Team Results:
4th. Jos Chalmers -15:59
6th JP Russo - 16:47
9th. Brad Gordon - 17:21
11th. Christian Teather - 17: 47
22nd. Michelle Blake - 19:26
23rd. Diane Blake - 19:26.5
28th Anselm Teather - 20:39
Good job to everyone who raced last night. It was a windy evening, with a strong cross wind on the way out but also making for nice tailwind some of the way back to the finish. The most improved rider of the night was Christian Teather who went a minute faster than he did in last year's series. It was nice to see such a large showing of Colavita riders, with 7 riders out of the total 31 who participated.
Colavita is also going to be well represented this weekend in Deland, for the Spring Fling of Cycling. The first Florida Point Series race of the 2009 season, it is guaranteed to be a fun and fast two days. With a total purse of $3000 and awesome medals for the juniors, it is also a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. Be sure to remember your AMB transponders and renew your USA cycling license if you haven't already done so! We are planning to have the team tent set up somewhere near the start/finish so bring your wind trainers and chairs for before and after the race. There are places to get lunch close by the circuit course on saturday but the road race on sunday is in the country.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Team News January 24
TEAM GEAR BAGS
There has been some interest in getting team gear bags. I checked with our screen printer and they have quite a few models available. After going through several catalogs, I narrowed it down to this one: Click Here:
The bag is 23 inches long by 10 inches wide by 11 inches high and has two zippered end pockets and one zippered side pocket. It should be big enough to hold shoes, a helmet, a race kit and water bottles. The logo will be screened either white or black (whichever looks better) and your name can be added in embroidery for $6. The price will run $25-$30 depending on how many we order and if you want your name on it. Let me know in the next couple of weeks if you want one and I will get an order in the works. Diane Blake
THANK YOU
Team Colavita would like to thank Larry Gies for his continuing support of our junior riders. Larry has a genuine love for all things cycling and is strong in his commitment to help younger riders and women enjoy bicycling as a life-long sport. Thank you, Larry.
There has been some interest in getting team gear bags. I checked with our screen printer and they have quite a few models available. After going through several catalogs, I narrowed it down to this one: Click Here:
The bag is 23 inches long by 10 inches wide by 11 inches high and has two zippered end pockets and one zippered side pocket. It should be big enough to hold shoes, a helmet, a race kit and water bottles. The logo will be screened either white or black (whichever looks better) and your name can be added in embroidery for $6. The price will run $25-$30 depending on how many we order and if you want your name on it. Let me know in the next couple of weeks if you want one and I will get an order in the works. Diane Blake
THANK YOU
Team Colavita would like to thank Larry Gies for his continuing support of our junior riders. Larry has a genuine love for all things cycling and is strong in his commitment to help younger riders and women enjoy bicycling as a life-long sport. Thank you, Larry.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Team News January 23
Congratulations to our riders who dominated the junior podium at the Armada time trial on January 18.
The 2009 time trial series at Orlando International Airport begins Tuesday, January 27. Check the Florida Cycling website for start times and more information. The ability time trial well is a very important part of being a good road racer and we are lucky to have local monthly time trials to help us hone our skills and bike positions.
TEAM UNIFORMS
Our new team jerseys are due to arrive next Friday and will be available for the races in Deland. Also, we will have team t-shirts with the Colavita logo on them and they will sell for about $10.
TRAINING SCHEDULE
Coach Keith Creeden has graciously offered to write a training schedule for junior racers on our team. He will aim the program toward newer 13-16 year-old riders who need some direction to show them what type of riding they should be doing. Older riders can also use the schedule with additions in duration and intensity. It will be a basis for the Thursday night rides, so you can know what to expect. The schedule will be on a Google calendar and will be accessible to our team members via password. As soon as we get the e-mail list worked out we will e-mail the password to you.
- Ian McGauvran - Seminole Cyclists - 09:46 - 25.19
- Bradley Gordon, Jr Colavita Racing 09:55 - 24.81
- Brandon Forman Colavita Racing 10:49 - 22.74
The 2009 time trial series at Orlando International Airport begins Tuesday, January 27. Check the Florida Cycling website for start times and more information. The ability time trial well is a very important part of being a good road racer and we are lucky to have local monthly time trials to help us hone our skills and bike positions.
TEAM UNIFORMS
Our new team jerseys are due to arrive next Friday and will be available for the races in Deland. Also, we will have team t-shirts with the Colavita logo on them and they will sell for about $10.
