Team Oswald races in Tennessee!

Eric Franck,Myself and John Majors from Pittsburgh,PA headed down to Ducktown,TN for the second annual Cohutta 100 mountain bike race. The race is the first of The National Endurance Series. The sight of the race was the Ocoee White Water Center which also happens to be in the area of the kayaking section of the 1996 Olympic Games.
The race kicked off Saturday at 7AM and began with 10 miles of beautiful rolling single track. Eric and I stayed together for most of the single track. I was thinking "man I'll take 90 more miles of this stuff". My thoughts (or were they dreams?) would not be answered. The course then dumped out onto a gravel road which would be our home for the next 79 miles. I can remember getting into aid station 3 and the guy said"you are all done climbing, the hard part is over" I replied "what is your name" he said "Sam" I said "well Sam if there IS any more climbing I am going to hunt you down at the end of the race" and I was on my way. I no more than left aid 3 and said to myself" I am gonna find Sam and let him have it". There was plenty of climbing to come. It seemed as though every downhill there was an uphill double the elevation as the downhill. After mile 80, I strolled into aid 5 and the friendly staff informed me that there was one big climb left to aid 6 and then a technical downhill into the finish. I was leary thanks to Sam of their information, however I pushed forward. There was definitely more than one climb left and it was far from a technical descent into the finish.
The views were fantastic in the Cohutta's and the race was fun despite all the gravel roads. Thanks to Sam (whom I never found after the race) and all the others at the aid stations because If they told the truth how many people would want to continue?
Eric rolled in at 12:38 and I was able to finish in 10:05. The race was won by Chris Eatough in 6:45 with Tinker Juarez coming in second at 7hrs even.

New Sponsors

The season is now under way with two races already in the quiver. The team is happy to announce the addition of two new sponsors. We would like thank Papa V's Pizzeria (570-662-2651) and Thorne Technology Consulting (thornetech@epix.net) for their sponsorship.

A New Sponsor

Good news:
First Citizens National Bank has signed on as a team sponsor for 2007/2008.
Many thanks to our friends at the bank.

Race Calendar

Training Partners

Part 1: The Hawk

It was looking like rain for the after work hours on Thursday, so I slipped out of the shop early to get in a ride while the roads were still dry. There was a strong wind blowing in ahead of the approaching front. As I was pedaling up the last climb I saw what I thought was a sure sign that spring really is here – someone was flying a kite at the top of the hill. Then the kite flapped its wings and I realized it was a hawk hovering there at treetop level, riding the steady breeze at the crest. It took me a few minutes to get up to where it was and in that time it flapped its wings maybe a dozen times. As soon as I drew level it turned and flew alongside me for as I rode the ridge top. Then when the road finally started to turn down the hawk landed in a tree and watched me go. It probably doesn’t sound like much to read about it here on the internet, but it was one of those magical moments that can only happen when you’re in the right place at the right time, and on a bicycle.

Part 2: The Dog

Eric, Josh and I went out for a ‘cross bike ride on Sunday. It was a pristine day – 50 degrees, sunny with a few wispy clouds, and just as clear as they come. Eric said “I’ve been a bad boy lately, and I need to be punished”, so we headed down to Armenia Mountain. At the base of the climb, just where the first whiffs of punishment begin to appear, a dog came out to the road. There was no way I was going to out-sprint it on that grade, so I held out my hand and tried to make friends.

She sniffed at it, must have figured I was OK and went tearing after Josh, who was up ahead (nothing new there). She trailed him closely for a while, then trotted next him, then ran ahead and easily beat him to the top of the climb. That performance earned her a few hearty head pats as we regrouped and refueled. Mistake. When Eric tried to shoo her home so we could continue our ride, she just sniffed his shoe and wagged her tail. Apparently she had joined our pack. So we rode and she ran alongside. For miles. I started to feel bad about enticing her to stray so far from home. At first I hoped if we went fast enough she’d get tired and turn around. It’s a long plateau up on the mountain top, and the unplowed dirt roads were boggy with snow and snowmelt. At times she was running at full tilt with her tongue nearly dragging the ground, but we just couldn’t go fast enough to drop that dog. By the time we reached a downhill steep enough that she couldn’t keep up, she was so many miles from home that we thought she might never find her way back. So we waited for her.

