Thinking of you...

Time to pour some out for my homie Brad "Papa Bear" Sheridan. I know how much you enjoy kicking back and sipping a nice glass of Chardonnay.

Backyard Cross - CX isn't over...

We are well into the month of December, the OVCX series has ended, but cyclocross racing is still going strong in the Ohio Valley region. Five races remain in the Indiana Cyclocross Cup series and some of the most exciting racing of the season is yet to come as the temperature drops and snow begins to fall. This weekend is the first of two double headers featuring Depot Cross in Ft. Wayne on Saturday and Backyard Cross in Bargersville (just south of Indianapolis) on Sunday.

Sunday's Backyard Cross is a race that you can't afford to miss. The course is set up in an undeveloped subdivision with a fantastic variety of terrain. There are open fields, wooded patches, a good chance for a log laydown that you cant bunny hop, plenty of off camber stuff along the banks of the lake, a little pavement and probably a good amount of mud mixed in throughout. This course is a hidden gem that has a chance to become the crown jewel of the series.

This year Team Indiebike p/b Angie's List is stepping it up a notch as well. The team tent will be set up and heated. Inside you will find us serving up hot dishes of Yats cajun creole food to warm your soul as you cheer on the action.

Central Indiana racers have spent the past few months making regular trips to Cincinnati and Louisville to race OVCX. Now its time for OH and KY racers to get in their cars and show some love to the other up and coming series in the region. Backyard cross will be well worth the trip.

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Milestones

We just ran the numbers and Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List is approaching 300 race entries in 2011. By the end of the cyclocross season we will easily exceed that mark. We will have a full stats at the end of the year. Stay tuned to find out what is in store for 2012 as the team continues to develop and increase its presence.

The "Grovel" lives up to its name

In case you are aren't already aware, the Gravel Grovel is a mass start race in southern Indiana that covers 60+ miles of mostly gravel roads that traverse some of the state's hilliest terrain. Some of the descriptions of this year's event included pharses like, "that hurt", "I was in a dark place for a while", and "most brutal race I have ever done." In spite of those ringing endorsements, more than 160 racers came out for the challenge on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

For a few the suffering paid off handsomly. Recent Team Indiebike addition, Scott Baumer, managed an exceptional 11th place finish among some pretty strong regional talent. Cory Swihart came across the line 23rd in spite of the fact that most of his recent training has been sharply focused on short, intense efforts in preparation for one hour long cyclocross races. Others, well lets just say they survived long enough to still get a hot plate of delicious etouffee from Yats after crossing the finish line.

You can see full results posted here

Derby City Wrap-up

As expected, the crowds at USGP this past weekend, including riders and fans alike, were huge and the competition was fierce. With several fields approaching and even exceeding one hundred riders every minute of racing was a full on battle. Unlike the previous week in Cincinnati, the real fight in Louisville was against other riders and not so much against the course conditions. The circuit was challenging and well constructed to include multiple sand pits, sharp elevation changes, winding rhythm sections and some challenging but rideable off-camber turns. All of these elements were tied together by a number of long grass straights and sweeping turns that demanded powerful legs, not just great handling skills. Full results and lap times are posted here.

Dustin rode strong, consistent laps earning a spot in the top 50 among more than 110 Cat2/3 riders in spite of the fact that many of them had much more awesome hair.

After all was said and done Cory posted the best results of the weekend finishing just outside of the top ten both days.

Sierra claimed she didn't feel that great all weekend but still managed two respectable mid-pack finishes among the best female CX'ers this side of the pro ranks.

Scott couldn't have picked a harder week to cat-up but got some amazing race experience against some real talent.

USGP Derby City Cup

Team Indiebike p/b Angie's List will be sending a total of seven riders to compete in this weekends USGP Derby City Cup in Louisville, KY. This is the second week in a row where riders will be participating in events that are in the national spotlight. At Last weeks UCI1 ranked Cincy3 event, Cory Swihart took home top team honors finishing 8th two out of three days on some of the most technically challenging courses that any rider will face all season. Cory managed to get out in front of the field of 70+ riders which included most of the top Cat2/3 racers from across the region and even across the country.

