starlight circles, 9/20

WEEK FOUR (9/20) RESULTS:

 1 Steve     10 pts
 2 Jeremy     7
 3 Kyle       5
 4 Rich       4
 5 Ben H.     3


SEPTEMBER STARLIGHT SERIES STANDINGS THROUGH 9/20

MEN

 1 Steve      34 pts
 2 Jeremy     24
 3 Kyle       20
 4 Erik       12
 5 Rich       11
 6 Ben H.      6
   Chris T.    6 
 8 Kevin       5
 9 Jay         3
   Michael     3
11 Tyler Lee   2

WOMEN

 1 Lori       10  

starlight circles, 9/12

WEEK THREE (9/12) RESULTS:

MEN

 1 Steve      10 pts
 2 Jeremy      7
 3 Erik        5
 4 Chris T.    4
 5 Kyle        3
 6 Jay         2
 7 Rich        1
 8 Tyler Lee   1
 9 Kevin       1

WOMEN

 1 Lori       10


SEPTEMBER STARLIGHT SERIES STANDINGS THROUGH 9/12

MEN

 1 Steve      24 pts
 2 Jeremy     17
 3 Kyle       15
 4 Erik       12
 5 Rich        7
 6 Chris T.    6
 7 Kevin       5
 8 Jay         3
   Michael     3
   Ben H.      3
11 Tyler Lee   2*  

WOMEN

 1 Lori       10


*Do I have the right Tyler here...or have there been two Tylers?

starlight circles, 9/6

WEEK TWO (9/6) RESULTS:

 1 Steve     10 pts
 2 Kyle       7 
 3 Rich       5
 4 Kevin      4
 5 Ben H.     3


SEPTEMBER STARLIGHT SERIES STANDINGS THROUGH 9/6

 1 Steve     14 pts
 2 Kyle      12 
 3 Jeremy    10
 4 Erik       7
 5 Rich       6
 6 Kevin      4
 7 Michael    3
   Ben H.     3
 9 Chris      2
10 Tyler      1
   Jay        1

CLUB RIDES THIS WEEK

TUESDAY (today):

So we haven’t talked about or made plans for the TNR tonight.  (For those that don’t know what I’m talking about, the TNR is our usual Tuesday evening training race—but it’s more of a _thing_ in the spring.  Click here for more details.)

This week we're joining the Franklin County Cyclists on their weekly Tuesday ride.  Today, their ride leaves from Shippensburg Township Park (Britton Rd Park) at 5:30.  That’s just right in our back yard.  Look at their FB page for details.  

The A group on these rides usually rides to the top of RT 641, Timmon's Gap (above Roxbury), and back.  But the B and C groups will be doing other stuff.  The C group rides slow and totally chill.  There’s something for everyone.

Wear SHIP stuff if you’ve got it.  Talk to people.  Make friends.  Make a pitch for sponsorship dough if it’s appropriate.  :-)

WEDNESDAY:

Remember, team time trial tomorrow, 6:00 pm.  Part of the South Mountain Summer Smackdown series.  Meet at the Twirly Top restaurant on Pine Grove Rd and Rt 34. 

Who’s going?  Who has room in their car to give rides?  Email the group...

THURSDAY:

Starlight Circle Race this week on Thursday, 9:00 pm.  Meet a few minutes before at the corner of Brenton and Richwalter (in Shippensburg—Google it).

Bring lights!  A headlight is most critical…but having both is good.

FRIDAY:

No-One-Gets-Dropped Ride.  4:15.  Meet at the Old Main circle.

Party at Rich’s later in the evening.

SATURDAY:

BTOGS.  I’ve at least a four hour endurance ride planned.  Probably try to leave about 7:30 am.  I can plan alternative shorter routes for those interested, but not in four hours of riding.  But you need to let me know.

better-than-labor labor day century

A great ride with the boys today.  A solid 100 miles of riding, over 6100 feet of elevation gain.  Four students (Alan, Erik, Jeremy, and Steve), one alum (Jon), and two profs (Woltemade and Goates).  Y'all made my Labor Day lovely.

Find the ride on Strava here.

starlight circles, 8/30

A great race last night.  Nine riders.  Eight students.  Three Starlight Circle Race virgins.  Love it.

WEEK ONE (8/30) RESULTS:

 1 Jeremy   10 pts

 2 Erik      7

 3 Kyle      5

 4 Steve     4

 5 Michael   3

 6 Chris     2

 7 Tyler     1

 8 Jay       1

 9 Rich      1

Remember, it's a five-week series.  Prizes for overall podium...special prizes for folks who make it every week...or four of five...

Next week, Thursday again.  After that, Wednesday.

