NEW SPONSOR - Cylce Soleil

"As a professional Mountain Biker I fully endorse the RealRyder bike at Cylce Soleil.  As a Mountain Biker you need more than cardiovascular strength.  You need core and upper body strength to control the bike through the changing terrain and the RealRyder system allows you to concentrate on those skills." ~ Tyler Gauthier, Professional Mountain Biker

Culvers Racing presented by Meyer Family Vision is excited to announce that we have partnered with another incredible supporter of the sport of cycling, Cycle Soleil.

  

Cycle Soleil will be a supporting sponsor of our team for the remainder of the 2012 season and into the future.  They have expressed a large interest in supporting the sport and have honored us with the support of our Elite, Local, and Jr MTB teams.  "With our partnership I believe we be able to do great things for promoting cycling, health, and fitness." Says Tyler Gauthier, Elite rider and Team Director.  "Our goal with Cylce Soleil is to spread the message of health and fitness through cycling.  It is an activity and sport that can be done by all ages, all skill levels, outdoors and with the beautiful facility of Cycle Soleil, indoors." 

Cycle Soleil is unique to other indoor cycling studios in that the rider is in control of the bike.  It is a bike that allows you to turn, lean, steer, race, and climb.   

Turn, Lean, Steer, Race, and Climb

Cycle Soleil of Marquette is the only dedicated indoor cycling studio, featuring RealRyder Bikes.  RealRyder bikes take indoor cycling to a new level and actually simulate an outdoor ride.  It is revolutionary in that it offers a TOTAL body workout strengthen your core while generating an increased calorie burn like never before.  Their classes offer motivating music, talented instructors and an inspiring atmosphere.

"As a professional Mountain Biker I fully endorse the RealRyder bike at Cylce Soleil.  As a Mountain Biker you need more than cardiovascular strength.  You need core and upper body strength to control the bike through the changing terrain and the RealRyder system allows you to concentrate on those skills."

Besides the great workout that the system will allow you to achieve it is a benefit to be part of the Cylce Soleil community because of the unpredictable UP weather.  You will always be guaranteed an excellent ride in an undisturbed atmosphere.  Not to mention during our long winter months this is a perfect get away from the cold.  

Future Events

• Classes lead and instructed by Tyler Gauthier along with the other talented instructors
• Ore to Shore specific training sessions
• Cylcling 101 sessions - including training tips

Indoor Facility

    

 

WORS #2 Rhinelander Crystal Lake Classic

Day 2 of my mini stage race was in Rhinelander at Camp Tesomas for WORS #2.  I love going there, first because it is close to home but most of all because the course is incredible.  For a course that beats on your body over 2 hours it ends up being one my most favorite courses of the year.

Sunday brought me good legs that were not as soar as I figured they would be from the previous days effort.  They warmed up very well and only left me without a small portion of high end power.  The start was fairly calm until Big D hit the front for a Mikey lead out.  I just didn't have the legs to come around enough guys to get in the ideal spot for the single track.  The hard pace up the start climb put me a bit behind on the energy level.  I was in the single track around 7-10.  I knew for this race you have to be around the 4-6th in to get a good spot before the split happens.  Sure enough the split happened at rider 5.

After a short recovery through the opening section of single track I was OK settling into a pace and a group.  Knowing I didn't have what it took to jump with the lead I was confident I would now had the legs to stay steady and smooth throughout the 2 hour effort.  I found a great group of riders in Koenig, Piontek, and McConnell.  McConnell and I shared the load on the 1st lap and then the The Bike Hub teammates shared on the 2nd.  Ben hit the 2nd lap hard keeping our pace up.  I like that he did because for a short period I thought it might pull in the leading group if they were playing games up front.  1/4 way into lap 2 we were only 60 seconds down but we never did make anymore ground.

