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by Chance Regina, Team Cycleworks

Race: Two Hours From Anywhere
Place: Murphy, NC
Dates: September 26-29, 2003

The road season is almost over and the cross bikes (Oreos and chocolate Sundays for others) will be coming out for the winter. However, there are a few two wheeled crazies left racing from the Cycleworks team and they took their show to the road this weekend and administered justice to as many as they possibly could.

With a reduced team of just five riders the Cycleworks team headed out on what was probably the most fun race weekend during the entire racing year. Leigh Foti loaded up his truck, and I mean loaded up! Manny Samaniego and Linda Pitman jumped in with the 5 bags, four bikes, wind trainer, rollers, two coolers and what seemed like 12 sets of wheels. While Chance Regina jumped in with Terry Mathison and his lovely bride Mimi and we all lit out for Murphy, NC; which would actually end up being about two hours from anywhere.

We arrived to a wide open “interstate” type of a time trial (for those of you new to the sport a time trial consist of one man, one bike and one clock. There is no drafting allowed and you are required to ride a fixed course as fast as you can with no aid from anyone other than yourself. It is a brutal test of pushing yourself just to the limit with out going over. The local constables (AKA the police) had closed down the westbound lane of the largest highway in western Carolina for 6 miles and rerouted traffic onto other thoroughfares. This meant the time trial would go straight out 4.5 miles and come back 4 miles. No turns, just a long straight freshly paved road to race on. Riders were started every 30 seconds and there were two small hills on the way out and on the way back, including the finishing hill (while not steep or long, was horribly punishing after 20 minutes of Time trialing).

Linda was first off and Terry (in his first race back since breaking his collarbone in Huntsville) would follow 30 seconds behind. Manny would chase both of them and start 30 second back. Linda got off without a hitch and would roll to a top 5 finish and take 4th. Terry was right behind her and showed how tough he is by getting into the aerobars and cruising to a 12th place finish in 21:09. Manny was supposed to go off just after Terry and Chance would follow 4 minutes later. 

Well, Manny was not on the list (even though he had signed up for that start time only an hour earlier) and Chance went off to spin for a few minutes when he saw Manny standing there. Then people are screaming for Chance to get to the line as he was next. As he rolled up he gave a quick and puzzled look to Manny, who had yet to start, but didn’t have time to ask what was going on, nor go through pre-race ritual of prayer as he was being given the 15 second count before he got to the line.

Chance was off and chasing Leigh, who was rolling. Manny followed some 20 minutes later after sitting and waiting for them to find a new spot on the start list for him. Leigh would blast his way to a 6th place finish while Manny and Chance managed to “limit their loses” after the starting snafus and finished 8th and 12th.

No money for any of the efforts on Friday night but we had a good time and it was a great course. But it was time for food and lodging. We loaded up and drove the 20 minutes over to Brad Milner’s cabin AKA the Eagles Nest. For those of you new to the group let me step back about 14 months. Leigh Foti is a personal trainer and from the number of times his phone rings on a daily basis he must know 45% of the population with in 100 miles of Buckhead. Before his current living arrangements he was renting a room at a client’s house, which became known as the Bat Cave. The Bat Cave, a very expensive home in the high rent district of Buckhead, was home to many a function and was envy of many a bachelor. Foti was living, if not in the lap of luxury, at least at its foot. 

This time Foti topped the Bat Cave as he lined up a place for us to stay in NC. One of his clients has a quaint little get away house near the Nantahala River. The house had at least 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, two living rooms, wrap around porch, porch off of the third floor study…I could go on for days but I know you are already jealous. It was SWANK and we were living large. 

As awesome and stunning as the accommodations were, we were starving and Brad directed us to the Fryemont Inn. Here we loaded up on some of the best Southern Mountain food you will ever taste. While laughing and cutting up like a bunch of high school sophomores we were treated to a 5 course meal that included Rainbow Trout, Turkey, Lemon herb Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese (that was so good it would make you slap yo moma!), butter beans…corn chowder…fudge pie…cobbler…needless to say we would be fueled up well for the next days race. After driving the mile back to the top of the mountain we were all in food coma and the cool 50 degree temps had us in la la land before we could finish brushing our teeth.

Saturday came quick and everyone thought of passing on the racing for just a day of hanging out in the cabin and relaxing…but that wouldn’t do. Leigh and Chance had early starts and Manny went along to help the boys get dressed (Trust me, Leigh needs plenty of time and help to get through his ritual). Linda and Terry would accompany Mimi in the later car as they didn’t race until the early afternoon.

