Thursday, November 15, 2007

JERSEY RAFFLE !




DUE to Manager error:




The jerseys never made it to the Sunset on the season Party after Iceman




WE ARE RAFFLING OFF for free:


4 Bells Brewey/ Quiring Cycles Team jerseys

2 short sleeve (sizes small and medium)


2 long sleeve (sizes medium and large)


shipping is free to US residents (please be prepared to pay shipping if outside US). The above sizes and styles are all that are available. No whinning or crying about it -- These are FREE. If you want choices go to http://www.bellsbeer.com/ and buy the size you need.




Here is what you have to do to enter the raffle:


Send a post card (something from your area or region) No letters


Include name -address (ship to) and phone # with


Size of jersey needed (first picked gets 1st size, sorry NO XL or bigger).




We have intrusted the raffle to a local biker gang for fairness and security reasons :>).


so please address all Post cards to:




HELLRIDERS MTBC


PO BOX 666


HELL MI 48169




Entries must be post marked by 12/01/2007 and the drawing will be 12/10/2007. All rules and regulations will be enforced by the HRMTBC and their affiliates.
any questions post a comment !


Sunday, November 11, 2007

ICEMAN 2007

The Simonster going for 2nd ----JHK not making the sprint !1. Brian Matter won !
2.Simonster--- Bells
3.JHK
4.Tristan Schouten
5.Jesse Lalonde
6.Ned Overend
7.Marko Lalonde
8.Mike Anderson
9.Jason Lummis --- Bells
10.Dan Jansen (yeah Dan won the sprint for 10th, results show him 11th though)
19. Joberon Beerchampski --- Bells

John Meyers won his Expert age group just beating out Franky Andreau !

RESULTS



Mashers Media:



THANK YOU !!!!!! TO OUR SPONSORS !!!!!! OUR SEASON WAS MADE EASIER FROM THE HELP OF THESE FINE PEOPLE:

BELLS BREWERY
QUIRING CYCLES
STANS NO TUBES
OAKLEY
CLIFF
ABERDEEN BIKE
ADIDAS
PAINT CREEK BICYCLES




Jason Lummis used his garmin GPS for the race ! see below ( Sorry about the links for some reason I can not cut and paste the embedding links)

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4433720

You can put this GPS info into motion below :

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/player/view.mb?episodePk.pkValue=4433720





Joe L. from (http://www.midwestcyclinggroup.com/) posted some great videos on you tube:





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rybm2lpmd4Y -Start








http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSDjp75OD-s - 1st road crossing








http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssQtXTFwkzM - Williamsburg








http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBGCctGUrko - Williamsburg








http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDyljJxtAsk - Finish


RACE Reports: Pics from Biscuit


SIMONSTER REPORT:



Well, wrapped up another season.
2007 felt like somewhat of a building year. Did a lot of new "out of state" races, visited some really cool courses, and met a lot of new really cool people who share the same passion. With Mitch finishing up her masters and Ingersoll Rands' generous engineering budget, it's nice to finally have some extra cash to get out and travel whenever I want, even though it's my own hard earned cash. Throw in the support from Bells, Quiring, and Stans, and you can almost manage a full pro US season. Had a lot of fun, and some not so fun times, but it's all worth it in the end. Got a chance to tangle with the top pro's all the way from Maryland to California and I learned a lot about myself and what I need to do to prepare for another succesful season. There's no better way to end the season than with the Iceman. This year was a tough field as almost all of the Midwest pro's were in attendance as well as some hitters from Colorado. The course was the fastest I have ever seen it, and the racing action was just as fast. A few call-ups (which was a first) and a 5 sec countdown and we were off. I immediately went to the front and went to work. I jammed it a few times to pull out the contenders and our group was set. Seemed like I was never further back than 3rd the entire race and probably spent the first 15 miles pulling the train along. That's the thing with the Iceman. It gets tactical, especially when the course is so fast. Guys that sit on the back for the entire first half of the race stay fresh, while the horses up front wear themselves out. But that's road racing... I mean Iceman racing. Sometimes you get the breaks and sometimes you don't. I was satisfied with 2nd place. No crashes, no mechanicals, and I rode a strong race. Even managed to drop an Olympian! Just gotta brush up on my road tactics. You can't always ride eveyone off your wheel, but people have been telling me that for years. Congrats to Brian for sniffing out the winning move. Thanks to everyone that came out in support of the Bells party. See you all in the Spring!