This weekend's Derby City Cup is the third national event is a series of of four, and is by far one of the most prestegious races on the national calendar. Some of the waves will include as many as 130 riders which means it will be a battle to get near the front. Assuming you miss the LA style traffic jam getting out of the first turn riders will then have a very challenging course ahead to prove their dominance. The course at Bandman Park and Cyclocross Venue will host the 2013 Elite Cyclocross World Championships for the first time ever outside of Europe. So as you might expect this course will not be short on technical aspects and challenging terrain. Riders will be required to navigate a monster sandpit, power over some sharp inclines, run up and ride down the Green Monster, and hope to hold on around the off-camber turns.

The post race report should contain plenty of excitement. Stay tuned to find out how it all goes down.

Zipp Cyclocross Clinic 11/14/2011

The best CX riders from the top pro teams in the country will be in our back yard to teach the tricks of the trade. You won't want to miss this.

Featured Rider

Scott Baumer is one of the newest additions to Team Indiebike, and we are glad about that. Scott had a strong road season riding unattached but has officially pulled on the Team Indiebike p/b Angie's List jersey for cyclocross season where he has made a habit of showing up on the podium at the Indiana CX Cup and OVCX series races. Quickly proving his speed and technical ability in the Cat4 field, Scott is ready to make the jump to Cat3. This past weekend at Yorktown he finished 2nd in the Cat4 race and was approved on the spot to jump into the Cat3 wave starting 15 minutes later. After already exhausting himself once, he rode a competitive race and proved that he most definitely deserved the upgrade. We wish Scott the best as he tries to carry this momentum into the two biggest regional races of the year, UCI Cincy3 this weekend followed by USGP Derby City Cup the following. Keep up the good work!

Are you serious about your sports... you know we are

Cyclocross is catching on like wildfire and it seems like everyone is talking about how much fun it is. Joe looks like he's having a blast.

Fatal Attraction

If you wear a pair of these on your next ride keep your eyes out for dominant male Baboons who may mistake you for a fully engorged potential mate. We have all been chased down the road by the occasional stray farm dog, but trying to outrun a baboon in heat is a whole different ball game.

The Wait is Over... kind of

Well at least it's over for one person. Yesterday at 4:30 pm EST, Scott became the proud owner of the very first 2012 Cannondale SuperSix Evo delivered at Bicycle Garage Indy. It is 54cm and weighs less than 15lbs. Gender is undetermined and Scott has not yet decided on a name. Clearly having his priorities straight, Scott got out early from a later afternoon work meeting in time to pick the new bike up from the nursery, I mean bike shop. Fortunately he also had enough time to at least pull off all the reflectors before letting it be seen in public.

I had the privilege of being along side for the inaugural ride last night at the CIBA Thursday World Championships. Scott said that his legs weren't feeling great after some running he did this week, but there is something about having a new bike or piece of gear that gives you that extra boost. We all know that feeling. When you feel fast you ride fast. He certainly didn't ride like his legs were sore. That's for sure.

Several more SuperSix EVO's are earmarked for Team Indiebike p/b Angie's List riders and should start to roll in over the coming weeks and months. Once again we want to give a big thanks to Cannondale and BGI for their partnership. The mix of Cannondale SuperSix, CAAD10, SuperX and CAADX bikes have proven to be amazing machines to race and ride. It is great to see more and more of our riders riding Cannondale. There is a certain and pride and sense of unity that it creates among the team in addition to the confidence knowing that we are riding some of the best bikes available.

How to Make Money Racing Cyclocross

Caught on Camera

Steve got some amazing shots of the madness on Sunday.

Click here to check out the full slide show.

A Proper Start

Well, you can forget about easing into the cyclocross season with a few warm dry races like last year. Mother nature was having none of that during this past weekend's Brookside Park Cup and Saint Mary's CX at Fort Harrison (FULL RESULTS). Saturday's race at Brookside was certainly no mud bog but a few light showers had things loosened up a bit and greasy through the off camber sections. Being the second race in the OVCX series this was not a chance to feel things out. It was hard fast racing from the gun. Sunday it was raining by the time you woke up and was still raining when the last race was over. The course went from slick, mushy grass with muddy sections early to one continuous ribbon of chocolate pudding by the end of the day.

Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List was represented all day with at least one rider in almost every wave. Joe and Stumpe broke in the course for everyone early in the Cat4 race. Joe was forced to abandon Saturday with "intestinal issues" but managed to stick it out in the mud on Sunday. Stumpe gained maximum style points with his new drag your bike over the barriers by the handlebars technique. My guess is that the bike was just too heavy for him to pick up with all that mud caked on it. Schmitz and Felipe represented well in the Cat3 Masters races. Dustin got off to a rough start both days but rode strong late in the race to finish respectably. Sierra could be found in her usual spot on Sunday, on the podium. Cory had some bad luck on the start Saturday and ended up running his bike around the first half lap with a broken derailleur and a spoke pulled through his rear rim. Sundays start was "clean" but the rest of the race was a long slog as the Elite Men's field was left with a course that showed very little evidence of the grass that had been there earlier in the day.

