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GamJams Tech: Premes, Picks, Promos p/b November Bicycles — 11-10-11

As a cyclist, the search for newer and better gear is constant — there's always something else out there. Premes, Picks, Promos will highlight both the next big thing and the sleeper deal.

Often, when I'm checking out new products or kit to review, its value is immediately obvious the first time you see it. "Oh, of course! Perfect!"

But sometimes it takes a ride or two to fully get the impact of something new — despite being told a half-dozen times how good it is. The Lazer Aeroshell is one of those things. "Come on," I thought, "it can't be that good." I was very wrong.

Here's what it is and how it works:

Pretty simple, huh? Snap on a plastic cover and your vents are closed. When our Lazer rep stopped in over the summer, he talked a lot about the shell and process behind it. Unlike the shell worn by Mark Cavendish at the UCI World Championships — which was just a smooth cover over the vents — the Lazer shell is sculpted to the exact shape of the shell. "Even though it looks like a thin hunk of plastic, we spent a lot of time on this," our rep said.

I've had one in place over my Lazer Genesis helmet for the better part of a week now, and I can definitely say I wish I'd picked one up sooner. It's eliminated the need to have a cycling cap underneath when it's chilly. (And it would have been really nice to have one last week in the muck.)

On advice from Mark Savery, I inserted the winter pad kit from my old Giro Ionos helmet to make it even warmer. I wore it on a couple of days that would normally see a thin cap underneath. Again, it was awesome. (Lazer makes its own full winter pad set that I'll be checking out here in a week or two.)

One of the most surprising things about the Aeroshell is its cost: only $20. Considering the versatility and protection it offers, I would imagine Lazer could charge twice that and still sell tons of them.

How long do you think it will be before other helmet manufacturers catch on and start making their own helmet shells?

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In addition to being GamJams Tech Editor, Bryan Redemske has managed the Trek Bicycle Store of Omaha, is a professional writer and a Cat 3 racer. He drinks a lot of coffee.

 

 

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Sheesh, some of that stuff is expensive. Good thing you get your frames and wheels at Pro Deal pricing. Wait — you don't? You might want to look at November Bicycles. They've got a new racer-specific model designed to strip unnecessary pricing out of the cost of your new bike. It's like a Pro Deal for everyone.

November Bicycles. Race Smart.

 

 

Best of the Rest: 11-10-11

Some folks needed a few extra days to recover from the Weekend's Fast.  Here's the best of the rest as the reports and images keep coming in...

• One Up, Five Down has some great images.  By "great," of course, I mean "really bizarre" in terms of the costume-aspect of cyclocross.  You really have to see this one to understand. 
• He's all about the kill points and Chuck Kyle's kill points are getting higher and higher every week. Keep up with him if you can and pass him when you can.
• If you want to know what Patapsco X (and other races) looked like, you'll need to check out the photos Kurt Long put out there.
• Ryan Dudek of TOMS Shoes has some great shots and video of the Bear Creek Cross.  I didn't do this one, but sort of wish I had now that I've seen these.
• Speaking of Bear Creek Racing, here's what SunnyBrook Racing has to say about it.
• Jay Westcott just keeps posting and editing and editing and posting.  You'll want to look at his latest offerings today even if you did it earlier this week.
• I love me some new blogs and I love me some Sticky Fingers.  So this new blog by Sticky Fingers' Dana Stryk might be Reluctantly CX, but I'm not reluctantly reading.

That's got to be about all there is.  But if you've got more, send them to me so I can waste time more efficiently.

Could'a, Should'a, Would'a: 11-08-11

Here's how this weekend's racing could'a, should'a and would'a turned out if it hadn't'a turned out the way it did...

MABRA was heavily committed to water gardens and serious drop-ins at the Ed Sanders Memorial Cyclocross:

• The Flamenco Chuckwagon had an unplanned dismount using the head part of his body as cushion.  Fortunately for him, it's basically a useless appendage anyways.  So no harm, no foul.
• I'm so jealous of these guys that I basically count it as a win anytime I pass a Team Bike Doctor kit.  This week was a little "off" for them, but they'll be back and I'll be sorry.
• In The Crosshairs has some great video coverage of the event and you'll like it better than his preview.  Seriously, let him know his preview was a bit off.  He'll be glad you did.
• I'm not actually sure where FatMarc Vanderbacon was, but he likes pictures of himself that make him look like he knows what he's doing. Don't we all?
• The Cross Wife got just what she needed and -- apparently -- the best waffles in the world were just what she needed.
• Four beer handups and first place in the tandem event helped Adventures for the Cure feel better about the earlier mechanical nonsense.

Know of any more great race reports?  Send them my way and I'll make sure everyone understands how fast you could've been out there.

Monday Multimedia: 11-07-11

Want to see what The Fast looked like this weekend?  Here it is.

• Jay Westcott was working his magic at the Ed Sanders Memorial Cyclocross.
• The Ed Sanders action at Lilypons Water Gardens was also captured by Jim Wilson.
• Michael Edmonds has a bunch of short videos of how various riders assaulted the sections.
• The muddy Lilypons also provided a great backdrop for Joseph Metro's artistry.
• Bruce Buckley was at Ed Sanders Memorial to put it all in artistic perspective.