Lummis 9th place














Lummis Race Report:





29er's ---- Yep thats correct 2 9th place finishes at the Iceman cometh. Last year was a good ride with a tough field of competitors. This year added a few more pros and local Midwest hammers, the field was larger and tougher. I love this time of year the season is done every thing is shorter -- daylight, ride time and race times. CX racing short and all out, like the Iceman.





Myself, Kathy, Stout(1 of 3 dogs) and our son Zack arrived with camper trailer in tow at the finish Timber Ridge Friday afternoon. We set up camp and I took Stout out for an out and back. We covered the last 5 miles of the race course to make sure the dbl Stans No Tubes Crow tires I was planning on using would be the best choice. We came across all the Big names Matter, Schouten, JHK and ned Overend. I was happy with my tire choices because the course seemed real fast. Back to the camper hung out with the family ate some great homemade dinner. Drove over and did the number pick up around 6pm. Scott Quiring had a booth showing off some nice frames. including a 29er Tandem that was just awsome. Back to the camper for a good nights sleep and up early with my son at 7am. Hung out and watched the early finishers, The Torrance Bros finished 3rd and 5th in 30-34 expert, great job Guys.





About 10:30 my legs started twitching like a nervous dog. I tried to relax, had everything laid out ready to go. Bikes loaded, clothes, gloves and helemet. 12:30 we are off to the start, plenty of time to ease into the race. Just about to Kalkaska from timber Ridge and "SHOES" I left my shoes in the camper (enter F BomB here). Back for the shoes grab them and get back to Kalkaska 40 minutes before start time. Ride out and back for the first 3 miles( feels great), race is on, I am thinking top 15 for sure (big guns here today, locals and imports).





GO..... We are off flying and I feel calm. My buddy the farmer is next to me as we squeeze around the first corner, we hook shoulders forcing me straight to not go down. We dislodge and back on the gas as I close onto the main group that the Simonster is just killing. Dangling on the back with Ned, Marko and Cole. I needed to close the gap for the draft. JHK moved to the front which slowed it down just enough as we caught on, then Matter accelerates. Dangling again, Ned jumps across leaving me with Cole and Marko Lalonde (on a SS 29er). Cole and I take a few hard digs but not enough to dent the gap. We lose Cole and lost the groupo just before Tornado alley.





Marko and his SS--- I am telling you this kid is tough, I could not lose him on the flats, yet he would kill me on the climbs. Marko kept the momentum rolling as we sat out in the second group 2 minutes back from the leaders and 2 ahead of the 3rd group. Picked up Ross Schnell just before Williamsburgh Rd and dropped him a few miles later, those screaming crowds absolutely energize you. We picked up Mike Anderson a few miles later as I did all I could do to maintain our time gap. We finally hit the steep hill coming into the last 5 miles, kaboom I blew up. Marko jamms away and Mike is just ahead. I gave it another try and got to within 5 secs of Mike but just wasn't able to follow through. Came up the last climb into Timber Ridge loving life another top 10 and as I roll over I hear the cheers for more riders coming. I had to ride hard the last 1km as my 2 minute gap was down to 30 sec, I pulled through and even had time for a few High fives on the finish line run. My wife son where right there with a favorite buddy (Two Hearted in a bottle). It was great day and a really great ride with Marko. We just flowed through the course almost helping each other succeed without communicating it.







Joberon looking for a beer !


















