The news about the Beyond Sport Award is getting out. Read about it on cyclingnews.com

Now that we are back in Boone and I have had the luxury of driving less than 2 hours for some quality racing while in Indiana, I still am looking for that podium finish. I came close in Tour de Burg, coming in at 6th with some strong competition from Texas Roadhouse, Panther and Kenda. I decided to make another short drive over to Reidsville, NC for the 1st annual Tour of Reidsville Crit. The field was about 25 but had regional strong guys, like Charlie Brown, Rich Harper, Jon Hamblen. The race was still fast and there were plenty of attacking for some good training. 2 guys go off the front and soon Hamblen got off to chase. The field kept all three in check and soon the gap started to come down. We get the gap back to under 10 seconds and I peel off,  after helping keeping it close. Charlie attacks goes to the move, just at Hamblen was making contact as well. In one lap the gap goes back out to 20 seconds and with all the teams with good representation in the move, it turns out to be the move. I got boxed in and tried to bridge shortly after but just can not quite make it. I go back and sit and try and few more times to get up the road at least. I am marked every time by one team or another. Then one of the break guys comes back which should have made said team to chase, nope, they like everyone else but Rich Harper were content on riding wheels and waiting for the sprint. The break eventual laps us, and we ride around for a few more laps. I and Harper attack a few more times, but again the jump and sit guys are on us. With about 4 laps to go, Harper finally gets a small gap, I think for sure the J&S crew will bring them back, nope and he rides off with another guy. I jump with 2 laps to go, and hold it for 6th. Not bad but still no podium.

Rick raced earlier and won the 45+ and was 3rd in 35 combo

I would highly recommend this event for anyone next year, the people were extremely hospitable and the course was very good as well!

Look for a big Team GB p/b Catoma effort coming up at Crossroads.

Here is the Press Release:

Greenville, SC (July 13th, 2009) An American cycling team – globalbike (presented by Catoma Outdoor Adventure Shelters) – was awarded the “Best Project by a Professional Sports Team” at the Beyond Sport Summit held in London, England July 7-9, 2009, celebrating the world’s best sport-led social innovation projects. The team was selected for their role in promoting the non-profit organization – globalbike, which supplies bicycles in developing countries to enable care workers to address some of the world’s most challenging problems like inadequate health care, poverty, poor sanitation, and lack of education

Among three finalists present at the summit, the internationally prestigious award was presented to globalbike by Doug Ulman, Chair of Lance Armstrong Foundation. The summit included leadership development training for individuals and organizations, as well as opportunities to meet high-profile people involved in sports and government. Panel discussions with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir Richard Branson and Tony Blair took place at the summit.

Kelly Lowry of globalbike accepts the award from Doug Ulman, Chair of the Lance Armstrong Foundation

“This is very exciting for globalbike. We are delighted to win the award considering the competition we were up against. The other projects were excellent and I commend them for their work,” said Kelly Lowry, globalbike board member, who accepted the award.

The award recognizes the team’s contribution to connecting cycling enthusiasts in the United States to people and places in the developing world where bicycles are a sustainable and reliable form of transportation that can vastly improve quality of life. Prior to collaborating with the cycling team, globalbike was a small grassroots organization that primarily relied on word of mouth marketing.

“The impact of the team on our organization has been huge. What better way to connect with people that have a passion for bicycles than through a cycling team?” says Curt McPhail, globalbike bike board chair.

Financial contributions generated from the team have helped globalbike expand from working in two countries – Zambia and Ethiopia, to now providing globalbikes in four countries with Tanzania and Bolivia added this year.

“The connection to globalbike the organization has really been a key to our success as a team this year,” according to Josh Whitmore, Co-Manager of the team. “If we achieve a high level of success in races, we are also able to achieve a high profile for globalbike among the cycling and active-lifestyle community. Our missions go hand in hand and provide the riders with a little extra motivation knowing that their success can also benefit others.”

The globalbike expo booth in action

In addition to carrying the title “globalbike” as it competes in national level road events, the team also travels with an expo-style booth dedicated to educating people about the globalbike project and raising money directly through sales of donated items such as coffee, water bottles, and t-shirts.

