Presented by 509 Cycles Silvercreek Park in Manitowoc, WI December 16, 2017 https://509cycles.com/snow-crown-series/ Fat bike racing. Is it really racing? Is it mostly a party?
Is it a place to let your freak flag fly? Yep. If any or all of these attributes are of interest, you MUST attend these George Kaputz productions. 509 Cycles https://509cycles.com/ kicked off the first race of the 2017/18 Snowcrown Wisconsin Fat-Bike Series with the Shelltrack Race along the shores of Lake Michigan. The event was hosted by Mark, Sean, and a pile of hula hoops with complimentary refreshments provided by Hinterland Brewery. Complimentary means free! Refer back to the "MUST attend" part above and do it. Jeff Abitz bummed a fat bike from a teamate and jumped into his first race, and second ride, with the Advanced category hot shots. The guy's (okay my) lack of fat bike experience was evident with all his (my) rookie errors. For example, he was a little lazy running to his bike on the start, later realizing it is almost impossible to pass in deep snow (you gotta ride in the groove!). And the beer shortcuts? They were good for knocking off at least a minute a lap. He (ME!) would have excelled here! The race winner stopped for seven of them. Lessons learned. Ted Schaff proved he can ride anything fast offroad, riding his loaner bike to a 7th out of 34 overall in the Advanced category. Diablo Cycling Participants Advanced Category: Jeff Abitz Ted Schaff - 7th Intermediate Category: Joe Cleaves Shawn Nelsen Scott Niemi Scott Barclay The next Snow Crown race is Sunday, January 14th in Suamico, WI. https://www.bikereg.com/fat-camp Racing or not, I'll be there. - Jabitz out.
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Presented by L5 Racing LLC on December 9th. Angel Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, WI L5 Racing LLC knows how to put on an event. There was a heated pavilian with room for everyone’s bikes and gear, an upstairs tavern, prize raffles, El Coqui Puerto Rican food, and the best heckler in cyclocross. This entertaining guy made it hard to go in and warm up! Had this been a road criterium, I'd wager the authorities would have been brought in. With the last WCA cyclocross ending a week ago, and all the series points earned, participant numbers were light but competition was high. The course include slippery ice in the shadows, tight off camber hairpins, a three railroad tie run-up (pictured below and Jabitz rode it, skills?!) and a prestaging warm-up tent. Although there was no cash payout, there were some blingy medals to win. Ethan Janssen took home a 3rd place in Junior 15-18. Jeff Abitz got a 4th and Ted Schaff got a 6th in M45+ 123. Fat bike racing begins next week, with the Shelltrack event in Manitowoc,
and I’ll keep you informed. Presented by Revolution Cycles - Madison Saturday, December 2nd at Trek headquarters in Waterloo After a three month season of shorter but INTENSE training, and for this guy, "attempts" at calorie control, the Wisconsin State Cyclocross Championships is the place to make a final statement to your competition. Almost all the "heavy hitters" lined up to prove who is the fastest in their category. The venue included many of the same features used in this years UCI World Cup race, free beer, various bonfires around the course, and a party zone back in the woods. Thank you to our friend Kierstin Kloeckner for many of the below images. Masters 123, 50+ : Jeff Abitz (3rd place) holeshotted the start and led the entire first lap but was eventually passed by (three time State Champion) JW Miller and Arlen Spicer. The race for third went back and forth between Jeff and Greg Ferguson. With Greg starting to gap Jeff, it was the encouragement from sidelined teamate John Lichtenberg that motivated Jeff to take third back in the final lap. This one was for John! Masters 3, 35+ : Brent Rohrs (2nd place) quickly took the lead in the first lap and led most the race. As he skillfully maneuvered around the back of the younger age category ahead, he unfortunately bumped a downed rider, dropping his chain. Not realizing he was passed, he raced on only to learn he came in second (to a Belgium rider no less). If only he had known! The podium pastry made it all better. Mike Sullivan made this world class course look easy contributing to a strong Diablo showing. Masters 123, 35+ : Ted Schaff (12th place) smiled his way around the course finishing solidly in the middle of, perhaps, the second most competive field of the day. Next Saturday, December 9th is the Midwest Regional Cyclocross Championships in Sun Prairie, WI.
https://www.facebook.com/Midwestcyclocrosschampionships/ Perhaps then, Jabitz can enjoy a Tom's waffle cone guilt free. |
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