People for Bikes

better-than-labor Labor Day century

SMSS #4, August 8

august 8, 2012 

south mountain summer smackdown, round 4 

caledonia road race 

---------------------------------------------------- 

individual results

---------------------------------------------------- 

 1 Brian Hopkins            Mountainside Ski & Sport 

 2 Pete LoBianco            Shippensburg University 

 3 Eric Noreen              SMV

 4 Jake Stitler             Shippensburg University 

 5 Bob Scheungrab           SMV 

 6 Eric Diamond             Mountainside Ski & Sport 

 7 Christopher Woltemade    Shippensburg University 

 8 Nathan Goates            Mountainside Ski & Sport 

 9 Joe Kahler               SMV 

10 Steve Bussey             Shippensburg University 

11 Ethan Rissell            Shippensburg University 

12 Rick                     Franklin County Cyclists 

13 Rich Abel                Shippensburg University 

14 Jim Harnett              SMV 

                                           pts 

---------------------------------------------- 

club results 

---------------------------------------------- 

 1 Shippensburg University                  13 

 2 Mountainside Ski & Sport                 15 

 3 South Mountain Velo                      17 

 4 Franklin County Cyclists                 42* 

* When a team doesn't field a unit on a given day, as FCC, they're given a score as if they did have three riders present, but finishing after all other scorable riders. 

2012 overall standings (after four rounds) 

                                             # of 

                                             weeks pts 

------------------------------------------------------ 

club results 

------------------------------------------------------ 

 1 South Mountain Velo                       4      59 

 2 Shippensburg University                   4      69

 3 Gettysburg Bicycle                        2     133*

 4 Mountainside Ski & Sport                  2     138* 

 5 Franklin County Cyclists                  2     183*

 6 MBM                                       1     204*

* When a team doesn't field a unit on a given day they're given a score as if they did have three riders present, but finishing after all other scorable riders.

SMSS #3, June 27

june 27, 2012 

south mountain summer smackdown, round 3 

ironmasters individual merckx style time trial 

---------------------------------------------------- 

individual results ---------------------------------------------------- 

 1 Patrick Hankins          SMV 

 2 Joe Kaehler              SMV 

 3 Tim Rohrbaugh            SMV

 4 Jim Hartnett             SMV

 5 Cliff Feldman            SMV

 6 Michael Elliott          Franklin County Cyclists

 7 Kyle Helder              ?

 8 Fred Galarza             Franklin County Cyclists

 9 Steve Bussey             Shippensburg University

10 Chris Townsley           Shippensburg University 

11 Hans Bakermans           MBM 

12 Rich Abel                Shippensburg University 

13 Karen Keefer             Franklin County Cyclists 

14 David Brodmann*          Franklin County Cyclists 

* flat tire 

                                           pts 

---------------------------------------------- 

club results 

---------------------------------------------- 

 1 South Mountain Velo                       6* 

 2 Franklin County Cyclists                 27

 3 Shippensburg University                  31

 4 MBM                                      45** 

* a perfect score 

** When a team doesn't field a unit on a given day, as MBM, they're given a score as if they did have three riders present, but finishing after all other scorable riders. 

2012 overall standings (after three rounds) 

                                             # of 

                                             weeks pts 

------------------------------------------------------ 

club results ------------------------------------------------------ 

 1 South Mountain Velo                       3      42 

 2 Shippensburg University                   3      56

 3 Gettysburg Bicycle                        2      88*

 4 Mountainside Ski & Sport                  1     123*

 5 Franklin County Cyclists                  1     141*

 6 MBM                                       1     159* 

* When a team doesn't field a unit on a given day they're given a score as if they did have three riders present, but finishing after all other scorable riders.

Prize money

I question that I wonder is why does amateur cycling races pay out decent money for top place finishers but other amateur races like running and triathlons pay out relatively little.  I know the time spent planning and all the costs associated with putting on any amateur event is much larger than one would think and there isn’t much margin to award a lot of money to winners.   Bike races, runs, and triathlons all have entry fees that in most cases they aren’t cheap,(at least not to a college student) why is it that bike races pay out prize money with a purse usually in the thousands of dollars range while other events pay out a prize purse of a few hundred dollars to usually only the top 3 men and women finishers overall and some pay out nothing at all. 

So far I have a few reasons why bike races pay out money.  1) is that having prize money will attract elite racers who would otherwise be unwilling to travel  to the race and that in turn provides the local spectators a reason to come out rather than just see the people from around the area race.  More spectators also attract sponsors who will pay race organizers money to have their logo displayed, and sponsorship money can be the difference between losing money and breaking even.  Running races and triathlons might not want elite athletes from out of the area to come and instead give the locals a chance to compete.  For example the 5 mile Red Rose run in Lancaster County used to pay out somewhere around $1000 dollars to first place men and women but locals had the odds of winning against them because instead professional runners from major cities like Philly came in and won the prize money.  

