May 3, 2008
April Race Update
With April showers comes a busy race schedule after the March tune up races, and Team Fanatik had cyclists driving all over the state in search of the next start line. After March decided to leave like a lion this year with the cancellation of the North Shore Race in Bellingham due to several inches of snow on the course, April was off to a fearsome start.
Ryan and Stewart began the month with a trans-state trip to Spokane for Frozen Flatlands. The weather wasn't much nicer, but at least they were able to race. Next was the gala criterium weekend in Seattle with Volunteer Park and Brad Lewis Memorial (Boatstreet) back to back. We got a sneak peak of summer with near 80 degree temps for Volunteer, but before we blinked, it was back to cold and rainy at Boatstreet.
Stewart and Russ Enjoy Summer Temps at Volunteer...
©wheelsinfocus.com
...But Cold Returned for Chad and Rain for Ryan at Boatstreet
©wheelsinfocus.com
The next weekend Ryan and Andrew ventured to the opposite corner of Washington State for the Tour of Walla Walla, where they found a few more flakes, and a lot of wind and hills. Finally, the month ended with yet more gray skies and some rain at the Vance Creek Road Race. The weather didn't seem to scare away too many people however, as our Master C and D riders had to contend with 99 riders in their field!
Following a March where the average daily high temperatures were the lowest on record, April did not treat us much nicer. Here's hoping to a warmer and dryer May, which is probably the biggest month of the season in western Washington in terms of turnout and calibre of racing.
-bryceroni
|April 9, 2008
Women's Tuesday Nighters!
Announcing a women-only alternative to the popular Tuesday Nighters training rides. Women cyclists of all abilities are welcome on this ride meeting at Fanatik Bike Co. at 6 p.m. Tuesday Nights. Route will head through Fairhaven to Old Sammish and down to the County Park at Lake Sammish for a break.
Then 1-3 laps around the lake depending on daylight and back to town via Lake Padden. Test your abilities for Queen of the Mountain at the crest of Old Sammish and again crossing Galbraith Lane on the way home. Sprint for agreed upon signs around the Lake.
The ride will regroup after each climb/sprint.
-Stewart
|April 4, 2008
An Erie Fanatik
There and Back Again
by Dilbo SandBaggins
By now, it's no longer news that the full gamut of races at WWU Cycling's North Shore Circuit Race on March 29th were canceled due to snow. The Cat 3 and 4/5 still men warmed up intensely under the Fanatik team tent at 8:30 a.m. while the officials drove the course with Phil E. looking for a way to make it happen. The snow only thickened the more we talked about it.
I'm still wondering what kind of carnage the combination of myself, Jeff McC, Andrew L, Brian (?), and Rob C would have caused in the Cat 3 field. This would be the first opportunity for me to race the NSCR while not simultaneously promoting it (I started the race in 2005), and I was feeling good. Jeff is obviously going well coming off a solo breakaway win two weeks prior, and those other three guys are not slouches, either. Oh, well, it just wasn't meant to be that day.
After clearing my driveway of a good foot of snow up at Toad Lake, I tried to blow off my racing steam on the rollers. I relied on Bryce's flawless recording of Het Volk to inspire me, and it worked like magic. That race was called on account of snow in 2004, but this year the weather looked appealing. I already knew Philippe Gilbert's dramatic solo escape would succeed, but it compelled me to ride the full 2 1/4 hour length of the DVD, dripping with effort, until we both celebrated at the finish. That was my personal record for trainer time, by the way, an indicator of my motivation.
But it wasn't enough to satisfy my legs, hungry for uphill punishment, so I hatched a plan to satisfy them. I would ride to Anacortes and cast the ring of power into the fires of Mt. Erie!
-RyanR
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