Ernie Watenpaugh finished third in the Chile Challenge, the fourth Mountain States Cup race in Angel Fire, New Mexico. Check it out here.
Ernie Watenpaugh put together his first podium finish of the 2011 MSC season in the Chile Challenge
The Team descended on Café Vino for our November gathering at which libations, tidbits, and cheer were had by all!
You can dress (some) of them up... BUT YOU STILL CAN'T TAKE THEM OUT!
(L-R) Lora Heckman, Matt Gough, and Mike Geoffrion catching up
Whether on the course, on the cowbells, or behind the scenes, Team Peloton-Specialized was there at the USGP New Belgium CX Cup in our hometown of Fort Collins on the wintry weekend of November 13-14, 2010.
Bill Frielingsdorf generating heat on a cold day at the USGP Cyclocross New Belgium Cup
USGP New Belgium Cup 2010 Ric Slayden from Peloton-Specialized Cycling Team on Vimeo.
The weekend was archetypal cyclocross: beneath overcast skies, on freshly-snowed mud, and swathed in temperatures hovering at barely 40°F which was actually unseasonably cool on the heels of a November that was boasting, until that weekend, weather that was unseasonably mild.
Bill Frielingsdorf recaps of his racing, “Sunday went better for me, but it was still really hard. There is no doubt that the mud and the hills made it the most difficult weekend of ‘cross in Colorado this year. Many thanks to the entire Fort Collins Cycling Community. Special recognition should go to Lora Heckman who did so much to make the event happen and raced so well in the Elite Women’s field.”
Lora Heckman (in blue parka) delivering race results as Eric Liprandi looks on in the foreground (in red).
Ric Slayden none worse for the wear at the USGP New Belgium Cup
Team members turned out among nearly 2,000 others who raced, cheered, and/or helped organize the landmark event that further emplaced Fort Collins in the hallows of world-class bicycle racing.
Mark Zabel (L) and Travis Baugh managing race registration. And looking forward to that next cup of coffee.
The course featured a distinctive flyover that added interest and challenge to the already exciting venue; Team Peloton-Specialized was a sponsor of the construction of this flyover, which has become popularly known as “The Pummelhorse.”
USGP New Belgium Cup 2010 Slayden Ascends Pummelhorse from Peloton-Specialized Cycling Team on Vimeo.
USGP New Belgium Cup 2010 Slayden Under Pummelhorse from Peloton-Specialized Cycling Team on Vimeo.
Not quite Publishers Clearinghouse, and a helluvalot harder to win! Mark Zabel proffers the donation provided by the Team to support construction of The Pummelhorse flyover.
Kurt Ireland manned this crossing for most of the day and saw a lot of great action under, around, over, and down The Pummelhorse!
The days began at the crack of dawn for those involved in the organization of the event, an all-volunteer effort.
Mark Zabel, who volunteered along with several teammates, comments, “Saw many of the Peloton crew both on and off the course. Travis (Baugh), Eric (Liprandi), and I arrived before dawn to help out with registration. We had a nice stroll around the course on a cold Sunday morning before the action started. What a fantastic course and venue. A real electric atmosphere with so many bike racers, fans, and volunteers having a great time despite the brisk temperatures and biting wind. Can’t wait ’til next year – see you at the starting line!”
Travis Baugh (L) and Eric Liprandi, up at the crack of dawn registering and checking riders in.
Despite tight scheduling and unique responsibilities bestowed upon every individual volunteer, team riders were still able to meet up with and to cheer on teammates, fellow cyclists, and enthusiasts during both action-packed days.
(R-L) Ron Tjalkens, Matt Gough, and Ric Slayden in various shades of "I was at the USGP New Belgium Cup"
John Holcombe (C) and Tom Carter (R) chat with Peloton Cycles expert mechanic Nick Wamsley
While the races had their podium standees, the USGP New Belgium Cup was a huge “W” for all involved.
Tom Carter shouts out, “Thanks to the folks that were out this last week pounding posts, stringing tape, sitting in a registration tent, minding crossing gates, yadda-yadda-yadda. It’s that type of presence at events that helps the wheels of FC cycling turn. It was noticed…and Lora (Heckman) kicked ass actually racing!”
Team Peloton-Specialized is proud to have been a supporter and participant in this venerable event enriching the Fort Collins and Northern Colorado communities at large.