2) Is that cycling is a big investment to those who compete.  While no amateur racer really expects to recoup what they spent on their bike, equipment, and training much less make a livable profit on racing, it at least can help reduce the cost.  Running requires only a pair of sneakers and a watch maybe, which is pennies in comparison what cyclists spend.  Triathlons have equipment costs that somewhat resembles what cyclists spend but have nowhere near the prize money.  My sister came in 1^st place at out of 200 or so females at a local tri and all she got was a trophy.   Her discounted early entry fee was around $75 too.  And unlike most elite cyclists who have a team pay for entry fees, the money came out of her pocket. 

3) Most running races like the Saturday morning 5k have a charity benefit and the goal is to donate as much money as possible.  So you would feel pretty guilty if you got a big check for winning when a charity probably needs the money more.  Also most running races and tri’s will give each participant regardless of finishing place a goody bag filled with a t-shirt printed with the sponsor logo soup, water bottle, some coupons, and other little things.  So everyone walks away with something rather than just the top finishers.  I have never seen that at a bike race.  Bike races sometimes have a charity benefit, but often are put on by for profit companies or local clubs looking to break even. 

I have a lot of respect for runners and triathletes who do local races just for personal goals or bragging rights and not for prize money.  While I am not saying there is anything wrong with the amount of prize money given out in cycling or think it should be changed, but I think there are some benefits of having a reduced payout.  1) Maybe more races?  Having to pay out less money would make less of a financial risk of breaking even to anyone putting on a race.  2) Lower entry fees especially for cat 4 and 5’s who often have to pay the same as the 1/2/3 race to help subsidize the substantially bigger elite category payout.  3) Less aggressive riding especially during the final sprint.  Maybe everyone can learn how to just have fun racing instead of getting all worked up over who attacked during the feed zone or sat in for the sprint. 

-Michael

Hey race fans,

I was surfing the interwebs and found a real gem. This fella here uploads all the major tours and races he can get to his youtube account in full 1080p!
He hasn't been shut down yet, so check him out!

Enjoy!

Philly Pro Cycling Tour video footage

Hey race fans,

Some of us went to Philly to watch the big race and was it a memorable experience! If you didn't make it or missed it on Comcast that night, this video should help you feel the excitement!

Cheers!

SMSS #2, May 30 (race report)

Twenty-two riders rolled up to the start of the Pine Grove Furnace Road Race (South Mountain Summer Smackdown Round #2) on a delightful late spring evening.  (Who doesn't think that the Michaux State Forest is simply a treasure, any time of year, but I swear it's at its prettiest in May.)  Twenty-two riders.  That's probably some kind of Summer Smackdown record.  Or, if not, it's pretty close.

To the chagrin of many, things heated up quickly and the group began shedding riders right from the leg-burning get-go.  The flats after the Ironmasters Mansion offered brief respite, but soon the impatient climbers again began to break legs as the pitch steepened.  In fact, an early split in the peloton was cause for some concern, but a quick response by several riders brought things back together prior to the left-hander onto Shippensburg Rd.

Once over Pine Mountain Ridge and onto hilly Wenksville Road, the lead group had thinned to nine riders, Mike Keefer (SMV), Jake Sitler (SU), Jon Marshall (SU), Brian Hopkins (Mtnside), Michael Garrettson (Mtnside), Tom Little (Gettysburg Bicycle), Bob Scheungrab (SMV), Pete LoBianco (SU), and Nathan Goates (SU).

The run-in to the base of Bendersville/Pine Grove Furnace Road saw little more than halfhearted attacks and uncommitted pace-setting, but as the lead nine turned toward the climb the air turned thick with anticipation, a palpable anxiousness.

With the road turned upward, Sitler was the first to go, quickly distancing himself from known strongman Keefer, who led the rest of the strung out group.  Sitler's attack probably came as something of a surprise, as the lithe collegiate track/cross-country star was an unknown on the bike.  But a confident Keefer rode his own pace behind, never losing sight, and quickly distancing the rest of the merry band on the way up the uneven pavement toward the Pine Mountain Ridge summit.  Behind, the slow-starting Goates began his push and quickly moved from the rear to third position, leading a two-man chase, only Marshall managing to stick to his wheel.

By the summit, Keefer had caught Sitler and the two rode over side-by-side.  Fifteen seconds back Goates and Marshall rolled over, but were able to close the gap early on the descent, the lightweight leaders little match for the mass-aided descending speed of Goates.