Update:

• Tim Kelley was shooting out at Ed Sanders as well.
• Jay Westcott has pushed another 600+ Ed Sanders pics at the internets.
• Joe Mallis has another 500 Ed Sanders pics to eat up the rest of your morning.

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Know of any others?  Tell me and I'll tell everyone else.

 

Frederick, Sheldon Lead MABRAcross Super 8 Series

by Bill Schieken, Cyclocross Editor

After a much needed recovery week following DCCX, the BikeReg.com MABRAcross Super 8 Series is back in full swing this Sunday with the always exciting Ed Sander Memorial Cyclocross. Heading into the second half of the season, the Verge Sport leader jersey races begin to really heat up as the points become scarcer with only four races left on the schedule.

In the men’s elite field, jersey-holder Ben Frederick (Team Traveller) has hung up his zebra stripes for 2011 and will not defend his lead this weekend. With the next four contenders for the top spot all signed up for Sunday’s race, the points lead is truly up in the air. Jared Nieters (Haymarket), Chris Beck (TeamCF), Pat Blair (AFC) and Wes Schempf (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) will all have their eyes on the prize in the coming weeks.

In the women’s elite field, Libbey Sheldon (Four Boys Racing) holds a 31 point lead over Jennifer Maxwell (Van Dessel) and is 41 points ahead of Allyson Tufano (Sportif). The battle for the final jersey will most likely come down to these three racers. Late season spoilers, however, have shown up in the past, so keep your eyes on this field in the coming weeks.

If the Super 8 featured a “field of the week” -- and who’s to say it can’t? -- the men’s elite masters field would definitely be in the running. Wily old veterans doing wily ol’ things  on bikes are always worth watching. Paul Rades (November Bicycles) sheds the Raymond "Eternal Second" Poulidor sobriquet with a big win at DCCX and now holds a 25 point lead over Dave Fuentes (XO Communications/Battley Harley). Jason Lins (Adventures for the Cure), Mike Birner (Sportif) and Rob Huebner (Evolution) are also within striking distance. 

Deserving Child + New Bike & Helmet = Merry Spinmas

 - by Shawn Buddenhagen

Do you want to give the gift of cycling to a deserving child this holiday season? Do you remember the feeling of receiving a brand new bike, and the sense of excitement and freedom that wells up inside? Then, consider giving to Merry Spinmas. 

What is Merry Spinmas? Southside Tri & Cycle (STC), formerly All About Bikes Racing, has a simple goal of providing twenty bikes and helmets to deserving children this holiday season. Shawn Buddenhagen explains the intent of Merry Spinmas: “We reformed our team earlier this year with a clear mission, to promote and support endurance sports and athletes in the area, and make a difference in our community. We feel Merry Spinmas fits in nicely with our mission, as we are trying to inspire the cyclists of tomorrow.”

STC has partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Chesapeake, to recognize deserving children in their programs, and distribute the bikes and helmets. The Boys and Girls Club serves many students from a low socioeconomic status by offering program activities in the following five areas: Character and Leadership, Education and Career Development, The Arts, Health and Life Skills, and Sports, Fitness & Recreation. The Boys and Girls Club programs provide a safe place in the community, where at-risk children can go and learn skills to help them excel in school, and in life.

To select the Merry Spinmas bike recipients, the students will fill out a brief questionnaire. The questionnaire will ask:

- What is the student’s “Dream Bike”?
- How would the student use a new bike?
- Height and weight measurements for sizing.

Along with input from the directors at the Boys and Girls Club, STC will select the twenty children to receive the Merry Spinmas bikes and helmets. The bikes and helmets will be presented to the children in an event in Mid- December.

In July, STC survived the hot tub, hair dryer, and suana, on the way to winning the Mid-Atlantic Triathlon Club Championship, in Richmond. The purse for the event was $1000, and the members of the team that participated, have donated the winnings to fund the first ten bikes. STC plans to raise the funds for the remaining  ten bikes between now and early December. “We are really counting on support from the community, particularly the cycling community. As cyclists, we understand the myriad of benefits and sense of freedom from something as simple as a bike, and want to share that experience with these deserving children,” said Jimmy Parrott, STC’s Community Services Director.

By now you are asking, “How can I get involved and make this a fantastic holiday for a deserving child with a brand new bike?” It is easy, you can donate directly to Merry Spinmas through Paypal on the STC Blog. All money donated will go directly toward purchasing the bikes and helmets for those in need. If any individual, team, or shop would like donate a bike or helmet directly, please email STC. We will provide sizing info, and make pick up arrangements.

Thanks and, Merry Spinmas!!