She was starting to tucker out at this point. Doggie bonk. Eric fed her some Hammer Gel (!) and encouraged her to keep going. We changed our planned route so that we’d go back by where we had picked her up. Every once in a while we’d pass a house or a cabin and she would pause and look longingly at it as if she was tempted to make it her new home. By now she was limping a little. I’m sure her paws were sore from running so far in that snow and gritty mud. But she was no quitter and eventually, more than 2 hours later, we led her back to where she had joined us. And she kept following us. Finally we found someone who recognized her as being a pooch from that neighborhood and he held her there so we could ride away. What a pup! I was half expecting (and maybe even hoping a little) to find her on my doorstep the next morning. Or maybe in the garage, curled up next to my muddy bike.

So if you live near Armenia Mountain and your dog was missing for hours and came back covered in mud, with tender feet, and then slept for days, now you know why. Your dog is a champion!

P.S.: And if she has developed an appetite for energy gel, that’s Eric’s fault.

Spring Training in full swing! Well on second thought today might be a better day for snowshoeing.

Spring Training

The Oswald Cycle Works Team began their first phase of spring Training on Sunday. Eric gave excellant demonstrations on changing innertubes. Dan was quick to begin practicing these skills. Being able to change a flat quickly is a very important skill when racing. The rest of us observed as Dan and Eric took it upon themselves to change six flats just in case any of us were confused the first time. I also got to practice some offensive sag wagon driving and time trialing. All in all it was a good session with the culmination being the practicing of the most important racing skill......eating pizza. Thanks Jay!

More Frame Building Video

Oswald Cycle Works

More Great Sponsor News!

The Laurel Health System is again one of our great sponsors for the upcoming race seasons.
Thanks again to all the folks at Laurel Health.

Sponsor News

Good news - Strohecker Vision Care has agreed to sponsor the team again for 2007 and 2008. Thanks, Mark, Dr. Bob, and Dr. Jared!

Go see them when you're ready for some stylish new Rudy Project glasses.

2007 N.U.E.

This year is looking hot for the National Ultra Endurance Series. They have eliminated the requirement to do a Western race and also added to the venue. The schedule is as follows:
1. April 21 Cohutta 100 Tennesse
2. June 2 Mohican 100 Ohio
3 June 16 Lumberjack 100 Michigan
4. July 21 Breckenridge 100 Colorado
5. August 4 Wilderness 101 Pennsylvania
6. August 25 Endurance 100 Utah
7. Sept 2 Shenandoah Virginia
Check out www.usmtb100.com for all the details.

Fuji Sponsors 2007

Good news: Fuji has agreed to sponsor us again for 2007.

Team members - contact the shop for info on the '07 team race bikes!

Oswald Cycle Works

Trainer Night, every Wednesday at 6:oo P.M., starting next week!

Frame Building Video

I don't have much riding or racing to write about lately. So here's what I've been working on:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWJhW913Ykc

Tom

Oswald Cycle Works

Hey Y'all,
I want to break in my new cross bike this weekend so I thought The following ride would be a goodin. I am planning on doing it sunday.

http://runningahead.com/maps/dde55ac7d64e44f3a5e8858c21e26c6f

Century and a half!

I am wondering if anyone is crazy enough to try this next year? I am thinking like Aprilish! Mini Marts are marked with blue dots.
http://routeslip.com/map.php?map=15295

Angry Face?

I finally got some pics from the Smethport race. I thought I would share the angry face pic....or is it the ouchy face pic?

Oswald Cycle Works

Tour De France 2006

Live Coverage:

After a long day of racing the field has been reduced to a final five contestants. As the racers approach the intermediate sprint, the pace picks up. The racers cranks spin faster and faster as if there was no chain connecting their gears at all. Hushovd is set up to take the sprint when the scarlet pimpernel appears from nowhere and steals the victory. The riders regroup after the sprint in order to maintain their dominating lead. Now comes the descent. The riders crest together and gain momentum. They begin to string out. Now comes the final sprint. Hushovd is in the lead. Wait, now Mcewen is in the lead. Hushovd and Mcewen are dueling it out. The speed these racers are attaining is unbelievable. And the sprint goes to……. Hushovd.

But wait,

It’s just Josh and Tom “sprinting” down Newtown hill on their single speeds.

Iron Cross IV

I’ve wanted to do this 60-mile “cyclocross” race ever since it started three years ago. After a typical frenetic summer season though, my gumption reserves are typically pretty low by the time October comes around. Usually all I want to do is eat pie (pumpkin), drink beer (stout), and sleep (any flavor). But since I’m on an endurance roll these days, I decided this was the year to finally roll up my sleeves (err...arm warmers?) and do it.

And what an excellent decision it was. Sheila and I made an overnighter of it, so we got to eat Indian food (in the metropolis of Harrisburg, PA) and sleep in a strange bed (Motel 6). We watched the sun rise over our Sunday breakfast (Waffle House) and drove the rest of the way to the Michaux State Forest.