Lummis family Zack, Jason and Kathy.... 2 years in a row 9th Place




Williamsburg rd Crossing: Speed


























John Meyers: Report






Iceman 2007 Expert 40 - 45, FIRST

The iceman 2007 weekend has come and gone with a tremendous amount of fun and memories. I was able to race early win the 40 -45 for the third straight year and then have enough time to watch my number one son Jozef race in the snow cone kids race....
The 40 - 45 expert race was extremely fast this year with the appearance Frankie Andreu http://www.frankieandreu.com/ formerly with the US Postal cycling team and 9 times finisher of the Tour De France. I heard a rumor that Frankie was racing but it did not dawn on me until mile 14 when a group of three of us were still together. I just thought it was so strange when this guy with mis-matched jersey, shorts, bike was so fricking strong. The disguise worked great Frankie it took 14 miles for me to figure it out. I looked over recognized a familiar face. I yelled hey Frankie and he responded. That answered who this fast guy was that I had not seen before. I thought to myself I've got 14 more miles and a few very steep hills to try and get some sort of gap. There was a group of three of us until about mile 18 when Frankie laid down a serious attack and long pull. I waited to respond wanting the third rider to chase but he did not. I jumped clear and chased for about 2 miles and bridged back to Frankie. After catching his wheel I went to the front and remained in the front for the last 8 - 10 miles. At times I thought I had dropped Frankie on the long climbs but not looking back I was not sure if he was still there. As we completed the last climb and enter the short section of single track I could feel a sprint finish approaching. As in the past the final maze and approach to the line is better served for the person in the front so I remained there. Not certain how the finish approach and turn up to the line and distance was I choose to hold a tight inside line into the turn swing wide to left and up to the line with everything I had. I popped out of my cleat as approached the line but were was Frankie? The former track racer? After we crossed the line and chatted about how much fun we just had he mentioned he as well as I had popped out of his cleat coming up the short hill finish? Thanks Frankie for the 1:41:56 of racing and fun! I will remember this race for a long time. The party was great and once again thanks to all the great sponsors! Time for a couple weeks off and some trail running. Hope to get out for the last Kisscross race or two.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

SUNSET ON THE SEASON PARTY

The MTB season has come to an end here in the Midwest. The grand finale is coming in 2 weeks at the Iceman Cometh. Can the Simonster repeat? The Wisco cheese heads will be coming in force (Matter,Schouten, the Lalonde sisters) and even NORBA starts JHK, Rad Ross Schnell and the old man Ned Overend are giving the Iceman a go.

The Simonster has been on a strict diet of bio-diesel and 26" wheels bringing his racing form to a ultimate high. Come down to Ann Arbor this weekend for a quick preview of the human power plant at the Tailwind DBL CX weekend.


Flyer link below:


SUNSET on the Season Annual Bells Party at the Union in Traverse City Michigan following the Iceman awards !





Kiss Cross #5




brief race report from sunday from John Meyers

KissCross #5, Jenison, Michigan. 7th - A's

The West Side CX Race Scene!
The Kisscross race #5 at GrandRiver Park in Jenison was Speed racer fast with lots of priority green in and around the front of the race.... http://www.kisscross.com/index.htm The start was on a dirt road head north with 5 lined up wide. The speedy Steve Howard darted crazy fast off the line grabbing the holeshot and I was able jump into second. Not wanting to dig to deep this weekend and reserve something for the iceman I was looking for a few wheels to jump onto so 3rd place was great position behind Graham Howard leading up and over the first barrier and run-up. First mistake both Graham and myself blew our remounts...at the half way point on the steep hill. The next few laps became a leap frog of a few riders and somehow Russ whom I had passed and thought was going backwards blown from the Priority Health pace of the first few laps eventually work his way past me and jumped back into the chase group and would eventually finish second? Great job Russ way to dig deep and nice to warm down and chat together. I blew one more remount on the 5th lap up the steep hill just as I was making contact to chase group. I eventually backed it down and rode out the last three laps of eight by myself. Stay somewhat comfortable but not red lining it like the first five laps. So are the Howard brothers showing this weekend for the Iceman? Rumor has it that they are going to show up? Looking forward to the iceman this weekend.....I remember clear back ten years ago racing for Boure' and finishing 3rd behind Tinker and Scotty Q. Those were the days. My bet is on my teammate biodiesel Simonson! Hey Mike I am looking forward the wind up at the Sunset Party with a late night drum session, Joe your sweet guitar moves and dancing, and Jason can you chauffeur the team around in the PT cruiser after the Party!!!

