Mike "the Simonster" Simonson WINS AMBC race in Columbia Tennesse. The day before the official release date for Bells Brewery's famed OBERON ale, the Simonster had his own release party. The year of the Big Wheel has started with a Big Win for Mike. He sent in the below race report:
GREAT JOB MIKE !!!!!!!
The first race of the year is always a blind adventure. You can feel great,bad, or somewhere in between, but you never really know how your off season training went until that first race. Well all those miles in the coldwinter of Michigan paid off, not to mention the 15 pounds of weight I trimmed off since November. The course was mostly single track, but surprisingly lacked any extreme climbing you would think a course in TN would have. It had some good power flats and was littered with tree roots and jagged rocks throughout. The pace started fast right off the gun and my lungs instantly began to burn. I made a strong move on the beginning flat grassy start and managed to be the first one into the down hill shoot before the singletrack. The first lap I rode mainly with the lead pack with a couple of attacks up the climbs to bring out the major players in the pack. About halfway through the race, it had gotten down to three of us. Andy Johnston,Brian Schworm and me. Andy was pouring on the attacks in the single track and all I could do was hold his wheel a few yards back and Brian was kindof yo-yoing off and on the back. Going into the final lap, I made another strong move on the flat grassy section and Andy and I put a good gap on Brian. I kept the pace up hard until Andy and I were out of sight. Then I put it into cruise control for a good portion of the single track. Then Andy got by me and made an attack on the big climb about 2 miles from the finish. As soon as I noticed he was slowing down, I came around him and pulled the chain up to the big ring and opened up about a 20 second gap. I finished out the race from there and grabbed the first win of the season for the Bells Brewery / Quiring team. The 29er wheels coupled with the Ti frame helped out immensely on the rocky and root infested terrain. Rather than absorb the bumps like a fullsuspension bike, it rolls over them easier and slows me down less. I feel the bigger wheels compliment my riding style. ------ Simonster
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
SPRING has SPRUNGBELLS BREWRY/QUIRING CYCLES 1st WIN of the year at the AMBC CHICKSAW TRACE CLASSIC
Mike "the Simonster" Simonson WINS AMBC race in Columbia Tennesse. The day before the official release date for Bells Brewery's famed OBERON ale, the Simonster had his own release party. The year of the Big Wheel has started with a Big Win for Mike. He sent in the below race report:
GREAT JOB MIKE !!!!!!!
The first race of the year is always a blind adventure. You can feel great,bad, or somewhere in between, but you never really know how your off seasontraining went until that first race. Well all those miles in the coldwinter of Michigan paid off, not to mention the 15 pounds of weight I trimmed off since November. The course was mostly single track, but surprisingly lacked anyextreme climbing you would think a course in TN would have. It had somegood power flats and was littered with tree roots and jagged rocksthroughout. The pace started fast right off the gun and my lungs instantly beganto burn. I made a strong move on the beginning flat grassy start andmanaged to be the first one into the down hill shoot before the singletrack. The first lap I rode mainly with the lead pack with a couple of attacks up the climbs to bring out the major players in the pack. About halfway through the race, it had gotten down to three of us. Andy Johnston,Brian Schworm and me. Andy was pouring on the attacks in the single track and all I could do was hold his wheel a few yards back and Brian was kindof yo-yoing off and on the back. Going into the final lap, I made another strong move on the flat grassy section and Andy and I put a good gap on Brian. I kept the pace up hard until Andy and I were out of sight. Then I put it into cruise control for a good portion of the single track. Then Andy got by me and made an attack on the big climb about 2 miles from the finish. As soon as I noticed he was slowing down, I came around him and pulled the chain up to the big ring and opened up about a 20 second gap. I finished out the race from there and grabbed the first win of the season for the Bells Brewery / Quiring team. The 29er wheels coupled with the Ti frame helped out immensely on the rocky and root infested terrain. Rather than absorb the bumps like a fullsuspension bike, it rolls over them easier and slows me down less. I feel the bigger wheels compliment my riding style.
