MOUNTAIN KHAKIS - Built For The Mountain Life Blog

Team Mountain Khakis Update: Dothan City Fest - 2 Podium Positions

This weekend Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop made the trip down to southern Alabama for the Dothan CityFest criterium. Lots of strong teams and strong riders made the journey down to Dothan for this fun, fast, well-organized criterium. The race is part of Dothan City Fest with tons to do for the kids (everything from pony rides to jump zones) and some great entertainment for the adults too. The Pro race had plenty of competition from individual riders and several strong teams. Team Type I, AeroCat, Team Global Bike, and Locos all had full squads. Ben, Luke, Thomas, and Travis represented the team.

The course was a straightforward four-corner criterium with a slight uphill through the start finish line followed by a fast downhill backside. The quartet formed their tactics on the drive down and went into the race knowing exactly how they wanted to play to their strengths. Travis was to follow all dangerous early moves and Ben was to use his strength to be aggressive. With two capable sprinters in Luke and Thomas, the team was happy with a field sprint if it came down to that.

Both Travis and Ben did an incredible job representing the team throughout the early part of the race. Luke showed his speed by winning the crowd prime at the halfway point. As the race progressed attacks kept coming. Sensing a lull with 13 laps remaining, Ben attacked solo. He built up a quick lead and spent the next ten laps solo off the front only to be pulled in at 3 to go. Meanwhile Luke and Thomas linked up and waited. Coming into the final lap the duo was around 20th position. They surged forward together coming into the final corner, but the move from so far back was JUST to long. Ty Magner of the TT1 development team beat them to the corner and secured the victory. Luke and Thomas had run out of room and had to settle for the final spots on the podium.

Adam Myerson and Jerome Townsend go 2 for 2 in New England
Not to be outdone by their teammates' strong showing in Dothan, AL, Adam and Jerome netted another two victories this weekend for Team Mountain Khakis presented by SmartStop. Adam won the Chris Hinds Fuji Sunshine Crit on Saturday, and the New England duo repeated on Sunday with a 1-2 finish at the Beanpot Criterium.

Saturday, April 2: Chris Hinds Fuji Sunshine Crit in Charlestown, RI

Here's a report from the man himself:

I won this race last year, too. It's a flat, windy, 9/10 mile course on a permanent criterium course in a town park, directly only the ocean. Wind is always a factor, and over the 90-minute race, there is almost always a breakaway.

I felt good immediately and found myself racing a little too much, so I sat back some and waited for the break to form, feeling like I could go across to it. Sure enough, about an hour in, I covered an attack from Frank McCormack, and then Al Donahue and 1 other came up behind. A third group of 6 connected after that, but everyone seemed to content to be there, and no one wanted to work. I started attacking the break until I got clear again with Al and Mark McCormack, while the break and the field split behind us.

Eventually we lapped and went through the field, but so did the chase group. With 10 to go we had to keep driving to make sure we stayed clear, and finally with 3 to go we started attacking each other, knowing we wouldn't be caught. Al hit the last corner with a small gap, but I was able to run him down and repeat the win.

1. Adam Myerson - Team Mountain Khakis presented by SmartStop (1:31:01)       
2. Alec Donahue - Wheelhouse/NCC Cycling                         
3. Mark McCormack - Team FUJI/Clif
4. Ben Wolfe - BayHillCapital/CLNoonan                         
5. Adam Sullivan - Embrocation Cycling Journal                       

Adam also gives his take on Sunday:

I won this race 5 times previously: 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001, and way, way back in 1993, when it was just a collegiate race. I had Jerome there with me, so I was looking forward to having a teammate to take turns attacking with. The course is a 6-corner, fast, hilly, technical, windy crit that rides more like a 'cross race; perfect for Jerome and me. It only took about 10 minutes for the field to shatter, and Jerome pulled clear a group of 5 that included both of us, Al Donahue, Pete Bell, and Pat Gougen. The group worked well together until we were in sight of lapping the field, and that's when the attacking started. I lapped first, followed by Al, but sat on until Jerome made it across as well. That pattern repeated itself until it was clear we weren't getting away alone, and it came down to a long, headwind field sprint. I took win number 6, with Jerome in second, for a TMK 1-2.

1. 293, Adam Myerson - Team Mountain Khakis pb SmartStop
2. 288, Jerome Townsend - Team Mountain Khakis pb SmartStop
3. 239, Patrick Goguen - Team CF
4. 237, Alec Donahue - NCC/Wheelhouse/JamFund
5. 283, Aaron Hubbell - NUVO Cultural Trail

Next up, the team’s first big test.

A very successful weekend for the entire team. The hard races will serve as the perfect final preparations for the teams first big test next weekend - The Sunny King Criterium in Anniston Alabama. This will be the first National Racing Calendar event for the team this year and will be a real opportunity to see where the team stacks up against the national level competition.

