Team Globalbike Blog

Mountain Sports Festival - Asheville

The globalbike expo booth was at the Mountain Sports Festival in Asheville this weekend. With 15,000+ in attendance, the globabike message was spread wide and far. We raised enough money to purchase 6 bicycles in Zambia, and even won some of the bicycle racing events on the track! Thanks to those who stopped by!

The venue was a great place to show off samples from our biggest supporter, Catoma Tents. We had a full line of tents on display and fielded constant questions about them. People seemed to really like the ease and speed that the tents could be set up. Watch out for that tent called the twist! It practically leaps out of its packaging.

Sponsor Catoma had tents on display

Josh

Josh explains where in the world are globalbikes

David is currently 3 wins in the last 3 starts. The latest “W” coming last night in the Ring of Fire criterium series in Asheville, NC. Raced on Asheville’s “Mellow-drome” the race consists of a 60 lap race contested in a points race format. Sprints are every 5 laps for points, the winner is the rider with the most points at the end. The mellodrome is fun, an old motor-speedway that is now marked like a velodrome and consists of a 500 semi-oval with 3-4 degree banked turns. It is flat out fast!

My duty for the race was to keep things together to ensure a group sprint each time and to lead out David for the sprints. Our plan worked well. I was able to control the breaks effectively and had some left over for the leadouts. The best effort we had was for the final sprint - worth double points. For the laps leading up to the sprint, David was on my wheel as we slowly worked out way up in the group. We timed it about perfectly, ending up near the front with one lap to go. I hadn’t expended much energy getting us there, so I was able to unleash a big effort for the leadout. When we heard the bell, I ramped it up on the front of the group with David in tow. I accelerated smoothly but kept ramping it up. I maxed out around 38mph, just in time for David to slingshot around for the win. The speed robbed everyone else the chance of even moving up.

So, finally we’re getting this leadout thing dialed. Now we need to do it in some big races.

Josh

I’ve had a couple days now to recover from the stage race and associated time in the car and wanted to add this report.

Final GC: Ben Miller (globalbike composite rider) 12th overall.

Last stage fireworks: The last stage was the hardest crit course I have ever ridden. It had a big hill and then an additional steep hill on a 2k course. Our race split into 2 main groups. Ben and Alan maintained in the lead group, and the rest of us ended up in the second group. With one lap to go, Ben was sitting perfect 4th-5th wheel when he crashed hard in one of the corners. The officials applied the 3k rule and gave him the same finishing time as the group he was with, preserving 12th.

Afternoon at the hospital: Ben’s crash resulted in some deep gashes in his elbow and a shoulder which may have been dislocated. We spent the afternoon in the hospital getting some stitches and x-rays. With the holes fixed and no broken bones, we were on our way - the long drive home. Ben will need a few weeks for his shoulder to heal before racing again. No real damage, but some sprained ligaments to deal with.

Overall impressions: The team raced well for Ben and suffered a lot. We underestimated how difficult this race would be. Both the competition and the course. In the end it was good experience for the team, one on which we can build on in the future.

Josh

While the rest of the team was gallivanting about the Arkansian country side, I was stuck in the Eastern time zone to dual it out with tiny fields and soggy conditions in Knoxville, TN at the annual Tomatohead Omnium -  a series of 3 criteriums.

The weekend began Saturday a.m. a parking lot crit that was so bad that it was protested by several riders, yes I agreed it was a silly race course with our laps never taking over 1 minute and the fact that every point on the course was in view at all times made the 60+ laps a bit monotonous. The race started and instantly the field was shattered with somewhat tight corners and falling rain giving way to a front group of 5-7 and a string of lapped riders strewn about the rest of the course. After trying several attacks and even a few of us taking a few laps off the front only to be steadily dragged back the field conceded to twiddling around the course until 2 to go I got antsy and attacked only to immediately brake through the turns to avoid lapped riders I continued to drive the pace even after being caught in hopes of keeping it high enough to come out of the last turn first - nope Dirk Polhmann and a Krystal rider pushed me out of the last turn and into 3rd place for the finish. doh!

