April 2006 Archive
4-1-2006 Conyers Work Party From SORBA: "Work Party at the Horse Park to do some much needed trail maintenance. When: Saturday, April 15, 2006, Time: 9:45am - 2pm, Where: Meet at the Steeplechase Parking area, Horse Park, Conyers, GA, Needed: Bring water, food, work gloves, and be sure and wear close toed shoes. Boots are the best.
Komen Race From the promoter: "The Komen Central Georgia Cycle for
the Cure website is ready for registration! Please go to
www.KomenCentralGA.org and click on
the link for the Cycle for the Cure to sign up for one of the best cycling
events around! This event is for ladies only, sorry fellas, and proceeds benefit
the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in Central Georgia. The Komen
Foundation is known world-wide for its leading edge work in finding a cure for
breast cancer. Your registration fee and the sponsorships we have received for
the event will go to fund mammograms, educational programs, and events to bring
the message of hope to the community.
For the second year in a row, Komen Central Georgia is proud to partner with the
Tour de Georgia to bring you the Cycle for the Cure. While the men are hard at
work making their way from Augusta to Macon, our two races will be going strong
in Macon – utilizing much of the same in town circuit that the men will use when
they arrive. Our Cat 3 and 4 race will start at 1:00 and our Cat 1 and 2 race
will start at 2:15. Our awards ceremony will take place at 3:30 on the same
stage used by the Tour. The Tour will arrive between 4:00 and 5:00. After the
Tour’s award ceremony, we will host a “Pink Pedal Party” to honor the women’s
teams that came to participate. Our party begins at 6:00, which leaves you
plenty of time to enjoy a shower at our Macon Health Club which has opened its
doors for all participants to come freshen up. We’ll have food, beverages, and a
band to dance to, so you don’t want to miss this!
Our website is ready for registration now! As you sign up, if you see your team
listed, please click on the team name to register. If you are the first person
from your team to register, you will automatically be listed as the Team
Captain. This can be changed later if it is incorrect. As a Team registers, we
will produce a webpage that highlights information about your team. We will post
some information that we get from your website or that you send us. We will then
send an email to our community inviting them to come watch the race and stay to
meet the cyclists. They will also be invited to donate money to Komen on behalf
of their favorite team. The team with the highest amount of donations through
our website will receive a special prize. There is no pressure for you to raise
money, we would just like for the community to learn more about the teams and
pick a team to cheer for."
4-3-2006 Updated Regional RR Calendar I received and updated Southeastern Road Race calendar from the regional USCF coordinator. Please look at it as there have been some changes and additions to the calendar.
Buckhead Bellyache Reminders Please remember the following if you park at
St. Phillips for the Buckhead Bellyache ride.
1. Use the restrooms inside of the church and do not go into the woods! These
are very nice REAL bathrooms with sinks, stalls, and heat/AC!
2. Cover yourself when changing. LARGE towels and Sportkilts are good things.
You can also go into the aforementioned nice bathrooms to change. The church
members don't want to see your backside anymore than we do.
3. Park at the back of the lot or towards Peachtree St. Please do not park by
the church entrance.
4. Be NICE, COURTEOUS, and RESPECTFUL to the church members. Don't use bad
language in the parking lot, and don't make a huge scene. Act like your
mother taught you to act at church.
5. Be nice to the drivers on the road. They are bigger than you.
6. The Cobb County police have lost their sense of humor when the group crosses
the yellow line and with good reason. Don't cross the yellow line! Think of this
as a race with the Yellow Line Rule in effect except for getting DQ'ed, you
might get a ticket or smushed by a soccer mom driven SUV.
Weekday World Cup The advent of Spring begets the start of Daylight
Saving Time, a change which therein brings about my annual communiqué denoting
the commencement of the “real” season, the in-town rides, better knows as the
“Weeknight World Championships”.
This year, Daylight Savings Time starts at 02:00 AM ET on Sunday 04/02/06,
literally setting the wheels of Atlanta cycling in motion. Therein, I hereby
issue an official declaration of the following schedule:
The Sandy Springs Ride will begin at 06:30 PM ET on Tuesday 04/04/06. The first
four (4) editions (04/04/06, 04/11/06, 04/18/06 and 04/25/06) will be “Short
Option”, meaning sans the “Three Hump” loop through Vinings. The “Long Option”
will start on 05/02/06.
The Peachtree Battle will begin at 06:30 PM ET on Wednesday 04/05/06.
The
Chastain Ride will begin at 06:30 PM ET on Thursday 04/06/06.
The Tucker Ride will begin at 09:00 AM ET on Saturday 04/08/06, moving ahead one
(1) hour from its current Winter start time.
The Sunday Ride will remain at its usual 09:00 AM ET start time, because as we
all know, The Sunday Ride will change nothing for no one, as that is the way
things are meant to be.
For those of us, like yours truly, who’s fancy new kit will seldom see the
outside of the Perimeter due to the life commitments of wife, kids, mortgage and
career, this is where I get my velo yayas out. All of these rides have an
established decorum, structure or program, whatever you want to call it. Don’t
mess with “my rides”. I am speaking directly to a known few on the Chastain Ride
from last year – be forewarned that bad behavior will not be tolerated by the
tribal elders in 2006.
The off-season has produced many intriguing storylines in the cycling world as
we enter into the 2006 season. Who will be the “next” Lance Armstrong? Did Tyler
and Roberto really dope? Is Jan fat? Will the TdG continue to draw fans without
“le Boss”? Petacchi or Boonen in the sprint? Will Skinny’s helmet match his
uniform? Can true man-love exist between All Three Sports and Memorial Health /
Team One? (overhead, “I wish I knew how to quit you!”)."
Trish's note: These are NOT beginner rides. These are race training rides for very experienced riders. There are no maps, no sag stops, and you WILL be dropped. The pace is well over 20 mph.
4-4-2006 Upstate SC Swap Meet From the Greenville Spinner: Swap Meet 7am-12pm Saturday, April 29th at the Furman PAC building: The Upstate Triathlon Club has invited the Greenville Spinners to join in on a bicycle/triathlon swap meet that will occur Saturday, April 29th at the Furman PAC building from 7am to 12 pm. There is no cost to attend. If you want to sell some of that old stuff you don't use anymore (we all have enough of this laying around) sign up and get a table for $10. One person's junk is another person's treasure! For information, please contact Russ Madray, president of the UTC, at russ@madray.com or 864-915-3762. We'll have the flyer posted on www.greenvillespinners.org ASAP.
