Week of Aug 14

Sorry this is a day late but I actually do have a full time job that I need to pay my race fees since Louie cut my salary for not placing in my lastrace. I want to start by reminding some of our readers of a cardinal rulethat you are not allowed to break as a bike racer. Per the USCF rule book,you are not allowed to take you hands or feet off of your bike and strikeanother rider. Under no circumstances is this ever allowed or appropriate.The rules call for an automatic suspension in the event that a riderviolates these rules. That being said, a lot of things happen in thecourse of a bike race and we can all let our tempers and drive forcompetition outweigh our common sense. Just make sure you do not violatethis rule. This goes for starting it and any kind of retaliation. All ofus have a stake in keeping races as safe as possible.

TNW:This week saw a break start early with the Balchesaurus driving like he wason a crusade. The others in the break (Troll, Opi (this is Nathans nickname until I come up with something better), myself, and Big Eric were allhanging on for dear life hoping that Balch was going to slow down soon sowe could catch our breath. just when I thought life was going to getbetter, up comes the Chicken with Lance and Hansel. Now things got reallyinteresting with the big horses driving the break and stragglers droppingoff like flies. It was a good break and after a few mishaps with somebumping and grinding between the chicken and troll, we settled down to pullaway from the field. The break ended up with Mexican Snaggle Tooth,Chicken,Ryan, Lance, Fatman, Hansel, Double Chip, and Balch. The PT gangwas blocking like crazy and the break stayed away. We tried to set up Lance with a couple of attacks towards the end but he prevailed to win the sprint and take the belt home for another week.

Utah report as written by Mark Schaefer:Another great weekend of racing in Utah. The course was hard but beautifu lMt road racing. I raced the masters with all the usual suspects. Like most weeks BM gang had one rider off the front alone. It was Don Armstrong I wasnot going to respond (I had a lot of long hard miles training this week),Don is a good guy, ok with me if he can do it. A couple of riders started working at the front but not seriously the gap to Don was growing. We gotto the first climb and it was time to go to the front for me and start myworkout for the day. Half way up the climb one of Don's team mates (the P)attacked me, one other rider glued to his wheel. I looked around and no oneelse was there. I let them have their gap 20-50M and just watched to seewhat would happen it stayed that way over the top so time to bridge the gapon the descent. We had closed some of the gap to Don by the turn around.The second climb with the P and other glued to my wheel (more like a tandemimpossible for them to come around) back to my workout for the day tempo upthe climb. I figured to catch Don by the top that should hold off attacks from the P. Riding well I caught Don with about 2 miles to the top. Noattacks.... Don and I pushed it to the top, four of us over together. Lots of booty shakin on the descent (go figure). OK unlike last week I blew this one, 5K to go there was a short leg breaker hill Don went hard at it andpulled off I continued at that same pace ( I was a dumb ass I should have attacked) I got to the top and had a gap I rolled hard but not quite ableto hold them off. The good part of this was that the BM guys (to busy withme) got jumped at 500M by the other rider, yes BM does not win and I got3rd....I have them all set up for the Gap, they will all be watching me and teamPT can roll'em.

Myself and Chicken went down to Socal this weekend to hang out with Simo and get in some miles before Gap. On Sunday we did the Como Street ride.I must say a lot of respect was given out to the PT jerseys this week aswe were congratulated on the season our team has had and the performance ofRoboCop the week before at State. Chicken was marked on the hills and heattacked the field to show off why he is called a climber. He rode off the front for most of the ride to show off some of the form he has been building for GAP. It was a good weekend and it was really nice to hear the compliments to the team and how interested people were in what our plans for the next year are. Wear that PT jersey with pride, people notice.

Random Thoughts:
Gap is this weekend. Who will come out on top??? Only your legs will beable to tell you now.

Has anyone thought of some kind of anger management class for cyclists??Can't we all just get along?? I guess it is the nature of racing to becompetitive but lets make sure we keep it safe. This sport is dangerous enough.

From the mind of the Chicken: How can i shake the Mexican Snaggle Tooth.He haunts my dreams. Why will he not pull through?? Is he after mywoman?? i must destroy him and make him pay for his insolence.

Dotsie Bausch is looking to get into track racing and will try her hand at the 3k pursuit for nationals. Can you see a run for the Olympic Games inBeijing?? KB better brush up on his chinese.

I am doing the Pro 1-2 race called the SanPete Classic in Spring City UT next Saturday. Let me know if you are interested in going with. I can switch to masters 35+ if Mark would like up to help him whip some ass onhis UT boys. Let me know.

Levi, Devolder and Gusev have contacted Louie about racing on PT next year.We advised them they are not old enough and we already have some champions.