Team MK Visits Uptown Greenville Criterium for the 5th Year

The Team headed to Greenville, NC this weekend for the Bicycle Post, Uptown Greenville Criteriums. The team has made this race an annual tradition for the last 5 years. Winning 9 of the combined 10 races. It has always served as good opportunity for the guys to employ all the things they have worked on since coming together as a team. The sudden and unexpected brutal return of winter to the Southeast was not going to deter the guys as this year they were hoping to carry on the winning tradition. The guys rode a tactful and deliberate race not letting the rain and 50 degree temperatures deter them. Travis was able to take the solo victory in his hometown in front of his family and friends. Rumor has it he did not give much of a victory salute. We will work on that as he should have plenty of opportunities to perfect that this year.

On Sunday, although the rain had passed it was still a very cold 36 degrees. The guys bundled up and went about their business, once again sweeping the podium. Ben captured his 3rd victory of the year as the team netted it’s 3rd podium sweep.

Uptown Greenville Criteriums, Greenville, NC. March 26th and 27th

1 Travis Livermon Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop
2 Benjamin Zawacki Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop
3 Luke Keough Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop

1 Benjamin Zawacki Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop
2 Luke Keough Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop
3 Patrick Raines Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop
4 Travis Livermon Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop

Neil Bezdek heads to NYC for an unconventional race, takes 2nd in the Red Hook Crit

Neil took a short break from team racing this weekend to participate in the Red Hook Crit, an unconventional race on brakeless, fixed-gear bikes held on the dark streets of a post-industrial neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. Racing to raise awareness for Bikes to Rwanda, an organization that supplies cargo bikes to coffee growers in war-torn Rwanda, Neil joined a diverse field of 85 riders for 20 laps on a technical, crowd-lined circuit set against a backdrop of abandoned warehouses and the night-time city skyline. Neil, who hadn't ridden a track bike since December, forced an early selection of 4 riders and won primes for the mid-race sprint and fastest lap, but was forced into the outside barriers around the final 180-degree hairpin and could catch all but one of his breakaway companions in the brief dash to the finish.

As the winner of the race in 2009, participating in the event this weekend was a homecoming of sorts for the former bike messenger and resident of New York City. “Being here means a lot to me personally, and I'm grateful to ride for a team that keeps its riders' best interests in mind and gave me permission to take a weekend off,” Neil commented at a post-race press conference. “Still, team racing is my priority and I'm eager to return to my element with Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop at the Sunny King Criterium on April 9.”

Adam and Jerome compete at New England Classic.

Michael Schott Memorial Circuit Race is a staple of the New England early season and both Adam and Jerome were happy to be home to contest it. It was a really windy day on a fast course, and Jerome and Adam opted to let things play out. The course is on Marblehead Neck, so it's basically a loop around an island in the ocean and there is usually no cover from the wind. As an early move of about 6 riders went up the road, Adam and Jerome realized that they were heavily marked and every move they made attracted a lot of attention.

Eventually the break got over 2 minutes, and about 1/2 way through Jerome and Adam took turns attacking to try and get a second group clear, as the break started to come apart. Both riders each ended up off the front, but it was too little, too late, and they ended up 7th and 8th on the day.

According to Jerome it was a good test of his early season fitness. He has taken some time off after the end of his cyclocross season and he indicated that this race was a good sign his form was returning.

Michael Schott Memorial Circuit Race, Marblehead, MA. March 27th.

01      Joshua      LIPKA                   BCA/ Tosk Chiropractic                                 1:47:31.27

02      Aidan        CHARLES            HurleyMetalFab.com p/b CCNS                    1:47:31.38

03      Tobi           SCHULTZE          Team FUJI/Clif Bar                                        1:47:32.08

04      Ron           LAROSE III          HurleyMetalFab.com p/b CCNS                    1:48:09.52

05      Dylan        MCNICHOLAS     CCB RACING                                                1:48:47.12

06      Mark         MCCORMACK     Team FUJI/Clif Bar                                         1:48:47.44

07      Jerome    TOWNSEND        Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop       1:48:49.49

08      Adam       MYERSON          Team Mountain Khakis   p/b SmartStop     1:49:07.53

09      Ryan        SERBEL               HurleyMetalFab.com p/b CCNS                     1:49:08.15

10     Peter         VOLLERS            Killington Mtn School Cycling                         1:49:08.6

Mountain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe's: Ready For Redlands

Team Mountain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe's has had a relaxing week between stage races. San Dimas served its purpose as a leg and eye opener, and now it's time for the big show: the Redlands Stage Race.

Each year, Redlands serves as THE early season form barometer for the nation's best racers. This year, the course has been toughened compared to year's past.

The 5 kilometer opening uphill time trial remains the same, but the next day in Beaumont, has been bolstered significantly. The day now measures over 100 miles in length and picked up a new 800 foot vertical climb in the opening 34.5 mile circuit. Racers will now have a new fairly significant climb on their hands as well as the traditional climb on the Beaumont circuits, all spiced with the open windy expanses that characterize most of the course.