Greenville Donaldson Center Ride Reminders (Atlantans...see? Doesn't this
sound familiar to us?) From the Greenville Spinners: Donaldson Center Tuesday
Nights @ 6pm: Daylight savings time means Donaldson Center (DC) rides are
cranking up again every Tuesday at 6pm throughout the season. This is a very
exciting time of year for everyone and I look forward to seeing everyone
out there for the riding. The start of the season is a good time to review some
of the rules for Donaldson Center. These rules are absolutely necessary for us
to continue to have good relations with the Donaldson Center Development
Commission and its associated businesses. I want to encourage EVERYONE that
participates in Tuesday nights at DC rides to follow the rules to the letter.
The Spinners work very hard to protect this valuable cycling asset we have
enjoyed for more than 20
years. Each and every one of us has the responsibility to help police our own
ranks to insure that everyone rides safely at DC. There have been complaints
from time to time due to the actions of a few careless cyclists. The Spinners
have worked hard to improve relations, but we need your help through responsible
use of the property and obeying the rules of the road. With your help, we can
look forward to many more seasons of fun and safety.
1. Use the portable toilets. This is a huge complaint and an unnecessary one.
You would not want your neighbors walking in your neighborhood to walk up to
your house or garage and relieve themselves on your property. The businesses in
the are do not want to see you doing that on their property. It doesn't matter
if you think there is someone in the building or not. Do not do this. You have
the responsibility to help us control this by mentioning this rule to
anyone and everyone you see violating this policy.
2. If you hear (not just see) an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens going,
STOP AND GET OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. The fire department is one of our most
loyal allies at DC, but they will not tolerate cyclists impeding their progress
to get where they need to go in the case of an emergency. Let me be more clear
on this one. "Stop and get off the road" does not mean slow down and look over
your shoulder. It doesn't mean stand on the white line. It doesn't mean move to
the left lane near the white line. It means stop your bike and get in the grass
as quickly as possible. The siren is on the truck to give you plenty of warning
that they are approaching. The ride is suspended or neutralized when this
happens. The fire chief has been very clear on this point. They take great pride
in their response time to emergencies and they are proud of their record for
saving property, buildings and lives. They do not want cyclists in the road when
they have to get somewhere quickly. If you are driving a car and you impede the
progress of a fire truck or ambulance, you are subject to a $250
fine. We don't want it to come to that. Most importantly, if you are in need of
assistance on the course somewhere, you want the truck to get to you ASAP.
Let's make sure we obey this rule to the letter.
3. If you are warming up or riding without the police escort (with the main
field in the A or B group), ride on the right side of the road no more than 2
abreast. The commission receives numerous complaints against cyclist that have a
total disregard for the fact that other traffic is on the road. We all see it
every week. Riders riding 3 across in the lane, a group of riders riding out in
the middle of the lane instead of on the right side of the road or riders
stopping at stop signs taking up both lanes of traffic. Please remember that you
must ride on the right side of the road. Many people ride between 5pm and 6pm as
well as participating in the regular DC rides. At this time of day, the traffic
at DC can be significant. We have to respect the rules of the road if we are to
keep positive relations with the commission at DC. We are lucky in this area
that we are allowed to ride 2 abreast on bicycles. Many areas of the country
outlaw riding 2 abreast and people must ride single file. Let's do everything we
can to make sure we can enjoy our freedom to ride side-by-side by respecting the
other traffic on the road. If you see people violating this rule, please speak
up. We have to police our own ranks or others will start doing it for us. And
that's always a worst case scenario.
It is critical that we all work together to support the rules and encourage
others to do the same. If you see someone violating a rule, speak up. If you
hear someone speak up about a rule, support them. Do not let one person in the
right stand against one person in the wrong. If you are supporting the rules,
you have the support of all of us. Together we can protect this asset for years
to come. Finally, if there are situations that arise during the year with
riders, drivers or companies, please bring them to my attention ASAP. The
Spinners work very hard to insure we can all ride at DC and we will continue to
do so with your support.
Other than Atlanta News Although SE Cycling is Atlanta based, I'd love to put more information up about Alabama, the Carolinas, and TN. Alas, my time is limited, so I tend to focus on Georgia. If you have any out of state news, please feel free to pass it onto me!
TdG News Renowned sprinter Robbie McEwen (AUS) of Davitamon-Lotto ,
current No.1 ProTour rider Floyd Landis (USA) of the Phonak Hearing Systems, and
defending champion Tom Danielson (USA) of Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team
headline the field of professional cyclists who will compete at the 2006 Ford
Tour de Georgia. Event organizers, Medalist Sports, announced today the 8-man
rosters for each of the 15 teams, comprised of six ProTour teams, two U.S.-based
Professional Continental teams and seven Continental teams from the America Tour
.
"The Ford Tour de Georgia continues to attract the best professional cyclists in
the world. This year race fans will see some unbelievable talent, with
competition from Grand Tour riders like Floyd Landis, Robbie McEwen, Yaroslav
Popovych, and David Zabriskie. There are a total of 22 countries represented
this year by the 120-man field," Chris Aronhalt, project director for the Tour
and managing partner of Medalist Sports.
Danielson enters his third year of professional racing, including an eighth
place finish in the 2005 Vuelta a Espana. Other members of the Discovery team to
watch are Trent Lowe (AUS), winner of the GE Best Young Rider jersey at the 2005
Tour de Georgia while riding for Jittery Joe's, Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) winner
of the Best Young Rider award at the 2005 Tour de France, and Viatcheslav Ekimov
(RUS), the 2000 Olympic Games time trial gold medalist and 14-time veteran of
the Tour de France.
Landis has hit form early this year winning both Paris-Nice and the inaugural
Amgen Tour of California. He finished third overall in the 2005 Tour de Georgia,
including a win in the individual time trial. Teammate Robert Hunter of South
Africa is one of Phonak's best riders, and won the first stage of the Tour de
Georgia last year.
McEwen, in his 11th professional season, is a sprint specialist who has won 16
Grand Tour stages. Also look for American sprinter Fred Rodriguez on the
Davitamon-Lotto team, returning for what promises to be an exciting follow-up to
his 2003 Tour de Georgia visit where he won two stages.
Team CSC was the top-ranked UCI ProTour team in 2005 and brings a strong team to
Georgia for the third consecutive year. This Danish team will bring American
David Zabriskie to Georgia, a General Classification contender who wore the
yellow jersey in the 2005 Tour de France and won the Stage 8 individual time
trial in the Giro d'Italia. He will be joined by teammate Brian Vandborg of
Germany, who won a stage in the 2005 Tour de Georgia.
Belgian giant Team Quick Step-Innergetic came away with at least one stage win
in all three of the Grand Tours and five of the Classics last year, and also has
the current world champion titles for time trial and road racing. Quick Step has
sponsored professional cycling teams in Europe for years, and its teams have
competed in the Tour de France for six consecutive years. The Ford Tour de
Georgia marks the first big race on American soil for the Quick Step team, who
will have American-Italian Guido Trenti, who has represented the U.S. at the
world championships and is a stage winner from the Vuelta a Espana (2001).