TRAINING SCHEDULE
Coach Keith Creeden has graciously offered to write a training schedule for junior racers on our team. He will aim the program toward newer 13-16 year-old riders who need some direction to show them what type of riding they should be doing. Older riders can also use the schedule with additions in duration and intensity. It will be a basis for the Thursday night rides, so you can know what to expect. The schedule will be on a Google calendar and will be accessible to our team members via password. As soon as we get the e-mail list worked out we will e-mail the password to you.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Cyclocross Race Results
1-17-09
Junior 10-14:Casey Braga 1st
James Mertens
Junior 15-18
Jos Chalmers 2nd
Women 4Jos Chalmers 2nd
Michelle Blake 2nd
Women 1-3
Diane Blake
Men ADiane Blake
John Paul Russo 3rd
Men B
Jonathan Greene
Men CJonathan Greene
Brent Harrell 1st
Eddie Braga 2nd
1-18-09
Junior 10-14Casey Braga 3rd
James Mertens
Junior 15-18
Will Willis 1st
Jos Chalmers 2nd
Women 4Will Willis 1st
Jos Chalmers 2nd
Michelle Blake 1st
Women 1-3
Diane Blake 3rd
Men ADiane Blake 3rd
John Paul Russo
Men B
Jonathan Greene
Men CJonathan Greene
Brent Harrell
Eddie Braga
Overall Series Champions
Junior 10-14Casey Braga 1st
James Mertens 2nd
Junior 15-18
Jos Chalmers 1st
Jos Chalmers 1st
Casey Braga 2nd
Women 4Michelle Blake 1st
Women 1-3
Diane Blake 1st
Men ADiane Blake 1st
John Paul Russo 2nd
Men B
Jonathan Greene 2nd
Men CJonathan Greene 2nd
Brent Harrell 1st
Monday, January 19, 2009
Heat, Sugarsand and Speed
If I were to choose three words to summarize last weekend's state championship course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, they would be: Heat, Sugar-sand, and Speed.
In my category, Women 4, there were four other racers for me to compete with, as well as the junior 10-14 group who was racing at the same time but being scored separately. I have to say, that on the start line I was the youngest women by a differential of at least 10 years. That can be a good or bad thing sometimes, but for this race it seemed to be my advantage.
On the first two laps, out of a total of four, I played cat and mouse with a lady who was wearing a green jersey and riding a mountain bike. (no I don't know what brand, that's for the boys to care about) She would beat me in the sugar sand and where I was forced to walk, but then I would catch and pass her on the road. On the second time over the barriers though, she was just ahead of me. In a split second decision to mental slow her down, I shouldered my light cyclocross bike and dashed across the barriers as fast as I could, arriving at the last one before she even finished stepping over the first. From there I time trialed a long section of pavement and hammered the sugar sand parts until I knew she would not be able to catch me. After that, I simply kept racing at the speed I had been before, quickly finishing my last two laps.
It was a long race, but a lot of fun. One thing that I learned from this race was that even though you may not be entirely out of physical energy, a mental hit takes away almost as much as having to chase down an attack.
Michelle Blake
In my category, Women 4, there were four other racers for me to compete with, as well as the junior 10-14 group who was racing at the same time but being scored separately. I have to say, that on the start line I was the youngest women by a differential of at least 10 years. That can be a good or bad thing sometimes, but for this race it seemed to be my advantage.
On the first two laps, out of a total of four, I played cat and mouse with a lady who was wearing a green jersey and riding a mountain bike. (no I don't know what brand, that's for the boys to care about) She would beat me in the sugar sand and where I was forced to walk, but then I would catch and pass her on the road. On the second time over the barriers though, she was just ahead of me. In a split second decision to mental slow her down, I shouldered my light cyclocross bike and dashed across the barriers as fast as I could, arriving at the last one before she even finished stepping over the first. From there I time trialed a long section of pavement and hammered the sugar sand parts until I knew she would not be able to catch me. After that, I simply kept racing at the speed I had been before, quickly finishing my last two laps.
It was a long race, but a lot of fun. One thing that I learned from this race was that even though you may not be entirely out of physical energy, a mental hit takes away almost as much as having to chase down an attack.
Michelle Blake
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
A Hard Day of Racing
After each weekend of racing, we will have a selected rider write a summary of their race. This week, Will Willis gives his description of the Lakeland Cyclocross race at Loyce Harpe Park.
After completing my first race of the day in Clermont, Florida, my dad and I got in the car and headed to Lakeland where I would be competing in a Pro,1,2 cyclocross race. The previous weekend I had been in Miami where I took second place in a Pro,1,2 cross race, so with my success still on my mind I got to the course where the first thing I saw was a 35 foot sugar sand drop-off with caution tape marking the route down.