Lap 3 McConnell and I shared the work load again and 3/4 way into the lap we seen Maloney coming back.  I followed briefly but took the chance to jump to keep the pace up.  Coming up the 2 track Phillips came back to us and we continued on.  Starting the final lap I noticed riders off just enough to entice Piontek and McConnell to keep rotating.  It split us off for a 3 man final lap.  McConnell took the lead and was riding very strong.  I knew by the way he was riding it would come down to the finish.  Unfortunately he burped a front tire and down he went.  It left Piontek and myself.  1/4 lap to go and the rain started pouring down.  I took advantage of my Maxxis Ardent and pushed the pace.  It opened up enough of a gap to finish up 4th.




The bike and tire selection were perfect for Rhinelander:
Bike: Trek Superly 100 Pro
Tires: F. Maxxis Ardent 2.2, R. Maxxis Ikon 2.0    

Good reports here and here.

Cable Off Road Classic

It was a mini stage race for me this weekend with back to back races Saturday and Sunday.  For the past few years the Cable Classic has lined up with one of the Rhinelander races, RASTA or WORS.  This year it lined up with the 2nd stop on the WORS series, Crystal Lake Classic Rhinelander.  Either way it ends up being one of my most favorite weekends of the year.

I was awakened Saturday morning by an incredible sunrise that showed a lot of promise for the day.  It was a vast difference from last years weather of 36 degrees and drizzle.  We were promised mid 80's by the end of this day.

The typical wheels were on the line at including McFadden, Carpenter, Swanson, Johnson, Sova, and even the CX expert Faulkner.  Nerves are mostly always high at a start line and add a good field and it raises it a bit more.  Saturday was a bit different and recently I've accepted the fact that a race is going to hurt and it going to be hard.  It should, it is a race.  So I was fairly calm at the start.  Maybe it helped knowing that they were controlling the start with a roll-out for 1/2 a mile which is very rare for a MTB race.

I jumped the for the hole-shot off of the 2 track and got it.  I heard some rustling behind but today's mission was to race within myself and not by others so I continued on at the pace I was confident with.  The pace slowly opened up a gap on the chasers and as I popped out onto the 3 mile section of rolling dirt road I had a 20-30 sec gap.  I didn't want to be alone the whole race but was OK if that was what was in store.  The chasers were slowly bridging but I wasn't going to make it easy so I stayed tempo up the climbs and flats and rested on the downs to conserve energy for when the joined.  A group of 4 including Sova, Johnson, McFadden, and Swanson were now connected.  Shortly after that another few riders joined including Carpenter and Faulkner.  As if a repeat from last year Sova took his smooth climbing skills down the rolling road and into the 2 track slowly softening the field.  I followed his wheel closely while keeping an eye on efforts behind me.  As a spike in terrain approached I went without looking behind and as I crested I heard Sova say, "You split it, keep the pressure on."  The effort got to me a bit so without him saying that I would probably have sat up.  I'm glad he did.  It was the move that split us into a 2 man break.  From the point of the break it was pretty smooth riding with Sova and I, working together keeping the pace at a respectable speed.  We worked extremely well together sharing the work load.  He made a great breakaway partner and I would ride with him any day.

With 6-7 miles remaining the turning, switchback, bumpy singletrack starts and goes on for a few miles.  It is part of the course that just beats on your body.  At this point I noticed the slightest of gaps opening.  I didn't attack but instead decided to ride a tempo keeping the bike smooth.  Slowly the gap inched its way open and by the time we reached the end of the singletrack and the finishing 3 miles stretch of 2 track I had opened enough of a gap to start seeing a victory.  I enjoyed the best of victories and rode in solo for my 1st ever Cable Classic win.

This race has dug into my competitive core for the past 2 years so the victory was bitter sweet.  A victory I was very pleased to have but at the same time expected myself to win this year.

At the awards ceremony I was presented with 2 incredible surprises.  One, that this race has been titled the border battle between MI, WI, and MN.  My victory this years has claimed the title on the 2nd Annual Border Battle for MI and more importantly the Upper Peninsula.  Tow, I was also introduced to Gary Crandall, race directory of the Chequamegon Fat Tire.  All the good I have heard about Gary and his race were true, a great guy.  He extended a personal invite the Cheq 40.  I humbly accepted.

