GamJams.net: Where Mid-Atlantic bike racers roll

The Chesapeake Criterium on a Perfect Day

by Ruth Stornetta, legendary local promoter

What a beautiful day for a bike race! Mild temperatures, low humidity and a pleasant breeze greeted the racers who lined up for the Chesapeake Criterium on August 14, 2010 on the short course around the Chesapeake Municipal Center. Thanks to the efforts of Velo Racing Virginia and race organizer Christina Teeuwen at gathering sponsorships, the races were able to offer some great prizes which made for very competitive racing with lots of participants. The generous support of the Chesapeake Regional Medical Center allowed Ms. Teeuwen to offer big cash purses for the top mens’ and womens’ fields with competitors traveling from as far away as Illinois to compete. The other sponsors included the City of Chesapeake Parks and Recreation, Kettler, Hyatt Place Hotel Greenbrier, BikeBeat, Sthil, The Atlanta Braves,No Frill Grill, Special Events, McDonalds and Bank of Hampton Roads.

All sizes, shapes, ages and both men and women had races tailored for them with the age 50 and older racers leading off the day. Dave Clarke of Team Nature's Path/3 Sports won the 50+ race from a field sprint.

The women were next on the line. Local favorite B.J. Samuel led the race off with a couple of fast laps before Jennifer Rasmussen of Team Kenda took a flyer off to establish a solo breakaway for many laps. Rasmussen was hunted down by the hungry field but still managed to win the hotly contested field sprint against Emily Joyner of Team Asset Group/ TWR to take the win.

The juniors’ race is always a lot of fun with boys and girls racing together and all the juniors from the 10 year-olds to the 18 year-olds put on a great show with some heart-felt efforts. They were all winners as far as the crowd was concerned!

Riders from North Carolina, Maryland, DC Northern Virginia and even Holland and Australia, as well as our “usual suspects” from the local Virginia clubs lined up for the race for ages 30-49. This group followed the script laid down in the womens’ race as Ryan Simpson got into a solo breakaway that was chased down but still prevailed to get away at the very end and win the race.

This year the kids’ races were very popular with dozens of kids aged 2-5 and 6-9 racing their trikes, mountain bikes, bikes with streamers and baskets and training wheels on the same course as the pro racers (although they only did a short part of the lap). All the kids had a great time including two very competitive 5 year olds who kept racing each other around an extra whole lap after they had already crossed the finish line! McDonald’s provided much appreciated free ice cream coupons for the all the kids who participated.

The celebrity race had only two contestants, Kelvin Wright, Chief of Police for the City of Chesapeake, and Beth Reitz of the Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. Beth bested Kelvin by only a wheel after a hotly contested one lap race.

The showcase event started with a salute to our area soldiers with the National Anthem played and all helmets off before the start of the PLT Pro,1,2,3 race. This race had several big teams competing including teams used to National level competition such as Team Type I (promoting diabetes research and awareness), Team Mountain Khakis out of North Carolina, the Battley Harley-Davidson team from the DC area and the Richmond Pro Cycling team. Early on in the 80 minute event, a group of 4 riders broke away from the field. The quartet of Dave LeDuc (a 59-year old former world and many-time national champion riding for Team Atlantic Velo), Pat Raines (Team Mountain Khakis), Mike Stoop (Richmond Pro Cycling) and Mason Haymes (Battley Harley-Davidson) held about a 30 second gap over the rest of the field. Pat Raines won the sprint from this group of 4 men with Mike Stoop coming second, Mason Haymes third and Dave LeDuc sitting up and letting the younger guys get the glory in the end.

It was a very successful race for all and helped showcase the healthy sport of cycling - a sport wide open to every age and inclination!

Pre-Reg for The Ride Sally Ride closes tonight (Thursday) at 9pm

by Michael Randers-Pehrson
Race Promoter, The Ride Sally Ride

Preregistration for this Sunday's The Ride Sally Ride criterium in Sterling, VA, ends tonight at 9 p.m.  Make sure to get your entries in now to save on late fees!

The 2010 edition is part of the GamJams Cat 3 Cup p/b Mountain Khakis, the Proteus/MABRA Cat 3 and Cat 4 Women's Race Series, and the MABRA BAR.

The course is super smooth, wide open and fast.  We're running clockwise this year (a switch from last year) but leaving the Start/Finish right in front of the parking area.

We've got cash, primes, prizes and medals, of course.  But this year we've also got big trophies for all 1st place finishers, perfect for use as an obnoxiously gaudy paperweight in your cubicle!