So needless to say it was a dive headfirst into the CX season. The good news is that if you could survive Sunday's race it isnt going to get much worse. Colder yes, but at least in the snow the ground underneath is usually pretty firm.

Run it or ride it?

What would you do?

Pop and Lock

Preseason injuries are taking their tole on the Team Indiebike p/b Angie's List cyclocross roster. For the second time in three weeks a crash during practice has resulted in a serious shoulder injury for one of our riders. Three weeks ago, Justin completely dislocated his left shoulder after laying it down on some slick, wet roots on the side of a hill. Last night, Ryan was practicing his bunny-hop over the barriers. After a few attempts he seemed to be getting the hang of it, but just as his confidence peaked, in an attempt to get the back wheel over the second barrier with not quite enough momentum Ryan shifted his weight a little too far forward and proceeded up and over his handlebars. He appeared to cushion his landing and roll out of the crash relative smoothly but as he remained in a crouching position holding his left arm it was apparent that something was wrong. He had suffered a complete acromioclavicular separation. You will notice those two bones at the top of the x-ray image below. Nothing is broken but those should be connected. Ouch! Fortunately Dr. Tim Weber, from our partners at OrthoIndy Trauma, lives about a mile away from the field where we practice. Always willing to help, Tim was on the scene in a matter of minutes to asses the damage and get Ryan proper treatment. It was kind of a good news/bad news scenario. No bones were broken and the shoulder was not dislocated (good news). However, there is no treatment option to repair a separated clavicle other than pain meds and a sling (bad news). In a sport where such injuries are unfortunately all too common we certainly appreciate having the expertise and resources so readily available, though ideally we would prefer to never have reason to call on them. Hopefully all of these incidents are out of the way for the remainder of the season. Ryan and Gus, heal up quickly. The rest of you be safe!

Cory at Cross Vegas

Cory goes over the top of the first run-up in 39th place. You can see him remount right at 1:00. That looks like complete madness!

Cross Vegas

Last night Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List was represented on the national stage. Our very own Cory Swihart raced in the Cross Vegas Wheelers and Dealers race on Wednesday night in front of thousands of cyclocross fans and industry insiders. Riders and spectators were there from across the country and across the world as the biggest cyclocross event in the US officially kicked off the domestic CX race season. Cory drew a tough starting position on the very last row among 163 riders. Undeterred, he made the best of the circumstances by quickly fighting his way into the top 50 half way through the first lap and into the top 30 by the time they crossed under the start/finish for the first time. The massive amount of energy that it took to move up that far so quickly did have consequences. However at the end of the night Cory rode strong and finished a respectable 39th overall. To put it in perspective, he managed to pass more than 120 riders in a 35 minute race, not bad. Way to go Cory. Cross that one off of your bucket list.

How awesome is it to see the new team kits being showcased at the largest and most well attended cross race in the US? Nowhere else could our sponsors get that amount of exposure to that many people in the industry. How amazing would it be to get 2 or three riders in the field next year? What a way to start off the season. Remember local racing gets started in earnest this weekend with the OVCX series opener in Louisville followed by Indy DoubleCross early on the calendar September 24th and 25th. Cant wait!

CX Racing is Hard!

In case you forgot, like I did, training is not racing. It seems like this is a lesson you have to learn all over again each fall. No matter how many weeknight cross practices you attend or how many times you jokingly talk to your teammates about how brutal cross is but its still fun you just aren't prepared for the first lap of the first race of the season. There is a reason that there are "tune up" races two weeks before any of the actual series kick off their schedules. The opportunity to test out your cross skills once again at race speed and to ride for 40 minutes after you have already started seeing red 6 minutes in is invaluable. No matter how hard you think you are "pushing it" on Tuesday night racing is the only true test of your legs and lungs.

This weekends Huber's Applecross was that wake up call for me. I came off the road season in pretty good shape and figured the transition to cyclocross this year would be seamless, or at least not shocking. But as I was reminded, even the accelerations of late summer crits don't adequately prepare you for the constant barrage of obstacles and maximum effort accelerations that follow over the course of a 45min cross race. There is no draft, no lull while riders sort out tactics.

