The team meet up at the Fort Custer Rec. area this past sunday for a 4 lap 37 mile XC race. John Meyers Birthday to be excact HAPPY 43rd youngster ! We all lined up against the WSC Team and few other MI Elite racers ! For a beautiful sunny cool day of racing. The Simonster has been out of state racing with the Pros and had a little break in his travels and decided to work on his Single Speed game. Unleashing a 17lb Ti Quiring SS 29er. Rolling away from everyone at the 2 mile mark to never be touched for the BIG "W". Jason Lummis came thru with a great ride for 3rd place. Birth day boy John held it for 6th and Joberon in 7th place. We then headed the 15 miles to Kazoo to the Eccentric cafe for a little festivities and awsome food !
1. Simonster --Bells
2. Christian Tanguy --WSC
3. Jason Lummis --Bells
4. Dylan Lanspeary
5. Robert Herriman WSC
6. John Meyers --Bells
7. Joberon --Bells
the rest will be up soon !
Joeberon relaxing at the Eccentric Cafe after the race !Lucky 7
Apparently 7 is the magic number. 7th at Yankee and a 7th at Fort Custer. At
least the number didn't increase I suppose. Can I see a 6! Do I hear 5?!
Hopefully someday soon.
Great day for racing. The Fort was, for many, this years first cross country
event. The whole team made it out and contributed to a good overall day of
results. Many of the usual suspects and some new lined up for a good dose of
competition. With The Simonster and Christian(American Cycle and Fitness) at the
line most of us knew what to expect. Typical of Fort Custer the group was
together for the first mile or two. Once we hit the first significant climb it
was bye bye to Mike and his single speed machine. I was breathing through my
eyeballs when I entered the first bit of signal track. Feeling spent, I bobbled
on a steap tricky climb coming unclipped. I was off the bike and running. As
soon as the trail opened up again I watched as many guys blew by me. I spend
most of that first and second laps(of 4) riding alone. Thankfully Fort Custer is
a long race as my legs eventually came around. Laps 3 and 4 I motored along
picking off riders here and there and attempting to make up time. I was pleased
to see my overall time wasn't too far off of the norm. My norm that is.
Afterwards the team and many of our friends went over to...you guessed it, the
Bells Brewery to recover. The brewery and it's staff helped us all get back on
our feet. Thanks a lot!
Have fun everyone. See ya at the next one.
Joberon
Fort Custer: Some of my friends tell me Custer is a Lummis friendly course ! I guess it maybe true in the past 3 yrs I have finished the XC in 3rd twice and 7th last year, as well as winnig the Time trial last year.
It is a fun course with only 2 little inclines that you can maintain alot of speed into. Some really fast flowing sections mixed in with a few twisty single track areas. At a little over 9 mile laps (we raced 4) they do not become to annoying. The race started off a little crazy as they starter just shot off the gun without any real count down, Dylan was in a track stand and took the whole shot (great by me since we hit an open field with a nice head wind). Herriman, Simonster, Joeberon then myself on the front sitting in until the first good attack spot. Simonster attacked Joberon and I jumped Herriman and sat on 2nd (Dylan) until the Simonster disappeared. Joberon, myself and Herriman scooted by Dylan at the first little incline after a bridge crossing before the 1st real climb. I was feeling great and was smiling to myself, somedays you know when things are coming together with your fitness. Herriman went around Joe just before Grannies Garden to chase Mike. Out of the Garden Joe had bobbled and it was Herriman and I with a small gap. As we came up a small hill/corner to the Aide station it flattend out and Herriman punched and I responded easily and no need to go to the front since my team was ahead ! Herriman's teammate the French Crickett (I use this term as he can fly thru the tight and twisty singletrack like it's an open down hill) Christian Tanguy came rolling thru, I jumped on Christians wheel and we had a gap from Herriman. We entered a section of single track down by a lake ( I believe it is called the amusement park) and The Crickett was off with a mission to track down the Simonster on his SS. I was left bouncing from tree to tree trying to keep smooth. The gap on Herriman was open and I kept my pace as high as I could maintain. Smooth transitions from corner to corner and really opening it up on the flats. I was running my STANS ZTR's with a Stans Crow rear and Geax Saguaro front. Great fast combo the gives you that extra confidence on the dry loose course and at 28 psi they both rolled fast and smooth. For the remaining 3 laps I could see Herriman and my teammate John Meyers back about 30-40 secs at a few check points. Somedays it is hard to hold off these racers at that gap especially when they can see you and you become the rabbitt for the chase. Sunday was a good day as I held them off and a late charge by Dylan Lanspeary. I rolled in in 3rd ! Glad there was no sprint finish as the finish chute was wierd with no actuall line or finish tape!?! Great prize $$ even if we had to pay an extra $10 above the race entry fee to race Elite. Great Job team we had all our teammates in the top 7 out of 14 starters. Next race Brighton Rec Stage race -- this is gonna be interesting with a odd venue for a stage race since the parking is a cross the road from the trail and it has a 2 way single track exit /entry to the trail !
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