Monday, September 24, 2007
12 hours of Dauset
Our main man Bill, while the road guys are resting up for this weekend, is still at it at it at in the dirt. Seems the guy just can't get enough of multi-hour solo endurance racing!!!
The 12 hours of Dauset started out wet this year. We set up camp on Friday night and it rained steady for 3 hours or so after dark. I brought two bikes and ended up using both. I had a dry conditions set up as well as one for mud. I rode the wet conditions bike for most of the day on Saturday.
The race started with a foot race to the bike staging area at 10 am. We rode until 10 pm. I maintained a consistent pace for most of the day. When darkness fell, my legs felt like noodles. I ended up in 27th place in Men's Solo 12 hour. No age groups. I handled the 12 hours better than the 6 hours at Conyers even though the conditions were wet and humid.
This morning I feel pretty good and am getting ready for the 6 Gap Century.
Christian Leask
8:41 AM |
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Friday, September 14, 2007
More Upgrade News
For immediate release:
Tyler Grahovec, one of the most consistent racers in the region and pillar of the Pacesetter Steel Service Cycling Team's organization has consistently been one of the most aggressive, consistent, respected and now feared riders in the Southeastern peloton.
In what was only Tyler's second season racing in the ultra competitive Pro 1/2 field, the last stop before full blown professional, Tyler has been awarded his Category 1 racing license. The highest Pro/Am category license that is available.
On behalf of the entire team and sponsors, congratulations to Tyler!!!
Christian Leask
1:47 PM |
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Upgrade News
As if we don't have enough good things to say, here's some more good news.
Recently, our team acquired a new member in the form of Matt Shechtman. Matt came to us only a couple of months ago, during his campaign to reach the highest level of cycling that he can. And a perfect fit into the team he is.
Matt has the ability to race with virtually anyone in the nation, and that has been officially recognized by USA Cycling as they have granted Matt with his Category 1 license.
Congratulations Matt
Christian Leask
1:43 PM |
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Georgia Cup Final Rankings
An enormous congratulations is due to our Pacesetter Steel Service Cycling team.
With our sponsors generous support, these lads have been working diligently throughout the entire year, beginning their training long before the dead cold came in last year while the rest of us were making holiday plans.
This past weekend, in Atlanta, the Georgia Cup series came to a close, and the results are out.
In a field that has been stacked every weekend with an assortment of highly ranked national level professional riders, world champions and national champions alilke, our boys have been consistently competing amongst them. Always in the mix, always making sure the professionals have to work to earn their paycheck.
In spite of a tough season where Russ, one of our fastest riders retired, Chris severely broke his leg and Chad welcomed another precious baby into his family's life, the team was still able to pull together, assume leadership responsibilities and prove to our sponsors and competitors that we deserve our spot on the starting line.
Drum roll please...
Professional/Category 1/ Category 2
Georgia Cup Overall
1. Oscar M Henao Clinica Union UCL Georgia 1 28
2. Thad Dulin Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team
3. Cleve Blackwell MyoGenesis p/b LandMark Dodge 2 36
4. D. Tyler Grahovec Pacesetter Steel Service Cycling 2 36
5. Reid Peacock Pacesetter Steel Service Cycling 1 26
Truly unbelievable. While Reid has been out for injuries over the last couple months, his performances at the beginning of the year were so substantial that he was able to hold on to a top five spot, and Tyler Grahovec, one of the most dependable and threatening racers in the area, racing in only his second year as a Category 2, moved into 4th position overall! Like I said, truly unbelievable.
On behalf of our teammates, sponsors and friends, we all congratulate the team on an extremely successful 2007 campaign.
And of course, none of this is possible without the gracious generosity of our sponsors. Thank you to all.
Christian Leask
1:31 PM |
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Monday, September 10, 2007
Aaron's Buckhead Gran Prix
Sunday marked the last race of the at the Buckhead Criterium in the downtown streets North of Atlanta.
This was the big money race to culminate the series with a $10,000 purse and 30 deep P/1/2 payout. Unfortunately, the Pacesetter team was running a few men short with Charles pulling out sick and Chris' knee still not up to par for an 80 minute interval session.
The course was pretty tough due to the tight turns and rough pavement, but the crowds were out in full force to cheer us on and watch the local amateurs duel it out with the pros on Sunday evening.
Pacesetter Steel Services was represented by Tyler, Darren, and Matt with a similar game plan as the previous day at Grant Park; to sit in and feel out the field for the first 30minutes and mark any serious moves after that. Well, that despite Tyler's first lap attack answering to a few elusive MAR (most aggressive rider) points that were announced on the first lap. The pace really didn't relent from there.
Everything was falling into place pretty well until about 40 minutes in the race when the main move of the day went up the road without representation from the team. It was only three riders, three riders with national reputations, but it still would have been nice to have someone in the move. Unfortunately things don't always work out, but Tyler, Darren and Matt put some good work in the field to get in another move before the finish but to no avail. Tyler is a heavily marked man in the Georgia cup series, Matt's legs don't work very well at this point in the season, and Darren is still a bit green at the P/1/2 level to make a serious go at the breakaways.
However, when it did come down to the field sprint, the whole team managed to place within the money and we all left over $100 richer (enough to pay for Darren's drinks at Fado's, Tyler's wife's payoff for him racing every weekend, and a week's rent for Matt).
Obviously a team of our quality is not looking for a top 30 placing when we start out a race but at this point in the season we have to take it all with a grain of salt. Our next race is the Georgia State Time Trial Championship in Rome followed by a couple races hosted by Hincapie up in Greenville.
