Louie Wins San Dimas!!!!

Fw: News from the Peloton

WOW!!!  Vegas represented this weekend.  Lots of good stuff to talk about
from San Dimas.  Lets get to it!!!

Our tip of the week involves sag climbing.  This is a little known
technique used by fat riders like myself to try and get an edge on my
fortunate teammates that have a little less girth around the mid section.
The idea is to start a climb right at the front so you can drift through
the field at a more moderate pace in order to still be in contact with the
field when you crest the climb.  If you are really good at it you will lead
your climber to the front so it looks like you are working for him when in
reality you are just trying to survive over the top.  If you do get
dispatched you can always brag about how you helped your team leader make
the final cut but you could not make it because you spent your wad helping
him.  This is the only way I have been able to save face for years.  Try it
in your next stage race.

TNW:

This week the break away artists had their revenge on the sprinters.  With
a little wind on the course to make things hard, Balch, the Fatman, Big
Ryan, and Jeffon were able to get away and make it stick.  Balch was an
animal in the wind and took monster pulls with Ryan putting in tough
efforts on the flat.  With these two driving the break we managed to stay
away.  Ryan jumped Balch ealry for the win with Jeffon right behind.  The
Arcitic Squirrel took the field sprint with a nice acceleration out of the
field.  Looks like Team Penta is the team to beat right now.

San Dimas Stage Race:

The TT is a 3.8 mile pure climbers course.  In the 45+ we had the Boss, Dr
Bill, Magoo, Tailgunner Mark , and Don Armstrong.  Louie set a scorching
time of 14:55:59 for the TT win with Mark in 3rd with a 15:35:37.  Don
rounded out the top 10 with a 16:21:98.  3/5 in the top ten is impressive
with Louie in Yellow.

In the 35+ we had myself, Chicken, Freeze and RS.  Chicken had the best
time for 19th.  Alex had a fine time for 25th place.  We did not make our
goal of top 10 so stage wins were going to be our goal for the next two
days.

Other Vegas notables are Bryan Bitter from Allegiant in the cat 3 with a
14:57:63 for 4th place and Jeremy Thatcher from Allegiant in 9th.  In the
Cat 4 race Thoman Michaud from Allegiant in 2nd with a 15:32:38 and Matt
Shackley Team CES (he is a jr) with a 15:39:66 for third.  In the woman 3/4
Stephanie Bissonette was 1st and Michelle King from PT was 8th.  Two Vegas
riders in yellow on the first day.  NICE

The road race is a technical loop around Puddingstone lake with some
rollers on one side and a 1 mile climb with some cobbles before the finish.
In the 45+ race Mark, Don and Gabe worked their booties off to defend
Louie's lead.  Louie was able to secure the KOM jersey and was able to
defend his lead.  He faced some serious attacks by second place of Amgen
with Wayne Stetina.  Mark ended up finishing the RR in 9th and Louie in
11th and he retained yellow.

In the 35+ RR, the pace was insane.  WIth 8 laps and arguably one of the
strongest fields of the weekend, the pace was hot from the gun.  RS and
Freeze had the best legs.  Chicken covered some early moves that were
brought back by various teams.  RS was very active and tried a move with an
Amgen rider that was brought back by Cynergy.  Chris DeMarchi forced a
split that Chicken had to bridge for the field that took some energy out of
his legs.  With two to go a break got away on the top of the climb that
contained the leader.  I assisted Cynergy with the chase but it ended up
staying.  RS did a good job to finishe 10th in the field which gave him
15th on the day with Alex right behind.  The Penta gang finished in a group
with me just behind the main field.

Other vegas notables were Danny Kam taking the W in the Cat 3 race with a
nice sprint at the end.  In the woman 3/4 race Stephanie was second on the
day and maintained her race lead.  Thom kept his second and Matt kept his
third in the Cat 4 race with a finish in the field.  Andy Bestwick was the
bravest on the day contesting the Pro race.  He was caught behind a crash
and spent the day in a chase group off the back.  It was a lonely day for
Little Hurt but he kept on riding for training.  He gets the award for a
gutsy ride .

The last stage is a crit with a riser on the back side.

The 45+ team had to make sure that Louie did not lose any time bonuses that
would cost him the W.  The guys rode a smart race and easily defended the
lead.  He secured the win with his 9th place in the crit.  Mark Henry was
right behind in 11th.  Louie was the overall champion and also won the KOM
jersey.  Mark ended up 5th.  I am not sure where Don finished as the final
GC was not posted at press time.

The 35+ team was hunting a stage win.  Chicken rode out of his ass to try
and lead me out for the sprint.  Big Padgett from Penta tooka slide in one
of the corners to lose some skin.  His break looked strong when he went
down.  On the last twp laps RS and Chicken took the head of the field and
kept me at the front.  i got pinched in a corner and was not able to pull
out a placing.  Luna had a nice ride from Penta to finish 11th.  Nothing
notable on GC for the 35+ gang to report but Freeze had a very consistent
ride and I believe finished in the top 20 against a top  notch field.

Other Vegas notables were Danny Kam with a blistering sprint in the Cat 3
for the stage W.  He was smoking fast and came flying out of the field.
Tom and Matt both defended their lead in the cat 4 and ended up 2nd and
third.  Stephanie was able to defend her lead in the Cat 3/4 woman and also
secured the win for the overall.  She finally overcame her fear of crits to
secure the biggest win of her career.  GREAT JOB.  Michelle King also did
her best stage race to make the top 10.

Random Thoughts:

CES has a new up and comer.  Matt Shackley rode a solid race and did it all
on junior gears.  Nice Job.  Chek out the Allegiant team.  They have been
training as there cat 3 and cat 4 guys are improving rapidly.  I predict it
will not be long before they are in the upper ranks.

Somebody help Bitter with some advice that does not involve power meters
and heart rate.  He has that down, now we got to keep him upright in the
road races. This guy has mad strength and his TT time was impressive.

WOW, Danny Kam is really starting to show some serious speed.  His sprint
in the crit was from the middle of the bunch and he was flying.

The Boss had incredible support all weekend and rode a very tactical race
to defend his lead.  He was also the fastest TT from vegas again.
OUTSTANDING>

Schaefer is just getting started on his training and he  was third in the
TT.  How about Don with his 10th.  Just wait until these two get some
decent weather.

Team Penta was very active all weekend.  Big Padgett did a nice job to get
himself up and over those cobbles and stay in the field.  Luna was very
smooth in the crit.  Somebody tell Padgett to let a little air out of those
tires on  wet roads.  He had a nice case of baboon ass after his fall.  Get
better soon!

Stephanie has come into her own.  I am sure she would agree that she has
conquered some personal demons to become a better rider in the field and
she did one hell of a job to finish strong in the crit to defend her lead.

Freeze and RS were easily the strongest riders from PT this weekend in the
35+ RR and did a great job.

The Chicken was a great team mate this weekend and did a hell of a lead out
in the crit.  I owe you!!

Somebody who speaks spanish needs to call Oscar and explain time bonus in
crits.  He lost the overall in the Pro race by one second.  WHOOPS

Little Hurt took some lumps this weekend and did it all with panache.  I
can not imagine the hell it must have been riding on the course for ten
laps by yourself.  I am glad he attempted the finish and it is only a
matter of time before he will be back to full strength.



Jim Robbins