Prodir-Saunier Duval will bring two newcomers to their roster this year,
American Aaron Olson, who was a standout on the Under-23 U.S. National Team, and
Charles Dionne, the Canadian National Champion and two-time winner of the
T-Mobile International Pro Cycling race in San Francisco.
For a complete roster for each team and a look at the team jerseys, visit the
official event website, www.fordtourdegeorgia.com.
Wed. Women's Ride From Linda, the ride leader: "Daylight savings time
means the "Wednesday Women's Ride" starts this week. We will, once again, meet
behind the Peachtree Bicycle Shop in Garden Hills. The ride starts at 6:30
sharp. Because we are just getting in to longer days, I would suggest that you
bring a light for the first couple of weeks, as I suspect it may get a little
dark at the end. This year we will be joined by many of the Sorella group. Many
of you are familiar with this new women's group, but if not, check out their
website at sorellacycling.com (they are awesome).
Depending on the interest and ride level of those who show up, we may start to
split the ride this year into two groups. ( If you are interested in leading a
second group...I hesitate to say slower...please let me know.) I am also
attaching a map of the route for those that may want to make sure they have a
copy in case they get lost. I will try to print out a few for the shop to keep
on hand as well. As always, please remember to be courteous of those around you.
Call out and/or signal pot holes, runners or walker on the road, cars that are
behind the group, etc. Please ride single file on busy streets (like Northside)
and no more than two riders abreast on "car-frequented" streets. Keep to
the side of the road whenever there is a car behind the group to allow them
to pass."
Myogenesis What have the Myogenesis Nutrition p/b Landmark Dodge boys been up to this week? Check out their latest race report.
Macon MTB Photos I took a ton of photos of the Georgia Championship Series Race #1 in Macon on Sunday. Kudos for SORBA OMBA for a job well done!
4-6-2006 Ellijay
Happenings From Cartecay Bikes Tuesday Evening Road Ride! Every
Tuesday! Day Light savings time! Place: Talking Rock Georgia! Ride Leaders!
Larry Crook and Alan Seabolt The Snake Creek Gap Time Trail Champion! Type of
Ride! This is a Road ride thirty to forty miles. Time: Start at 6:00 PM Eastern
Route: West Pickens County and South East Gilmer County
Directions" Ga Hwy 515 past the last traffic signal light in North Jasper. A
Kroger and Home Depot are on your left coming from the North. Go down the hill
and you will see a Citgo Service station, turn right and the Talking Rock Post
office is on your left.
Questions contact Larry at 678-910-4502 or Alan 770-262-4538
April 5 This Wednesday Night at 7:00 PM. Ellijay Mountain Bike Club has a
meeting.
Place Elgave Mexican Restaurant in downtown Ellijay.
All Local Mountain Bikers should support this group!
Please come out and help us!
April 14 and 15 2006
Ellijay Mountain Bike Festival at Fort Mountain State Park. Check the website
for details
April 13, 2006 Every Thursday Night.
Thursday evening: Local Try a new Trail ride!
This is a ride for folks who would like to ride as a group and try different
trails in our area.
We will start with the River loop on Thursday April 13, 2006.
Time 6:00 PM Meet at the Bike or Trail Head!
Type of Ride! Mountain Bike.
This is a Beginner to intermediate rider level.
Brings friends and family that would like to learn how to ride and meet new
people!
April 22! Cohutta 100 and 35 mile Mountain Bike Race!
newleafadventures.com contact Barb!
Cheer on Eddie Odea, Jeremy Wadkins, and the Slingshot Mountain Bike Team!
Support this Local Event!
Thanks for your Time! Mike"
**JUNIORS**Raccoon Mtn. LAJORS Series From the Promoter: "I wanted to
announce that Raccoon Mountain will be a LAJORS race again this year. We were a
late addition to the calendar, and I wanted to make sure that the word got out
to the Juniors in the Atlanta area since we had such a good turnout last year
from Georgia.
We will have a 27 mile 1 lap race for Juniors 15-18 and a special half-lap (12
mile) race for the younger juniors age 10-14. That's a lot of fun and/or pain
for only $5 entry fee!"
5 Markings in Buckhead Does anyone know what the "5" road markings are in
Buckhead. They look like a route. Drop me an email at
sttarlite at hotmail dot com.
4-7-2006 Saul Raisin
I'm sure by now many of you have heard of Dalton's Saul Raisin being in serious
condition in a hospital in France because of a crash in a race a few days ago.
Keep an eye on cyclingnews.com, procycling.com, and velonews.com for the latest
updates. I got this from George Heagerty, the regional USCF coordinator. I think
it's a USA Cycling Press Release:
Colorado Springs, Colo. (April 6, 2006) – Saul Raisin (Credit Agricole / Dalton,
Ga.) is in serious condition at a hospital in Angers, France due to injuries he
sustained during the opening stage of the Circuit de la Sarthe.
Raisin, 23, “suffered a brain hemorrhage early Thursday morning, forcing doctors
to induce a coma to stabilize his condition and reduce pressure on the brain,”
VeloNews reported. He underwent surgery to alleviate pressure to his brain early
Thursday morning.
Raisin’s parents are expected to arrive Thursday in France to be with him. U23
Team Manager Noel Dejonckheere will travel to France to be with Raisin and his
family tomorrow.
VeloNews notes that Raisin fell with about 2km to go in the 193km stage from
Mouilleron Le Captif to Saint Mars La Jaille, breaking his clavicle and one rib
as well as suffering serious cuts and abrasions to his face. Fellow former
Under-23 program member Tyler Farrar was also injured near the end of the stage
in a separate incident. Farrar left the race with a broken collarbone.
Our thoughts are with Raisin, Farrar and their families, and we’ll keep you
posted on their conditions. Reports on Raisin and Farrar can be found at
VeloNews and at cyclingnews.com.
The following note was received from U23 Team Soigneur Chris de Vos. He's
looking to collect notes of encouragement to share with Raisin' s family. Please
send any correspondence for Raisin and his family to de Vos at usa.u23@telenet.be.
I am writing you all to ask for your prayers for a close friend of us and USA
Cycling . I know that miracles can happen which is what he needs now. Saul is a
strong guy and I know he is fighting hard in his bad postion in the hospital in
France . Noel, our team manager, is traveling tomorrow to the hospital to see
Saul and his parents . Can I ask you to reply or answer this email with some
strong words for Saul and his family so we can give Saul and his family courage
in the hard coming days .