GREAT JOB MIKE !!!!!!!
The first race of the year is always a blind adventure. You can feel great,bad, or somewhere in between, but you never really know how your off seasontraining went until that first race. Well all those miles in the coldwinter of Michigan paid off, not to mention the 15 pounds of weight I trimmed off since November. The course was mostly single track, but surprisingly lacked anyextreme climbing you would think a course in TN would have. It had somegood power flats and was littered with tree roots and jagged rocksthroughout. The pace started fast right off the gun and my lungs instantly beganto burn. I made a strong move on the beginning flat grassy start andmanaged to be the first one into the down hill shoot before the singletrack. The first lap I rode mainly with the lead pack with a couple of attacks up the climbs to bring out the major players in the pack. About halfway through the race, it had gotten down to three of us. Andy Johnston,Brian Schworm and me. Andy was pouring on the attacks in the single track and all I could do was hold his wheel a few yards back and Brian was kindof yo-yoing off and on the back. Going into the final lap, I made another strong move on the flat grassy section and Andy and I put a good gap on Brian. I kept the pace up hard until Andy and I were out of sight. Then I put it into cruise control for a good portion of the single track. Then Andy got by me and made an attack on the big climb about 2 miles from the finish. As soon as I noticed he was slowing down, I came around him and pulled the chain up to the big ring and opened up about a 20 second gap. I finished out the race from there and grabbed the first win of the season for the Bells Brewery / Quiring team. The 29er wheels coupled with the Ti frame helped out immensely on the rocky and root infested terrain. Rather than absorb the bumps like a fullsuspension bike, it rolls over them easier and slows me down less. I feel the bigger wheels compliment my riding style.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Pisgah NC
Jason Lummis
Pisgah North Carolina: Saturday the 10th I headed out to NC with the Kona gang. We arrived in the afternoon with warm temps and sunshine ! A quick 2 hr spin and 1 hell of a mile climb back up to the house ( 1 mile up and a few steep pitches) and we had the below view out the back of the house. Sunday was a warm MTB ride with some sustained climbs and bombing downhills. We stayed out for a good 4.5hrs +. Monday was the MT. Mitchel (6600 ft) road bike ride. 4 hours average speed 15mph, max was 47mph. This ride was fun as we climbed the blue ridge parkway out of Asheville. Stewy drove down from Banner Elk Monday night to ride with us and hang out for a few days. The Kona gang had their Power Taps and loads of info thanks to Terry Ritter (Full Potential Trainning). Tuesday turned into a long day of 5hrs on the MTB, but fun as we mixed it up with fire roads and trail. Wednesday was a good day as we hooked up with some more MI MTBers and had a group of 10 guys riding up to Black Mt. Thursday was the race home for me, as it was my wifes Bday and we had plans for the evening.
My QUIRING 29er review:
Prior to my trip to NC I had yet to ride my new MTB on any trails. As here in MI with the spring thaw, rain, rain and rain the trails where not proper to ride.
I was excited to ride the big wheels in some tougher single track trail. 1st mistake was forgeting my little ring at home. So I was stuck with my 44-32 up front with a 11-34 in the rear and no desire to buy something I didn't really need back home. So onto my review.
I was waiting to see if I would notice a big difference in the way the bike would steer in the single track, I am still waiting. I never noticed anything different from my 26 wheels to the new 29er. The bike did everything I asked of it and more. The NC Pisagh trails are rooted and rocky, my Quiring 29er made the small gaps between roots disappear. Smaller logs and water bars where easier to roll over, making my climbs a little easier. The hardtail was fine on the singletrack desecents and was super fast on any open runs.
Rating: My first days on a 29er A++++++
QUIRING Frame A+++++++++++++++ great bike, steel is real Fo sure.