So if you haven't toed the line yet this season, prepare yourself, the time is coming and it will hurt worse than you remembered (or expected if this is your first season). But after you cross the finish line, collapse on a picnic table, and finally take a drink, you wont be able to wait to do it all over again. Its kind of like the first time your parents take you on the roller coaster you were to short to get on last summer. You may have cried like a baby when the bar locked down over your lap, and screamed like bloody murder on the big drop, but when you pulled back in the station and got out all you could think of was running to get back in line for another ride.

Cyclocross Practice Race, and More...

The official, unofficial Saturday cyclocross practice race will begin this weekend, and end whenever it finally gets too miserable to show up. Riders from Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List and many more will descend on the Butler athletic fields for an hour or torturous pain that is somehow also fun.

Riding will begin at 8:30 with an easy lap to get everyone warmed up and familiar with the course. After that all hell breaks loose. The practice race will consist of about 6 laps, or for Joe and Ryan, however many they can do before getting a flat tire. With average lap times in the 8 minute range that should provide 45min to an hour of suffering followed by a few good laughs to ease the pain.

But that's not all... Beforehand, come to the Illinois Street Food Emporium at 7:15am for breakfast and coffee to fuel up and share some conversation. Don't ride cross? Not to worry. Roadies are welcome to mingle and then head out for a ride of their own. All are welcome and encouraged to join. At 8:15 we will stop stuffing our faces full of pastries and head over to Butler.

Hope to see you all out there. Let the fun begin!

Gluing Cyclocross Tubulars

There is no question that tubular tires have a distinct advantage in cyclocross racing. I had a pretty good experience racing the Michelin Mud 2 during my first cross season but this year I couldn't resist the urge to go tubular. I wanted the full experience so I took it upon myself to do some homework on gluing cyclocross tubulars and then have a go at it. The first thing I found out was that every expert has their own expert way of doing it. I consulted three trusted sources, Leonard Zinn, Sheldon Brown and my local bike shop mechnic Josh, whom I trust more than the other two combined, and found no strict concensus on any part of the process other than one thing. You MUST use belgian tape!

After soaking in all the good advise I decided on my technique. 2 layers of cement on the basetape of each tire (cured for 24 hrs in between applications). 2 layers of cement on the rim with a layer of belgian rim tape applied after the second coat is applied. This is where I am as of tonight. Finally I will apply one more coat of cement over the tape and stretch on the tires. One great tip that I employed was to mask off the brake track on each rim with electrical tape. This makes applying cement to the rim much less tedius and makes for a much cleaner edge. So far, no disasters. If all continues to go according to plan I will have these bad boys fitted on tomorrow night and ready to ride by Thursday. The final step will be to add 50ml of Caffelatex sealant to each tire (just in case). I know it will add a little weight but I dont have Stu Thorne waiting in the pit with countless sets of wheels and a fresh bike every lap so the insurance is worth a little peace of mind. With a brand new set of custom hand builts (Shimano Dura Ace 7800 32h hubs, Velocity Major Tom 23mm wide rims, and Sapim CX-Ray 3x spokes) fitted with a fresh pair of Vittoria Cross EVO XG tires I will have no excuses. Its time to go fast and put these puppies to the test!

And the winner is...

You didn't have to race this weekend to be a winner at the Mass Ave Criterium. Thanks to our great sponsors Cannondale, Hartman Dentistry, Indiebike.com and The Aristocrat Pub, four lucky people were able to celebrate a victory this weekend. Congratulations to our winners:

Cannondale CAAD10 Frame- Brad Harris

Hartman Dentistry Teeth Whitening- Kevin Schlameyer

Aristocrat Pub Gift Certificate- Dianna Magee

Indiebike.com Gift Certificate- Curtis Williams

In addition to those mentioned above we want to give a huge thanks to all of our sponsors including Angie's List, OrthoIndy Trauma, and National Moto+Cycle Co. Your support made this event possible and a great time for all.