On the run to the finish, Keefer recognized the statistical difficulty of his position, as the Shippensburg University riders attacked in turn, forcing the mountain biker to do the chasing.  In the end, a well-timed attack from Goates in the final kilometer put the nail in the coffin for Keefer, as his chase offered the speedy Marshall all the spring he needed to easily distance himself on the uphill sprint for a lead of a dozen bike lengths as he coasted across the finish line.

In the team competition, Shippensburg University (8 points) took a brilliant victory, avenging their last-placed finish in the Round 1 hill climb.  South Mountain Velo finished second (21 points) while Gettysburg Bicycle and Mountainside Ski & Sport tied for third (30 points).

In the overall standings, Shippensburg University takes over the Summer Smackdown series lead with 25 points after two rounds.  South Mountain Velo is next with 36 points.  Gettysburg Bicycle and Mountainside Ski & Sport follow with 43 and 78 points.

SMSS #2, May 30

may 30, 2012

south mountain summer smackdown, round 2

pine grove furnace road race

----------------------------------------------------

individual results

----------------------------------------------------

 1  Jon Marshall            Shippensburg University

 2  Mike Keefer             SMV

 3  Jake Sitler             Shippensburg University 

 4  Nathan Goates           Shippensburg University

 5  Tom Little              Gettysburg Bicycle

 6  Michael Garrettson      Mountainside Ski & Sport

 7  Pete LoBianco           Shippensburg University

 8  Bob Scheungrab          SMV

 9  Eric Noreen             Gettysburg Bicycle

10  Mike Funk               Mountainside Ski & Sport

11  Joe Kaehler             SMV

12  Pat Hankins             SMV

13  Jeremy White            Shippensburg University

14  Brian Hopkins           Mountainside Ski & Sport

15  Jim Hartnett            SMV

16  Rick Ackerman           Gettysburg Bicycle (guest rider)

17  Chris Townsley          Shippensburg University

18  Steve Bussey            Shippensburg University

19  Fred Galarza            Gettysburg Bicycle (guest rider)

20  Eric Jett               Gettysburg Bicycle (guest rider)

21  Rich Able               Shippensburg University

    Earl Brown (dnf, chain) SMV

                                           pts

----------------------------------------------

club results

----------------------------------------------

 1  Shippensburg University                  8 

 2  South Mountain Velo (SMV)               21

 3  Gettysburg Bicycle                      30

 3  Mountainside Ski & Sport                30

2012 overall standings

(after two rounds)

                                            # of 

                                            weeks  pts

------------------------------------------------------

club results

------------------------------------------------------

 1 Shippensburg University                  2       25

 2 South Mountain Velo                      2       36

 3 Gettysburg Bicycle                       2       43

 4 Mountainside Ski & Sport                 1       78*

* When a team doesn't field a unit on a given day, as Mountainside didn't for the hill climb, they're given a score as if they did have three riders present, but finishing after all other scorable riders.

Ship Cycling Movie Stars

Ok, so we might not be heading to the Hollywood Hills anytime but we still had a great time. As some of you know, Goates got an email about a movie needed cycling extras. Chris T., Goates, and myself answered the call. I grabbed some photos while I was down there. We then stopped here for some fantastic BBQ, seriously check it out.

Breakfast bike line up

"starting" line

Chris T. ready to go

Goates pondering something

Can't see it too well but look at the actress's kit, she had arm warmers on...

I was heart broken to find out this was Olivia Wilde's double, i missed her during a nap

Photo bombed!

SU Cycling #1

Ironmasters TT #2, May 16

may 16, 2012
ironmasters tt #2
                                            time   pts
------------------------------------------------------
speed division
------------------------------------------------------

 1 Brian Hopkins (Mountainside)             23:25   60

 2 Nathan Goates (Mountainside)             23:29   55

 3 Michael Garretson (Mountainside)         24:33   50
 4 Joe Kaehler (SMVC)                       25:40   45

 5 Patrick Hankins (SMVC)                   26:10   40

 6 Jim Hartnett (SMVC)                      27:04   35      


------------------------------------------------------
merckx division
------------------------------------------------------
 1 Jon Marshall (Round Here Racing)         26:30   60
 2 Christopher Woltemade (Mountainside)     27:40   55
 3 Jeremy White (Shippensburg University)   28:16   50
 4 Steve Bussey (Shippensburg University)   29:30   45
 5 Chris Townsley (Shippensburg University) 30:28   40
 6 Fred Galarza                             30:57   35
 7 Eric Jett                                32:59   30
 8 Rich Able (Shippensburg University)      35:50   25