Stage 2's technical criterium in downtown Redlands will give last year's USA Crits top team, Mountain Khakis, and overall winner, Mark Hekman, a great opportunity to strut their stuff. Hekman netted a 6th place in last year's Redlands criterium and hopes to move higher in 2010.

As with everything Redlands, it all comes down to the final day though for those high up on the General Classification. The Sunset Loop stage is one for the climbers. The loop goes up for the first half and down for the second half. It's a simple premise that makes for extremely hard racing. The loop has been extended a little bit this year, which should further stiffen the task, as the extension adds a little bit more rolling road before the descent begins in earnest. This will of course tighten the screws that extra little bit.

Team Mountain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe's will be fielding the same roster as in San Dimas:

Matt Cooke
David Guttenplan
Mark Hekman
Will Hoffarth
Isaac Howe
Joey Rosskopf
Scott Tietzel

 

Also check out the feature piece on Mark Hekman on Cyclingnews.

 

*picture by Stephanie Shotz Bender, www.albrightshotz.com

 

Mountain Khakis f/b Jittery Joe's off and running in San Dimas

The opening weekend of racing for Team Mountain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe's did not yield much in the way of big results, but did provide a solid start with Redlands looming on Thursday. Many of the guys

Stage 1: Mountain Khakis sport director, Scott Moninger, said that a time under 14 minutes would be a good one, so Matt Cooke's 14:02 was solid, but still 1:08 adrift of Prologue and eventual overall winner, Ben Day (Fly V Australia). Mark Hekman followed a few seconds behind Cooke in 41st, 1:19 back.

Stage 2: The circuit race at San Dimas is anything but straightforward and simple. It's renowned for its speed, road furniture, hectic nature, and circuit defining climb near the end of each lap. Every year, the approximately one mile climb provides the selection to the 150+ rider field.

2010 was no different, with the axe coming down hard with 5 laps to go. The big teams hit it hard on the front and immediately, the field was whittled from 150 down to half that.

Mountain Khakis f/b Jittery Joe's managed to acquit themselves well in the end, but bad luck put paid to any chances Matt Cooke had with his solid overall placing after the first stage time trial. He flatted at a crucial moment and received a typical San Dimas fix: neutral service stopped, gave him a wheel, and drove away. With the field rocketing along at almost 30 miles per hour for most of the day, a flat meant done, and so it was for Matt Cooke. Hopefully he'll get some better luck this week in Redlands.

Mark Hekman was the top finisher on the day in 38th, 24 seconds back of stage winner, Rory Sutherland of United Healthcare.

Stage 3: The final day criterium was a straightforward affair for most of the day with Fly V Australia controlling the front of the race in defense of Ben Day's lead. Fly V's control did not continue into the crucial finale, however, so with no one at the helm at the front of the race, the final lap became a test of nerves. Mark Hekman did well to handle the swarming nature of the final lap, which saw him go from the front to 20 back repeatedly, to finish a notable 12th.

Director, Jason Snow, was satisfied with the team's effort:

"The guys in California are all really fit, and they've been racing for weeks, and even months at this point. This past weekend was Hekman's first race of the year. At the end of the weekend, we came out with some solid racing, along with the added positive that nobody crashed or got hurt. It was good. I was happy the way things went. Guys know what they're in for now. You think you're doing great, then you realize you're not where you need to be. That's normal, even expected with California: there are guys who base their whole season around these races, and then by mid-season they're not there anymore. We're a team moving up right now, so we're just looking to improve day by day here in California as we ready for rest of the season."

Up Next: Redlands!

Team Mountain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe's Opens Season At San Dimas

After a successful training camp in both Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Athens, Georgia, the team dispersed with seven riders making the trip to California for the final 'preseason' event in California before next weekend's NRC opening Redlands Stage Race. The team that will take part in this weekend's San Dimas Stage Race is made up of:

Matt Cooke
David Guttenplan
Mark Hekman
Will Hoffarth
Isaac Howe
Joey Rosskopf
Scott Tietzel

Toby Marzot was originally slated to join the other seven, but some lingering pain in his knee will keep him from making his much anticipated return to California in 2010.

 

The San Dimas Stage Race will begin this afternoon with a 3.7 mile uphill time trial up Glendora Mountain in the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains. The GC will take shape with this crucial time trial, but the next two stages have been known to allow for GC changes. Saturday's 12 lap, 84 mile circuit race is anything but simple on a fast, technical, nervous loop. Sunday's criterium is a more straightforward affair in downtown San Dimas.

Team Director, Scott Moninger, will not be with the boys this weekend, but he did have some very interesting notes for the riders. As a former winner of the time trial and the stage race overall, Moninger knows a little bit about what to expect in today's time trial. Moninger expects the winning time to be in the 12:45 to 13:15 range, but notes that the 13 minute mark has only been topped twice in the past 6 years. Any time under 14 minutes will be a solid effort, and Team Mountain Khakis f/b Jittery Joe's hopes to have a few in the top end of the standings after today's race.