Orlando Time Trial #3

Results:
Jos Chalmers 15:58
JP Russo 16:37
Bradley Gordon 16:40
Casey Braga 17:51
Brandon Forman 20:31
Anselm Teather 22:29

Team Colavita Florida also put together two Team Time Trial teams, parents vs. kids. Brad Gordon, Diane Blake, Eddie Braga, Tony Chalmers and Jennifer Duquette (Team 19, who filled in for Mark Russo who could not make it) against the juniors: Bradley Gordon, Michelle Blake, Casey Braga, Jos Chalmers and JP Russo.
The Times:
Colavita Juniors- 15:53
Colavita Parents- 19:41

Team Colavita Peanut Butter Balls

Diane Blake's Peanut Butter Balls are such a hit at the races that we've decided to post the recipe on here so you can make your own.

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup white corn syrup
2 cups peanut butter
4 cups crispy cereal

Combine sugar and syrup: boil for 1 minute. Add peanut butter and cereal and mix well. Lay out wax paper to place peanut butter balls on, to cool until hard.

Team Armada Time Trial

Congratulations to Brandon Forman and Zoe Mullins who both participated in the Team Armada Time Trial #4 this past weekend, placing 1st and 2nd in the junior category. Zoe Mullins also got 5th place in the Merckx category podium and a nice mention on the Team Armada Blog.
Good Job!

Pinellas Park Category 4 Win

By: Bradley Gordon

The Cat 4 race was a good race. The pace was about 25 mph
for most of the time with one or two attacks every lap.
I sat in the middle of the pack and kept an eye on two other
junior racers who I knew were strong. 
  I didn’t really do a lot other than sit in until the last lap. 
Occasionally I would hop on a wheel and catch a ride to the front of 
the pack, but that was only if I saw a line already going to the front. 
 This was 9 ½ laps of the race.

Once we made the last corner on lap 10 I jumped to the front, which was 
perfect timing because right then Dave Bush attacked and I was able to 
wedge my way into the line. At about 200 meters to go I was sitting 
5th, the pace let up a little so I used the gutter to get past the 
riders in 4th 3rd and 2nd and sprinted after the man in first and past 
him ten feet in front of the line and won by half a bike length. 

Photo Credits go to Brad Gordon and Sean Doherty.

Tampa Twilight Criterium and Pinellas Park Circuit

Tampa Twilight Criterium

Junior 10-12
Anselm Teather 1st
James Mertens 2nd
Zoe Mullins 4th

Junior 13-14
Michelle Blake 2nd

Junior 15-16
Jos Chalmers 4th

Junior 17-18
Ian McGauvran 6th
Brandon Forman 8th

Women 4
Michelle Blake 4th

Category 4
Brad Gordon 25th

Category 5
Ian McGauvran 11th
Casey Braga 20th
Brandon Forman 41st

Pinellas Park Circuit Race

Junior 10-12
Anselm Teather 2nd
James Mertens 3rd

Junior 13-14
Casey Braga 1st

Junior 15-16
Brad Gordon 2nd
Jos Chalmers 11th

Junior 17-18
Ian McGauvran 3rd
Brandon Forman 9th

Women 4
Michelle Blake 10th

Category 4
Brad Gordon 1st

Category 5
Ian McGauvran 9th
Casey Braga 11th
Brandon Forman 17th

Photos from this weekend coming soon

Polk County Race Weekend

Race Report: By Ian McGauvran
My races this past weekend were pretty eventful. After three time trials the previous day (including an awesome TTT in which Jos and Brad pulled me through), I felt alright while warming up for the Sunday Cat 5s. I hung on fine in the Jr. Race and I hoped that the Cat 5 race would be about the same speed. 10 minutes before the race I moved to the staging area and when it was time to line up I had a great spot, next to all my teammates, right at the front. Once the race started I felt confident, but as we rounded the first corner at the back of the course, the wind was a lot more intense than I expected and the race was pretty fast, so I moved to the back to hold on/draft. I stayed on the back of the peloton for almost the whole race. I didn’t have a good position (and honestly I don’t know if I had it in me) during the final straight away so I sat up since I wasn’t going to make the podium, and I guess a lot of people felt the same way, because I ended up in the better half of the results.

