Hugs For Helmets
April 28th, 2009
I don’t even know where to begin with this… perhaps we should institute in Montpelier? If only they would give us little flashing lights instead of tickets….
Archive
Archive for April, 2009
4/19 Criterium Results
April 21st, 2009
Results from the 4/19 Onion River Racing Training Criterium
B Race
1- Jared Katz – Onion River Sports
2- Mark White – Onion River Sports
3- Shawn Patenaude – Fitworks
4- Andrew Tripp – Montpelier
5- Brian Lane-Karmas – Montpelier
A Race
1- Jared Katz – Onion River Sports
2- Nick Petterssen – Onion River Racing
3- Fabien Grignard – Equipe Gervais Rioux
4- Patrick Ruane – Sunapee
5- Steve Colangeli – Onion River Sports
Thanks again to our sponsors- The Mountain Shop, Onion River Sports, the Nationa Life Group, and our marshals and volunteers!
CRITical Mass
April 20th, 2009
For our second event we hit our stride with attendence – 8 C’s, 11 B’s and 13 A’s, and plenty of spectators. We’d like to think it was our event marketing skills that got our numbers up, but the sunny skies and balmy temeratures were probably more influential than anything we’ve done to publicize our fledgling crit series.
The C Race brought in a handful of new riders to the group and provided the rest of us with a good warmup. As hoped, we had three riders from the C’s join in the B Race to test their skills at full speed. Jared Katz led out the B’s and had to be flogged one lap in as he apparently did not fully understand the 3 neutral lap policy – bad Jared! The field fractured about a third of the way into the 45 minutes and there were four leaders that stayed together for most of the race. Jared managed to get a good gap on the last few laps and took the win (sandbagger!).
The A Race used a points format with every 5 laps providing a chance to score for the top 5 riders across the line. This led to some spirited attacks throughout the race, and after the 3rd intermediate sprint Jared and Fabien (from Quebec) managed to slip off the front without any reaction from the pack (we were all too gassed from the last sprint.) They stayed out for the rest of the race, and Fabien pulled a sleeper move for the overall win. Steve Colangeli picked up a bonus Prime for $10 with an impressive bolt up the back hill. John McGill had meanwhile attacked the pack and stayed out for a solitary third place finsh, and Nick took the field sprint for fourth.
Once the points were tallied, Jared was first, Nick second, Fabien third, a guy from Sunappee cycles fourth (can’t remember his name) and Steve C. in fifth. The most enjoyable part of the race was the spectacular cheering section of pint-sized fans as there were several familes out with their kids enjoying the show. When they started building human pyramids and organizing cheer routines we knew the Onion River Racing Crit Series had gone “Big Time.”
But the biggest thanks go out to our volunteer course marshalls, Meghan, John and Dot Martin and Christine Petterssen who worked all three races – Thank you, thank you, thank you!
A fine day for bike/ped interests in VT
April 18th, 2009
(This is reproduced from an email that Nancy Schulz- Executive Director of Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition- sent out today)
The remarks I delivered today on behalf of VT’s bike/ped community to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and a room full of others were well received. The Secretary at one point instructed Bernie Sanders to allow me more time because “I like what she has to say.” (Thanks to Local Motion’s Chapin Spencer who offered the link to a LaHood speech that provided much grist for the mill.)
Furious Flurries
April 13th, 2009
Last Turn – Kyle Martel/Times Argus
Ross Saxton leads Matt Mainer and Matt Rossman around the last corner at the top of the course. Not sure if the flurries helped on the cool down at the top of that last climb. Thanks to the Times Argus for the photo. See the article here.
Neither Snow nor Wind nor Cold
April 12th, 2009
Sympathizing with their compatriots on the cobbles of the Roubaix, brave riders kicked off the first Onion River Racing Training Criterium in classic Vermont April weather- driving wind, sometimes snow, and and biting cold.
Nonetheless, with coffee and doughnuts (how uncyclist-like) keeping the internal fires burning, three races charged off from the start line in the parking lot of the National Life Group. The C group took four strong laps, with a handful of more experienced riders sitting in to give tips on pack riding, corners, and handling rougher roads. With two laps to go, the racing inductees flew off for an aggressive yet congenial finish.
We decided to mix the A and B groups to create a larger field, though each group was scored independently. The pack stayed together for the first few laps and then things started to get strung out. I was running around dealing with random cars on the course and taking pictures, so I can’t give the best account, suffice it to say that the lead group was pushing hard and a strong chase group was not giving up much ground.
With five laps to go, the B group leader Mike Prevace was tucked into the A chase group and held a solid lead on the rest of the B group. Looking comfortable and calm, he held his lead straight through to the finish. Patrick Caffely rolled across next, with Mark White and Pete Marin not close behind.
In the A group, Matt Mainer was alone and way out in front until the B finish. Chased by Matt Rossman and Ross Saxton for the better part of the race, the gap finally closed and the three held the lead together all the way across the line. Ross took the win, but all three crossed within moments of one another. Nick Petterson was alone between the leaders and the chase group for the last half of the ride. Though he gained each lap on the leaders, his solo effort needed a few more laps that he didn’t have to close the gap
The A chase group held together and did its best to catch the leaders. Onions John McGill and Steve Colangeli looked strong as they tried to gain some ground on the leaders. Fabian Grignari crossed first, with Phil Beliveau and John McGill just behind. Jean Lacriox kept pace with the chasers and finished just behind.
