BIG Race Weekend

Members of team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List are readying themselves for a tough weekend ahead. Riders will race up to three times in three days as they compete to establish Indiebike as one of the top amateur teams in the region. They will be competing against full squads from rival teams including Upland Brewery p/b Sustainable Cycling, Scholars Inn Bakehouse Team Tortuga, Blue Ridge Design, MOB Squad and newcomer Joe's Cycles/Cardinal Bike Co. Riders will be competing at three venues this weekend to prove who is the master of the criterium. Each course offers unique challenges.

Friday's Lawrence Village Crit is a short tight course that features 6 turns in just .62 miles. Getting in and out of the final turn up front and clean will be a key to success. Last year's race was fast and featured several breaks. However the course was longer and very windy on the back side. This year's course should create a whole new dynamic.

Saturday riders head up to the Zipp Village of West Clay Circuit. This is a classic event and a great venue. The race has been moved up this year and will take place much earlier than the usual late summer date. I know many racers will appreciate a break from the typicallyy brutal heat. The course is technical but wide and super smooth. If you get in a rhythm you can really rail it through the turns and get around the course quickly while the pack squeezes through behind you.

Sunday is the first ever Broad Ripple Criterium. Some thought it couldn't be done, but they were wrong. I guess the BR neighborhood and business associations have a price (which is reflected in the entry fees unfortunately). Anyway, it should be exciting. The course features a tight 140 degree turn at the end of a long straight. If you go into that turn in the back its going to be a long ride up to the front after the leaders sprint down the back straight while you bump into handlebars 4 wide. We have yet to see how repairs to the massive potholes on one section of the course improve the conditions. As of this week things were still looking pretty rough.

Look for a full race report as the action unfolds...

Consistency

Competing in 4 out of 5 OSRS events this year and finishing on the podium the past two weeks in a row, Sierra Seibenlist currently sits second in the OSRS overall series standings. With five more races to go Sierra is the best placed rider in the series from team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List. At the midway point of the series Cory Swihart has also managed to work himself into the top ten in the Cat1/2/3 series. In his first full season competing as a Cat2 Cory's hard work and intense focus have helped him stake out a spot among a very talented group of riders in the Ohio Valley region. Cory's "bike throw" below is testiment to his determination.

Making it Happen

One of the greatest aspects of Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List this year has been the consistent ability of someone to step up each week and produce a result. While one rider may be having an off day or a certain move just doesn't materialize, another has always been there to step in an get the job done. Two weekends ago the team was challenged at Hillsboro and Hueston Woods, while in Indy riders swept the podium at the Marian Classic. This week things didn't play out as we had hoped at Mooresville but Sierra fought her way onto the podium riding alone in a field stacked with teammates. Here is a quick look at what team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List has accomplished so far in only 4 weekends of racing in 2011.

Wins - 2

Podiums - 6

Top 10's - 13

Top 20's - 20

Weekend Results

Once again Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List split up the weekend pulling double duty in Indiana and Ohio. Saturday's Ceraland circuit race was canceled due to heavy rain and storms but Sunday was a beautiful sunny day perfect for racing. While the some riders came up a little short on Sunday at Mooresville, others picked up the slack in Ohio.

Vandervorts Corner (OSRS#4)- Three riders made the trip to Ohio and one made it well worth the trip. Sierra S. made the break along with a handful of riders from team Secret. They were able to fight the wind and hold off the field in pursuit. In the end one rider escaped for the win but Sierra sprinted her way onto the podium taking third even though she was outnumbered by the Secret ladies. Cory S. finished 13th in a 1/2 field of 28 whose ability to stay together was tested throughout by stiff winds.

Mooresville Circuit- A closed course with great road surfaces made for ideal race conditions. In the early Masters race John S. made an early move splitting up the pack. He was joined by a handful of riders including three from the Zipp Factory Team. As usually they worked well together and made it tough on the passengers, but John managed to hang on and finish in the lead group taking 6th. Steve E. rode strong as well rolling in towards the front of the chase group.

The team had high hopes with five riders in the 3/4 race. However on this day it was not to be. Ryan E. was riding strong until he lost contact after being forced off the road into a spot of mud. Once he reengaged, the field had made a hard acceleration and was too far up the road. With one lap to go Sustainable Cylcing had a rider about 200m off the front. Dustin went all in coming out of the first turn, catching the Sustainable rider about half way through the lap while maintaining a considerable gap on the filed. However the pack was just too fast down the hill and on the short flat leading to the finish climb and Dustin was caught at the base about 300m short of the finish. Aaron and Joe continued on in the filed sprint finishing unofficially 10th and 11th.

Big Plans for the Velodrome Property

In a project championed by long time friend of the team Dean Peterson, the City of Indianapolis recently announced that Marian University will take over the development, management and operation of the Lake Sullivan Sports Complex. In addition to controlling the property's primary asset, the Velodrome, Marian University plans to invest $2 million to develop a comprehensive cycling complex that is to include courses for road, cyclocross and bmx racing as well as a cycling training center. Read the full story HERE

Spreading the Love

This past weekend Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List raced across the Midwest. Results were as varied as the terrain they covered.

Marian University Cycling Classic (IN)- Indiebike left a lasting impression on the local race scene with a dominant performance in the Men's 3/4 race. Dustin took the win with a well timed solo attack (not to be confused with a breakaway). Even more, Indiebike swept the podium and claimed 5 of the top 7 spots, with two more riders finishing in the field as well. Sierra finished in the Women's 1/2/3 field as a warmup for Sunday's OSRS race.

For some high quality images of the race check out this gallery at a.d perler Photography

Hueston Woods (OH)- On a challenging "rolling" course (translation: not quite as hilly as some of the more devistating OSRS course) Aaron took 7th in a full Cat4 field and Sierra finished 10th in her second consecutive day of racing.

Hillsboro Roubaix (IL)- Indiebike sent two riders to Hillsboro to compete in what could be considered one of the biggest spring classics in the Midwest. The challenging and changing road surfaces can make just staying upright as difficult as staying on the wheel in front of you. After covering the first 29 mile circuit in just 1:05, Cory made the front selection of 27 riders before becoming victim to a flat tire 47 miles into the 58 mile race. Brad mustered up all his strength to roll in 67th among a full Cat3 field.

Well Wishes...

Good luck to all of those registered to race this weekend (and to those that decide at the last minute).

Hillsboro- Cory and Brad
Marian Classic- Steve, Ryan E, Dustin, Ralph, Mike, Justin, Sierra, Becca
Hueston Woods- Ryan S, Sierra, Miles

Ride hard and race smart! Results will be posted Sunday or Monday.