The show is coming!!! Just a thought to some of you looters out there. Remember that we are privileged to have the industry bike show in our cityand most of us find a way to get in. For some of us this is an importanttime for us to secure sponsors and represent our teams. Remember toconduct yourself with some class. I have heard stories in the past of guysat the show buying gear and misrepresenting who they are and what they aredoing, equipped with made up resumes and tall stories about races won.This is just a ploy to get free and discounted gear and purchase equipmentand components to sell. It ends up being sold to local cyclists andcompeting with local bike shops. This is bull shit and should not happen.We need to support local shops. If you think you are turning an easy buckand it does not hurt anything, you are wrong. It is important that we do not abuse the good will that is provided by sponsors to support racers

Jimmy Robbins

Weekly Report

Hey Gang,
Sorry this is a little late but I have been slammed with work today. I know this may be shocking news but I do not get paid to write thiswonderful column so it has to take a back seat to the job that pays for mybike racing. I will open by once again highlighting the recent categoryupgrades. The Troll achieved his Cat III upgrade and has now put himselfat the same level as many of his rivals. Good Job Troll. Keep up the goodwork and start working for that Cat II. Nathan ( McGhies JR rider) alsoachieved his Cat III. This kid is up and coming so keep an eye on him.Nathan if you ever need rides to races or any kind of support let us know.We are always willing to support Junior racers. Ask Chris Carlson, I hadto write him off on my taxes.

TNW Report:
This week saw really hot temps here in Vegas and the field was much smallerthan we have had lately. A break got up the road with Chicken, Lance,Balchesaurus, Cesar(McGhies), The Christian, and Mexican Snaggle Tooth.The three strong men of Lance, Chicken, and Balch kept the pace high todrop the others and ended up staying away for the sprint. Lance used histremendous large calves to pull away from the Chicken and keep the belt foranother week. Good Job Lance.

Nationals:
I only know of two brave souls from Vegas that went to Nationals. I have a sneaky feeling that Carlson will be going to do under 23 nats but I havenot heard from him so I will have to examine results to find out. Louieand Mark took 2nd place in the Tandem Time Trial. If you know Louie andMark, they were pissed!! They came out to the Tandem RR today and whoopedass to take the National Championship Title. AWESOME!! I do not know howmany Jerseys Mark has won but that is 8 for Louie. Not bad for a shortCuban with a bad temper.

La Mirada Grand Prix:
This was a good race. The course is a 2 mile circuit that undulates witha nice little hill after the first corner. I did the Pro 1-2 race withLance and Little Hurt. Lance spent most of the day doing various choresfor the guys on his team. Little Hurt was bad ass. He was in severalchase groups and was working on the front like a mad man. Vampy (ChrisWalker) got away and Rock Racing waited too long to chase. Vampy wasincredible to hold off Team Zoolander (this is Andy's term for Rock Racing)and won solo on a really hard course. Andy finished in the field and did agreat job to be a player most of the day. Myself and Lance ran out of gaswith three laps to go and was not involved in the finish (that is a niceway of saying pussed out and DNF).

In the Master 40+ race Kenny Bingham had a solid race to place 13th. Herode the front of the race and held good position all day. Just a littlebetter position in the sprint and he would have been top 5. Good JobBingleheimer>

I did the Master 35+ race, missed the break and got 16th overall with a10th in the field sprint. Not sooo good.

Michelle did the Cat 4 race and placed 5th to win some money. She did agreat job and was leading up the climb for most of the laps.

Dash For Cash
The 35+ race had myself, Bingleheimer, Troll, Lance, Gagne, and AshleyDiamond in the race. There was a 20 cash preem every lap. Kenny was active early but 5-star dominated the race and won most of the laps either off the front or just outsprinting various riders. I tried a move a coupleof times but no go. I ended up somewhere in the top 20 in the sprint with Lance and Gagne somewhere in the same area. 5-Star was impressive and really controlled the race. It was tough with only me and Kenny in the race but the speedwork was good.

Ashley did the Pro Woman but I did not get her placing. She can update us late but I know she won some money.

Michelle did the Cat 4 woman and placed 5th and won several laps to bring home the gas money to get home. Her strong surge split her field and shewas the main protagonist in her break. Good Job.

Random Thoughts:
Carl Bordine is the Man. i know he is not from Vegas but many of us racewith him and he just won the National Masters Crit Title. Nice

I heard there was a huge turn out at the charity rider for Treina thisweekend. COOL. I am glad to see the cycling community pull together.Lets take that spirit and participation to races.

Vampy is incredible. the way that old man punked Team Zoolander wasimpressive. I am sure Rashan will be having some second thoughts aboutletting him up the road again.

Word on the street is that Ashley Diamond is shopping around for a ProContract. Hope you get it and do not forget us dreamers back here inVegas.

Tour De Gap and Mt Charelston is just around the corner, who will step upto the challenge. Hey Chicken, is Everest on your mind on those trips upPotosi. The squirrel has identified this event and advised that he will be putting on a climbing clinic for the Chicken.

Kenny looked solid this weekend. Tour De Gap may sport some placings for Bingelheimer. Keep up the training and the speed work.

See you guys when I get back from Cascade.