Team Globalbike Blog

This is a bit of a rant or maybe start of a discussion of race tactics in P/1/2 races as we see them in the Southeast. If you have any thoughts, leave a comment. Our spam filter requires comments to be approved before they appear on the blog, so it might take a few hours for them to appear here.

I am continually confused and amused by individual’s and team’s actions in the main group, once a breakaway is established. So picture this, a breakaway group has comfortable lead of 1.5 or 2 minutes, what should the main group do? In the P/1/2 fields, we typically see several teams that have 4-7 guys in the race (or at least they are wearing the same kit). In the situation I described above, I would expect the teams who are not represented in the break to send one or more of their team to the front to contribute to bringing back the break. In this way, the work load is shared by many in a steady but fast pace that efficiently drags the main group back up to the break.

In practice however, what actually happens is that people in the main group just randomly attack and then everyone else in the group chases them down. The resulting fast/slow pace actually causes the gap to up, not down. When the group gets into this mode, no-one is willing to take an efficient turn on the front because they are afraid that the next attack is going to gas them. Once this year, when a prominent team in the SE missed the break, someone pointed out to them “it’s up to your team to chase. Send some riders to the front to help pull” and the response from their team leader was, “we don’t pull, we only attack”. I don’t understand this at all.

Ok, I have to add that I have seen some exceptions over the last few years in the Southeast, a few shining examples of times when riders from different teams have organized on the front for a common cause, or even times when a whole team has gone to the front to do the work. However, these occurrences are rare.

I suspect that this situation occurs for a couple reasons
1. True teamwork, where some members of the team expend energy for the good of others on their team is common in professional racing, but not common in amateur racing. I get the feeling that even in the P/1/2 ranks of the SE, even when a group of guys is wearing the same kit, that most everyone is really looking out for themselves more than the team goals. So, just as if you had no teammates in the race, it might make the most sense to attack to try to force a small chase group, rather than dragging the whole field along with you. I believe this symptom comes from lessons improperly learned in lower category racing where any functional team work is very rare and you really only look out for yourself.

2. The best teams always have someone in the break. This gives a free ticket to the rest of the team in the main group to sit in and do as little as possible. When these attacks happen, a good team with representation up the road just has to follow these attacks, making sure that if a chase group does form, that they are in that group also. So, if the best teams all have representation up the road, then the responsibility of closing the gap falls to the weaker teams and individuals who may not have the ability or knowledge to make it happen in an organized fashion.

So, my call to P/1/2 racers in the SE and across the nation - Think before you attack and if the main group is in this pattern of Attack/slow/attack/slow, maybe you should just go to the front and put in a steady pull while encouraging others to do the same.

Josh Whitmore - Globalbike Team Manager

One of Globalbike’s biggest threats this year is Bobby Sweeting. You may know of him previously racing for the Land Rover - Orbea pro team or the Toshiba-Santos Pro team. Last year, Bobby was the Division I Collegiate National Overall Champion, Nature Valley’s Best Young Rider, and was 2nd in the U-23 National Criterium Championships. Already this year, Bobby has 3 victories under his belt without the support of the rest of the team, and just started a a great job with Cannondale in Connecticut. Just last weekend, Bobby racked up a 2nd place at the Tour de Kirche in CT. We look forward to having Bobby join the team in some of the bigger NRC level races coming up!

Team Globalbike continues to roll in the regional scene, taking 3rd (Noah Metzler), 6th (Boyd Johnson), 7th (Thad Dulin) and 10th(Josh Whitmore) in the 3/20/10 Uwarrie Wheelman Road Race. Noah covered the first attack of the day coming at mile zero. That move established 5 guys off the front. We were convinced that other teams and individuals would bring it back, but no one seemed interested, so the lead grew by minutes. We sat in the group, waited, and followed others who attempted to get away from the group. Finally, with the original break safely up the road, Boyd had enough and just rode away from the group with Jon Hamlin of Mtn Khakis. The two established a gap before globalbike’s Thad Dulin seemingly effortlessly bridged up to the pair on the course’s steepest climb. At the end, the original 5 maintained their lead. Boyd and Thad’s group came in next. What was left of the field came in several minutes down. Gloablbike’s Ben Miller lined up a perfect leadout for Josh Whitmore to take the field sprint for the last money spot in 10th. Another good day for Globalbike.

Following up his solo victory in the Blythewood road race on Saturday, Globalbike’s Boyd Johnson racked up another WIN in the Forest Acres Criterium on Sunday. Globalbike ruled the roost again today, controlling the race and coming away with 1st, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 9th and 12th.

Does anyone have photos of the races this weekend? If you do, contact Josh Whitmore, josh (at) globalbike (dot) org

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