Matt Gough (L) and Ron Tjalkens... representing.
For more exciting coverage of the USGP New Belgium cup, see the Your Group Ride page dedicated to this event, featuring video footage by Boulder Video such as the clip below.
The highly-anticipated Team meeting to round up 2010 and set groundwork for 2011 was attended by an energetic cadre of returning and prospective members as well as shop colleagues and other team sponsors.
The group gathers to meet and greet
Convening at Cafe Vino, one of the team’s sponsors, the attendees quickly caught up with other as well as met and greeted prospective members.
Ben Duke, Team Rider, says hello to friends old and new
A round of self-introductions was made by each of those in attendance.
Individuals introduce themselves briefly
Sam Acheson, Team Manager, then turned the floor to Mike Geoffrion, Peloton Cycles Shop Liaison, who outlined sponsorship objectives for the coming year.
Mike Geoffrion (L) and Sam Acheson (R) recap the team's year and provide a glimpse into 2011
Mike also provided an overview of the new team structure being implemented in 2011 whereby the squad will be distinguished between the Elite Team, which is dedicated toward riders representing the team in at least 8 sanctioned races per year along with various other team and shop activities, and the Riding Club, which emphasizes social and community-oriented participation. Each group has its own kit, and is endowed with respective sponsorship and support provisions, with the common goal of providing greater visibility for the Team and its sponsors.
The 2011 Elite Team Jersey
On hand to unveil the 2011 team kits was Beth Leibo of Pearl Izumi. Based in Boulder, Beth was kind to spend part of her Thursday evening with the team, explaining the technical functionality and affordances of the Pearl Izumi Elite and PRO lines that comprise the Peloton-Specialized team kit that is currently in production.
The Elite Team kit features coldblack® technology which, although black in color, actually radiates heat better and keeps wearers more comfortable than fabrics of lighter color. coldblack® functions by reflecting solar radiant energy, minimizing thermal retention in the fabric, and providing 30+ SPF against UV rays.
The team is proud to be equipped with the supreme quality of Pearl Izumi product featuring coldblack® technology, and is elated to fly the new kits at upcoming races and civic events!
Beth Leibo of Pearl Izumi relating features and benefits of the 2011 kit fabrication
Beth explaining coldblack technology
KC McCuiston of New Belgium Brewing was also present with his colleague, Lora Heckman, who is also a Team Peloton-Specialized rider. KC, Lora, and New Belgium have been instrumental to the vitality and vibrance of the Fort Collins cycling scene of which Peloton-Specialized is an integral element, and their continued support is greatly appreciated. Feature refreshments of the evening and Ranger IPA pint glasses for the meeting attendees were graciously provided by New Belgium.
(L-R) Robin Torres, KC McCuiston, Lora Heckman, Bruce Runnels, Kurt Ireland
Following the meeting portion of the gathering which was held in the downstairs meeting rooms at 1200 South College Ave, the team reconvened in the pub area of Cafe Vino to while away the rest of the evening.
What's a party without swag?
Dana Hood (front), Peloton Cycles' Service Manager, putting on the smug with Stewart Pomeroy. Don't let him fool you... this guy's actually a genius.
What did you just do, Kurt...?
Ric Slayden (L) and Eric Liprandi are POMPED!
Stewart Culp making great strides recovering after a serious accident
Mike Hegdal (center) catching up with Cafe Vino proprietor Rich Taranow (L) and friends
Now less than 2 weeks away, the imminence of the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross-New Belgium Cup is quickly achieving critical mass in the Fort Collins, Front Range, and national cyclocross community at large!
Feted for November 13-14, with events happening all throughout Fort Collins beginning on the 12th, the weekend promises to raise our hometown and region to an even higher level of acclaim among the global commonwealth of cycling.
Team Peloton-Specialized is a proud sponsor of this eminent venue with participation of its members who are providing support by way of volunteer effort as well as direct financial contribution.
In particular, the Team has contributed at least $300 toward the construction of a unique flyover to be featured on the course, such as the one seen in the video below.
The “Orange Crush” from Hans Nyberg on Vimeo.
For further details of this exciting and noteworthy event, please see the websites hosted by the USGP and Your Group Ride.
The Hilton Fort Collins is the official lodging provider, which is home to Peloton-Specialized’s sponsor, Paul Chet Salon, and is but a few short blocks from Café Vino, another one of the Team’s fine sponsors.