The afternoon race was still rainy but was at least a real criterium course with more like 2-3 minute laps and a long straight uphill drag finish with a half dozen technical turns. The race started and I followed an attack from a Myogenesis rider who dropped away after 1/2 a lap leaving me alone off the front for several laps until finally Dirk Polhmann followed by 3 or 4 riders brought me back, we lasted as a small group for a lap or two before the Krystal rider who had won the previous race attacked and brought another rider and myself with him forming a break of 3 that stuck. Early on in the break  I skipped a pull which enraged the other two riders who then decided to attack me after my next turn, which simply gave me the greencard to sit on until they agreed to stop attacking me. We finally started to work together again and with 5 laps to go we lapped the field. The Krystal team had at least 5 riders in the field and so they lead their rider out for the last few laps. With 1 to go the mystery rider from our break attacked up the hill, which I gladly followed and counter attacked just before the 2nd to last turn which was a fast sweeper about 400 meters from the finish line after cleaning the wet turns I opened up several bike lengths for the win.

Omnium status:

Krystal Dude: 1st (1st, 2nd place)

David: 2nd (3rd place, 1st)

Sunday, Crit 3 - Sun shine at last! Beautiful day and a decent course with a ridiculous downhill finish! As we line up I quickly realized that my day was going to be closely monitory by the 6 Krystal riders. As expected lap after lap I am forced to chase attack after attack from the Krystal team; the good thing is however that none of them will work with me so all I have to do is chase them and they immediately give up… haha. The other good thing is that dirk Polhmann is an Master Time Trial National Champion so if anything gets up the road that I haven’t chased he will gladly bring it back for his own sake. So the race stays pretty well glued together minus the occasional lap or two flyer.  So with 3 laps to go a mystery rider in blue whom I had not seen the entire weekend attacks and is allowed to stay away and quickly gains 15 - 20 seconds on the field. I am willing to let him go in exchange for not botching the sprint to ensure the omnium win, however with 1 lap to go another mystery rider attacks wildly flying around  the course with me glued to his wheel taking turn after turn with reckless abandonment nearly sketching out every corner until I attacked him just before the 2nd to last turn and punch it up the hill just before the turn into the finishing downhill and as I crest the hill I notice that the flyer is just ahead and quickly fading - I give it a little more gas and catch him at the line by 1/2 a bike length for the win. haha boomyow!

Final Omnium Stats:

David: 1st

Breakaways were tried yesterday. I was in a 3 man break for 20 miles and then Ben and Alan were in a promising 10 man break for many miles that was a real threat to the the overall GC. The teams with guys high in the GC fought hard to bring it back. In the last 30 miles lots of attacks flew but nothing stuck till about 4 miles to go. Noah had covered the move but flatted shortly after tacking himself on the back of it. That group of 4 finished about 10 secs up on the field. Globalbike boys finished in the field with Andre taking 14th overall for the stage. Ben still in 12th overall.

One stage left, a technical crit with a big hill. Then the long drive home.

Josh

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After 2 days of the Joe Martin Stage Race in Arkansas, team globalbike composite rider Ben Miller is sitting 11th in the overall GC 40sec behind the leader. The rest of the team is farther down in the GC but fighting well to maintain Ben’s position and help him gain time. Today is a 95 mile road race, we need to get Ben in a break to make up some time.

Josh

Globalbike p/b Catoma would like to wish our guys luck as they travel to Arkansas and Colorado for some big events.

Jim, Andre, Josh, Noah with guest riders Alan Tripp and Ben Miller will be traveling to Arkansas for the Joe Martin Stage race

Tyler representing Clemson and Craig representing Furman will be traveling to Colorado for Collegiate Nationals.

Craig was a part of the Fruman TTT National winning team last year.

Good luck Guys!

Globalbike p/b Catoma finished up Speedweek yesterday and some of the last few races need recaps, especially Spartanburg our home base.

Spartanburg;

The 3/4 race had a good Globalbike representation. Paul was the picked man of the day for a result with Kelly and few of the other Golbalbike Club guys helping out. However, as will be the tone of the day, a wreck took down not only Paul but Kelly and many others as well. Complete carnage was the scene to say the least. Both Paul and Kelly are ok but Paul will be riding his trusty old steed once again as the Specialized was cracked. A get well goes out to both of those guys.

Paul at bottom of heep...ouch

The 2/3 race had great representation as well. Steve, Rod and JimmyT all jump in to throw down with the young bucks as there was no Masters race.  The racing was fast and JimmyT got into a promising move of the day but with a few unnamed riders not willing to do any work the break came back and the FS was on. Everyone thought they could now win the race.  However, 2 guys just slipped away at the end and Rod had the best finish with a top 10.