Overall, the team and the organization hope to continue to grow in the future.

“I think we’re really ready to go big with this project,” says McPhail. “Its really a win-win for all involved. Globalbike gets to increase our impact in helping solve some of the worlds most challenging issues with a simple solution – the bicycle. The team gets to race and help educate people about our mission, and the sponsors get to support a worthwhile project while receiving the marketing benefits of the team.”

More information is available at:
www.globalbike.org
www.teamglobalbike.org
www.beyondsport.org

Ok not as cool as Buzz Lightyear but on the move none the less. It has been a while since the not so eventful Masters Nats RR and thought I would get back to what I do best C R I T S!

Ft Wayne Parkview Cycling Festival
Headed just up the road from Mel’s parents house to Ft Wayne, IN or Hooterville as it is common referred to here. There was a new race there this year and the venue and city were both top notch. I jumped in the Masters race to get in a good warm up for the P1/2 $2500 a few hours later. Unfortunately, I initiated a move in the 3rd lap of an hour crit that stuck and I ended up lapping the field with a guy that can roll a 52 40K TT. OUCH. He was from Ft Wayne so I offered up the win which he gladly accepted in front of the home crowd. Tried to recover for the big race but just did not have legs after the 50 min TT effort. There were 2 teams that made up half the 40 man field and after numerous attacks 3 guys got away. Tried to bridge several time but always had 3-4 guys from said teams glued to my wheel. That’s racing. After some CRAZY riding by a few guys a near wreck and chasing hard in the last 3 laps..I came in for a very disappointing 18th.
Results: 2nd Masters/18th P1/2

http://www.truesport.com/rzone/racereports/report.asp?recid=1271

Champaign, IL Tour of Champaign
Headed over Sunday to a $3K race and decided to forgo the Masters race and just concentrate on the P1/2s. Another great venue and race. The Pre-Reg only had 19 guys registered BUT when I got there and looked at the results from the day before it read: 6 Roadhouse guys, 5 Panther guys, and 6 Nuvo guy not to mention Huff and Mead from Jelly Belly showing. In total 60 guys lined up and my thoughts of easy money soon disappeared. The race was easy to sit in but hard to get away. I was in a move of 5 for about 7 laps that was brought back. Sure enough the counter with only 3 went away and stuck. Everyone including yours truly was then content on marking the JB guys moves. Then 2 more ride off. Again everyone looks at JB to bring it back. This continues until the final laps and all 5 stay away. I start fighting for the TXRhouse sprinters wheel with about 2 to go. Get pushed to curb that I bunny hop to stay upright and then about get taken out again in the sprint. I came through for another disappointing 17th.

http://www.truesport.com/rzone/racereports/report.asp?recid=1277.

I stayed in the a delightful establishment in Champaign called the Lincoln Lodge. I think Abe actually lived though do not know if the pool was there in his day or maybe is was from the looks of it. There were also some very interesting inhabitants that were there permanently. The Conti breakfast was one loaf of white bread and a toaster that smelled of feet. Jimbo would have not eaten there.

Richton, IL Superweek

OK back to racing

I elected to the Masters 30+ race in order to get back to IN at a resonable time. Lined up with 20 guys, yes 20 in a superweek race?????? There were some strong guys but felt good about my chances for a win. About 3 laps in I countered an early move and got a big gap that I held for about 6 laps. When I did get caught, there was counter and I had to jumped again. Rolled with 4 guys, though one guy was not pulling at all and eventually from the other 3 trying ride him off the back, 2 more guys came up. The 6 of us eventually lapped the remaining 14???? LOL and going into the last lap one strong guy jumped and I was 2nd wheel, thinking this is it I am going to get my W. Waited to LONG to sprint as there was a head wind and 2 guys went by me as I was jumping…UGGHHH! Though the one guy that should have clearly won the race sat up right before the line and got pimped by the other guy..so I guess it could have been worse.

Good luck to GB p/b Catoma at French Broad.