Win a Cannondale CAAD10 frameset and more…

Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie’s List is excited to be supporting the 2011 New Belgium Brewing Mass Ave Criterium. In addition to racing, the team will be at the event all day with some other exciting things going on. For one day only Angie's List will be registering new members for just $20. That's more than half off. All new members will also be entered to win one of several amazing prizes. The grand prize will be a FREE Cannondale CAAD10 frameset (winner chooses size). Other prizes will include a free teeth whitening session and consultation from Dr. John Hartman Dentistry, as well as gift certificates from our other sponsors including indiebike.com and The Aristocrat Pub and Restaurant.Team Indiebike is also glad to welcome National Moto+Cycle Co. as a new partner. National will be at the team tent all day showing off their amazing line of motorized vintage board track racing style bicycles. It doesn’t do any justice to try to describe these machines in words. You just need to come out and see them. Warning, once you have seen it you will want one!
The team will be hanging out all day, warming up for their races, getting people signed up for Angie’s List and giving away cool prizes. Make sure to stop by and be part of the action.

Hot Days...

We are in the middle of a sustained heat wave and it is starting to take it's tole. When it's consistently 85 degrees by 9:00 am the window of opprotunity to get in a ride without risking a heat stroke is pretty slim. You cant drink fast enough and even if you stay hydrated the air is so humid most days that your sweat doesnt even evaporate.

It's no wonder this time of year is limited mostly to crits in this part of the country. 45min to an hour is about all you can stand. Choosing to race last weekend's Downtown Indy Crit was pusing the limit of determination and insanity. Team Indiebike p/b Angie's List had 11 entries across all events and the fields were massive by local crit standards. Despite the numbers, the best finishes were a mediocre 5th and 8th place by Sierra and Ryan S. respectively. The rest of the team was mostly relegated to pack filler. Ryan and Dustin both suffered severely after overcooking it on a (way too early) late race attack.

As the heat continues most of us continue to suffer through and put in whatever miles we can as we long for the cooler autumn air to arrive. As the road racing season nears an end for this year one big event still remains and is creeping ever closer. The New Belgium Mass Ave Criterium is now less than two weeks away. Team Indiebike p/b angies list will have a full roster on the start list and will be the first ones called up to the line in most races. This is the IN state criterium championship for most categories so all of the guys and gals on the team will be laying all out for a chance to be called the best. Make sure to be there and be part of the action!

Breakout Performance

Marc Johnson has been riding very strong this year, and at the age of 52 is putting a serious beating on many riders half his age in the cat4 field. Marc is consistently in the top ten and higher but this past Saturday he finally jumped to the top step of the podium, winning the Bloomington Crit in convincing style. Congratulations on the great result!

Bike Throw

I know your mom always told you not to throw your toys, but there are times when it can work to your advantage. We have all done it. That last effort to literally throw your bike across the finish line in hopes of beating the guy next to you by a wheel. If you have ever wondered if it really matters or if it is just some silly thing that bike riders do because it looks cool at the end of the sprint, take a look at this. These pictures posted on Truesport.com are proof that the bike throw works.

Marion Classic

You have heard it before, but it never gets old. Once again this week Sierra was on the podium. This time on the top step! Congratulations on a big win at a big race. Keep making Team Indiebike look good.

Full race results here

HP Blast Results

Its a bit late but here is a quick wrapup from the Hyde Park Blast.

The weather was beautiful, crowd huge, fields large, and racing intense. Team Indiebike p/b Angie's List was well represented with twelve riders across all races. The fields were full of talent. Indiebike came prepared and raced well but only came away with one top-5 and four top-10's. The best result came from Ryan Shean, who put in a long hard dig on the finishing straight to hold off the field for fifth. Dustin, Mark J, and Sierra all each finished inside the top ten, still an accomplishment given the largest fields of any event inth Ohio Valley region.

Check out full results here

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.

Racing by Numbers

Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List has officially had more than 100 race entries so far this season, and it's just the middle of May. Wow! Here is what they have to show for it:

Wins- 4

Podiums- 16

Top 5- 29

Top 10- 51

On top of that, Cory Swihart finished the Ohio Spring Race Series 4th overall in Cat1/2/3 out of 94 riders that were scored. Thats solid.

As the team heads into the crit heavy summer schedule they appear to be poised for success. Unlike most road races, crits are spectator friendly and full of action. Take advantage of the warm weather and some great venues to come see the guys and gals in black and white this summer. Keep an eye on the schedule to know when and where to Indiebike will be racing.

UPGRADE!

Congratulations to Miles Johnson. Following his win at Germantown he was officially notified by Curtis Tolson yesterday that his Cat3 upgrade is approved. Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List is excited for Miles and looks forward to the added strength he will bring to the Cat3 squad. Miles has worked hard and really focused his training since last year. Keep up the good work!