2012 overall standings
(after two weeks)

                                            # of

                                            weeks  pts

------------------------------------------------------

speed division

------------------------------------------------------

 1 Jim Hartnett (SMVC)                      2       90

 2 Brian Hopkins (Mountainside)             1       60

 2 Tim Rorhbaugh (SMVC)                     1       60

 4 Nathan Goates (Mountainside)             1       55

 5 Michael Garretson (Mountainside)         1       50
 5 Joe Kaehler (SMVC)                       1       45

 6 Patrick Hankins (SMVC)                   1       40

------------------------------------------------------

merckx division

------------------------------------------------------

 1 Jeremy White (Shippensburg University)   2      110

 2 Jon Marshall (Round Here Racing)         1       60

 3 Christopher Woltemade (Mountainside)     1       55

 4 Steve Bussey (Shippensburg University)   1       45

 5 Chris Townsley (Shippensburg University) 1       40

 6 Fred Galarza                             1       35

 7 Eric Jett                                1       30

 8 Rich Able (Shippensburg University)      1       25

A super special thanks to Dani Galarza for timing this evening.  Very, very kind.  Thanks again.

Collegiate Nationals Trip

My freshmen collegiate nationals trip is one that I will never forget. The roadblocks started from the very beginning of my journey. As I traveled down the PA Turnpike on my way to the Pittsburgh airport there was a lot going through my head. I worried about the plane ride, I worried about my car hoping it would make deliver me safely, I worried about the police that might have been sitting at the side of the road ready to bust me for speeding, and I worried about the races that would come in the next couple days. There was one thing that I didn’t think of that I should have been, the other drivers on the road. As I rounded the corner just past the exit I would take to go home I saw a large black plume of smoke rising. Next thing I know I am at a complete stop and fire trucks and frantically maneuvering along the brim wielding sirens and hoses. Apparently there was a wreck followed by a fire and by the amount of trucks going to the scene it was a big one.

                2 hours later… I had missed my flight, and had two parents at the airport waiting for me. We (my mother and I) were able to reschedule our flight for Friday morning and got everything else changed around. We arrived in Salt Lake City around 1:00 Friday afternoon. Found our Hotel in Ogden and made ourselves at home. I went for a ride that evening and at that time realized that Utah was going to be quite a shock to my body. The higher elevation and time difference really had my body confused. Over all that my legs felt good.

                The crit was Saturday afternoon (3:30) and racing that late was weird. I stayed in my bed at the hotel until 11:30 only leaving to eat, refill water bottles, and pee. Once it was race time I was pumped and ready to go. They did call ups by school and each person rolled onto the course individually, which seemed totally pro. My goal for the race was to not get dropped by the field and to not wreck. The first part of that was not hard, but the second part, the not wrecking part, seemed to be quite a challenge. To sum it up some guys were being very stupid and did very dumb things in the field. There must have been 6-10 crashes in the whole 75 min. race which is way too many for a race of that caliber. I did manage to stay up and to stay with the field. I left the race feeling that I had a lot of fire in my legs for the road race.

                Bed time came early and things really started getting serious that night. I examined the course profile in my head for a while taking mental notes on anything and everything. As I got ready for the race I had my normal pre-race nerves and I had a right to. I knew I would be racing the best collegiate riders around and I wanted to do well. Once again we got the individual call up and then the starting whistle. The race started out with a half mile of a neutral field. Then the cars took off and so did the race. There were riders across the entire road shoulder to shoulder and we were cruzing at 35mph. It was crazy… too crazy, just ahead of me I heard the dreadful sound of carbon wheels and bikes knocking off of one another. Before I knew it I was sliding across the road and down an embankment tangled with another rider of the same fate. I climbed back onto the road to see a pile of bikes and people and hearing the screams of broken bones and stinging road rash. I started looking for my bike but couldn’t find it. I looked back down the bank to see it sitting there even farther down than where I landed. I retrieved it, checked to see if it would still roll, and started chasing the lead group. The only damage to the bike that I could find was a broken shifter, but it was still working so I didn’t care. I was joined by some fellow ECCC riders in the chase and in a matter of 9 miles we had caught back on.  No sooner had we caught back on then my shifter quit working. We were followed by a neutral support car with extra bikes on the roof; unfortunately all of the bikes but one were taken after the crash. The one bike they had left was already crashed once but I figured it was better than not being able to shift. That was the last time I saw the lead group. I rode the rest of the race myself avoiding the temptation to give up and call it a day. I ended about a half hour behind the winner and was cooked. Overall my nationals trip was a success and I learned a lot. Looking forward to going again next year and having some teammates there! J

-Alan