Registration: https://www.pre-reg.com/Users/RacerMain.aspx?Type=1&EventID=489
Directions: http://www.tinyurl.com/wwvc-rsr
WWVC: http://www.wwvc.org

Tack Sabotage at Leonardtown Criterium Garnering National Attention

After a two-year hiatus, the venerated Leonardtown Criterium returned to the regional racing calendar on May 16, 2010. While area racers were keen to see the event's revival, it is apparent that at least one spectator wasn't content to watch cyclists self-administered suffering, and sought to augment the race with some additional pain. Tacks thrown onto the course resulted in numerous crashes in several events, many injuries, and caused thousands of dollars in damage. St. Mary's County has opened a criminal investigation into the incident, intending to charge the perpetrator(s) with reckless endangerment and assault.

Naturally, the case has lit up the MABRA listserv and set the local racing blogs afire as well. But the helmet cam video shot by Bryan Vaughan has become a media sensation in its own right, sparking mainstream media coverage across the region, including Baltimore's CBS affiliate WJZ and Fox DC. A local NBC affiliate has run the story as well, and it has received airplay across the country, including Iowa, Maine, Indiana, Florida, Missouri and more.  

The story is even reaching national news media, with airtime on MSNBC and as a feature story on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

Bryan Vaughan's helmet cam video that provided all fodder for the networks has now been viewed over 19,000 times online, with hundreds of thousands of additional views on television.

The investigation remains open, and no suspects have yet been identified. Anyone with information is urged to contact Corporal M. Smolarsky at 301-475-4200 x 1960 or call Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333. Tipsters can also text their tips in to “TIP239” plus your message to “CRIMES” (274637). Callers and tipsters do not have to leave a name, just the information. If the information leads to the arrest and conviction, the caller/tipster may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Take 'em to the MATTS: New Time Trial Series Launches in Mid-Atlantic

by Nate Hakken, Editor, Races of Truth

The Mid Atlantic Time Trial Series opens this Sunday with the first of two runnings of the 12 mile Deep Blue Time Trial.

The Series encompasses the spring and fall time trials held by the Annapolis Bicycle Racing Team at Church Creek and by Team TBB/Deep Blue at Augustine Beach. Riders will accumulate points for each race they compete in, be it one or all four, based on MABRA Bar rules (15 points for first place down to one point for 12th) for an overall score that will determine the Series. The overall winners will receive a winner’s jersey at the end of the season.

Deep Blue and Church Creek will also offer team events (two person at Deep Blue and four person at Church Creek), in which riders can earn points for an overall Series team title.

The Series will answer some lingering questions from last year. Will Whole Wheel’s Pete Warner, winner of last spring’s Church Creek and the Tour of Washington County Step, be able to take the Cat 3 winner’s jersey? Will ABRT’s Kyle Pitman, winner of the MABRA Cat 4 title, step into the lead of this series, as well? Will Haymarket/Homevisit’s Ryan Simpson continue to dominate the race against the clock as he did at both events last year? Will Michael Githens' fine form allow him to source a sponsor for Your Ad Here Racing?

We’ll get answers soon. The Series starts this Sunday at Augustine Beach. Make sure to sign up for Deep Blue #1 now, as registration closes on Friday 5/7 at 8pm.

Joe Dombrowski, Amanda Watson raise 2010 Jefferson Cup

Haymarket / Homevisit's rising Cat 3 star Joe Dombrowski outsuffered a competitive men's field in foul weather to win the Men's 1/2/3 Jefferson Cup. Keck Baker (Battley Harley-Davidson) and Blair Berbert (Kelly Benefit Strategies / LSV Amateur) followed close behind to round out the podium.

In the women's main event, it was Amanda Watson from the new Fruit 66 / Artemis squad outgunning neo-pro Laura Cook (Vanderkitten Racing) and Michelle Hart (CAWES p/b Specialized).

Complete results are below. Watch for additional coverage on GamJams soon.

Men - MR - Cat 1-2 - 35-39           
Place     Name    City, State    Team
1    Stephen Robinson      ARLINGTON,VA    Squadra Coppi
2    R Cameron Holland      NEWPORT NEWS,VA    JRVS/Casey Auto Group
3    Kirby Newman      FALLS CHURCH,VA    Restello Presented by Fiorucci
4    Michael King      WOODBRIDGE,VA    Saroff Racing Team
5    Jon Gaudio      HENRICO,VA    Team Nature's Path/3 Sports
6    Michael Coffman      ALEXANDRIA,VA    NCVC/UnitedHealth Group
7    John Schindler      GLEN ALLEN,VA    Carytown Bicycle Club
8    Christopher McGill      WASHINGTON,DC    Dynamic Physical Therapy Cycling Team p/b CANNONDALE/I9
9    Elias Hengst      WASHINGTON,DC    Battley Harley-Davidson / Sonoma Restaurant
10    Timothy Valentine      KNOXVILLE,TN    SCO/Micro Metals/Bike Zoo

Jefferson Cup 2010: The Contenders

I won't attempt to write a lead-in to appropriately frame Jeff Cup, or to build any anticipation for the race. Its 20 years of history and a cancellation-shortened pre-season have done that for me. We all know what this race is. We anticipate it. Our legs yearn for it, our embrocation burns for it. Come Sunday, the game is, as they say, on.

