Gravel Grovel

Congratulations to Justin, John and Bradley for dominating this year's Gravel Grovel. After completing the race for the first time Justin described it as, "harder than RAIN." Thats saying a lot since RAIN is 100 miles longer. Brad proved he was in better shape than he would like anyone to believe, as he was the only rider in his group not to cramp on the final climb.

For the rest of you check out this video to experience the Gravel Grovel from the warmth and comfort of your computer.

Backyard Cross

Saturday's Backyard Cross in Bargersville, IN was fantastic. This is a hidden gem that needs to be exposed. It's too bad that there were not more racers competing because Speeway Wheelmen's Scott Bond set up one heck of a course. Recent rains had softened up this course that was already well prepared. It featured some challenging conbinations of turns, a nice downhill, a 180 degree hillside turn that was much tougher than it looked, a fallen log barrier and plenty of off camber terrain. This course could host a big regional event in my opinion if more people knew about it, and if they dont build houses on it.

Now, on to race results. Justin Yoder, Ryan Elpers and John Hartman all had solid rides in the Cat4 race. Unfortunately it was dominated by a sandbagger from Marian University. It was Ryan's first cross race. Speaking with Ryan after the race he remarked about some of the challenging terrain, "it was like showing up to class and there was quiz I didn't study for." In the Elite race Cory Swihart finished 7th among a very talented field. Dustin Jones finished 4th in his first cross race since upgrading to Cat3. Crossing the line with two to go, Dustin was overtaken by a chasing rider from Speedway Wheelmen. However, he maintained his composure and launched a well timed attack midway through the final lap to catch and eventually make the pass to reclaim 4th at the finish.

Dustin battles it out for 4th

PAX Lebanon Cross

The start...

Jones, Stumpe riding 1-2

mad skills?

The finish!

Local Race Schedule

5 Races in 5 Weeks

11/6 PAX Lebanon Cross (Lebanon, IN)

11/13 Cool Creek Cyclocross (Carmel, IN)

11/20 Backyard Cross (Bargersville, IN)

12/4-5 Indianapolis Double Cross Weekend (Ft. Harrison / Brookside Park)

Bring your coffee and your cowbell its going to be a good time!

Holoween Weekend CX Results

Team Indiebike headed north this past weekend. While Justin and Cory stopped in Ft. Wayne for Spooky Cross Dustin kept on going up, all the way to Ann Arbor, MI. It was another weekend of solid performaces put in by a combination of our most and least experienced cross racers.

Ft. Wayne Spooky Cross was a technical course that featured a considerable amount of single track. Cory had a commanding ride finishing a strong second, ahead the distant remains of the Cat3 field. Justin finished 6th in the Cat4 race, made even more impressive by the fact that he rode 4 of 6 laps with a loose connection between his stem and bars. In a post race interview Justin claimed "it is difficult to navigate the obstacles of a cross course when you cant steer your bike."

Veteran's Memorial Park hosted back to back days of cross in Ann Arbor. Overall the course was less technical but still presented considerable challenges not the least of which were two sizable hills. Saturday's course had the group climbing the first hill with a pair of off camber switchbacks and featured a set of barriers at the base of the second incline making for a long grueling run-up. Sunday's version hit the hills from the opposite direction and was absent the barriers at the bottom. This made for a faster course that relied more on fitness than technique in comparison to the day before. When all was said and done Dustin crossed the line 4th on Saturday and 5th on Sunday, respectable results in a mixed field of Cat2-3-4 riders.

Louisville USGP Cat4 Podium

Dustin proves himself against two racers that aren't old enough to drive a car.

USGP Derby City Cup race results

USGP #1 Saturday Results

USGP #2 Sunday Results

Team Indiebike made an appearance at one of the biggest cyclocross races of the year this past weekend. With two days of racing including USGP pro events each day and fields of 100+ in the amateur categories this was the real deal. The races were held at Eva Bandman Cyclocross Park, the home of the 2013 UCI Elite World Cyclocross Championships. The organizers threw in everything but the kitchen sink. There were two sand pits, one that was about a mile across and another that actually went over and down a hill. There were several deceivingly difficult run-ups including one at the base of a downhill around a 180 degree turn. There was a set of barriers that required an immediate dismount after clearing a three foot dirt ramp. And of course there was the Green Monster, a carpeted staircase run-up with a ramp down the other side. Riders definitely had to bring their whole bag of tricks to get around this course quickly.

Riders Cory Swihart and Dustin Jones made the trip and lived to tell about it. Cory finished 28th in the Cat 2-3 event on Saturday after moving up through a chaotic start and picking his way through several riders. Dustin finished 7th on Saturday after coming back from a mishap in the sand pit and a brake malfunction while chasing down the leaders in third positon. Sunday his fortunes were better as he was able to ride back the early break by team Red Zone and pick off one of their young hopefuls for second place.