I'm going to collect all of your words of courage and give it to Noel to take to
France so he can give it to Saul's Family . Hope that I am going to receive alot
of emails !!!! If you guys now more people that want to write something, please
feel free to give them the email address .
Kindest Regards
Chris
Soigneur U-23 NATIONAL TEAM
Trish's note: Farrar said on Velonews.com today that he should be back in competition in early May. His broken clavicle will not need surgery.
Gainesville TT I've heard that the directions to this weekend's GA Cup TT in Gainesville are not on their website as of 9:00 4-6. Here they are: Take I-85 North from Atlanta to I-985. Take the Spout Springs Rd. exit and then take a left and go back under the highway. Your first light will be Thurmon Tanner. Take a right and the start will be up the road about ½ mile.
TdG Leaders Jerseys Huh? Kudzu?
4-8-2006 Saul Updates Southeastern Cycling will be racing this weekend, so no weekend updates. Please keep an eye on cyclingnews.com and velonews.com for updates on Saul.
Saul Raisin at the TdG 2005. Copyright Trish Albert/Southeastern Cycling.
Saul at the Tundra Time Trial in Powder Springs in 2003 about a month before heading to his first season in Europe. Copyright Trish Albert/Southeastern Cycling
I can only hope that what holds true for the other American Tour De France winners--Lemond and Armstrong--will hold true for Saul. They each underwent a tragedy in their lives that they had to overcome. Lemond had a hunting accident and was shot, and everyone knows about Lance's cancer. Maybe this is Saul's obstacle. Maybe in 5 years he will be on the top podium in Paris. We can only hope!
4-9-2006 Saul Update Saul is still stable in a hospital in France. His condition remains unchanged.
Tsali SERC I joined several Sorellas this weekend at the Tsali SERC in NC. It was another great race put on by Gone Riding--David and Terry Berger. Sorella dominated the Master Women Sport division with Tracy Woods winning, Jodi in 3rd, and Alison Lowry in 7th. Kari Linder also had a strong race. I never do well here in all the times I've raced here. I got a bit complacent today and should have been faster. A bad VCD attack in the first 2 miles didn't help matters. I finally recovered about 6 miles in, but the damage was done. I managed to pass about 6 people back and finish in the middle of the 40+ rider pack.
Tracy Woods and Jodi on the podium of the Master Sport Women's division at Tsali. Go Sorella!
Gainesville Georgia Cup After several bad crashes in the last few years, I wonder if the GA Cup organizers will make changes to the crit course. Two riders, including OTR rider Josh Arwood, and a woman racer broke their elbows in Saturday evening's crit. Last year the same crit claimed another OTR elbow when someone pushed him in the barriers and Forum woman rider. (Both are fine now and back to racing). Yet another rider was sent to the hospital today with a concussion. Be safe out there, and get well soon M, J, and L!
OTR Cycling On a positive note, Andy Diffenderfer was 2nd in the Cat. 5 Men's TT and 5th in the Cat. 5 RR! Chris Hurst and Ryan Pumpian had two good races in the Cat. 3 crit and RR.
Andy Diffenderfer (OTR Cycling-Strenflex) and his medal at the Gainesville GA Cup
SE Cycling Delays Well, Chris and I have bought a new house! What does this mean for SE Cycling? I'll be really busy for the next few weeks moving, cleaning, and generally doing things associated with moving. I'm probably only going to update the site every few days except for during the TdG. I'll be bringing you daily photos as well as some photos by Doug Gravino, who some of you may remember from last year and the great photos he shot during the 2005 cyclocross season.
4-11-2006 WBL Ride
Join pros from Jittery Joes, Aerospace Engineers, Kodak/Sierra Nevada,
Navigators, Health Net and others as they prepare for the upcoming Tour of
Georgia with a WBL adventure, the Jittery Joes Madison Classic, this Saturday,
4-15-06. Ride will depart Sunshine Cycles at 10 a.m. and will be 80 - 90 miles
run at WBL tempo. Canadians welcome! Don't miss this
historic event! The Gentleman, Briggs Carney
(Trish's note: This is a race training ride! This is not beginner friendly. Expect a pace well above 22-23 mph. You will be dropped!)
Women's Recovery Ride Sorella Cycling is putting on a women's recovery ride every Monday in Decatur. It leaves at 6:30. Meet in the parking lot behind Avondale Pizza. The route is about 18 miles. Road bikes only, please.
Jacksonville The Aaron's Women's team checks in with their report from the Jacksonville, FL races.
Saul Saul is regaining consciousness, slowly but surely. He was able to squeeze his mother's hand today. He is moving all of his fingers and toes!
Marietta Crit Ok, it's been a while since I've ranted. A local triathlon coach brought some of his athletes to the crit tonight. While I commend them for wanting to try something different, some things they did were DANGEROUS! I overheard two of them say that this was their first group ride. ARGH! The crit is NOT the place to learn how to handle your bike, and it is NOT a beginner's clinic. Please do some other group rides first. There are a ton of them here.
1. Get in at the BACK of the pack! You don't have to be the last person, but go in towards the last 1/4 of the pack.
2. Do NOT get up to speed, go all the way over to the right, slow down, have the pack come around you, and then try to get back up to speed. The coach himself did this and nearly took out several people.
3. Do NOT get in at the front of the pack while you are doing 15 mph and swerving all over the road.
4. DO observe others trying to get back in at the top of the hill before trying it yourself.
5. Do NOT ride in front of the car. It will hit you, and you will get squished. You probably wouldn't like that very much.
6. DO other group rides before trying the crit. Doing the crit as your first group ride will only get you and others injured.
Also, remember to be discreet when "going to the trees" and when changing. The business park employees and clients don't want to see yo' ugly butt any more than the rest of us. Try to park in an empty lot and not in front of an occupied business. Pick up your trash. Be nice to the other users of the business park, in John's words "pregnant ladies, walkers, and dogs." (or something to that effect). Smile, say hi, and be polite like your mother taught you.
--Signed, The Queen of Getting Dropped and Getting Back Into the Crit
Disclaimer: Southeastern Cycling has nothing to do with the crit, does not promote it, etc.
4-12-2006 BUCKHEAD BELLYACHE TOMORROW ST. PHILLIPS WILL BE HOLDING AN EVENING EASTER SERVICE THIS THURSDAY. AS SUCH, THEY REQUESTED THAT THE CYCLISTS PARK IN THE LOWER LOT AS WE HAVE DONE BEFORE IN SUCH CASES.
Gainesville GA Cup Myogenesis checks in with their weekly race report. This week was the Gainesville Georgia Cup. "W" was the letter for the weekend.
