RJ Rockers Beer of the Month - Star Spangled Stout

RJ Rockers Brewing Comany, located in Spartanburg, SC, is one of Gloablbike’s greatest supporters. They believe in the mission of Globalbike and make a darn fine brew as well. Their Beer of the Month for March is the Start Spangled Stout.

Rather than give you the usual sales pitch, we thought we’d share a review posted on beer advocate from a beer lover who goes by the name “anexetastos”…

This is a picture-perfect dry stout. I am exceedingly impressed.

Appearance: beautifully black, opaque except under direct back-light. The head is a pleasant mocha color.

Aroma: coffee-like roasted aroma dominates, with no hops in the nose. There is a faint ester lingering back there in the background, but I can’t place it exactly. Possibly iso-amyl acetate, but whatever it is, it’s at a very low concentration and melds nicely with the roasted aromatics.

Flavor: complex. roasted flavors are up front, matched equally with chocolate. no hoppy distractions. there is no diacetyl, but there is a curious lingering flavor that follows the chocolate — blueberries? very, very subtle, but very nice. i think i’ll have another sip.

mouthfeel: creamy, full-bodied. carbonation level is just right. medium gravity for the style. not much astringency from the roasted grains. overall very pleasant.

drinkability: the dry stout is among my favorite styles when produced properly (but alas, remains behind the Belgian abdij and its ilk), and this one is definitely produced properly! excellent work. find it and drink it!

Well said, anexetastos!  We couldn’t agree more!

Josh Whitmore – Globalbike Management

80 New Globalbike Deliveries in Rwanda

As the main marketing effort of the organization, the mission of Team Globalbike  is to introduce and foster the globalbike cause to a target market – cyclists. So far, the team has done very well at accomplishing this mission, helping the organization double its operating budget and expand into three new countries.

Here, the  newest project  in Rwanda receives a batch of 80 Globalbikes.  The bicycles go to Rwandan Partners to allow “Reconciliation Ambassadors” to travel from village to village to actively assist in the process of healing the societal and personal wounds caused by the genocide in Rwanda.  These bicycles will make it possible for the Ambassadors to travel much more efficiently and quickly to perform this difficult and critical task.

Knowing that the team’s success will bring more awareness to the organization and ultimately more bikes to people in need, we have that little extra motivation to train well and race hard.

Rwandan Reconciliation Ambasadors Receive the bikes

These bikes make big differences in these workers lives!

Steve Sperry covers the early break

The same plan worked for Sunday. Director Sportif Steve Sperry even jumped into the P/1/2 race after racing the masters race earlier in the day. Here, Steve covers the first break of the day that went from the gun and lasted for about 15min of the 60min race.

Ben Miller in the winning break

Globalbike’s Ben Miller ended up in the winning break for the second day in a row. This group of three eventually gained a 1/2 lap advantage on the field. More of a climber, no one has ever accused Ben of being a sprinter. He ended up 3rd on the day.

With the break firmly away, it was time to practice getting together a good leadout train for the field sprint.  The photo here is of the team amassing near the front and starting to organize. We ended up getting to the front a little too soon with a few laps to go, then had to slow down a little to allow others to come around for a while. We got it back together and on the front with 1 lap to go and controlled the sprint till 200m. Boyd was the designated sprinter, finished 7th getting passed by a few fast surging sprinters to the line.

Photos by Eddie Helton and Curt McPhail

Josh Whitmore

Ben Gabardi wins the race with Globalbike's Ben Miller in 3rd.

The Globalbike leadout starting to form at the front

It is hard to believe, but the traditional start of the road race season is upon us with the first weekend of racing at the Greenville Spring Series. It never ceases to amaze me how good the turnout is for these early season races and how tough the P/1/2 field is. The team had a successful weekend, placing 3 people in the winning 9 man break on Saturday, and putting Ben Miller into the winning 3 man break on Sunday.

Pre-race meeting

The first step to team success is to make a plan. Here, Director Sportif Steve Sperry, brings the team together to talk strategy for the BMW Performance Center Race. The plan for both days – Follow our way into breaks, make sure we have someone in every move, and line up a good leadout train for the finish.

Ben Miller, Josh Whitmore, and Spencer Beamer make the winning break

Day 1 – Donaldson Center. Plan worked. Globalbike had 3 in the winning break of 9. We all contributed to driving this group, eventually building up a maximum 5min advantage of the group.

Josh Whitmore Finishes 6th

I was the highest finish in 6th. Spencer did a lions share of the work in the break and eventually went back to the group, leaving Ben and I to figure out how to manage the finish against 2 Team Type 1 guys, Chris Butler of BMC, Andy Baker, and Matt Howe. When the attacks started coming, Ben covered as many as he could, then I followed as many as I could, eventually getting dropped by the others with 2k to go. So, Josh=6th, Ben=8th.

Coming in for the field sprint, David Forkner lined up a good leadout for Boyd Johnson who took 10th overall.

Photos by Eddie Helton and Curt McPhail

Josh Whitmore

Boyd got in the first race miles on the Team Globalbike Edition Road Frame this weekend. On Sunday, he rocked the 88mm(rear) and 60mm(front) carbon clincher wheels. The rest of the team will be on Boyd Bikes in March.

Josh got to try out the Boyd Wheels in the 58mm Tubular variety – seen here with the Team Globalbike Custom logos. He liked them so much, he just had to give them a little ‘pat’ to say thanks.

Hawk Racing, the official Bottom Bracket Supplier of Team Globalbike, wants to extend a 10% discount to EVERYONE. In order to get the discount, you have to know the secret password. Well actually its not so secret, all you have to do to get it is go to our website and find it here.

Same performance benefits as Ceramic but a fraction of the cost!

The Team will be riding the Globalbike Green edition, but you can pick from a variety of colors. The bearings are the same quality and performance as Ceramic, but at a fraction of the cost. You can FEEL the difference with these bottom brackets, they are very smooth and resistance free!

Hawk Racing also makes some fantastic Carbon wheels. From 50mm-85mm, these are the ticket when you have the need for speed.

Globalbike Management

Just got word that the Upstate Winter Bike League will start a little late on Feb 6th. The ride will begin at 11am at the NEW Carolina Triathlon shop, just up the street from the old one. “A” group will do 4 hours with 3 sprint zones. “B” will do 63mile option.

http://cyclecarolina.com/dotnetnuke/UWBL/tabid/63/Default.aspx

Big Thanks to Globalbike Director Sportif – Steve Sperry and everyone else that volunteers time and resources for organizing this once again this winter!

Josh Whitmore
Globalbike Team Manager