Hyde Park Blast

Team Indiebike p/b Angie's List will be taking a solid squad to Ohio this weekend to compete in one of the regions premier cycling events. The Hyde Park Blast is part of the USA CRITS Championship Series. This race draws amateurs from around the region and pros from across the country to compete for some serious cash and of course bragging rights.

Racing is always fast and intense. The course offers two key challenges. First is the tight 180 degree turn at the end of the very long finishing straight. In a feild of up to 100 riders you dont want to be fighting your way through the back of the peleton while the riders up front are already screaming down the straightaway. A good start can save a lot of precious energy over the course of the race. You need every bit of it as the short steep uphill at the other end really takes its tole on the field later in the race.

As if that isn't enough, last year temperatures were well into the mid 90's with humidy to match. Fortunately this year's weather is looking much more favorable. With the forecast calling for clear skys and temps topping out near 80 the weather conditions should play much less of a factor.

Team Indiebike p/b Angie's List will be much better represented this year with with about a dozen riders registered to compete across several categories including the Cat4, Cat3, and Pro/1/2 men's and women's fields. If you arent racing dont let that stop you from coming out. This is also one of the best attended and most spectator friendly races around. Hyde Park is lined with countless establishments serving the beverage of your choice and offering outdoor seating so you can grab food and drink while you watch the action.

Tour de Cure Wrapup

Team OrthoIndy/Indiebike raised a total of $1,695 for the American Diabetes Association. Riding around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a great experience and all for a worth cause. Here are some highlights from the day. Click here to see the rest of the pics.

Registration...check, coffee...check, sunglasses...check, lets roll!

Tim seems to be having a good time.

How many of these people have ridden in a group before?

Lining up at the Brickyard.

Ryan risks everyone's life to get in a good fist pump!

TWO Wrapup and Results

The Tri West Omnium is in the books and it was a good weekend of racing for Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List. Thanks to Planet Adventure Sports for putting on another quality event in the Indianapolis area. Click here for full results. Photos of some races are already available at ShutterWideOpen Photography. More will be posted soon.

The team started the weekend with a strong presence, fielding seven riders in the Cat3/4 field and three riders in the Cat 1/2 field. Top results came from Dustin and Miles in the 3/4 race, taking 4th and 7th respectively. Dustin jumped out front through the final turns but a slight headwind took its tole in the final 200m. Miles narrowly missed a crash and sprinted to maintain his spot in the top ten. Although he just missed out on the top 10, Ryan Shean came away with $60 in premes. That's $60 more than 4th place paid out.

Saturday's Eagle Creek race was on a circuit familiar to many on the local race scene. The racing was intense, but even more so was the heat. The steady incline over the final 250m of the course can be deceiving and often snatches victory away from those that attack too early. Once again Sierra prevailed, winning the women's race stating afterward, "it wasn't that hard really." Miles and Dustin had another strong showing in the 3s, this time with Miles taking 2nd and Dustin 4th again. Kevin Vanes stepped up the team presence in the Cat1/2 field finishing inside the top 10.

Riders Returned to Eagle Creek once again for the third and final day of racing. This time on a longer, more wide open course and with slightly cooler temps. Results were pretty much more of the same. Dustin and Miles finished near the front in 5th and 8th after a dicey finish involving lots of elbows flying from some guys in green jerseys. Kevin inched up a spot from the previous day to 8th.

As a result of their consistent results throughout the weekend, Dustin and Miles placed 3rd and 4th in the overall classification for the Cat3/4 omnium.

Make it Count

From now on tuesday night shop ride results will be submitted to USAC for ranking points, so dont forget your license. We will have bib numbers printed up to pick up at the shop. Right side.

Also there will be a KOM classification with points awarded to the top three riders at the top of Boyscout, Lanern Road and at 75th.

Intermdiate sprint points are available at the park heading east out Fall Creek Parkway, at Post Rd after Lawrence Park, and at the second stop sign on Johnson Rd. The final sprint for the Lake Kesslerwood sign on Fall Creek Pkwy will be worth double points.

You can register on Truesport

The "A" Team

Last night's shop ride got a little more competitive than usual, if that's possible. Early on, Dustin and Justin made it across the road while the rest of the group, about 8 riders or so, were caught by traffic. Then, Justin said the magic words, "you just want to go"? So they did, and didnt look back. By the time they got to the first long fast stretch of road on Fall Creek, the rest of the group was still nowhere to be seen. Ok, so maybe they did look back a few times. D and J traded pulls, keeping up a steady but brisk pace.

When the crossed back over 56th street heading toward Ft. Harrison and still didnt see the riders in pursuit they thought the break might stick for good. After a brief motor pace from a minivan along Lee Road they were back on it. After all that work however, it was not to be. As they approached the light to cross Fall Creek once again and head up the hills the group was rolling up. Dustin made one last ditch effort to prolong the inevitable. With a charge up the hill and a daring descent leading up to Sargent Rd he was able to maintain the gap.

Ultimately the hill at 75th was the equalizer. All of those miles trading pulls between just two riders had taken its tole. The group reformed as they turned onto 71st, but the attacks kept coming. All moves were covered leading up to the finishing stretch along Fall Creek. Everyone was careful not to play their cards too early in a big lead out. The slow roll picked up as the last bend approached. Cory went first. As he faded Justin launched an uncharacteristically early sprint. With a slight headwind he too faded before the sign marking the finish. Sitting patiently, Dustin jumped off Justin's wheel and rode to "victory" with Joe lurking close behind.

The challenge of the chase made for an exciting Tuesday night. So much so that it might be something worth doing more often. Dont be surprised if we divide up into two squads in the coming weeks for a little friendly rivalry to see who is really on the "A" team.

Tour de Cure Update

Riders from Team Indiebike and OrthoIndy have been busy raising money for the American Diabetes Association. Team OrthoIndy/Indiebike.com has currently raised $1,385,000. That is the second highest amount among all registered club teams.

The ride takes place this Saturday, June 11. Riders will enjoy the opportunity to take a lap around the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway and then ride the scenic 75k route around Indy's northwest side. The ride is fully supported and will include breakfast before and lunch after as well as plenty of sag stops for water and snacks along the way.

It's not too late to register or sponsor a rider. All riders must raise at least $150 in support to participate. Don't have time for fundraising at this point? Make a personal donation and come on out. Hope to see you there!

Back in the Saddle

After a slight lull in the action for the past two weeks Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List will return to racing at this weekends Tri West Omnium in Indianapolis. This weekend long event will combine several classic local races into one main event.

The action starts Friday night at Hummel Park in Plainfield, IN. Last year was the first year for this circuit and the racing was fast and technical. As a part of the omnium this year's race is sure to draw out much larger fields than the inaugural event so positioning in the pack will be that much more important.

Saturday and Sunday feature a pair of races at Eagle Creek, one of the country's largest municipal parks. Saturday's course is about 0.6 miles with two technical turns and a slight uphill finish that always takes its tole on the pack and punishes those that start their sprint too soon. Sunday will see the return of the contemporary circuit. This course features a long, straight finishing stretch and three tight turns linked by fast open sections. Last years race ended in a bunch sprint but this year's race could easily result in a break away if the right group forms.

Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's list looks to improve on the recent Tri Klassic Omnium results last month where Sierra won the women's overall and Dustin placed 4th in the Men's Cat3 competition.

This years events are being chip timed and results have proven to be quick and accurate so don't let last year's troubles keep you away.

Racers can still register online at Truesport until midnight on Thursday, June 2nd.