Team Globalbike Blog

Team Globalbike just had another great day of racing today at the Blythewood Road Race near Columbia SC. Globalbike’s Josh Whitmore was in the early break with Chris Monteleone of the Kenda Pro Team which lasted for about 25 miles. Once caught by a group of about 20 starters, Josh attacked again and soloed for about 18 miles, gaining a maximum advantage of 1:50. The group eventually chased and caught Josh with 10 miles to go. As the catch was made, Globalbike’s Boyd Johnson attacked and soloed away for the WIN! The team’s Ben Miller took second with Noah Metzler in 6th and Ben Renkema in 7th. Thad Dulin flatted early and with no wheel support was out of the race.

Director Sportif and Masters 45+ racer Steve Sperry takes the WIN!

Like he’s done many times before, team Globalbike’s Director Sportif, Steve Sperry won one of the Donaldson Center Road Races during the Greenville Spring Series in the 45+ Masters race. The victory helped him secure the overall omnium lead in the series as well. How does he do that so often?

Josh Whitmore - Team Globalbike

The 2010 edition of the Globalbike Team Clothing has arrived. Finally we’ll all match! Pics soon. We’ll be sporting the Hincapie Velocity Line - the same stuff as Team BMC!

Josh Whitmore

Ben Renkema Takes the Win in the Crit and 1st in the Omnium

Just a quick Sunday night update: Globalbike had its best weekend yet, racking up wins in 3 states!

In SC, the home team took 2nd (Thad Dulin) and 5th (Ben Miller) on Saturday, 3rd (Thad Dulin) and 5th(Boyd Johnson) on Sunday, and 1st(Ben Miller) , 3rd (Thad), 5th(Boyd) in the 6 race overall omnium. Director Sportif - Steve Sperry wrapped up the overall win in the 45+ masters today as well. Wade Green of the club team took 3rd in the Cat 4 omnium.

In FL, Ben Renkema took the win in the crit today to lock up his lead in the overall weekend omnium.

In CT, Bobby Sweeting won the Ronde de Bethel

And today, now in 5 countries, various healthcare workers and volunteers rode their donated globalbikes to perform essential functions that would otherwise have been done on foot. Thanks to the team in the USA for spreading the word and marketing the globalbike name!

Team Globalbike Wheels For Training

As the Team Globalbike Service Course cranks into action this spring, some of the first products to be ridden by the team are the Boyd 30mm Alloy Clinchers. All of the team’s bikes will be equipped with these wheels for those long training miles between races. Of course we like the team edition green colors as well!

The Boyd Hub in Globalbike Green

At the center of all Boyd Wheels are these hubs. Notice the high flanges and alloy free-hub body. These wheels would be a fantastic option for any occasion, with the highest quality Sapim C-Xray spokes, these wheels come in around 1550g per set.  Boyd also carries a wide range of colors. You can get your very own set for $400. Check them out at : www.boydbikes.com

Boyd 88mm Carbon Clinchers

At races, the team has a arsenal of high performance carbon wheels to choose from. Boyd and Globalbike Team Member Thad Dulin did some testing of the 88mm Carbon Clincher in races this weekend. I’ve been riding the 58mm Carbon Tubular wheels for all races so far and really like them!

Photos by Eddie Helton

Josh Whitmore - Globalbike Elite Team

The state championship course at Fork Shoals always proves challenging. The 15-mile loop has enough climbing to hurt the sprinters and enough flats for the big boys to ramp it up. However, circumstances worked out to the benefit of Globalbike’s Cat IVs last Saturday and we were able to place three of four teammates in the top 15.

Wade Greene once again nabbed a 4^th-place finish, essentially winning the field sprint as it closed in on three riders who jumped early in the sprint and were able to stay away. Rick Taylor finished 8^th and Ben Butler was able to hang on for 13^th. The wide-open sprint was set up by Dave Curran, the team’s workhorse, who got out in front and pushed the pace to spread the pack over the last few miles of the course.

On Sunday, Wade finished 7^th at Donaldson following a leadout by Dave. We also had more riders at Donaldson than any previous race. Present also were Joel Toms, Rick Taylor, Ben Butler and Kelly Lowry (in his first race of the season!).

Wade currently sits in 3rd place in the standings, well within reach of the top of the podium. Dave’s currently in 18th place, but this is due to an error in the race results which gave Rick’s 8th-place points to Dave. We’re not sure whether that will get cleared up, but we understand the error — they’re both big and fast and green. It’s hard to tell them apart!

The final weekend of the Spring Series includes more hills on Saturday at River Falls and closes at Donaldson on Sunday. The weather promises to be beautiful, so come out and support the team this weekend!

Ben Butler - Globalbike Club Team

Big Split on first lap in the wind

Back to the Donaldson Center Road Course for Sunday Feb 28th, our race saw a big field (90-100), a fairly stiff wind, and sunny warm temps. The first photo shows a pretty good size split in the field, 20 or so off the front. Globalbike safe with 2 in that group.

