yahoo.ca or Trev for entry forms.