Team Results:
Squiggy Time Trial

Junior 10-12:
Anselm Teather 1st
James Mertens 3rd

Junior 13-14
Michelle Blake 1st

Junior 15-16
Jos Chalmers 2nd
Bradley Gordon 6th

Junior 17-18
Ian McGauvran 3rd
Brad Schilit 5th

Category 5
Ian McGauvran 12th

Category 4
Bradley Gordon 9th

Women 4
Michelle Blake 1st

Team Time Trial

Junior Team


Jos, Ian, Brad 1st





Michelle, Anselm,
James 2nd

Lake Alfred Criterium

Junior 10-12
Anselm Teather 1st
James Mertens 3rd
Zoe Mullins 4th

Junior 13-14
Casey Braga 1st
Michelle Blake 2nd

Junior 15-16
Bradley Gordon 5th
Jos Chalmers 6th

Junior 17-18
Ian McGauvran 3rd
Brandon Forman 5th

Women 4
Michelle Blake 6th

Category 5
Ian McGauvran 18th
Brandon Forman 39th

Category 4
JP Russo 32nd
Jos Chalmers

Dahlonega

Casey Braga

In Dahlonega, Georgia, the climbs we did were insane compared to Florida. The climbs are longer and a lot steeper than anything Florida can throw at you. At one point the incline on Brasstown Bald was almost straight up .Well, it felt like it. A couple of times I was going so slow I was almost in a track stand. It was pretty cool to be at the top of Brasstown Bald knowing that pros in the Tour of Georgia ride it, much faster of course. Neels Gap was one of my favorite climbs. On that climb, I put my bike on a small gear and spun all the way up to the top. It was not straight up all the way but still challenging. I also enjoyed Jacks climbs for the same reason.

On the downhill you freeze, but on the uphill you warm right up from your body heat. My feet were numb and my braces could have frozen up it was so cold. The down time was fun because we just hung out and talked and made fun of everyone. It was nice of the hotel manager to put up with us. Even though it was cold and rainy, it was a great training trip and I cannot wait to do it again soon – very soon!

Gear Bags Are In

The team gear bags are in and look really nice. If you ordered one, see me ( Diane) to pick it up. The price is $28 and I have one without a name embroidered on it for $22. Hopefully, you won't leave it home when you go to Dahlonega and have to borrow YOUR MOTHER'S riding clothes for the weekend....like someone we know.

Mountain Training Camp

What a grand adventure Stephen Gerber had planned for us in Dahlonega, Georgia last weekend. Given that the only way you get good at climbing hills is to go climb hills, eleven intrepid riders headed north on Thursday afternoon to meet the Georgia Mountains. The weather was predicted to be lousy and for once, the weatherman was right. Temps in the low 50's and a constant rain made it imperative that everyone dressed properly and stayed warm. Friday's ride was the first loop of the Six Gap century route and featured three Gaps (Neel's, Wolfpen and Woody) and many thousand feet of climbing. Experienced mountain climbers Will Willis, Ashlyn Gerber and David Bush set the pace right away while newbies Bradley Gordon, Michelle Blake, Casey Braga, Jos Chalmers and Eddie Braga learned how to handle the constant climbs that were many miles long. Brad Gordon, Steve Gerber and Diane Blake drove sag vehicles to dispense water, food and clothing. Everyone met at the top of the Gaps to make sure they were warm enough and some would get a free ride down if they chose not to do a fast descent in the rain and fog. The warm showers of the hotel were the reward for the day's hard work and a late run to Dairy Queen was the sweet treat.
The weather saturday morning was identical to the day before with spitting rain, fog and a bit colder. Our group was a little trimmer because some headed home, back to the warmth of Florida while the rest headed for the three other Gaps with the coup de grace of Brasstown Bald. The road up Jack's Gap takes you to the base of Brasstown Bald but they just rode by the first time around, headed to Unicoi Gap and the seven mile grind up Hogpen Gap. Casey and Michelle proved to be quick learners and set a good tempo up the long climbs with much smoother pedalling than the day before. After finishing the loop, everyone met up for some hot soup (thanks Steve!) and PB&J sandwiches before attacking Brasstown's steep face. UGLY is a fine word to describe the slog up Brasstown Bald with it's switchbacks, narrow road and nasty pitch ups. The only good thing is that it is advertised as three miles and is only 2.7! Due to the extremely thick fog, you could not see the summit and it came a a welcome suprise to Casey, Eddie, Michelle, Ashlyn and David. Grand job!
Since the weather report for Sunday included rain, sleet and SNOW, some of us headed home while Ashlyn, David and Steve hit the hills again.
Thank you very much Steve Gerber, for organizing the training ride, printing maps and route sheets and making the hotel reservations. You made it much easier for the riders and parents and we will definitely do it again.