But whose game will it be this year? This year more than in recent memory, we need to look at the contenders not as individuals, but as teams. No fewer than 5 squads are sending 10 or more racers to the Men's Pro/1/2/3 event at Jeff Cup. Whose odds on asphalt are as good as on paper?

• Haymarket / Homevisit has made no secret of their intention of winning just about everything in 2010, and they're off to an astonishingly good start. Steven Gordon's form would make him a clear favorite, if it weren't for the formidable condition of young Joe Dombrowski. Jared Nieters is also hungrier than ever, and is always fast in the early season. Bryan Vaughan had a breakout success in North Carolina in February, and even if he cut his training volume by 50% since then he'd still be turning 25 hours per week. If it stays together until the end, the team has fast finishers in Chip Hoover and Andrew Bridges. Lance Lacy must be mentioned, because he is Lance Lacy. 1-2 punch? This team is like boxing an octopus.
• Battley Harley-Davidson / Sonoma is sending a full roster of 12 racers to Jeff Cup. While other teams were riding in circles in the sun at Vint Hill, they were suffering in the hills of Lost River. Other teams bring proven form and early results; Harley brings the element of surprise. We have no idea who is on form. Dave Fuentes is always a threat, as is Chuck "Norris" Hutcheson. Jose Escobar, Keck Baker and new addition Ramon Benitez are dangerous as well, and Brian Butts was second here last year. I'm not being very helpful here, am I? That's kind of the point.
• NCVC / United Health Group is not just the biggest team in the region; with 13 riders they're the biggest team in the race. Who to watch? Elite category juniors are never to be under-estimated. They can train more than you do and when they're not riding are usually expected to be playing XBox with their feet up. So watch out for Steven Kendall. Bert Garcia was on the Cat 3 podium at Vint Hill and will be looking to make a mark for himself. Paul Lengerman looked strong at Vint Hill, as did Jeff Dickey. Greg Abbott finished 6th at Vint Hill, but does not want a target on his back so is not considered a favorite at Jeff Cup.
• Kelly Benefit Strategies / LSV Amateur has a dozen for Jeff Cup as well. Their talent runs deep, with Vint Hill's impressive winner Evan Fader and perennially strong R Muoio, as well as young racers with pro trajectories: Blair Berbert, Nathan Wilson and Steven Black. 
• Team Nature's Path / 3 Sports is the next largest squad on the line, with an even 10. Dan King and Marc Warner have been going well in the early season, and Dominik Meier is a threat if it all stays together at the end. 
• Pete Custer and Mike Githens anchor the new Your Ad Here p/b Bicycle Pro Shop squad. If you want to know what the lack of a title sponsor does for motivation and performance, look no further than Milram, who lose their sponsor at the end of the year and are on fire right now (likely as a result).
• ABRT has five toeing the line in Charlottesville, including Stephen Wahl and Mike Hefner.
• Artemis has no official elite team in 2010, though they are not lacking in elite talent. SuperDave Osborne is el Patron of the team (and all of Mid-Atlantic racing, really). He is joined by fast finishers DJ Brew and Jorge Marccenaro. 
• Clean Currents p/b Don Beyer Volvo is leaner than in years past. But whenever Jason Meidhof is in the game, they're a team to watch.
• Richmond Pro's Craig Dodson was a top 10 at Jeff Cup last year. He's back in 2010 to improve, and is bringing teammate Matt Spohn.

Predictions? Corrections? Additions? Smack? Put it in the comments, or leave it out on the road.

Who Will Wear the Pants at Vint Hill?

Saturday's 540Cycling Vint Hill Classic kicks off the MABRA season, and also the GamJams Cat 3 Cup p/b Mountain Khakis. The winner of the Cat 3/4 event at 1pm will take the lead in the season-long series, and be awarded with the series leaders khakis from the presenting sponsor.