Realizing that I would have to ride down this hill I started to wonder how I would get to the top. With this question on my mind I still had to get ready for the race. I changed into my Colavita cycling kit and shoes, now I was ready to pre-ride the course. I found the path leading to the top of the hill. It was about 500 feet long and covered in sugar sand. I knew I would be riding and running up this sandy beast. Once at the top I would throw myself back on my bike and then it was just a matter of slipping and sliding down the hill. At the bottom, I would go about 50 feet around to a 10 foot tall hill of the softest sand I think I have ever raced or ridden through. At this point I would dismount my bike and carry it over the hill. Once over the hill I would ride across the start line and head on to a bit of double track mountain biking ending with a small little mound. With a little bit of luck and some speed I could just make it over the mound and onto a dirt road where I would ride as fast as I could to a 180 turn and onto the single track mountain bike course which I do have to say was my favorite part of the course. It was a fast and winding route leading me around to a little more double track before going back to that wicked sugar sand run.
Getting round the pre-ride on my own was one thing. Racing other people around it was quite another. Standing on the start line with my back wheel dug in and ready to jump off the line I realized I had forgotten to put on my number. With just a minute or two before the race would start I ran back to the car and got it pinned on. Now back on the start line and ready to go the official gave us the whistle and we were off. The eventual winner of the race was Daren Downing and off the line he was going fast and I was on his wheel. We headed through the double track, over the mound, down the road to the single track, and back to some more double track before the sand run where I ended up getting dropped by Daren. Once off his wheel I started to feel the burn of my morning race, one by one the other racers started to pass me until I found myself in last place. This was not good but at least the only place left to go was up so slowly my legs started to open back up and I headed by one rider and then another until I was in fourth place. I held this position for two laps hoping all was doing better but going into the last four laps I started to blow and coming down the sugar sand drop I lost my balance, falling off my bicycle. By sheer will I pulled myself up and out of the sand, believe me I was flat out tired and just could not hold onto fourth place. Once again I found myself being passed by riders –one, two, three – now I was in seventh place. My teammate, JP, was one of the riders to pass me and he finished in fourth. I held on and got seventh.
By Will Willis
After completing my first race of the day in Clermont, Florida, my dad and I got in the car and headed to Lakeland where I would be competing in a Pro,1,2 cyclocross race. The previous weekend I had been in Miami where I took second place in a Pro,1,2 cross race, so with my success still on my mind I got to the course where the first thing I saw was a 35 foot sugar sand drop-off with caution tape marking the route down.
Realizing that I would have to ride down this hill I started to wonder how I would get to the top. With this question on my mind I still had to get ready for the race. I changed into my Colavita cycling kit and shoes, now I was ready to pre-ride the course. I found the path leading to the top of the hill. It was about 500 feet long and covered in sugar sand. I knew I would be riding and running up this sandy beast. Once at the top I would throw myself back on my bike and then it was just a matter of slipping and sliding down the hill. At the bottom, I would go about 50 feet around to a 10 foot tall hill of the softest sand I think I have ever raced or ridden through. At this point I would dismount my bike and carry it over the hill. Once over the hill I would ride across the start line and head on to a bit of double track mountain biking ending with a small little mound. With a little bit of luck and some speed I could just make it over the mound and onto a dirt road where I would ride as fast as I could to a 180 turn and onto the single track mountain bike course which I do have to say was my favorite part of the course. It was a fast and winding route leading me around to a little more double track before going back to that wicked sugar sand run.
Getting round the pre-ride on my own was one thing. Racing other people around it was quite another. Standing on the start line with my back wheel dug in and ready to jump off the line I realized I had forgotten to put on my number. With just a minute or two before the race would start I ran back to the car and got it pinned on. Now back on the start line and ready to go the official gave us the whistle and we were off. The eventual winner of the race was Daren Downing and off the line he was going fast and I was on his wheel. We headed through the double track, over the mound, down the road to the single track, and back to some more double track before the sand run where I ended up getting dropped by Daren. Once off his wheel I started to feel the burn of my morning race, one by one the other racers started to pass me until I found myself in last place. This was not good but at least the only place left to go was up so slowly my legs started to open back up and I headed by one rider and then another until I was in fourth place. I held this position for two laps hoping all was doing better but going into the last four laps I started to blow and coming down the sugar sand drop I lost my balance, falling off my bicycle. By sheer will I pulled myself up and out of the sand, believe me I was flat out tired and just could not hold onto fourth place. Once again I found myself being passed by riders –one, two, three – now I was in seventh place. My teammate, JP, was one of the riders to pass me and he finished in fourth. I held on and got seventh.
By Will Willis
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Coming Soon!
Welcome to our new colavita team racing blog. Look forward to race reports, race results and team announcements. Check back with us later.
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