Leigh and Chance were racing Category 3 and would be subjected to 60 miles (4 laps of 15 miles each) of rolling terrain with two steep climbs, one of which was 2 minutes long with sections of 15% or better. The group started quick and the pace stayed consistent with the occasional rider attacking but getting nothing to stick. Halfway into the third lap it started to rain. It poured for about 15 minutes, coming down hard. The winding roads got slick and riders went down on some of the hairpin descents. The climbs were made tougher by the extra pounds we were carrying from the being water logged. However, the sun came out part way through the final lap to help dry the roads a little. 

Two riders escaped over the major climb with one lap to go and the group showed little interest in chasing in a cohesive manner. Eventually the break would split in two and we would catch one and get to within 20 seconds of the other rider. However, the group was unable to get together and the solo rider was able to make it across the flat and wide open miles on the back of the course and was into the winding hills with at least 30 seconds on the group. Therefore, the group was racing for second. 

On the final trip up “the wall”, as was spray painted on the road at the beginning of the steep section, some riders panicked early on and then blew up at the top. Chance was able to summit the climb 3rd in the field and 4th overall. With 2K to go in the race Chance was in good shape. However, the rider just in front of Chance wouldn’t chase and the first rider in the filed was able to get away a few meters and would hold on by the skin of his teeth to take second. Chance would end up on the front with 1K to go. He tried to jump clear but was not able and in the end was only able to grab 8th place and take home $48. Foti, would hang on for 31st on a course that really did not suit the big man.

Next up was Manny and Terry in the Men’s 4 race. With perhaps the largest field of the entire day it looked to be good racing, especially with the road having dried out for the three loops the 4s would make. Manny had seen most of the course while heading out to the feed zone for the 3 race and he described it as “three back to back climbs…switbacks and all...tour style climbs...the first two are OK...the last one had this nasty pitch at the end...15% for about 100 meters...”. Off they go and three miles in there is a crash right in front of Terry. Remember this is his first mass start race since his broken collarbone and we are still trying to get the thing fully recovered. Hitting the pavement was not an option. Terry made good use of his mtn bike skills, a la Lance Armstrong’s move in the Tour to avoid Beloki, and went through a ditch and back out the other side “Barney Rubble style” and was able to stay upright. However, some “jerkies” at the front decided to take off when the crash happened. El Capitain, Manny, went to the front and started barking at the field, and told them there would be no attacks and the group would be waiting for the field to come back together, after all it was only 3 miles into a 45 mile race.

The race stayed together until the last climb when Manny lost contact with the front group. Terry had stayed with the group until the second time up the climb, at which point his layoff from the injury caught up to him. When asked about the climb Manny said “ohhh man, did that hurt the last time up!” However, he managed to fight the pain and come out with 8th, while Matt, the mechanic at the Cycleworks in Roswell, went on to win the race. (Too bad he wasn’t racing in a Cycleworks Jersey.)

Linda was right behind Terry and Manny and would take two laps on the circuit. The women stayed together the entire race riding as one group until the final few miles. Two riders would get away and stay away by 20 to 30 seconds. There was a small field split with 4 riders in each split. Linda was in the second half of the split and took her portion of the field and finished 7th in the race, putting her into 2nd place for the overall going into the final day.

With the racing done for the day we loaded up and headed on a two and half hour, 25 mile return trip home. Sounds a bit absurd to go 25 miles in just over two hours? Well, I guess that is why they call the race “two hours from anywhere”! Actually, we were on our way to one of the best return trips from a ride ever. We first stopped off for a little snack…guess where…well if you know the Cycleworks crowd there is only two post race meal options…Wendy’s or Subway and we got to Subway first. We knew our host was grilling steaks and chicken for us later but we knew we needed some fuel after all those trips up “the wall”. While there we ran into one of the other local Atlanta Riders (who shall remain nameless) who never has anything good to say about anyone or anything. Since he had been dropped from his field then caught and dropped by the trailing field we felt it our duty to give him as much hell as possible. This obviously took up some of our time. Then we were off to the grocery for snacks…I am telling you this team can eat! Terry, Mimi and Chance made a fine selection of cheese, crackers, wine and topped it off with Dutch Apple Crumb pie and ice cream. Meanwhile Linda, Leigh and Manny were up to high jinks and shenanigans of there own. They were out playing in a pumpkin patch! They took a slight detour to the Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch along the way home and came away with a pumpkin so big it dwarfed Foti’s quads. 

