I can’t stop thinking about cyclocross season! Devou Park Practice last night was great. We did Hot Laps (2-3-2). Everyone on the team seems to be getting really used to their new rigs, and we are already seeing improvement across the board. Our version of the practice course worked out really well, so we are probably going to stick with it until more trail building ensues.

Only one person who was not on Team Hungry showed up. Matt Bell, the brain behind the permanent park came and laid down some serious hurt on the course. Ouch! Where was everyone else? Be a pioneer!

After our first “official” practice at Devou last night, Alex and I decided to take an easy day and do some cx skills practice. We took our bikes to Mitchell Memorial Forest. This place has a mountain bike trail … Read More »

Most of us have heard about it, some of us have worked on it,  and a few of us have actually ridden it. DEVOU PARK PERMANENT CYCLOCROSS PARK!

After the second trail building day, which takes place on the last Saturday of every month, the course is really taking shape. Park crews have mowed sections and volunteers have cleared out what is called the “northern trail.” The course still needs a lot of work to be finished, but is certainly in ride-able condition. Since the course isn’t done, we have come up with a preliminary route that incorporates the complete trail as much as possible.

Current course (our version) features: Lots of slightly uphill of cambers and fast-sweeping 180 degree turns. This courses shape and terrain make it both technically challenging and physically exhausting. Some of the sections are slightly rutted, especially … Read More »

Second race in a series of five this week. This week the B squad raced against the weather radar. Black clouds, thunder and lightning came rolling in only seconds after the final sprint of the race. We had enough time to find shelter, but the A race was cancelled unfortunately.

The boys who raced did great as always. Andrew racked up enough points for second for the day!

Results posted at : http://tinyurl.com/23s3g9r

There’s nothing worse than a mechanical taking you out of a race.

They can’t always be avoided, but it feels great lining up for a race and knowing that you will fade before your machine. With the first race of the spring series only one week away, we got together to wash the harsh winter residue off our bikes, and make sure that we would be riding our bikes over the line, not walking.

The boys at Campus Cyclery were nice enough to let us use the shop after-hours. The Price? A cooler full of beer and food on the grill. Whenever we get together it is as much about bikes as it is about having a good time. Needless to say, some of us may have gotten more lubed than our bikes.

Cincinnati is showing some initiative in creating a more bike friendly city. On my ride to the bike shop this Friday I was pleasantly surprised by one of these:

More information available at http://www.queencitybike.com/.

Thank you Cincinnati!

The last race of the spring series was unlike all other races. It was a crit – A 1km lap with a serious climb (the finish line was at the crest), a downhill 180 and a fast flat section. We were all excited when we saw how big the hill was and were impressed that Team Abundance found such an awesome, isolated course.

Scott chose not to race because of his 11:00am start time, and since we had all been out riding and bleeping until 3am the night before, we figured 2:15 for the Cat 4′s was as early as we could handle.

Cat 4 report:

Ben and Starr lined up against 30 or so other racers. They had played a little “race before the race” tactic and got pretty good starting positions, which gave them the advantage of good positioning early on. … Read More »

At the Cleves Time Trial, Scott and I (MC Hewning) looked damn good crossing the line! Half zips turned full, and the numbers came rolling in.

The Cleves TT is one of the longest running bike races around. Going over rolling hills and false flats, the 10.2 mile course proves challening to every rider. Scott and I approached the race conservatively. We both had pretty low expectations – claiming that we were “climbers” and “built all wrong.”

When we registered I was surprised to see so many fully decked out TT bikes. I had no idea that so many people were interested in time trialing in Cincinnati. I actually felt a little foolish sitting on my track bike amongst racers with disc wheels and aero helmets.

The race starts off with the slower racers and worked it’s way down to the faster guys … Read More »

Not having finished well this year, I went to the Spring Valley road race determined to show the spirit of Team Hungry. Scott Pardi had a rumble in in tummy, and Mike C. was cravin’ some righteous racing. With a big hill finish, we all knew this course played to our strengths. Like every other race this season, the cat 4 race was fast from the start. We caught the 3′s within about 2/3 through the first lap, there were various break attempts, all of which were caught/thwarted by the 3′s presence. Somewhere in the late 2nd or early third lap, the 3′s were neutralized and the 4′s were free to attack. And attack they did, there was a break 4 out of 5 laps right after the hill. Each lap they were caught right before the hill. I bridged … Read More »

With the chance of showers and thunderstorms at 90%, Ben and I were prepared to endure a day of suffering beyond the usual bike race. We geared up as rain became spotty – we all took it as a sign of the storm that was ahead. Needless to say, we were both nervous for our first rain race. I ran my tires at a lower pressure and was ready to take any necessary precautions.

Chris Durand’s words of wisdom: “You never win a road race in a corner.”

I mulled over the endless possibilities of what was going to happen and when the time came to line-up, I was mentally prepared to ride fast and take chances (when the odds were in my favor).

I was relieved that the beginning of the race was dry and that my competitors didn’t hammer it from … Read More »

I hope we are this cool one day.

I stole this from another blog, again. Apparently we are all “cycle hotties.”