For our first race of the season things felt really fantastic! Despite the cold, everyone seemed in great spirits and the course really seemed to provide some good challenges for different kinds of riders. Special thanks to all our marshals who braved weather way to cold to be out in, and our official Thomas LaRose. Get your legs ready for next week and hope the weather is warmer!
[flickrset id="72157616590848981" thumbnail="square" overlay="true" size="medium"]
4/12/09 Criterium Results
April 12th, 2009
Here are the results of the first Onion River Racing Training Criterium Series, 4/12/09
(See: BikeReg results)
1. Ross Saxton, White River Junction, VT #3
2. Matt Rossman, Morrisville VT #9
3. Matt Mainer, Hinesburg, VT #4
4. Nick Peterson, Plainfield VT #1
5. Fabian Grignari, Montreal QC #6
6. John McGill, Montpelier VT
7. Phil Beliveau, St. George, VT #8
8. Steve Colangeli, Montpelier, VT #5
9. Jean Lacriox, Montpelier, VT #7
DNF Eric Trembly #2
B Group
1. Mike Previche, Fairfax VT #104
2. Patrick Caffely, Richmond VT #102
3. Mark White, Burlington VT #105
4. Pete Marin, Randolf, VT #107
5. Andrew McCullough, Montpelier, VT #101
6. Andrew Tripp, Montpelier VT, #100
Thanks to everybody who came out and raced, spectated, officiated, and marshaled today! Thanks to our sponsors The Mountain Shop, National Life Group, and the onion of onions, Onion River Sports. We could not have done it without you!
Eight Onions and a Hill
April 10th, 2009
Thursday night rides are one of the highlights of the rides that leave the ORS parking lot. They have been a little slow to get started this year, but we have a really great ride last night- some solid pack riding with a few town line sprints thrown in for good measure. As to be expected, the pack broke a bit as we climbed toward Duxbury gap, nonetheless there is just something to be said for shaking the cobwebs out of the winter legs. Nick powered us over the gap and we sailed down the three mile descent into Waterbury. Regrouping along Rt2, we got the pace line back together and it was home to Montpelier and beers a ‘Cuddies.
We’ll be out again on Saturday morning for a leisurely ride to Elmore and back. Some of us will be jumping into the Camp Ta-Kum-Ta Time Trial at 10am.
Criterium Dry Run Reportback
April 5th, 2009
Mark leading the second climb, Montpelier's capital in the background
Pushing it up the final ascent
Mark, Andrew and Jean exiting the top of the second climb
Well, perhaps “dry” is not what it quite what it was- a little bit of snow, or maybe it was rain, hard to tell really. But the roads were dry and occasionally the sun popped out for a moment or two. One can’t expect too much from April in Vermont. We rode laps for 2 plus hours, a few leisurely, a few at speed. Most of us had ridden the course before, but this was a chance to ride as a pack and get our sprint on. Or the overwinter “damn, my trainer never feels like” this on.
The course has two climbs, the first comes out of a corner from the modest decent. One can shoot through apex to apex without loosing much speed as you hit the steeper part of the climb. The second climb comes after a slight dip at the top of the first climb. This is a broad sweeping turn that you can see in the pictures which leads back into the parking lot for a sprint finish. There’s just enough time for some recovery before you heading down the decent to do it all over again. In terms of vertical feet, the course is somewhere north of 70 per lap, which my legs are currently reminding me of.
In the aesthetic and convenience dimension, the course actually has some stunning views of Camels Hump, as well as the Capital building. Check it out for yourself on National Life’s webcam. The course is directly off 89n, has good parking and quick access to coffee and bike repairs and parts at our kick ass local bike shop.
It really feels like the course offers a good diversity of terrain, making the unexpected… well I guess you’d say expected. Bring your legs and we’ll see you on Sunday.
Onion River Racing Training Criterium Series
April 2nd, 2009
SPONSORED BY NATIONAL LIFE GROUP, ONION RIVER SPORTS, AND THE MOUNTAIN SHOP
Sundays: April 12th through May 10th, 2009
Held under USA Cycling Permit (pending)
Location: National Life Group Headquarters, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT
Course: The 0.9-mile circuit around National Life Group’s headquarters consists of a 300 meter long downhill followed by a hard right hand corner, a winding 350 meter uphill section in two steps, and a flat section through the upper parking lot to the start/finish on a flat straightaway near the main entrance. There will be no neutral support – so bring your own spare wheels. Free Lap rule in effect. Course closed to traffic.
Format: The C event riders will be escorted throughout the course by experienced racers to learn cornering and pack riding skills. The B Race is a conventional race for entry level and Cat IV racers. One day licenses for new racers and 2009 USAC license renewals may be purchased on-site. The A Race uses a points format with sprints every five laps for five places (7-5-3-2-1). The final sprint is scored double (14-10-6-4-2).
Directions: Off I-89, take exit 8 onto Memorial Dr., turn right at first light onto National Life Dr., Climb hill and take 2nd left into National Life parking lot. Registration and start/finish will be near the main building. Map
Registration: at BikeReg or onsite. We are waiting on the event being listed on BikeReg, so if want to get on the priority list in the meantime, please email arthur @ onionriverracing.com with the dates you are interested in. Registration opens at 10:30 AM and closes 15 min prior to start of each event. One day licenses are available to unlicensed B and C race participants for an additional $10, as well as 2009 USA Cycling license applications and renewal forms for those wishing to convert one day licenses to annual licenses. Refunds available only on site, in case of cancellation due to heavy rain or lightning or intervening circumstances. Canadian cyclists with international (UCI) licenses are welcome!