Saturday 9/26 results

Boulder Series #1, Louisville Rec Center - Photo courtesy Daimeon Shanks

USGP #1, Madison, WI
Yannick Eckmann 2nd, Jr 17-18
Robin Eckmann 3rd, Jr 17-18
Troy Wells 14th, Elite

Verge New England Championship Series #1 - Williston, VT
Nate Morse 4th, Jrs.
Curtis White 8th, Jrs.

Boulder CX Series #1 - Louisville Rec Center
Conor Mullervy 11th
Kevin Mullervy 14th

New England and Boulder Series kick off this weekend

Today in Louisville, CO is the first round of the BoulderRacing Cyclo-Cross Series - most of the Colorado crew will be there; meanwhile, in Williston, VT this weekend marks the opening round of the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, where the team's new east coast juniors will be representing.

Eckmann brothers, Wells line up for CLIF BAR in first USGP weekend

The CLIF BAR crew at this weekend's opening round of USGP races in Madison, WI will be Troy Wells in the Elites side, and Robin and Yannick Eckmann in the Jr. 17-18 race.

Wells is coming off an strong 6th place performance last weekend at Star Crossed, while both Eckmanns have been ramping up their form in the early Colorado races.

Call to action on climate change - Oct. 24: 350.org

Dear fellow cyclists:

Riding our bikes on roads and trails, we have access to parts of the world few of our fellow citizens ever see, and enjoy scenery that most people don’t notice whizzing by at 65 mph. By being active outdoors during all seasons, we as cyclists surely take note of our changing climate patterns – and we are able to directly impact climate change by choosing to ride our bike more instead of drive. We're asking you as a cyclist to take action on Oct. 24 in a one-day project that we hope will have some measurable impact on changing the world.

You spend much of your time riding your bike out in the elements. It is likely that you’ve noticed your local weather patterns getting less stable, less consistent, and more volatile. Climate change is having a direct impact on our world weather through significant melting of glaciers. In fact, scientists who have drilled glacial cores around the world tell us this melt is happening ever faster, to the point where in our lifetimes it may endanger billions of people, ecosystems, food production and more. So far, though, the political response to climate change has been too slow!

The cycling response has been great: 350.org is lucky to have the CLIF BAR Development Cyclo-Cross Team, Kashi Leuchs, Ted King, Adam Craig, Tom Danielson, Heather Irmiger, Lea Davison and more riders and teams supporting our cause.

Now, with the crucial negotiations looming on the horizon at the United Nations Climate Change Conference this December in Copenhagen, we can do something to help change that. The world's foremost climatologist, NASA's James Hansen, and his team last year declared that 350 parts per million co2 was the most carbon we could safely have in the atmosphere. That's a tough number, because we're already past it. At the moment, the atmosphere holds 387 ppm co2, which is why glaciers and Arctic sea ice are melting. Indeed, this research team cautioned that unless we got back below that number, then eventually the earth might well be ice-free.

The planet will scrub some of that co2, but only if we stop pouring more in. To move political leaders to take this seriously, 350.org is organizing a huge global day of action on Oct. 24, designed to drum that number into every head on the planet. So: we urge you to ride somewhere notable and visible on October 24 – by yourself, with a group, or at a race - and figure out some way to make the number 350 visible. What we'll need by day's end if possible, is a photo, uploaded to the web, of whatever 350 bike ride action you've figured out to do. We need a picture of you and 350.

A few days beforehand or a day or two after will work as well - the goal is simply to take this obscure number, arguably the most important number in the world, and make it the most well-known 3 digits on the planet. If we do, then it will set the bar for negotiators. At the very least, we'll have helped let the rest of the world know what the crucial reality facing the planet is.

If you can help, please contact Jamie Henn at Jamie@350.org.

Troy and Brady hit Vegas!

Cross Vegas is tonight!

Cyclocross season is here!

This past weekend was my first cyclocross race of the year in Breckenridge. I was really excited to start racing cross again and to see if I remembered how to dismount and run with my bike. Before this weekend I only road my cross bike for about an hour the week before and I felt pretty good but that was with no barrier in front of me. Once you actually have to jump over something it becomes a mental game. I was a little worried about running because two weeks before this I crashed pretty hard in a collegiate mountain bike race. I smacked my upper thigh pretty hard onto a rock and could barley bend it for a couple of days. So when I ran it really hurt. But I was not going to let that stop me from racing my bike.
I got to Brek about two hours before the start of my race. I warmed up really good and pre road the course a couple of times and really liked it. It looked like it was going to rain but it held out until the last lap so that was nice. The start of a cross race is very important. If you have a good start it is a lot easier to do well in the race. Unfortunately that was not the case for me. I got to the start about five min before the race but everyone else was already lined up, so i started near the back in the middle, and with the course pretty much shooting into a single track right off the bat I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me. I started moving up pretty quick and starting to get closer to the leaders. I was feeling really good and finally caught up to Conor and Robin and worked good together. Then it was Conor and I chasing the leaders down and really working hard but feeling good. With three laps to go I got a flat rear tire so that was my race. I was to far to get a wheel change so I just had to pull out. Kind of a disappointment that I had to pull out but at the same time I was feeling good so that a plus. It is early in the season so I will have many more opportunities. This weekend I will be racing again on Saturday in Boulder so I cant wait. You can feel the chill in the air now and that only means it is CYCLOCROSS season. I am really looking forward to the season and getting some good results. Can't wait.

TCB's Wells takes 6th at Star Crossed!!!

STAR CROSSED CYCLO-CROSS, Redmond, WA
Sept. 19, 2009

Full report here.