My back blown out, man I wished I had a nice gear to spin up those 10+ miunte climbs
Pisgah North Carolina: Saturday the 10th I headed out to NC with the Kona gang. We arrived in the afternoon with warm temps and sunshine ! A quick 2 hr spin and 1 hell of a mile climb back up to the house ( 1 mile up and a few steep pitches) and we had the below view out the back of the house. Sunday was a warm MTB ride with some sustained climbs and bombing downhills. We stayed out for a good 4.5hrs +. Monday was the MT. Mitchel (6600 ft) road bike ride. 4 hours average speed 15mph, max was 47mph. This ride was fun as we climbed the blue ridge parkway out of Asheville. Stewy drove down from Banner Elk Monday night to ride with us and hang out for a few days. The Kona gang had their Power Taps and loads of info thanks to Terry Ritter (Full Potential Trainning). Tuesday turned into a long day of 5hrs on the MTB, but fun as we mixed it up with fire roads and trail. Wednesday was a good day as we hooked up with some more MI MTBers and had a group of 10 guys riding up to Black Mt. Thursday was the race home for me, as it was my wifes Bday and we had plans for the evening.
My QUIRING 29er review:
Prior to my trip to NC I had yet to ride my new MTB on any trails. As here in MI with the spring thaw, rain, rain and rain the trails where not proper to ride.
I was excited to ride the big wheels in some tougher single track trail. 1st mistake was forgeting my little ring at home. So I was stuck with my 44-32 up front with a 11-34 in the rear and no desire to buy something I didn't really need back home. So onto my review.
I was waiting to see if I would notice a big difference in the way the bike would steer in the single track, I am still waiting. I never noticed anything different from my 26 wheels to the new 29er. The bike did everything I asked of it and more. The NC Pisagh trails are rooted and rocky, my Quiring 29er made the small gaps between roots disappear. Smaller logs and water bars where easier to roll over, making my climbs a little easier. The hardtail was fine on the singletrack desecents and was super fast on any open runs.
Rating: My first days on a 29er A++++++
QUIRING Frame A+++++++++++++++ great bike, steel is real Fo sure.
My back blown out, man I wished I had a nice gear to spin up those 10+ miunte climbs
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Sweet ride !!!!!
Jason Lummis: Wow what a great night ! I drove out to Q's shop in Charlotte and he built up my 29er last night. At 24+/- lbs the bike is quick and lively. We broke it in with a quick Charlotte backroad ride last night after the build. I have a pair of American Classics on order and a set of Egg Beater Ti pedals to lighten the bike up come race day. I was hoping for a trial ride today, but the weather said "ICE Storm", which meant another lovely day of not so sunny Michigan.
Speaking of races, only a month and a half away and the MTB races start. Starting with Paris to Ancaster ( www.parisancaster.com ), then the Yankee Springs TT. The MI NORBA series starts off in May with the Whiskey Creek Stage race ( www.tailwind.net ). Until then I keep heading out with the Simonster and Joey B. on the weekends for some hammering miles, trying to squeeze in some hours during the week also. Talked with John Meyers the other day, he said is winter has been going well. Can't wait to race with everyone soon !
I am heading to NC in 2 weeks with the Kona Kids (www.konamidwestracing.com) for a few days of trainning. Hopefully I will get to hook up with STEWY (http://www.scottastewart.blogspot.com/) for a day or 2 also.
Sorry for the fuzy photos but all I had was my pic/phone.
Speaking of races, only a month and a half away and the MTB races start. Starting with Paris to Ancaster ( www.parisancaster.com ), then the Yankee Springs TT. The MI NORBA series starts off in May with the Whiskey Creek Stage race ( www.tailwind.net ). Until then I keep heading out with the Simonster and Joey B. on the weekends for some hammering miles, trying to squeeze in some hours during the week also. Talked with John Meyers the other day, he said is winter has been going well. Can't wait to race with everyone soon !
I am heading to NC in 2 weeks with the Kona Kids (www.konamidwestracing.com) for a few days of trainning. Hopefully I will get to hook up with STEWY (http://www.scottastewart.blogspot.com/) for a day or 2 also.
Sorry for the fuzy photos but all I had was my pic/phone.
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