Thanks again to all the Pacesetter faithful who came out to the races to cheer us on and to Christian for running the radios.
And a shout out to Andrew in the Cat 3 race who pulled down a 5th place on the day!
Christian Leask
12:36 PM |
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Aaron's Grant Park Criterium
It sure is nice when your game plan comes to fruition.
Going into a race without a plan of attack is like leaving the house without your pants on. Maybe everyone will think you're wearing shorts but most likely it'll just look like you weren't thinking very clearly when you started the day.
But to say it always goes how you want it to would be silly, bike racing is just too unpredictable. Today was a different story though, as we managed to control the race pretty well with only three riders considering Charles pulled out early, sick.
About 20 minutes into the 1 hour race Matt initiated the main breakaway of the day, chasing two riders already up the road. For the next 30 minutes small groups managed to make it up to Matt's group while Tyler and Chad got to sit patiently in the main field. With about 15 minutes of racing left, the whole field came back together except the two riders out front. Tyler immediately made a move and was joined by two other riders in the fight for 3rd through 5th places on the road. Chad and Matt were happy with that considering Chad's bid for the $200 mid race sprint but was just barely beat out by local pro Bobby Sweeting and Matt's efforts out front for most of the race.
However, Chad and Matt managed to control the field pretty well and Tyler stayed up the road to finish 4th on the day after the Pacesetter team was represented in every major move of the day and definitely made our presence felt.
4th place is still three places back from the main goal of the day but that's not to say that the team didn't race well. Tomorrow is the Buckhead crit, the last race of the Georgia Cup and hopefully our fallen teammate Reid Peacock can hold onto the MAR jersey and Tyler can move up past 5th in the overall.
Thanks to all the Pacesetter employees who made the trip after our luncheon presentation on Friday, we enjoyed your support and hope to see you on Sunday!
Christian Leask
9:36 AM |
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6 Hours of Conyers
Bill Feier, one of our lone ranger mountain bikers was out in the woods this past weekend at the same time that the road team was wrapping up a very successful Georgica Cup series.
The 6 hours of Conyers was deceptively tough. It didn't seem as hot as it was on Saturday. The race started at 10 AM and I took off fairly quick and found myself reeling in riders. My first three laps flew by as I kept up a45 minute lap time. The wheels started coming off on the 4th lap as cramps set in. I felt like I was drinking enough but the cramps stayed until the end. I placed 21st in mens solo. No age groups. I'm glad we camped out. I didn't feel like going home Saturday night.
Next up is the 12 hours of Dauset.
Next up is the 12 hours of Dauset.
Christian Leask
9:21 AM |
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Friday, September 07, 2007
Atlanta US 100K, Getting Closer!
Labor Day may have been a day off for most of the country but for 150 dedicated cyclists and at least as many support stuff, it was up at 4:30 am and get ready for 100 kilometers of professional bike racing in one of the final and most important races of the year at the !
The Pacesetter team set out with a full squad, composed of die hard captain Tyler, followed by loyal combatants Chris, Chad, Ben, Charles, Darren, Matt, and guest rider Wes Parrish.
The race was to be a tough one considering it being the final and deciding stop on the National Racing Calendar as well as the battle for $25,000 in prize money. All of the pro teams were out in full force ready to defend a year’s worth of hard work, but the local elite teams were prepared to meet each and every one of them lock-step.
The course consisted of a quick run straight down Cobb Pkwy to the rolling 5 mile circuit, of which we did 11 times and then to a final 1 mile downhill 50+ mph sprint finish.
Our plan was to sit in and try to conserve energy until the major players showed their cards but it was definitely on from the gun as we were flying up the hills in our big rings.
Tyler got in the first main breakaway of the day with about 10 guys in it and all the major teams represented but the day wasn't meant to end in a breakaway when eventual NRC calendar champions brought it back with about 30 (less than 1 hour at this point) miles left to ride.
Matt and Darren were active with the counterattacks but it was a flurry of action for the rest of the race and nothing was happening. Until Tyler made a move for the mid race sprint and got a good go of it with a couple of other riders and put the Pacesetter logo out there
in front of the cameras.
The race was blazing fast all day considering we were averaging almost 30mph on a pretty hilly rolling circuit with no major climbs, but nary a stretch of flat ground at all. But, the one second it eased up with 1 lap to go Tyler made a move with one other guy to catch the peloton off guard, but unfortunately it just wasn't going anywhere as the sprinters teams were lining it out for the run to the finish.
As could only be expected the finish was fast and hectic, riders lined across the road for a half lap fighting for position to the 120 degree final turn before the sprint finish. Lucky for everyone there were no crashes but unfortunately for Pacesetter's we didn't have anyone in position and were totally boxed out by the pro teams for the final 50+mph.
For a lot of the guys it was an experience in itself to race with the big guns, Matt and Tyler wanted to get better results but Tyler was out front making the moves all day and didn't have the juice left for the finish and Matt had no excuse except the hills weren't big enough!
For pretty much everyone the race went well and the team felt good but everybody wanted another crack at the finish and lining it out in the sprint with the big guns. It was frustrating to be riding with the best all day only to be out of position when it really counted.
But at the same time, it was very satisfying to be out there and putting some of the best riders in the country on their heels.
Next time will be a different story for sure. Thanks for reading and thank you for your support.
Christian Leask
9:11 AM |
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