Team Hungry has proven itself to be a force to reckon with. As illustrated by our Cat 3 squad (Andrew, Michael, and a dash of Scott Pardi) we can, and will, race the shit out of some bikes. Look at us wrong during a race, and we’ll drop you in a quick second (kidding, yes?).

The Spring Series was only ten weeks long and our 3 squad podium’d 9 times! The races varied from extremely flat, fast courses to courses with hills so steep that some people literally decided to walk up.

Andrew and I both finished on the overall podium for the series and are really proud of our Spring results. This is a true attestation that consistent winter work (weather is not a factor) and strong teamwork (finally!) can turn into good results!

Check these photos!

We’ll pretty much race you at anything. Especially if it has ANYTHING to do with bikes.

Part of Mobo‘s annual fundraiser this year was a bike build where teams were challenged to assemble a bike with the highest integrity the fastest. Each team was given a bucket of parts, a stripped frame, and a few tools to do the job. Lined up against three other teams from bike shops, punk houses, and co-ops, Scott Pardi and I were ready to put our mechanical skills to the test.

We put our heads down, made a bunch of mistakes, took a few whiskey shots, and only twelve minutes later had built a ride that most people would have loved to own. Hot damn that was fast!

We were feeling pretty proud of our teamwork and the bike that we built. Especially when we were awarded this beaut!

Suffering is above, not below.

And everyone thinks that suffering is below.

And everyone wants to rise.

-Antonio Porchia

My parents make fun of me for bike racing.

They roll their eyes when I talk about epic rides. They think its ridiculous when they hear how much money I spend on equipment. They see me and laugh at my tight fighting, obnoxiously colored uniform. I enjoy the criticism. For me, taking a comedic blow every once in awhile is a small price to pay for their undying support. My parents have earned the right to tease me. No matter what they say, I know that they always have my back when it comes to bike racing. And whether they like the sport or not, I know that it will always play some positive part in all of our lives.

I’d just like to thank my parents for a few specific things:

1 – Buying my first race bike! Freshman year of college I began obsessing over the bicycle. As I started riding more and more I wanted to race. They bought me my first Schwinn Fastback, the bike that really accelerated my racing “career.” Without the equipment, I would have never made it to my first starting line.

2 – Coming to my races! My parents are cool as hell about this. They really know how to pick the good events too. You can find them every year at The Blast, UCI Harbin Park and John Bryant.

3 – Taking Team Hungry seriously! I’m not saying they never did, but I only recently noticed that they perceive our team as legit. While they could play it off as minor league games, they really do see Team Hungry as something that is bigger than a few young guns shootin’ the shiz. This became apparent when my mom’s company offered to sponsor us for 2012. Pretty Cool and thanks!

I could have been thankful long before today, and am not really sure why I haven’t expressed it more publicly. Honestly, the only reason I have been pushed over the edge here is because some photos my dad recently sent me. I can’t resist sharing:

I love this photo and think it explains exactly what I said before. He is teasing me, but at the same time, showing that he cares about bike racing at some level.

Thanks guys!

Wow! Feeling totally overwhelmed about the generosity of this year’s sponsors coming through for Team Hungry. I’m really feelin’ the love here!

Our sponsors are what keep us going, and thanks to all of them, we can keep biking on our merry way! These companies are supporting Cincinnati cycling, and we think they need some support in return.

Campus Cyclery: Our favorite Bike shop. Duh! These guys have been with us since the beginning and have been an amazing support to the team. Go there. Get your bike all fixed up and pretty like.

Cincy Bike Rentals: Want to travel to Cincinnati to test your skills against Hungry? Don’t want to bring your bike? Cincy bike rentals has your (and our) back!

Park+Vine: Another sponsor veteran! Returning with us for year 3, this business does everything it can for the local bike scene. Whether it’s riding recreationally or racing, Park+Vine is all about biking! Give them some love and feel inspired to go out and pedal!

The Comet: Best Beers. Best Bluegrass. Best Burritos. It only makes sense that the Comet sponsors the best bike team in the city.

Dubwerx: Year two of sponsorship. Most of us love our bikes, but know nothing about fixing our cars. Dubwerx has got us covered. This is simply the best place to go for that sexy VW or Audi repair.

forkheartknife: This is the fuel of Team Hungry. Better food = Better racers. Good luck beating our food

Primax Studio: Host of this site and employer of Dad Hands! Have him dress up your website so that it can look as good as ours!

Volvo of Cincinnati: Large and in charge.

Thanks everyone! We are ready to rock it!

Found some great photos from USGP Day 2. Alex is holding first place wheel for the first 2 laps. MC looks strong through the twistys.

The Beginning of cross season and the OVCX series hits hard: Two days of back-to-back racing at Kingswood Golf Course in Mason, Ohio. With a more difficult course and significantly more entrants than the prior year, everyone was dancing to the tune of competition.

The Course: It was DRY. I think I am still coughing up dust three days later. The course include several long, sweeping off-camber turns that you could hardly pedal through. The standard set of barriers. One wheel-eating sandpit. And their self-acclaimed sha-zand, a confusing sand pit that looped through a densely wooded section. The course was run in a different direction each day.

There was so much going on this weekend that it is difficult to write about. Here are the weekend Stats:

Three Top Fives

Two Podiums

Eleven Races

Two newbies

8 dust covered grins

Not bad for round one of the OVCX series. Can’t wait for Louisville!