Big Jon Atkins (Myogenesis) on the podium for winning the Pro/1/2 Crit at Gainesville
Chicopee Work Party From Gainesville SORBA:
Start Time: 09:30 AM
Duration: 04 hour(s) 30 minutes(s)
Location: Chicopee Woods MTB Trail Head
Category: Trail Construction
Trail work parties typically last about 4-6 hours. Plan to hike in unless
otherwise posted (or check with coordinator if in doubt), so wear comfortable
but sturdy boots. Also bring work gloves, plenty of water, and a snack or lunch.
Sometimes we will ride afterwards, so bring your bike as well, just be sure you
can secure it in or on your vehicle while working.
Other Information: We will meet at the trail head around 9:00am and hike out at
9:30am. Bring good work shoes and something to drink throughout the work day.
Lunch will be provided. Thank you, Blake Sexton Gainesville SORBA
Help us out with the Nalley Historic Roswell Criterium and we will set you up
with a nice free hat, t-shirt and a tasty catered lunch.
4-13-2006 Roswell Crit
Volunteers Needed From Roswell Velo: As always, we need volunteers to assist
with the following; Course Prep --- Friday afternoon April 28th, Course Set-Up
--- Sunday, 6:30am until Noon, Course Marshalling --- Sunday, 3 1/2 hour shifts
beginning at 11am,
Parking Lot Control -- Sunday, 2 hour shifts beginning at 7am. Volunteers will
receive a free t-shirt, hat, and lunch. Michael Johnson Subaru Cycling Team,
email: mjhome at mindspring dot com.
Bellyache Thanks! Thanks to all of the riders at the Bellyache tonight who parked in the lower lot of St. Phillips. When I rode through the upper lot about 7:30, it was almost completely full from the Passover (Easter) service. I'm sure the church appreciates it. To the few that didn't park in the lower lot, please be considerate of the church members. St. Phillips is private property. We are under their good graces to be there; it is not our right to park on private property. It is a privilege.
If you have trouble reading this email, go to the online version.
4-15-2006 TdG Radio
and TV Coverage
ATLANTA, Ga. (April 14, 2006) – The 2006 Ford Tour de Georgia has increased its
broadcast presence with a variety of radio and television coverage scheduled to
air across Georgia and the U.S. The Tour, now in its fourth year, will take
place next week, April 18-23. Look and listen for special programming and
promotions to air on WSB-TV, Outside Life Network (OLN), Comcast, and a variety
of radio stations including Atlanta-based stations 99X, Sports Talk 680 The Fan,
and ESPN Deportes (1380 AM).
A special, half-hour preview show will air on Sunday, April 16 on WSB-TV/channel
2 (ABC affiliate) at 2 p.m. This special program, produced by Medalist Sports
and Kent Gordis Productions, will give race fans a sneak peak into the peloton
and the rolling festival for race week, April 18-23. This marks the first time
that feature dedicated to the Ford Tour de Georgia has aired. It will also be
broadcast on Comcast (check local listings for date/time).
"Each year the broadcast, print and web coverage for the Tour increases and we
have made a strong push for additional broadcast programming this year. Our
media partners on the national and local level have been outstanding this year,
from OLN to Comcast to WSB-TV. We know race fans will get the information they
need to help them plan their trip to the event," said Chris Aronhalt, managing
partner of Medalist Sports, the sports agency licensed to operate the Tour.
All of the 12 host cities for the event will have local radio partners who
provide race updates. In the metro Atlanta area, radio stations 99X, Sports
Radio 680 The Fan and ESPN Deportes (1380 AM) will provide daily updates.
FM radio station 99X will feature a live remote on Saturday, April 22 from 8:00
p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with Shiner Beer for a "Tour Celebration", broadcast from
Montana's Greenhouse in Alpharetta, Ga. Special guests expected to attend are
three-time Tour de France Champion Greg LeMond, and several U.S. national
champion cyclists, including Steve Hegg, Mari Holden and Norman Alvis. LeMond
and these elite athletes are supporting the Ford Tour de Georgia this year as
part of the BriarRose Grand Peloton, a special recreational bicycle ride on
April 23 to raise funds for the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
The week following the Tour, a full two-hour recap program will air nationally
on OLN, as the feature on its "Cyclism Sundays" program. The show airs from 5
p.m. to 7 p.m.; check this link to olntv.com for more information.
Complimenting all broadcast will be live race reports, video and photo
highlights of the Ford Tour de Georgia on the worldwide web. Visit the official
website at www.fordtourdegeorgia.com for links and information.
TdG News From Cyclingnews.com (rewritten from TdG press releases)
Phonak's excess baggage
Preparations for next week's Tour of Georgia (from April 18-23) are running full
speed ahead for the Phonak Cycling Team. The logistical planning involved is
especially huge: think of eight riders, directeur-sportif Renavary, Dr. Denis
Demir, three mechanics and three massage therapists as well as their media
officer, travelling with more than 40 pieces of luggage - all bound for the US
State of Georgia.
Included in that entourage are: 24 racing bikes with 43 pairs of wheels, 300
energy bars and three kilos of powder for isotonic drinks. The team can't depend
on the usual fleet of cars, so the cars provided by the organisers have to be
fitted out before the beginning of the race.
While it may seem like a logistical nightmare, Savary finds it 'stimulating'
(?!), according to a team statement. Last year, Phonak took stage wins with
Floyd Landis and Robert Hunter, and also wore the leader's jersey during four
stages. "That was a nice success," Savary recalls. "If we could improve on that
[result], it would be wonderful."
TdG That's right! The Tour De Georgia starts Tuesday in Augusta and ends in
Macon. Check out the TdG website for all of the information including route
maps, anticipated finish times, etc. Note that on the "Three Gap" stage on
Friday, the riders will NOT be going up Woodys twice this year. See the route
map for full information. Southeastern Cycling will be doing photography again
this year! Stay tuned! I've also learned that Southeastern Cycling contributor
Brady Rogers will be doing a special column for Pez Cycling news.
Jittery Joe's to Tour de Georgia
The Jittery Joe's team is getting ready for its 'home' race, the Ford Tour de
Georgia, which takes place between April 18 and 23.
"We have done so well the past couple of years that our sponsors have learned to
just expect great things," said Micah Rice, general manager of the team. "Some
of our sponsors don't know how hard it is to race against teams like Discovery,
CSC and Quick Step; they just assume that we will have a big impact on the
race."
In 2004, the team won the queen stage of the tour when Cesar Grajales attacked a
group with Lance Armstrong, Jens Voigt and Chris Horner with 2 km to go to win
on top of Brasstown Bald. In 2005 with Trent Lowe, the Bean Team managed to
defend the GE Best Young Rider jersey for four days against a hard charging Saul
Raisin.