Once back at the cabin the crew devoured pounds of crackers, cheese, peanuts and more while Foti managed to wash every inch of his bike and car (can we say anal?). Brad fired up the grill and started burning the meat while a tasty salad was prepared to go along with the tons of potatoes. The rest of the group lounged about and caught up on football scores. Let me tell you how nice it is to live large! Dinner was awesome as ten of us sate around the table telling stories and laughing up a storm. The food was great and the friendship was even better. Brad truly made us feel at home. 

Sunday came real early for Terry and Mimi. 5:30 early. Terry had a date with 6 Gap at 7:30 AM as he opted not to press his luck in a crit and re-injure his wing (smart move as there were over 15 crashes on the day). With that the Fotimobile was going to be loaded even more than it was before. The rest of the group headed out a bit later as Linda would be the first of our group to hit the roads and defend her 2nd place on the Omnium (overall standings). 

The crit course was .6 miles around with 4 turns. Basically we were doing a loop around the town square and a few other blocks. The streets were plenty wide but turn three was at the bottom of a gradual 100 meter long hill and made a right turn of 120 degrees onto a road that slanted down to the left. Meaning it was off camber, fast and sharp…which all equals up to SKETCHY! Coming out of that turn was a slow left hand riser that took you to turn 4, a bumpy hodgepodge of asphalt in the corner made for excitement (for the spectators not the racers) and then a 150 meter long gradual up hill finish. The course was fast, short and treacherous. The Juniors were first on course and they were doing laps every 65 to 70 seconds, they also provided the first crashes with at least 3 riders going down.

The women’s four race, and probably the only race on the day with no crashes, was second off. Linda was in the field of 8 riders and hung strong until the last 10 minutes when a move was put in by some of the stronger riders that split the group in half. Linda’s group was strung out and with the wind on the backside of the course she could find little shelter. The rest of the group came back together with 3 laps to go and Linda chased as hard as she could but never was able to rejoin and finished 8th while protecting her 2nd place overall finish to take home $45!

Manny was next and he had plenty of time to see how the course was going to shake out. You couldn’t sit at the back and wait for a field sprint today. It was gun slinging time. The field took off from the gun, and was single file. You could tell Manny wanted to do battle and that he was having a good time for the first time when he was giving us the “thumbs up” sign in ten minutes into the race. 

Manny had several offers from guys to help him in the race. One from Matt and one from one of the GCCycling guys from Birmingham. The speed was fast and there's a break of two which was caught before it really got away. Then a gap started to happen in the field because of riders popping. This course had most people on the rivet the entire time and guys would literally fly out the back. If you were behind one, it made it hell for you to catch back on. 

With the field splitting in two and about 9 guys off and have a gap on the second group Manny was trapped at the back of the second group being led by the Georgia State Crit Champion. Chance yells that the break is going away and for Manny to make a move and move he did; a good thing because most of the guys in the group Manny left behind were pulled a few laps later. Through the uphill by the Start/Finish, Manny “flipped the switch and went to guns”. So much so he almost over cooked the corner and ended up in local pharmacy front door. The move was a popular one with the crowd as everyone could see the field just blowing apart and they cheered for Cycleworks. 

Next thing you know three laps to go and Manny is moving up. Then a guy clips his pedal on the ground and goes sideways, while some guys hesitate, Manny jumps around to about 6th position. 

2 laps to go and the pace was still fast but slowing as they went by the start finish and Manny is patient thinking of the wind on the back stretch. 

One lap to go and with only three corners remaining the same guy clips his pedal. Matt, Manny’s new found team mate who is in first for the Omnium, has to go around with the guy Manny had to beat to stay in the money right on Matt’s wheel. This left the door wide open. Matt waved Manny through and then shuts the door behind. Setting up an incredible last two turns and finish. The guy Manny has to beat was on his left and screaming at him, because they were going down hill and he didn’t want Manny to squeeze the inside of the sharp third turn. There was no time for friendly conversations, so Manny maneuvered the Colnago close enough so the guy could read Ernesto's signature on the top tube and that did the trick to I gain the position but somehow there were still about five riders to try an get around in the last 400 meters and there was still one turn to go.

Manny got by one rider heading into the last turn and was in the drops charging for the line as he came onto the finishing straight in the fourth spot. He was passing people, but one guy was drifting towards him and the hay bells at the finish were coming at him fast. Manny used the right elbow to protect his place and lunged at the line with one last effort to come in second and secure fourth on the overall and take home $105 on the weekend.