Cat 4 Domination

For the second time this year Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's List swept the podium. The guys took the win and more in the Cat4 race this past weekend at Germantown, going 1, 2, 3, 12, 14, 32. Miles Johnson takes the big win with Lance Farmstrong (John Schmitz) second and Joe Laux rounding out the podium in 3rd. See full results at usacylcing.org

John also made a compelling case for not wearing a cycling jersey with jeans.

With only one more race to go in the series, Cory Swihart has a solid hold on 3rd place in the overall Cat1/2/3 rankings and Sierra Siebenlist is only 25pts outside of a top 5 in the Womens 1/2/3 overall.

IRS Changes

Some changes to the long running Indiana Race Series events have been anounced. First, the Eagle Creek Traditional Crit that was canceled last weekend has been rescheduled for Sunday July 10th following the Eagle Creek Fast Crit that Saturday, the 9th. This weekend was open on the schedule so these events fill a void in the local race calendar.

The big news however is that IRS crits will now be sanctioned by USAC. That means they are actually worth upbrade and ranking points, not just bragging rights.

In another attempt to come into allignment with the rest of the racing community, you will finally be able to pre-register for IRS races on Truesport.com

It is exciting to see the IRS finally address these two issues. See you at Eagle Creek.

Wrap Up

After three full days of racing more happend that I could possible remember or try to cover but here are some highlights.

Friday night Ryan E. rode a great race in the Cat4. With some encouragement (yelling) from the sidelines ryan staked out a spot near the front of the field and wouldn't budge. Althogh two riders got away on an early move with 2 laps to go, Ryan had good position coming out of the last corner and dominated the field sprint to take 3rd. Congratulations to Ryan for his first podium of the year.

With more than 50 riders on a very tight course in the Cat3 field things got hectic quickly. Dustin figured he would be safest near the front of the pack and out of the mess going 3 and 4 wide through the turns. However when the rider in front of him clipped a pedal and went down on a tight right hander just a few laps into the race Dustin hit the deck. With torn bibs, crooked bars, no computer and no water bottle he chased back with two other riders and slowly worked through the field over the next several laps. After regaining his composure Dustin went on to finish 5th after being caught in the last turn following a last lap escape attempt. Ryan S rolled across the finish next in 6th.

Saturday's Zipp West Clay crit was fast as usual. The women had the best results of the day with Caroline B, fresh off a strong finish at Little 500, taking 3rd and Sierra S coming in 4th. At an average speed of nearly 25.5mph the Cat3 race was intense to say the least. One rider from Scholars Inn Bakehouse was out to prove he was on form with a solo victory half a lap ahead of the field following a break mid way through the race. Dustin and Brad finished in the field sprint with a top placing of 8th overall. Felipe C scored a top 10 in the Masters 1/2/3 race, which typically one of the fastest fields.

The weekend wrapped up on Broad Ripple Ave. This was the first race to be held in BR and by most accounts it was a big success. It certainly was for Sierra S. After just missing the podium on Saturday, Sierrra took the W on sunday, continuing her recent streak of great results. Is an upgrade in her future... After a couple of falls on the wet slick pavement John S still managed a 6th place finish in the Masters field. Dustin came in 7th in the 3s race after coming out of the final turn on the winners wheel and blowing it with a less than stellar sprint. Brad rode a tough race and probably had the most fan support of any rider on the course. It was probably as close as you can get to a home game in cycling.

Sierra's 4th on Saturday and big win on Sunday were enough to earn her the top spot in the overall omnium points classification. Dustin's consistent top 10 finished earned him 4th overall in the omnium. In addition to some respectable final results the team also managed to snag a handful of $20 premes throughout the races. Enough to make it rain at Wendy's.

Check out all of the official results at Planet Adventure Sports

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.

Youth Development

The future of Team Indiebike...

Schababerle Wrapup

Full Schababerle RESULTS

In case it's not obvious, that look you see on the face of every rider in these pictures is sheer pain. Its only mid March and the second race into the season and the team has tackled what will certainly be the toughest race course faced all year. This was truly a race of attrition. Only the toughest made it over the top with the first group, including Ryan S, Aaron, Miles and Becca. The rest of us were just that, the best of the rest. Those that didn't make the selection showed that they still had what it took to finish strong. In a race that finished with a high number of DNF's, every rider that lined up for Team Indiebike.com p/b Angie's list crossed the line on the final lap over the "toaster". Nice job all!

Check out the rest of the pics by visiting our gallery on the link in the right sidebar.