The team heads into the tour with the following roster: Trent Wilson, Jeff
Hopkins, Evan Elken, Craig Wilcox, Peter Hatton, Phil Wong, Austin King and Neil
Shirley.
"Trent is riding really well right now and his experience at the last two Giri
d'Italia will really help lead the team," said Rice. "We have a number of other
riders riding good and we expect to have a trick or two up our sleeve for next
week."
Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada at Tour De Georgia
The Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada team has finalised its eight rider selection
for the Ford Tour de Georgia, April 18-23. Leading the squad will be Ben
Jacques-Maynes, an allrounder who currently is currently ranked eighth in the
USA Cycling National Racing Calendar standings.
Climber Dominique Perras, who figured prominently in the final stage of last
year's Tour de Georgia, and Jackson Stewart, a breakaway threat with great
finishing speed, will also be in the hunt for stage wins, while Dan Schmatz will
captain the team. Pete Lopinto, Scott Zwizanski, Mike Dietrich, and Jesse
Anthony will primarily play support roles, but may also be called upon to
represent the team in a breakaway, as Zwizanski did in the final stage of the
Tour of California.
The team is also optimistic that Anthony, 20, will contend for the Best Young
Rider classification.
Racing Manager Jonas Carney commented, "We have a balanced team for this race,
and we're ready. Ben has been knocking on the door all season, and Jackson has
been really impressive as well. We've raced hard all year and this could be a
breakthrough race for us."
Trish's Note: If you have any photos, articles, etc. from the TdG and want them posted, email me!
Daily TdG Coverage I will be providing what coverage I can of the TdG,
but be sure to check velonews.com, cyclingnews.com, etc. for daily live
coverage.
Saul Trish's Note: I found this letter on cyclingnews.com. A couple of us
were talking about this just the other day:
The gods of cycling
Greg LeMond was shot in a hunting accident and came back to win two Tours de
France.
Lance Armstrong contracted testicular cancer and came back to win seven Tours de
France.
Not to make light of Saul's condition, but if history is any indication, the
cycling gods have just tipped American Saul Raisin for future greatness.
Get well, Saul. The top step of the Tour de France podium is waiting for you.
Stephen Howard
Bellevue, WA
Friday, April 07, 2006
Host Housing Needed The CAICO Pro Team from Puerto Rico is coming to Georgia for the crit series (Twilight, Roswell, and the SC Heritage Series) in late April-early March. They have have 7 riders and a director. They will be heading off to Joe Martin and Tri Peaks after the crit series. Is there anyone interested in providing some host housing for some of all of them? Please contact Ryan Barnett at 678-982-2449 cel or rbarnett at psi-atlanta dot com.
Charlotte News Charlotte Mountain Bike Series Kick Off April
26 The Charlotte Mountain Bike Series is set to kick off on April 26 at the US
National Whitewater Center, see below for info on the park. We will still use
the south entrance off Heavy Equipment School Rd until the park is open to the
public and the new trails at the north end of the park are reconnected and ready
to ride.
New for this season, sixteen races as opposed to twenty. We will make the
rotation of each park, USNWC, Beatty, Renaissance, and N Meck, then take a week
off. We will have one double points race during each four race rotation. The
double points races will be announced the day of the race. Two new categories,
Super Sport Men and Expert/Super Sport Women. Both of the categories will race
the same distance as Sport and were created to allow better competition
throughout ALL categories. Any and all categories will be combined due to lack
of participation.
If you plan to race the summer series as an Expert, specifically the men, you
must purchase an annual NORBA license. NORBA licenses can be purchased at
www.usacycling.org The women's category is a combined category so you can race
as an Expert or Sport or any and all Expert women can race down a category with
the men.
We are also working on food sponsors for the entire series. If possible, we
would like to line up food sponsors for each and every event. Last be definitely
not least, we have picked up many new sponsors this season. Most all of the
local bike shops are back on board, plus Shimano, Trek, Kona, Continental
Tires, SockGuy, Gary Fisher, Nike, Bontrager, Easton, Clif Bar, Serfas, Fox,
Giordana, and many more. What does this mean, lay off mail order, stop by your
local shop, and let them know you appreciate their support by patronizing their
business. If it wasn't for our local shops, we wouldn't have anything for
prizes.
For updated info on the series, check out
www.charlottemtnbike.com
Bike Charlotte The City of Charlotte Department of Transportation,
Charlotte Area Transit System and Charlotte Sports Cycling are once again
joining forces to host one of Charlotte's most healthy and inspiring events:
Bike! Charlotte 2006. This event is set to take place Friday May 5 through
Sunday
May 14.
Bike! Charlotte is 10 days of bicycle-related events and promotions used to
encourage families, friends and colleagues to break out the bike and incorporate
it into their daily routines. Whether used for transportation or recreation,
bicycles are efficient, nonpolluting modes of travel with great health benefits.
The theme of Bike! Charlotte 2006 is, "Choose Your Route." Whether it's a route
to better health, to save money, cleaner air, have more energy, losing weight,
independence, easier parking, or to have just plain fun -- you can get there on
a bike!
The 2006 event features a diverse agenda of exciting activities and promotions
for all to enjoy, many of which are free. This year's festivities will kick off
Friday with the Mayor's Ride/Bike To Breakfast in Uptown Charlotte. Saturday,
the events are in full swing with road and mountain bike rides, bicycle safety
rodeos, and bicycle demos. During the weekdays, many of the local bicycle shops
are hosting bicycle maintenance clinics that address different ways to keep your
bike in top shape. The following weekend is once again full of great events but
highlighted by Cycle Charlotte. Cycle Charlotte is a bicycle festival in Uptown
Charlotte with three support bike routes and live music.
Whether you are a beginner, an avid rider, or just happen to own a bike that's
been hanging in the garage for a year, there is an event for you during Bike!
Charlotte. Break out the bike and head to a Bike! Charlotte event. A detailed
list of Bike! Charlotte events will be posted on the web and/or will be listed
in the Observer on May 3. For more detailed information on the week of events,
contact Neal Boyd at nealboyd@charlottesportscycling.com or CDOT bicycle planner
Ken Tippette at 704-336-2278. The event's Web site can be found at
www.bike-charlotte.org.
4-16-2006 DLV News
We have a number of projects and need your help before the opening day Festival
of Speed race May 7th! We need everybody's help. I hope to see you there!
____________________________________
April 21st: Friday Night Sprints
April 22nd: Velodrome Spring Cleanup - It's earth day so do your part
by helping us
May 1st: Bicycle Little League (8 to 13)
May 7th: Festival of Speed
Ongoing Weekly Events:
Monday Night Training 7:30 sharp
Wednesday Night Training Races
Thursday Junior Development (14 to 18) 6-7:30pm
Thursday Aduit Beginners Classes 7:30-9Pm
____________________________________
Call for volunteers during the Festival of Speed on May 7th Please send us an
email if you can help out for a few hours --> info@savedlv.org
____________________________________
1.We have s,m,l,xl 100% white cotton Dick Lane Velodrome t-shirts.