Leigh and Chance would be the last guys to carry the Cycleworks name on the weekend as they headed into the CAT 3 crit. Chance was 5th overall coming in with a rider one point in front and one point behind. The race for overall standings would come down to the short 35 minutes crit.

The race started with a furry. Chance missed his pedal and ended up dead last going into turn one. He had said before the race he wanted to be top 10 in the first turn, so much for plans. Leigh was halfway up the field which was stretched out the length of the finishing straight by the end of the first lap. 

Chance hung on the back and slowly moved up around guys but never was able to move up into the field. Eight laps in and a crash in turn three separated the group and everyone was chasing from the back, including Leigh and Chance. Chance and a few others bridged up and Leigh was left hanging just off the back with a large group of solid riders. However, they would be unable to recover and would be pulled from the race as the officials wanted to keep the riders from lapping one another and two riders were off the front. 

Chance was getting all kinds of encouragement and kept hanging on to the back of the pack “punching guys tickets” and moving up. Chance described the race later, “The problem was, every time I would catch a wheel the guy would just pop. Not fade, but blow up. Then I had to jump around and bridge up again. I must have done that for 10 laps and I was pegged the entire time…” 

With half the race remaining Chance was back up into a decent position about 15 places off the front of the group, which was still single file. “ I was just starting to finally catch my breath when it happened” Chance would later state when recapping the crash. The crash happened in turn 4 with 10 minutes to go in the race. Riders were single file coming into the turn when a rider clipped his pedal to the inside and shot himself straight up. While he wrestled with the bike at 20+ mph, the riders behind him began looking for exit rows. This included Chance who was only two riders behind the flailing rider. Chance went around to the outside with the brakes on but not locked. Next thing you know Chance is being pushed from the outside. A rider was to Chance’s left as they headed through the right turn. Chance fought to stay upright and get the bike straightened out as the guy to his outside blew straight through the turn.

What happened next was sickening. The rider was in the drops and went shooting directly into a mailbox, head on. Not a mailbox in someone’s yard, but a big blue USPS mailbox that is bolted into the concrete. The rider never had a chance to lift his head and hit it head down, rocking the entire mailbox and concrete slab before slumping to the ground.

Chance was still upright and charging up the finish straight some 20 meters off the back of the remaining field. Chance was screaming but most people couldn’t understand what he was saying in his panicked, tired, out of breath state. Until they looked down the straight away and saw the crowd in the corner rushing to aid the fallen rider. “I thought he was dead. I was terrified at what I saw and I just knew he was very seriously hurt. I mean ,he hit the mailbox full speed with his head down.” Chance would describe after the race. 

The race would continue and Chance would be off the back again. Needing a top place to assure Omnium results he had to just keep charging after the handful of riders still going. With 5 minutes to go Chance was almost back on the group when two more riders went down in the same corner. The first clipped his pedal and slid out while the second locked the brakes and T-Boned the sliding rider and flipped over the bars and over the paramedic attending to the rider that hit the mail box. Both of these riders would be able to rejoin the race after a free lap and less some large quantities of skin.

With 5 laps to go there were only 13 or 14 people still racing and Chance was still hanging on to the group in about 10th place. The pace slowed barely for half a lap and Chance moved forward a couple spaces but nobody was giving up position and Chance would have to race from the middle of the group eventually coming across the line in 9th place. Just out of the money for the day but high enough to keep his overall standing of 5th place and earn $55.

The rider hitting the mailbox was in the ambulance and gone before the end of the 3 race and reports from the paramedic on site said he had feeling in all of his extremities and somehow only suffered a laceration and bruises, but that he should be ok. His bike and the mailbox were not as fortunate. The bike was carried away in at least 4 pieces and the hood that makes the mailbox accessible from a car was dented nearly shut from the impact. 

With the racing done, money collected and crash victims checked on, the Cycleworks loaded up one last time into the Fotimobile and headed for Atlanta. Not only did the Cycleworks team bring home the $$$ we also showed how racing is done. We worked with others, we played with others and we truly enjoyed ourselves and those around us. In fact we had other teams cheering for us during our races. People from Genesis, Cliff Bar, GCCycling and other teams were cheering for us through out the weekend and riders were asking how they could become a part of our team and they don’t even know half of the fun we have.

Again we want to thank all of our sponsors and ask that you support them as well so they will continue to support us.