Sportif Cross Cup: Kinder 'Kross Yields Belgian Weather

by Jay Morali, Cyclocross Contributor

The Kinder ‘Kross welcomed in the first real winter weather of 2011, which made for a fun, yet challenging day of racing in Severna Park, MD.  The race, #3 in the Sportif Cross Cup, tested the rider’s ability to hit corners with speed and navigate through mud.  “ABRT did a great job of setting up the course.  It really had a little bit of everything…elevation, speed, and mud.  Not only was it fun to race, it was great spectating.  You could see 90% of the course from the team tent area.” said Antietam Velo’s Eric Krause after finishing 2nd in the 3/4 Men race to Series Leader Stephen Hyde.   

Jon Hicks (Sportif Coaching Group) bagged the first win of his cross racing career with a victory in the 3/4 35+ race.  Hicks got off to a good start by successfully navigating the muddy up and down section after the sprint without any problems.  “I was 6-7 wheels back throughout the first lap just looking for the right opportunity to make a move. When the lead group came to the muddy stretch on the backside most of the guys went to the left and I went right and was able to slip right through and get to the front.  From there it was all about staying upright and keeping the pressure on." Hicks, who knows a little bit about course design -- he has been instrumental in the lay-out of Winchester Apple Cross, Psycho Cross, Luray Caverns, and this weekends Patapsco Cross -- had this to say about the course, “I really liked it.  It was a very unique course.  There was a lot of turn/sprint to the course which really tests a rider’s ability.”  

George Schulz, Jr. of The Bike Lane regains the Leaders Jersey in the series after his 6th place finish just edging out Patrick Dolan who finished 10th. The race series sponsor also got a win from Allyson Tufano (Sportif Coaching Group) who edged out Jennifer Maxwell (Van Dessel Factory Team) in the Women’s 1/2/3 race.  Tufano, who now sits in 2nd place in the series, has two more races to try and unseat current leader Elizabeth Harlow (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes) from the top spot.  Hopefully, both ladies will be out this weekend with their 'cross guns blazing.

GamJams Tech: Premes, Picks, Promos p/b November Bicycles — 11-3-11

As a cyclist, the search for newer and better gear is constant — there's always something else out there. Premes, Picks, Promos will highlight both the next big thing and the sleeper deal.

I am, at best, a casual cyclocross racer. If it's convenient for me, I'll go race. Training? Sure, I guess — if that means riding around aimlessly on a cyclocross bike once or twice a week. Basically, it's a nice distraction as we slide toward winter.

The continuation of my casual cyclocrossing was scheduled for this week in Omaha with a race that was 20 minutes away from my house. That kind of makes it a mandatory thing in my book — plus my team was hosting it. It's double mandatory at that point.

The game-changer in all of this was the impending weather: It was supposed to rain ... and then snow ... and then get cold, with a wind chill in the 20s. We've all ridden in conditions that we remember as pretty miserable, and that memory is often a deterrent to ever willingly doing it again. I have memories of cold, wet hands and feet, and an hour-long 'cross race with said cold, wet hands and feet (and mud!) wasn't really lighting my fire.

So I hunkered down and went to battle. It did, indeed, rain and snow, and there were about a half-dozen unplanned water crossings on the course. The start temperature was in the upper 30s. I spent a good portion of the day trying to get my gear sorted out. Here's how it ended up:

Best of the Rest: 11-02-11

Some folks are still recovering from the way things should'a been this weekend and the reports and items of interest keep coming in...

• One of the folks who is recoverig is me and I think I subconsciously expressed displeasure for the nice hipsters at Money 'N' Stuff by messing up the link to their podium highlights.  Dang me.
• Okay, it's a few levels above our normal stuff, but "First UCI Win" is a nice title for Renner Custom at the Beacon Cross and it deserves a look-see from you.
• Squadra Coppi got down and dirty at Kinder Kross and they have a picture to prove it.  Handling and guile proved to be the order of the day.
• When your report features my photo, I'm always going to highlight it.  If you are Hip Rouleur, you're photo of me actually makes me look good.

Now from the "Photo of the Week" file, we can't let the week go by without focusing your attention on the weirdness that is cyclocross...

 I would love to give credit where credit is due, but this was just sent in by J.R. Petsko, our West Virginia Cycling Promoter-Extraordinaire...

Could'a, Should'a, Would'a: 11-01-11

Here's how this weekend's racing could'a, should'a and would'a turned out if it hadn't'a turned out the way it did...

MABRA was enjoying the cold, wet mud at Kinder Kross in Severna Park, MD:

• Chuck Kyle is an Amateur Cyclist basing his season on the number of goats he can photograph and the CrossResults predictors.
• Money 'N' Stuff is now posting podium 'n' stuff as the women (woman?) on the team represents for all the guys.
• He thinks he should have stayed in bed, was sick and hates sandbaggers who beat him by not upgrading.  I agree, AVP4 Auggie, you should've stayed in bed.
• Flamenco Chuckwagon is dreaming of a day when he'll not start on the back row; still getting all those kills means his bike is pretty fast.

There were, of course, other opportunities to get wet and go fast:

• Back Street Skeets shows it like it was with photos from last year and videos of the weather from this year.

Now there simply has to be some more out there.  Send them to me when you can and I'll spend most of the morning dreaming about the weekend.