The only time when having NO BRAKES is considered fun.
2.We have s,m,l,xl (black) Dick Lane Velodrome cycling socks.
3.We have one size fits-all Dick Lane Velodrome hats!
Cost:
$10.00 for DLV t-shirt
$10.00 for DLV socks
$15.00 for DLV Hat
There is a $5.00 shipping and handling for each order - or you can purchase them
during the work day or Festival of Speed Race!
TdG Blog Renee Martinez and the "Beyond Spandex Girls" are going to do a daily post at their Blog. Renee works for the Macon Telegraph and is a phenomenal writer and a pretty darn good mountain biker.
Greenwood Crit Please contact Angie Jones, Greenwood Uptown Manager by
phone at 864.942.8448 or via email at uptown@cityofgreenwoodsc.com for
additional information related to the 4th Annual Uptown Pro Cycling Challenge
Thursday, May 4th.
GREENWOOD, SC - Uptown (Downtown) Greenwood streets will be filled with some of
the top amateur and professional bicycle racers in the world when the fourth
annual Uptown Greenwood Pro Cycling Challenge returns to Greenwood Thursday, May
4. “It’s a quieter version of NASCAR,” is how race organizer Gene Dixon likes to
describe it in the simplest of terms. “It’s world class athletes going really
fast on finely tuned machines.”
A purse of $10,000 will be up for grabs when Olympians, Tour de Georgia veterans
and Champions from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand
compete in the 50-mile, multi-lap criterium event Uptown Greenwood.
Cuba-American Ivan “The Cuban-Missile” Dominguez will return to Uptown to defend
his 2005 Pro Cycling Challenge win. The Uptown race is a part of a six race USA
CRITS Championship Criterium Series. The series, which will be held a week after
the Tour de Georgia, combines races in Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama, and
offers top national and international riders a chance to race for an additional
$75,000 in prize money. “It will be the fastest week of racing in the U.S.,”
says Ravi Rajcoomar, race promoter with Swagger, LLC, who is producing the
series. The 1.10-kilometer, four-turn course will begin at the corner of Oak and
Main streets and run clockwise with right turns on to Washington, Monument and
Maxwell back to the start/finish line at Oak and Main. A criterium is a
multi-lap race on a closed course typically less than one mile long that offers
an up-close and personal glimpse of the fast-paced sport of professional bicycle
racing. The Tour de France, on the other hand, is a stage race on open
roads.“You get to see the whole race unfold right in front of you,” Dixon said
of a criterium.
This criterium racing discipline has bred a unique type of cyclist who must
demonstrate top speed and bike handling skills and has been referred to as
“America’s contribution” to bicycle racing. “They are going to be going up to as
high as 40 miles per hour and the winner is going to average around 30,” Jim Cox
of the Greenwood Cycling Club recently explained. “If you’re going 30 miles per
hour in a car, it’s slow. But on a bicycle, 30 miles per hour is flying.
In addition, Uptown Greenwood will host children’s activities prior to the main
race. Children are invited to participate in a bicycle rodeo, a safety clinic
and a free helmet giveaway starting at 5:30 p.m. Children’s bicycle races will
be held at 6 p.m. on the same course the pros will use. Children’s
activities will take place in the fountain parking lot. Helmets and other items
will be given while supplies last. Children wishing to enter youth races must
have a helmet and have a parent present to sign a waiver form. Uptown streets
will be blocked off to traffic. Vendors will be set up along the race route,
selling barbecue, hot dogs, drinks, ice cream, etc., and restaurants will be
open. The race will go on as scheduled rain or shine. Among the events planned
include a Live After Five concert beginning at 5 p.m. at the Countybank Plaza
featuring The Steep Canyon Rangers. For additional information, visit
www.uptowngreenwood.com or www.usacrits.com or call (864) 942-8448.
4-18-2006 Back up on Regular News Pardon me this week guys if I get backed up on "regular" Georgia news. I will be covering the Tour De Georgia. The photo geek in me is hoping to test some new equipment and evaluate it for future purchase. I may get backed up on "regular news."
DSL Provider? Do you like your DSL provider? LMK! Email me at sttarlite at hotmail dot com. We are moving and need a new provider as my current provider doesn't service the area. No worries! SE Cycling is hosted by a professional company, so there will be no down time!
4-19-2006 2006 SHARE
the Road Kick-off and Community Ride
11 AM - 12 NOON, Friday, April 28, 2006 at Central Park in Atlantic Station
(Take District Ave off 17th Street)
Join fellow cyclists and public officials in a 3 mile fun ride! Send a strong
message about Sharing the Road! Enjoy the bond of a common cause! Celebrate
Spring! Enjoy a FREE Lunch! Start National Bike Month "rolling" with vigor! Win
FREE Prizes! SEE YOU THERE! Sponsored by the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign
For more information, call 404-881-112, or
click here.
Komen Race for the Cure The Aaron's Women's Cycling Team had a good day at the Komen Race for the Cure Tuesday in Macon.
Sunny King Crit Sunny King Crit to be broadcast on cycling.tv The Sunny
King Criterium (NRC), the final race of the inaugural USA Crits Championship
Series, has partnered with CYCLING.TV (www.cycling.tv ) to feature not only race
coverage, but post-race rider interviews and more. CYCLING.TV will air series
highlights, consisting of the Athens Twilight (NRC) and Nalley Historic Roswell
(NRC) Criteriums in Georgia, the Heritage races in Walterboro and Greenwood,
South Carolina, the SmithBarney Classic in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and the
Sunny King Criterium in Anniston, Alabama. The criterium series begins in Athens
on April 29, after the conclusion of the Tour de Georgia. The series ends in
Anniston on May 6. All races are conveniently situated geographically, providing
short travel times between races.
“We are pleased to be working with the Sunny King Criterium and entire USA CRITS
Series to expose American criterium racing to the world on CYCLING.TV,” said
Steve Masters, CYCLING.TV Global Sales & Marketing Manager. “I look forward to
personally being in Anniston for the final race in the series,” said Masters who
will travel from London.
Housing and other team hospitality arrangements are provided at each race venue.
“We have confirmed accommodations for 13 teams in Anniston,” said Mike Poe, race
director of the Sunny King Criteirum. “Teams in Anniston will be treated to a
complimentary post-race/series dinner, including fine food, beverages,
CYCLING.TV interviews, and other media coverage,” said Poe.