The winning 10man break formed 10miles into the race

I was near the front of the main group as we closed that split. Just as we caught them, I used my momentum, rolled past the group and attacked hard. My gamble was correct, we had been chasing pretty hard to catch that group and the front group had been working pretty hard to stay away. All of that meant everyone was ready for a rest. I pulled 9 other guys with me (including Globalbike’s Noah Metzler). A gap opened and we were gone. 47 miles to the finish.

Globalbike Patrolling the front

So, what do you do if you have teammates up the road in a break? Sit in, patrol near the front, be ready to follow attacks, and even set a “false tempo” at the front - fast enough to discourage attacks but slow enough for the gap to keep growing.

with 10 miles to go, Chris Harkey of Subaru-Gary Fisher ended the blissful union of the breakaway by staring the attacks. After 3 miles of counter attacks, it was me who was dropped - bummer. Knowing that the group was still a ways back, I went into TT mode to see if I could make it the final 7 miles on my own without getting caught. I also knew that some of the 9 guys in front of me were likely to crack - I might catch them.

The plan worked, I caught and passed a blown Oneil Samuels of Ion-united healthcare, stayed ahead of the main group and finsihed 9th. Noah had a great ride and finished 7th.

Photos by Eddie Helton (http://picasaweb.google.com/Eddie.Helton)

Josh Whitmore Globalbike Elite Team

Boyd in the Final Sprint to the line.

Saturday saw the Greenville Spring Series return to the Fork Shoals road course. This is one of my favorite races in SC as it has just the type of hills that I can handle, not too long and not too steep, but big enough to make it hard.

Globalbike’s Ben Renkema made the early break that gained over 2 minutes on us before he had a mechanical and came back to the field. The call on the road at that point was to send one person to the front (me) to help bring back the remaining break. 1/2 lap of work later, we succeeded in the mission and the cards were re-shuffled again.

After a series of attacks, Cleve Blackwell of Ion-United Healthcare and Bruce Humphries of Coalvita snuck off the front and started to gain time. Not wanting them to get away with no Globalbike representation, I made a move to try to bridge to them or drag the group with me so my teammates could counter attack. The group let me go and a couple people joined me. Our little group of 3 worked for the next 15miles chasing the lead group of Cleve and Bruce. With 400m to go, the group in this picture (with Boyd sitting in) caught my little group of 3 and sprinted for the line. Cleve and Bruce stayed out front - barely, and Boyd finished 5th.

Photo by Eddie Helton (http://picasaweb.google.com/Eddie.Helton)

Josh Whitmore - Globalbike Elite Team

RJ Rockers Beer of the Month - Star Spangled Stout

RJ Rockers Brewing Comany, located in Spartanburg, SC, is one of Gloablbike’s greatest supporters. They believe in the mission of Globalbike and make a darn fine brew as well. Their Beer of the Month for March is the Start Spangled Stout.

Rather than give you the usual sales pitch, we thought we’d share a review posted on beer advocate from a beer lover who goes by the name “anexetastos”…

This is a picture-perfect dry stout. I am exceedingly impressed.

Appearance: beautifully black, opaque except under direct back-light. The head is a pleasant mocha color.

Aroma: coffee-like roasted aroma dominates, with no hops in the nose. There is a faint ester lingering back there in the background, but I can’t place it exactly. Possibly iso-amyl acetate, but whatever it is, it’s at a very low concentration and melds nicely with the roasted aromatics.

Flavor: complex. roasted flavors are up front, matched equally with chocolate. no hoppy distractions. there is no diacetyl, but there is a curious lingering flavor that follows the chocolate — blueberries? very, very subtle, but very nice. i think i’ll have another sip.

mouthfeel: creamy, full-bodied. carbonation level is just right. medium gravity for the style. not much astringency from the roasted grains. overall very pleasant.

drinkability: the dry stout is among my favorite styles when produced properly (but alas, remains behind the Belgian abdij and its ilk), and this one is definitely produced properly! excellent work. find it and drink it!

Well said, anexetastos!  We couldn’t agree more!

Josh Whitmore - Globalbike Management

80 New Globalbike Deliveries in Rwanda

As the main marketing effort of the organization, the mission of Team Globalbike  is to introduce and foster the globalbike cause to a target market - cyclists. So far, the team has done very well at accomplishing this mission, helping the organization double its operating budget and expand into three new countries.

Here, the  newest project  in Rwanda receives a batch of 80 Globalbikes.  The bicycles go to Rwandan Partners to allow “Reconciliation Ambassadors” to travel from village to village to actively assist in the process of healing the societal and personal wounds caused by the genocide in Rwanda.  These bicycles will make it possible for the Ambassadors to travel much more efficiently and quickly to perform this difficult and critical task.

Knowing that the team’s success will bring more awareness to the organization and ultimately more bikes to people in need, we have that little extra motivation to train well and race hard.

Rwandan Reconciliation Ambasadors Receive the bikes

These bikes make big differences in these workers lives!