Results

Race Report

Flying Solo

It is not very often I tackle a race weekend alone as I have the best support crew on the Midwest MTB scene.  But this weekend I'll be racing solo. I'm leaving today for Cable, WI and on Saturday night I will be driving east to Rhinelander, WI.

I will start my weekend at the Lakewoods Resort in Cable, WI for the Cable Off Road Classic.  I've done this race for the past few years and have really enjoyed it.  It has a competitive and good scene and good course that improves every year.  It has been stuck in my back pocket though for the last two years.  2 years ago I took a wrong turn while racing in the top 5 costing me several minutes and a top 10 finish.  Last year I was in the break with Moore and McFadden and I dropped a chain getting back on course after once again our group taking a wrong turn.  I finished 20 seconds down from the podium in 4th.  I've been there 2 years in a row but I need to be a bit more tentative as the last 2 years were my fault.

After the conclusion of the Cable Classic I head 3 hours East to Rhinelander.  I'll head straight to the course and get an easy pre-ride in.  I had one of my best rides in the WORS series in Rhinelander last year placing 6th so I'm excited to return.  Its ironic because I'm not a very technical rider and Rhinelander is a fairly technical course offering a lot of bumpy and turny single track.

This is one of my favorite weekends of the year so riding solo is fine by me.  Small family rumor is this guy might join me on Sunday for the kids race.  That would make my weekend.

            

A Good Life

Elephants, Intervals, Long Rides, Dark Chocolate, Core Work, Espresso, Mothers Day, Sunshine - That is a good week of training.

I had originally planned to race 3 weekends in a row starting with WORS #1 Iola and ending with WORS #2 Rhinelander with the RASTA and Cable in between.  If I would have stuck to the schedule this past weekend would have been the RASTA Rally in Rhinelander, WI.  The race was on Sunday which I hope everyone remembered was Mothers Day.  I used my better judgement and bagged the race to spend it with my mother who without I would not be racing at all.  Her support week in and week out is endless.

My decision to pass on the race ended being a rewarding one.  I had an amazing day with my mother and would not have exchanged any race to replace the day.  The morning was beautiful for a bike ride so my gift to her was taking her out on single track for a 101 session.  She has Mountain Biked in the past but hasn't really had the lessons or the time to experience single track.  She has always wanted to but has feared the unknown.  I spent 2 hours with her and it was amazing what she could do with a few pointers.  I've known where I got my competitiveness and athleticism from but her determination to learn reiterated that.  A morning single track session completed by a perfectly balanced spread.  Thank you to my brothers for cooking while I did the training.  Happy Mothers Day Mom!

Missing the race allowed for a great training weekend.  Saturday I saddled up with a teammate and we did some early season O2S recon.  A ride on the course and back on the roads gave me 5:15 in the saddle.  Sprinkle in some intervals and I was a perfect day in the UP.  The ride gave me a sign of prior and this years base work.  I can say I finally feel like the long hours are paying off because efforts later in rides are feeling much more comfortable.

This week was filled with plenty of sunshine and made each ride a complete enjoyment.  Bonus, I even had a run in with some Elephants.  Yes, Elephants.  Transplanted from Africa living in the wild.  Pretty crazy experience.  OK, not quite.  The circus was in town but it is not usual that you pass an elephant on a training ride.

Here is evidence of the sunshine.  I think I found a new way to melt chocolate over espresso beans, naturally.  The week ended with a great core session at Mattson Park.      

WORS #1 Iola

I'm extremely excited to write this race report.  Not so much for the race or the placing but because I took a lot away from this race.  It is one of the first times I've raced the race around me, stuck to a plan, been calm at the line, and felt that I rode under what I'm capable of.