“We are excited to produce this criterium series and not only showcase criterium
racing in the U.S., but promote tourism and healthy lifestyles in each of the
communities hosting these racesl,” said Gene Dixon of Swagger, LLC, the promoter
of the series. “Each race in the series is locally organized and is the
centerpiece of downtown festivals in each community. A big part of these
festivals centers on children and active lifestyles---which we think is a
positive approach to combat childhood obesity,” said Dixon. More than 90,000
total spectators are expected at the 6 criterium races combined, and numerous
healthy activities for children are planned.
The Pro 1 (2 invitational) USA Crits Series features a total $75,000 cash prize
list. The individual races will offer a total of $65,000, and the overall series
will offer $10,000. Teams may e-register or phone register at www.gobike1.com.
Deadline for teams to register for the overall series prize list is April 15.
Teams featured in the series will be released after the deadline. Learn more at
www.usacrits.com.
4-19-2006 TdG Stage 2 I spent the day in Mavic Car 2. It was a quiet day spent behind the break. Thanks, Hodge! Look for an article on it sometime next week. See today's photo gallery. I will be posting a lot more photos in 2-3 weeks.
4-20-2006 TdG Stage 3 Today was the Individual Time Trial from Chickamauga to Chattanooga. My photo gallery is up. I spent the day in the media/photo van going from point to point on the course. We stopped at the base of Lookout Mountain, the middle of the climb, at the top of Lookout Mountain, and again at the finish. I got some great shots! See the Gallery for the best. I had DSL problems tonight, so I didn't get as many up as I wanted. I have a partial Smugmug Gallery up, too.
Cyclingnews.com, Baby! You can also see a few of my photos on cyclingnews.com. Alas, my DSL problems prevented me from getting too them.
Stage 4 Notes The start of Stage Four will be marked by all of the
professional cyclists placing green tape on their handlebars to recognize fellow
professional Saul Raisin. The 23-year-old Credit Agricole cyclist is from
Dalton, Georgia and was severely injured in a crash at the Circuit de la Sarthe
in France earlier this month. He remains in France recovering from his injuries.
The green tape represents the team color for his Credit Agricole team. Raisin
won the GE Best Young Rider jersey at the Tour de Georgia in 2003.
Tuesday Night Crit Update From Richie Hunt: "Most everyone agreed that
the criterium needed change, and so it was decided by popular opinion that the
new rule for this ride is that once you drop out, you enter and then stay in the
back half of the pack to reduce the movement in the front half, and to smooth
out the ride making it safer. The ride last night was as fast and smooth as I
can remember. Please let's all work together to keep this ride safe and a good
workout. If you know of other bicycling lists, please post this update."
Coverage Friday and Saturday I will be staying up in the mountains Friday night, so there won't be an update after tomorrow's stage. I will upload plenty of photos Sat. night! I plan to be on top of Brasstown Bald, so look for the SE Cycling car and me. Doug Gravino, known for his exciting cyclocross photos, will be there shooting for SE Cycling as well!
4-22-2006 TdG Stage 5 I spent today atop Brasstown Bald waiting for the finish. What a finish! Tom Danielson and Floyd Landis were marking each other. Yaroslav Popovych, Danielson's Discovery Channel teammate, attacked. Floyd covered it. Popo attacked again and dropped Landis and Danielson, and then Danielson and Landis countered and come in 1-2 for the win!
My Stage 5 photo gallery is up as is my Stage 4 photo gallery. Also, check out my photos on cyclingnews.com from Stages 3-5. Thanks to cyclingnews.com for posting them!
Look for me somewhere at Stage 6. I'll be there with camera in hand! I have a great story on the Mavic Neutral Support that I'm working on. Stay tuned!
Tom Danielson pips Floyd Landis on top of Brasstown Bald for the Stage 5 TdG win.
4-23-2006 TdG Stage 6 Today I rode in the Navigator's Team car with Director Sportif Ed Beamon, Mechanic Pete, and Richard Pestes (Pezcyclingnews.com.) It was really interesting seeing the race from the perspective in a team car as it was my first time. I've been in the Mavic car several times, but this was different. It was really interesting to see how the DS talked to the riders, how often, sometimes not how often, and how bottles are handed out going 35 mph down Burnt Mountain. Navigators had Phil Zajicek in the day's main breakaway. Since Ed had already sent the second car back to the team's home base in New Jersey as they are leaving for Germany on Monday, he had to drive back and forth between the break and the peloton. I got some great shots as riders came up beside the car. One of the more, uh, interesting photos involved the Yellow Jersey taking a nature break in the first 10 miles of the race. I've chosen not to put it up. There were many other interesting moments at well! Thanks to Ed and Suzette of the Navigators Pro Cycling team for letting me tag along today.
My Stage 6 Gallery is up.
Offline This Week I am moving this week and will be offline Tuesday night through at LEAST Thursday, so there will be no updates. I can't guarantee I'll have email access, either.
Tom Danielson and Floyd Landis pour champagne on one another celebrating at the
TdG final awards ceremony. Landis won the Yellow Jersey over Danielson by 4
seconds.
4-25-2006 YO, PHOTOGS! Are there any professional photographers out there who are going to Twilight? Cyclingnews.com is in need of some photos as I can't go. Darn moving into a new house! Email me, and I will put you in touch with them.
Riding with Mavic I had the pleasure of riding with Mavic Neutral Support on the second stage of the Tour De Georgia. I was in the car with Pete Hill from Florida and Georgia's own Scott Hodge (co-owner of Addictive Cycles). Check out the action here.
Greg Lemond Interview I attended a media breakfast with Greg Lemond. He commented on subjects ranging from Indy Car racing to doping in the peloton. It was a very casual affair, and there were not formal interviews. See my notes here.
4-26-2006 TOUR DE
GEORGIA--LET'S SAVE IT!! Ford Motor Co will make a decision within 30 days
of the finish of the FTdGA if they will continue the sponsorship for 2007. Be
sure to email FMC before April 23, 2006 and thank FMC for the title sponsorship
and ask FMC to come back for the 2007 FTdGA.
https://secure.ford.com/en/support/emailUs.htm
4-29-2006 Jittery Joes Cool! Or should I say "hot coffee?" Jittery Joes contacted me about using one of my photos from Brasstown Bald on their website. Check it out here.
Roswell Crit News From Roswell Velo: There are a lot of rumors that
registration is closed for the Nalley Historic Roswell Criterium and that all
the fields are full.
This is only true for the Pro-1 race.
All other fields have available slots. However, last year we did reach our field
limits in most of the categories so we suggest you get there early and register
early. If you are interested in getting into the Pro-1 field and have not been
able to register, please email mjhome@mindspring.com and we will add you to the
wait list. We may have some slots open up within the next couple of days and
they will be given to people on the wait list first.