JimmyT pulling break around

Pro 1 race had our best numbers thus far. Jim, Dave, Josh, Noah, Craig and myself all lined up. Globalbike even got a call up, which was great for the home crowd.  Race started and right away the prime bell goes off with Chad yelling $250 prime. I go through turn 2 about 5th and tell myself, “self go after that prime” ofcourse there are 140 other guys behind me having the same talk.  I jumped hard, got a gap and came through turn 4 with about 4 bikes lengths and took the prime, what a rush! However, the race resumed with 5 guys flying by me and heading out for what would be the break of day which later came back.  Everyone raced well and throughout the race I saw and talked with most of the guys. Andre was smiling from ear to ear when he came up and said he was feeling good.  Unfortunately his luck ran out with about 6 laps to go as a wreck took him out. My luck would then run out with about 5 laps to go as a guy came flying across the road and took out my bars. causing a 8-10 man pile up. I cam out with a broken helmet, mangled shifter and 5 stitches, (thanks DrJ!). Dave stayed upright and once again put in a solid performance for 28th.

Sean taking first prime of the night

Andre just prior to warp speed...

Thanks to everyone that came out and visited the Globalbike tent, enjoyed some RJ Rockers and contributed to the cause.

Dilworth and Sandy Springs

This report will be brief as the only real news was Andre taking 4th in the 2/3s race at Dilworth. He rode a good race, scared us a little in the end but came through with a great finish.

Josh, Dave and myself all came out of the race after numerous crashes due to course and rain. I once again managed a up close and personal convo with the pavement.

We then traveled to Sandy Springs where the week or racing, working, traveling and crashing all took it’s toll.  There must have been 150 guys lined up for this race as many of the GA teams that had not been racing came out along with several others.  The pace was high and there was a field split about 15 laps into the race. Everyone but me got caught in the 2nd group and called it a day. I was dead set on getting more points and moving back up in the overall. However, Mr Pavement did not like how our conversation turned out the day before and once again I found myself on the ground after some guy decided to sit up on the fastest part of the course and the guy 3 in front of me gave him a bar wedgie.

Broken helmet $100

Broker Shifter $150

36th Overall $150

Stitches in the back of head and road rash in places never thought possible….PRICELESS!

A HUGE thanks goes out to LONG TIME SPONSOR and FRIEND Dan the owner of Metro Reprographics who took time and came out to show his support.  The trailer looks GREAT DAN!

A huge thanks to SKINS for providing us with great products to help with recovery between races and traveling. SRAM for all the support this week at the race.

Tues and Wednesday brought the 2 middles days for crits.
I was the lone rider representing Gobalbike p/b Catoma. The Beaufort course had two tight turns and then a wide open run back to turn one. The name of this game is get to the front fast. Though we we were suppose to line up according to our overall placing, I some how ended up in the back but managed to move up rapidly. Rode in the front as various pro teams took turns on the front and taking primes. There was a move that went up the road and gained about 10 seconds. They stayed out there for about 5 laps and looked as though it might stick as many teams were represented. I managed to bridge but took 3 guys with me that all had guys in the break so NO HELP. We get to the break and those 3 guys attack. I go straight out the back after my bridge along with everyone from the break but one guy. The field seeing started coming hard and I found myself in a bad spot. After a few laps it slowed again and I was a able to recover and get myself back to top 15. Stayed there though got no help from various guys pusing and shoving. The field came around chasing one Mt Khakis guy and sprinting for 2nd. I finally picked a good line and ended up 20th for the day. No bad but still after that top 10.

bridge attempt...ouch

Walterboro
Joined Jim and Tyler for the race. Again the name of the game was stay up front. The course is rather wide open but just a littel dark. After turn 4 and getting back into the finishing straight, it gets a little narrow. All three of us managed to line up at the front and followed the flow for the majority of the race. Though fast and reaching speeds of 37 mph on the back stretch, it was not until the end were two guys escaped and stayed away. We came it sprinting for 3rd. I managed another top 30 and Tyler was just out of the money at 31 Doh! Jim hung on until 2 laps to go but finished just behind the group.

The Team after 4 days have dropped out the top 10 team rankings but these rankings are based on the top 4 finishers from each team. We have been a little out manned these last two races. Looking for some good things at Spartanburg, Dilworth and Sandy Springs.

Sean