Out of all the courses we race on I figured, I believe everyone else did too, that this course would hold up the best in the rain.  Iola is a sandy course that gets really packed down which makes for high speeds when dry.  What we did find out is that the sand made a great recipe for mud.  The race became the Iola Mud Bowl instead of the Iola Ski Bowl.  We could see the racers before us were coming in covered in mud but I still don't believe anyone expected the conditions we rode in.

With my 7th overall finish from last year I was awarded the #7 plate.  My lifelong favorite number.  This gave me a front row start.  I wasn't super aggressive off the line and dropped back a few spots but found Nathan's wheel up the first climb and down into the bowl.  I remember climbing and thinking I wanted to be placed higher but following Nathan's wheel was a bit of a comfort because he always finds his way to the front.  Coming down into the bowl I sat 10th and by the time we dropped back down into the bowl I was 8th and attached the front.  I felt good with it and figured I was in a good spot to make the first break.  Then, the unexpected run up.  The cyclocrossers displayed their running skills and split the group immediately after the run up.  By the time I ran up, remounted, and spun up to speed I lost contact.  

After loosing contact I went with my game plan at settling into my own pace.  During the first lap I dropped back into 10th but moved my way up to 9th until I was joined midway through 2nd lap by Chris P.  Chris took over on the climbs on the 3rd lap which kept the pace up.  This was pulling back in the rider that was about 30 sec up on us. After the run up all I heard was "Whoaaaaa", I look back and Chris had disappeared.  I still cannot figure out how he disappeared so fast.  I think he fell into a 5 foot deep mud hole?? On that day it was possible.  This left me on my own until midway through the 3rd I was passed by a Kuhl rider and closely followed by another 212 rider, Ryan K..  The Kuhl rider gave a quick encouragement and jumped around me.  It didn't click at first but after a few minutes I thought to myself I know this riding style.  Sure enough it was Tyler J.  Tyler and I race well together and push each other on every aspect of riding.  I was really happy to have him up near the front.  He was taking risks in the single track that I was not previously, it allowed me to follow a wheel while gaining confidence.  

Tyler and I started the 4th lap together.  We were still chasing the rider that was 30 sec up, Cory S.  After the hills we were getting close and I knew we could catch on.  After the first single track section I went to the front to put in a good effort to bridge up and before I knew it I was riding alone and pulling back good time on Cory.  3/4 into the final lap I attached to Cory.  I jumped around in 1 of the last 2 sections to pass and held the lead until Cory made a great move to pass in the single track to beat me to the last pass section.  I gave a hard effort to go around and just edged out his wheel into the last single track.  In Iola, the first into the last section usually wins so it was important to go in first.  I had one small slip up in the last 1/8 of a mile but was able to hold onto 8th.  

I wasn't completely satisfied with my start but the remainder of the race was very positive.  I learned to race within the race, I was confident in settling into a pace, increased my mud riding skills, and bridged a gap to a strong rider on the final lap while feeling good doing it.  I came away with 8th place and my body felt great after.  Considering the conditions and the way the race played out on the run up I'm extremely confident with my 8th.  

The field is becoming incredibly deep in WORS.  Not only is WORS the largest State MTB series in America but I believe it is one of the deepest.  We had more than 10 professionals in the field.  The podium was all professionals including Matter, LaLonde, Shriver, Guerra.  All this talent and we were missing Eppen and Schouten.  Not too mention the up and coming talent that I'm sure will make an impact in Stelljes, Neff, Jenema, McConnell, and Koenig.  Oh, did I forget to mention the perennial power house of Adventure 212 in Peariso, Krayer, Phillips, and Braun.  What a great season this will be. 

  

WORS # 1 Team Report

WORS #1 left a lot to be excited about for the remainder of the season.  It makes me extremely proud to direct a team with so much talent and promise for the future.  Is is also a goal of our sponsors coming true.  Giving multiple riders the opportunity to succeed in the sport.  In years past you may have seen a kit here or there but this year you will see us all over the trails and no doubt plenty of podiums.