Welcome to Fort Collins!
Crazy Joe Cyclocross races at 6:30PM on Sep. 7 & 14, and at 5:30PM on Sep. 21 & 28 at Fossil Ridge High School.
Whether you’re a newcomer to ‘cross or want to hone your existing skills, get the inside tip from Georgia Gould, Meredith Miller, Logan VonBokel, and Troy Heithecker, who will be hosting clinics at 5:30PM on Sep. 7 and 14 prior to the races on those dates.
Races are 45-60 minutes long, and clinics last 1 hour.
Meredith Miller at USGP Portland from Jim Fryer/BrakeThrough Media on Vimeo.
Meredith will co-host the clinics preceding the races on Sep 7 & 14 at the 2010 Fort Collins Crazy Joe Cyclocross Series.
The Specialized 2011 Tricross Comp
Logan VonBokel (above) and Troy Heithecker (below) will also be on hand to provide cyclocross tips to clinic participants on Sep 7th and 14th.
Update: Steve Lacey’s comprehensive writeup on his CTR experience is posted at his blog, The Ups and Downs of Mountain Biking. Here’s an excerpt:
“OK, this is a descent piece of trail, maybe those antibiotics are starting to work. Ah back into the trees and……what in the @#%$!!! Are you kidding me. Have you seen those construction sites where they have rough areas at the exit to shake the loose dirt and rocks off the trucks before entering the road; well, they got the idea up at Sargeants mesa after picking up mountain biker’s water bottles, blinky lights, and teeth along the rocks and baby heads. Holy cow, keep up with the butter here if you intend to ride but my rear rack was starting to show some serious signs of fatigue so I opt to walk a lot of it and finally get to Baldy lake where I can fill up my water bottles….it’s just a half mile off the main trail…..straight down and straight back up.”
Steve Lacey on the CTR
# # #
Kurt Ireland and Steve Lacey are on the Colorado Trail for the 2010 Colorado Trail Race, referred to as the CTR, which is a multi-day endurance mountain biking epic that has no formal entry, support, or prize incentive.
Kurt Ireland hits the Colorado Trail Race. Photo: Jeff Higham
The course runs nearly 500 miles between Denver to Durango and presents participants with 65,000′ of elevation gain, with altitudes ranging between 5500′ to 13200′.
The course and elevation profile of the CTR
Follow their live progress at Trackleaders.com.
Steve Lacey heads out on the Colorado Trail. Photo: Jeff Higham
We wish Kurt and Steve a safe and swift journey, and look forward to their updates and ride reports!
Team Peloton-Specialized wishes you and yours a safe and festive 4th of July holiday weekend.
Bruce Runnels, Scott Ellis, and Bill Frielingsdorf represented the Peloton-Specialized Cycling Team at the Bicycle Tour of Colorado which is a 6-7 day tour that takes place every June.
(L-R) Bruce Runnels, Scott Ellis, and Bill Frielingsdorf sporting the team colors as they enter New Mexico on Day 3 of the Bicycle Tour of Colorado
The Tour takes cyclists on a different route each year, but always includes a few challenging passes and showcases Colorado’s spectacular scenery.
This year’s 470+ mile loop started and ended in Gunnison, and included overnight stays in Creede, Alamosa, Chama NM, Pagosa Springs, and Center.
The brochure with route and elevation for the 2010 BTC. (Click image to enlarge in new window).
The shortest day of the tour consisted of 50 miles, while the longest day was 106 miles. Passes included Slumgullion (11,361’), Spring Creek (10,901’), La Manga (10,320’), Cumbres (10,022’), Wolf Creek (10,850’)and North Cochotopa (10,149’).
This was the 16th year for the tour.
The colors of Team Peloton-Specialized have been proudly flying at the CU Boulder Cycling Short Track series, with Jim Fu having raced during the last two weeks.
Photo: Yuki Saito
While Short Track is not normally Jim’s “thing” as an endurance racer, the camaraderie and opportunity to represent the Team at a venue which commingles pros, kids, and ardent enthusiasts makes the 1.5 hour drive for 30 minutes of redlining over twisty hardscrabble still a most worthwhile venture. It’s a great workout, and a great time.
The CU Boulder Short Track series is held every Wednesday night until August 11 at the CU Research Park off Discovery Drive.