1 Christian Heule (Rendemenhypo Cycling)
2 Jeremy Powers (Cyclocrossworld.com)
3 Jonathan Page (Planet Bike)
4 Ryan Trebon (Kona)
5 Andy Jacques-Maynes (Bissel Pro Cycling)
6 Troy Wells (Clif Bar)

Green Mountain sports cx race

Yes i got the first race report up on the blog I won :) :) :) :)

Ok so now the race report

This was my second cyclocross race of the season. I started the race from the first row because I got a call up. In the first lap the field already was splitting up. 3 riders were out front and I caught on in the second lap. The a lap later Colby Pearce attacked. Then the next lap then Colby attacked and he was gone, the 3 of us didn't want to chase him down. After another two laps passed I attacked and try to catch up to him. I got pretty close to him but the my energy went out and i got slower every lap. I still managed to stay in 3 place till the last lap. Then Spencer Powlison from Mafia racing shot by me but he overestimated a turn with a lot of gravel in it and he went down. So I passed him again and just tried to stay in front of him so i can secure my 3 place. Going up to the finish i got a little gap and stayed in my 3rd place. I was really happy after the race but also really tired. 

First "Middle Cross" clinic

Today was the first Middle School cross clinic put on by the CLIF BAR team, helping to prepare kids for the second annual Middle Cross event in November.

TEAM CLIF BAR's Brady Kappius, Devo Team's Eckmann brothers, and I instructed the Manhattan Middle School bike club on dismounting/mounting, climbing/descending, and cornering. The kids love working with the "older" kids on the team, and this clinic is always neat because Robin and Yannick are Manhattan grads.

Middle school kids are great bike riders. They seem to either already be smooth as silk, have no fear, or else learn new skills in s snap.

2009 Team Announcement

CLIF BAR Development Cyclo-Cross Team Enters Sixth Season, Focusing on Climate Change

Boulder, Colorado, September, 9 2009—The CLIF BAR Development Cyclo-Cross Team is set to begin its sixth season this month, looking to build not only on its past racing success but to continue to raise awareness about important environmental issues.

This season’s focus on climate change lines up perfectly with the timing of ‘cross season:

- CLIF BAR’s Start Global Cooling campaign is always promoted through the Team and at the US Gran Prix of Cyclo-Cross Series;

- 350.org is working to unite the public, media, and our political leaders behind the goal of reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 ppm, harnessing the power of the Internet to coordinate a planetary day of action on October 24;

- Brighter Planet will be helping the CLIF BAR Team and the cycling community measure their carbon footprint, discover simple ways to reduce it, track their progress, and share their experiences;

- ClimateCounts.org, a collaborative effort to bring consumers and companies together in the fight against global climate change, will be working with the CLIF BAR Team and its sponsors;

- During the U.S. Cyclo-Cross National Championships, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark is taking place.

Team members will be learning, helping create awareness in the cycling community and their own communities and schools, and taking action themselves.

The CLIF BAR Development Team features an exciting roster of top young cyclo-crossers, led by first-year Elite Colin Cares and veteran Under-23 racer Alex Howes, who has been with the program since its first year in 2004. The team also has several returning and first-year Under-23 riders, and many promising Juniors ranging from 14 to 18 years old.

The team is looking forward to a strong season, following many podium appearances at the 2008 Cyclo-Cross Nationals last December and a summer filled with National Championship medals and top results in road, track, and mountain bike races.

For the third year, the CLIF BAR Development Team will be riding the Salsa Chili Con Crosso, with SRAM drivetrain, Chris King headsets, Crank Brothers pedals, TRP brakes, fi’zi:k saddles, and MAVIC wheels. Pedro’s will keep the team rolling with race support, tools, and bike care products. Pearl Izumi and Patagonia will outfit the team on and off the bike.

CLIF BAR Development Team riders will be focusing on the US Gran Prix Series, Boulder Racing Series, New England Championship Series, Bay Area Super Prestige Series, and the New York State Series – before ending the season with the US Nationals.

You can keep up with what the kids on the team are up to, and learn more about how you can take action in the fight against climate change at the team’s blog:

http://www.sustainablecycling.blogspot.com

Team Roster:

Andrew Barker, U23 - Boulder, CO

Alex Howes, U23 - Boulder, CO

Bjorn Fox, Jr – Stinson Beach, CA

Cody Cox, U23 – Golden, CO

Colin Cares, Elite – Colorado Springs, CO

Conor Mullervy, U23 – Grand Junction, CO

Curtis White, Jr – Delanson, NY

Danny Hiller, Jr – Boulder, CO

David Kessler, Jr – Littleton, CO

Kevin Mullervy, U23 – Grand Junction, CO

Mitchell Hoke, U23 – Colorado Springs, CO

Nate Morse, Jr – Cohasset, MA

Robin Eckmann, Jr – Boulder, CO

Russell Finsterwald, U23 – Colorado Springs, CO

Yannick Eckmann, Jr – Boulder, CO

Zack Gould, Jr – Boulder, CO

Zane Godby, Jr – Louisville, CO

2009 CLIF BAR Development Cyclo-Cross Team Sponsors:

CLIF BAR & CLIF SHOT

Salsa bikes, bars, stems, seatposts

Pedro’s bike care and tools

SRAM drivetrain components

Pearl Izumi cycling clothing, shoes, and accessories

Crank Brothers pedals

TRP brakes

Chris King headsets

Mavic wheels

fi’zi:k saddles and bar tape

Kinetic trainers

Cyclocrossworld.com tires and accessories

Thorne chainrings

Patagonia outerwear

Cycle-Smart, Solutions for Cycling

Boulder Cycle Sport

ClimateCounts.org

Brighter Planet

350.org