Our day started with Collin Kytta competing in the Sport field.  He was the table setter and finished 2nd overall in Sport among all age groups.  The next set of riders were all competing at the same time and kept the momentum going.  Cooper Dendel made a huge dent in the woman's field by blowing away the Open division taking 1st overall and keeping marks on the Elite woman during her 2 laps.  Pete Karinen used his shredding skills to maneuver through the mud to a 2nd place overall in Cat 1 Juniors.  Our collegiate rider Eric Ollis competing in his first Elite race finishing 56th.

The day before Gerry Koski placed 10th in his age group at Mud, Sweat, and Beers.

An incredible weekend as a whole for the team.  Next up is the RASTA Ralley for some but WORS #2 Rhinelander for most.

See you out there.

 

Ronde - Training - WORS

April has ended with a bang and May is feeling the need to match its momentum.  April started to come to a close with the first of the UP Spring Classics that was held 2 weeks ago.  The Ronde van Skandia.  Coming off my biggest base period as an elite cyclist I was hoping to feel some fitness so I could finally take the spring classic that eluded me in the past 2 attempts.  It was not so, but I enjoyed racing my bike and suffering along with teammates and friends.  As the race progressed it was becoming more about the bike than the race.  The race was fun and hard but the brightest of moments during the day was seeing my team.  We had all on hand for the Ronde including Ron Willimas, Glen Lerlie, Danny Hill, Cody McGrath, Collin Kytta, Cooper Dendel, Gerry Koski and honorary team guest Brad Jalonen and Jason Jilbert.  Dreams of establishing a cycling community and giving other cyclist the opportunity to shine on a bike started to come together that day.  We had guys that have been around everything cycling for the past 15-20 years all the way down to guys and gals that were partaking in their first road race ever.  My team and teammates give me the motivation to keep pedaling in hopes that my hard word pays thanks to them for allowing me to share in their promise, optimism, and joy.

A bit blurry but a lot of blue!

The Ronde played out something like this.  A 3 man break jumped the group from the gun and the 4th was added in our teammate Jason Jilbert.  The thoughts were this was perfect as the 2 largest teams were represented in the break and the chase would be minimal.  That was until our teammate was reeled back in after dropping off the break.  With 60 miles to go we were not in an ideal situation but still favorable.  We started to chase during certain sectors but other sectors still remained calm.  We were given the split of greater than 4 minutes.  Ron and I went to the front to break the large peleton down and begin an assertive chase.  After a few miles the result was breaking it down to 7 riders with some good power in Pete S. and Tom C. and only 2 black ACE jerseys.  Soon after the break we noticed that the group had swelled back to the original size.  (Still a mystery of how this happened ??)  After the swell another chase was never organized.  At Sporley Lake Ron lead me out for an attack and I answered.  By the top I had pulled 3 guys away including DA, Matt C., and my teammate Ron W.  We rotated until the end where I threw an all in attack 2 miles out and it did not succeed  This left Ron to be double teamed all the way to the finish.  Ron 5th and me 6th.

April was a great training month logging a lot of hours and better yet a lot of the tempo hours to build the tolerance up.  April brought the completion of my largest base period to date.  It will be interesting to see the outcome of large hours down the road.  Whether a larger base period sets me up for harder work and better recovery or whether it was just an ambitious plan and created a overuse.  I'm on to some harder efforts now but still concentrating on tempo work to create workload for the long season to come.  I have decreased my hours yet still trying to bank endurance for the coming months.  The efforts are harder now but more enjoyable because they are a lot less in duration.

UP Classic races, completing base, harder efforts, and May 1st.  All the sings of racing to come.  WORS #1 Iola kicks off this weekend and I'm incredibly excited to wheel the line.  Mostly to catch up with all the guys from a winter of retreat but also to put forward an effort after what seems to be endless hours in the saddle.  #1 has so much optimism no matter where an individual is in their training.  It offers promise and hope for an athlete that this may be the year.  The year where goals and success await.