Sheila planned out a hike and even found someone else to go with while I pumped up my tires and applied chamois cream to my...err...chamois? Suitably inflated and slathered, I was ready to go. The start was crazy fun. Less than a quarter mile in, two goofballs bounced off each other and went down in the gravel right in front of me. Yeehaw! Dodged that mess, then we did a lap around the traditional 'cross course, which was a hoot juking and fighting for position with 150 guys snaking around a twisty grass course. Then it was out onto the big loop of the course proper.

There were lots of gravel roads, a bit of pavement too, and some tasty niblets of singletrack to spice things up. For most of the first half I sucked wheel wherever I could, enjoying the ride and savoring the gorgeous day (low 50’s, crisp blue skies, and autumn colors). Coming into the midpoint there was a “run-up” that was more like a “claw-up”. Parts of it were so steep that, with my bike on my right shoulder, I could reach out with my left hand and grab at stuff to help pull myself up. No running involved at all, just a lot of baby-stepping, scrabbling, and cursing the course designer.

When I finally reached the top, though, they told me I was in 37^th place. And I thought, Dang, that’s pretty good for not really trying too hard yet. I’m having a good ride. I could gain some places if I step it up a little. And so I did. There were no more groups to hide in – the race was now in EMFH mode (every man for himself). So I started leapfrogging my way from rider to rider, pausing long enough catch my breath, maybe snag a draft on a fast section, then set off in pursuit of the next one. I worked my way up to 29^th or 30^th place. I was feeling pretty good, but in my fervor pushed things just a tad too far. On a fast gravelly downhill I came to grief in a corner and went off into the ditch. The bike stopped and I went over the bars and into the rocky bank. But don’t worry, I’m perfectly fine – my face broke the fall.

I got back on immediately. It only took a couple of minutes for my vision to clear and my ears to stop ringing, then I was right back at it. But I wasn’t eating or drinking enough for how hard I was going (or maybe I was just going too hard) and soon the piper was waving his pay stub in front of my bleary eyes. Stupid piper. He was dancing a happy jig and chanting cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-chiiinnnggg! as my legs started to cramp. Or maybe that was just a residual effect from my earlier brainbell ringing. Anyway, I floundered my way through the last 10 miles, losing a few of the places I had gained, to finish 33rd. A decent result on a most excellent day.

Sheila told me all about her hike as we sat in the sun. Then we had about as good a lunch as you can have at an interstate exit (Panera’s Mediterranean Veggie sandwich and coffee), made it home by dark, and slept like the dead (in our own bed).

Smethport

Race Report

Date: 9/23/06

Race: Wheel around the hub

Distance: 50 something miles

This is it, the final race report for the season (at least from me). All week I had been thinking about this race and the best plan of attack. I knew that I wouldn’t have my usual coterie of teammates. We don’t always do the best job of helping each other but there is something reassuring about being surrounded by dudes that you always ride with. I wasn’t all that worried about the race distance after having cracked off a 5 hours something century the week before. What I don’t like about this race is that it is flat-flat-flat. I like a little more character to the landscape. Anyway, race day I picked up my bike at the shop and then picked up Jimmy at his place. It was pretty gray and drizzly at that point and stayed that way all day long. Jimmy and I talked about all things bike on the way down and most of the way back. There is not much to tell about the actual race itself The course is a 7 or so mile lap that you do 7 times. There are some really cools turns and a wooden plank bridge and a metal grated bridge (boy was that thing was scary in the rain). I surfed the back of the pack the entire race with one meager attack that didn’t amount to much around lap 4. Otherwise I just sucked wheel. At the end I sprinted up the only hill and past a bunch of people and then just motored the 150 yards or so to the finish. My heart just wasn’t in this race; once it started I was only thinking about being done. Jimmy must have felt the same way because he was smart enough to pull the plug a little early. I went from 32nd last year to 7^th this year so I was happy with the improvement. I didn’t like the amount of cleaning up I had to do to my bike though. On the bright side my drive train was on the brink of being really shot and this race just pushed it over the edge. You know what that means don’t you? It means new bike parts….Mwahahahahaha. Maybe I will be faster now with the new goods, I hope so, maybe fast enough to win this race next year. Granted, I will have to take out a second mortgage on my tent to pay for the new bike bling, or maybe I can take up mooching as a career instead of a favorite past time. In any case I know where to get my new gear fix. Where you ask? Oswald cycle works of course. Oh yeah if you have the guys at Oswald’s install your new bike parts like I’m going to do, make sure you tip the mechanic with a nice greasy piece of pizza.