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Vets Park CX DBL race weekend

This past weekend in Ann Arbor Tailwinds put on a 2 day Cyclocross race at Vets Park aka "The Devils Soup Bowl".

Saturday had Jason Lummis racing masters 35+ and the Simonster/ Joberon duo in the Big Show the "A" race. Jason finished 5th, Mike finished 4th after battling out the 1 hour contest to succumb to some bike issues on the last lap and Joberon ragged the race after having to go back to the car after 2 laps to air up the skinnies.

Sunday had Jason Lummis as the only Bells rider to make it for the race. Jason did a little better and finished 3rd.



www.mattmccluskey.com





Lummis report:

Wow what a great weekend in SE MI. I decided to do the CX race on saturday to get a hard effort in before the Iceman the following weekend. Ann Arbor Vets Park is about 17 miles from my house, so I commuted to the race. This turned out to be a good idea as I was warmed before getting the Masters 35+ race (45 minutes of CX racing). I was having troubles getting my number pinned on before the race and looked over at the start and eveyone was lined up. I rushed over and was a the back of the start and we where off. The first few laps where tuff to move up on, but I finaly made it near the front as we hit a short hill that everyone was stalling on. I pushed my way thru and ended up hooking bars with a rider and he went down unhappily. After this a group of 5-6 us was off the front for the rest of the race. Jamie Parker a MTB racer buddy was out having fun as well. I attacked a few times and tried to get Jamie off the front to make the regular CX guys work some more. Going into the last lap I was on the front pushing hard and on the 1st set of barriers I over jumped my saddle and almost went down. A small gapped formed to the leading 3 and I missed the gap as the rider in front of me absolutley blocked me and died. I battled with B Mitchell the rest of the last lap and he got me a an inch in the end. The Two Wheel Tango guys had some local brew from Dexters Jolly Pumpkin and drank a few on the run up hill and yelled at the A racers. Fun day and I was going to come back for Sunday for sure. Luckily my and son came down to Ann Arbot and I was able to get my bike in the car with all the groceries.
Sunday I figured would be better I had a grasp on who to watch and I was off for the commute to Ann Arbor again. This worked again as I was feeling nice and warmed up before the race again. I didn't miss the line up and was second row. Don Cameron was racing masters with us today and he has one huge motor on a very lite bike. Off we went and Don was gone. I sat in 6th wheel watching him put 30 secs on us before a half lap was done (Don go back to the A's). The course was backwards this time and as we hit a small climb everyone accelerated shreadding the field. Thru the run up barriers and up the hill Simon Bailey attacked and I wasn't going to get gapped from the front this time, I made the jump. We had 15 secs over the next 2 chasers and I kept the power on to maintain the gap. Except every time up the steep hill Simon continually attacked and I would respond and he would slow and I would pull us around until the hill again (note to self no free ride for Simon anymore). Last lap we have the gap Don is winning easily and Simon gaps me over the climb and I don't respond. Iceman this weekend then 2 more CX races in the Tailwind series.

Photos by Matt McCluskey: www.mattmccluskey.com






I am running Stans Ztr rims, tubeless with IRC mythos 42c CX tires. They rolled well, cornered awsome and at 28 psi where comfy. The Oakleys are untouchable in performance.