But who will it be? While Greipel is favored in Milan - San Remo, Europe's betting houses haven't yet reached their tentacles into amateur Mid-Atlantic cycling. That leaves GamJams to handicap the Cup opener. If you think you know better, say so in the comments:

• Matthew Latyszonek (Fat Frogs Racing) won at RIR a couple weekends ago, on a course similarly  suited for sprinters. 
• Bike Doctor / Bayside Velo's Todd Bickling was fast in Richmond as well - will he be the point man for the red and black this weekend?
• Did the winter that Sigberto Garcia (NCVC / United Health Group) spent schooling his teammates on city limit sprints sharpen him enough for early season game day glory?
• CJ Congrove (GamJams / Pre-Reg.com p/b Cutaway Clothing) notched an early training race win and a podium at Richmond. But is his squad a leadout help, or a lotta hype?
• Joe Dombrowski (Haymarket / Homevisit) has logged more winter miles than Cavendish Hincapie. Can he escape the pack's greedy clutches?
• Joe Molloy (NCVC / United Health Group) laid down some serious hurt in the GamJams CompuTrainer TT Throwdown. Will the engine be firing at Vint Hill?
• You District Velocity dudes always seem to be out riding with each other and nobody else, so we don't know how fast you are right now. Let us know before Saturday though, mkay?
• The Vint Hill course could be well suited to a Route 1 Velo / Arrow Bicycle fast finisher like Jose Nunez. Is the leadout train coupled and ready?

Cat 3 Cup official Rules and Scoring are here, so plan your strategy and suffering accordingly.

The Cat 3/4 event is full. So is the 4/5 and 5. But the women's 3/4, Masters 35+ and Men's 1/2/3 have plenty of room left, so pre-reg on Pre-Reg.com and save yourself the $5 late fee. (It's going to be sunny and 60 degrees, for all you anti-Belgians).

Another Weather-Related Race Cancellation: The CompuTrainer TTT Throwdown

We scheduled the first GamJams CompuTrainer TT Throwdown for February 6-7, figuring the heart of winter would be the best time to get people inside for a race. We thought we might even get some snow, keeping you all off the roads and boosting turnout. But the 2' of snow the night before the race was more race promoters' good fortune than we could handle, and we had to push back a week.

The Worst.Winter.Ever. continued, causing the cancellation or postponement of Trade Zone and a NC road race and even CX races, so we figured another CompuTrainer Throwdown could step in and fill the void. So we partnered with twice as many centers, offered twice as much purse, and added races on weeknights as well - go big or go home kind of stuff.

Alas, the weather has conspired against us again. With sun and 50s in the forecast this weekend it's pretty clear nobody wants to race indoors. Us included. At this point, if I can see the road, I'm riding on it. So for the second time this year, we're calling off our indoor bicycle race on account of the weather. (Of course, all our partnering CompuTrainer centers remain open and would be happy to host you and/or some teammates for a throwdown of your own. Find and contact them here.)

Go outside. Squint in amazement at the big yellow orb. Hear actual wind in your ears, not the ersatz breeze issued by spinning plastic blades. Put all that trainer time to good use.

GamJams CompuTrainer TTT is Go: Sweat your way to a $250 Team Sponsorship

Registration is now open for the GamJams CompuTrainer TTT Throwdown p/b Cutaway Clothing.

That ought to be enough, really. It's a sentence about a bike race in the Mid-Atlantic and doesn't include "Cancelled" in it. You should already have clicked by now.

But if you need a little more info about the $1300+ in cash and prizes, the four participating centers in MD, DC and VA, with midweek lunchtime, evening and weekend time slots available, or the new TTT race where GamJams has $500 worth of team sponsorships on offer, you can find all that here. 

Cutaway Clothing is sponsoring this one, giving a free t-shirt to each of the Category Winners (Men's A, Men's B, Women's A, Women's B) each week. And they're also offering a 20% discount on any purchase to all entrants. You'll want to take advantage of that. Cutaway was just featured in Bicycling Magazine, and your chance to claim that you bought a Cutaway t-shirt before everyone had one is quickly expiring. 

Snow Damage Forces Bayside Velo / Bike Doctor to Hunt for new Trade Zone Venue

Seems as though the stories of the health of the Trade Zone course were greatly exaggerated. MABRA officials have inspected the circuit now that it's visible again after weeks of snow removal. The bad news is that they've declared the course unfit for racing, with simply too many dangerous potholes.

The good news is that Trade Zone is Bayside Velo / Bike Doctor's baby. And if anybody likes taking advantage of Belgianesque weather in the Mid-Atlantic for a little racing, it's them. They're feverishly on the hunt for a new venue right now, and hope to resurrect the pre-season training series as quickly as possible. 

We'll report on progress as soon as news is available. In the meantime, keep one eye on the GamJams Calendar for your regional racing options in the interim.