It took us 19 hours of travel via plane, but we finally made it to Copenhagen.

We are now at the airport awaiting the arrival of my folks and then we will proceed to burn the city down.

Three full days in Copenhagen.

One day in Granna, Sweden.

Three full days in Stockholm.

Six full days in Berlin.

Should be a fun time.

Off to Europe with my better half and family.

Couldn’t be more stoked.

Hope to update these pages from Copenhagen, Stockholm and Berlin.

Then again, I might be a little too busy rocking out!

Another week of racing.

Another 65 participants!

My team is killing it.

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Normalcy Returns as Woodall Cleans House

Another week of racing action is in the books as the Summer Mountain Bike Series p/b Syzygy Graphics held its fifth week of racing at the Rock Trails in Gainesville, FL. Ryan Woodall (Top Gear Ocala) returned to Florida after missing last week to travel to Missoula, MT where he put in a top performance against the nations best mountain bikers.

Woodall led from the gun taking his fourth Alcove Bar HoleShot in as many tries and taking the top step on the podium by 40 seconds over Chris Janiszewski (Hammer). This was just the second week of racing for Janiszewski who just recently came back from knee surgery. Rounding out the podium were series regulars Clint Gibbs (Bike Works), Chris Billowich (Super Cool) and Cabe Crissler (Super Cool). At just over 21 racers in the advanced race the lap times were consistent and the finishing times were on par with previous weeks.

(Woodall gets his practice on for the Alcove)

With last week’s race winner, Mark Singleton, taking the leap to race in the Advanced field, the Beginner race was assured another new winner for the fifth consecutive week. Taking the top spot this week was series rookie, Leif Stringer. Stringer came through at the bell in third place to the likes of John Ballard (Top Gear) and Matthew Hina. Yet, at the end Stringer had a minute on Ballard, and another additional 40 seconds on Hina. It was another week of furious racing and Stringer’s time of 53 minutes is on par with previous winning times.

(Bilowich, Juice-ba-looski, Woodall, Gibbs, Crissler)

The Women’s race featured five racers and once again Sue-Anne Hopkins took the win and will be able to cash in her Top Gear Bicycles gift certificates on her next trip to Ocala. Hopkins took the win by four minutes over Kelly Rooney and Sari Sanborn (Bike Works).

Finally, the highlight of many individuals, that has yet gone unmentioned in these pages, is the fabulous kid’s race organized by trail steward, Clint Gibbs, and his band of volunteers. For the fifth straight week over 20 kids took to the start line to race on a specially designed kids course in age and gender divided categories. With kid’s racing for free many parents have made the Summer Mountain Bike Series a regular event on their Wednesday night routine.

The Summer Mountain Bike Series p/b Syzygy Graphics continues next Wednesday night at the Rock Trails at 6:00pm. The series is promoted by 352 Racing, which is based out of the Bikes and More Bicycle Shop at 2133 NW 6th Street in Gainesville, Florida. Local Gainesville business sponsors of the race series include Syzygy Graphics, Alcove Bar, Gator Cycle, Top Gear Bicycles of Ocala, and Ryan Saylor Realty.

Last week was the fourth edition of the mountain bike series that my team is promoting here in Gainesville. The series is modeled after the legendary Penn Cycles Thursday Night Series in Bloomington, Minnesota. With a $10 entry fee (includes free joke) the series is gaining quite the following in the area. 139 different riders have tried racing and over 95 of these racers have come to two or more races during the series!

I was a tad nervous going into last week as we had a two week break due to Tropical Storm Debby and the 4th of July holiday, but we actually had our highest turnout yet. I am amazed on a weekly basis on how well this little series is doing. Not too bad for an idea written up on the back of a cocktail napkin at a secret team meeting.

Why is the series successful? Here is what we have come up with:

• $10. It is the perfect cost of entry. Enough for people to take serious, but not too much to break the bank.
• Expectations. It is a little difficult at first not to over-extend yourself or your product, but it is necessary to remind people that a $10 race is a $10 race. This is not your weekend $40 race with full prizes, computerized results and multiple-wave starts.
• Value. We have been giving people $10 worth of value.
• Smiles. Every single person that has come to our races have been treated with the respect they deserve. They are taking their time to come race with us. Doesn’t matter if you are a pro racer, or a brand new mountain bike rider. You are welcome at the Summer Mountain Bike Series p/b Syzygy Graphics.
• Course. The Rock Trails are a sweet 5.5 mile loop that is privately maintained, but open to the public. It is the perfect partnership and a great way to get people active and healthy.
• Times. Providing the times for racers is much more important than the placing. It allows racers to track their results and keep track of their progress during the season.
• Fair and Fun. The field is divided up into two categories. Advanced and Beginner. If you win the beginner you race the advanced the following week. Keeps new people battling for the podium. Of the 12 spots on the Beginner podium so far this year we have had 10 different people.
• Teamwork. The 352 Racing team has been doing a heck of a job in getting this thing together. Lots of volunteers and everyone is getting the chance to race. You can’t promote a good event without a bunch of quality volunteers.
• Prize list. We keep the prize list modest and expected with a $10 entry. Sponsors have been generous in their prizes, and it allows us to meet racers’ expectations.

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Dewey Spoils the Party: Takes Week Four of the Summer Mountain Bike Series

After a two week break due to tropical storm Debby and the 4th of July holiday, the Summer Mountain Bike Series p/b Syzygy Graphics came roaring back to life with 65 racers, fueled by a record beginner field of 43 participants.

The 65 riders at the start eagerly await the joke.

The recent rains brought havoc to the Rock Trails but hardworking volunteers put in a few dozen hours over the last few weeks to get the course in perfect shape for racing on a hot and muggy night in Gainesville. Highlights of the trail work include a new lime rock base in the sinkhole section of the advanced loop. This addition will help ensure durability and long-term protection against unwanted erosion. The late arriving rain on race day provided a nice tacky trail and a few slippery roots early on, but the racing was as tight as it’s ever been in all fields.

Advanced Race Podium (L-R): Bilowich, Woodall, Dewey, Gibbs, Lintz.

With previous winners Victor Alber (Super Cool Bike Shop) and Ryan Woodall (Top Gear Bicycles) absent from the start line, the advanced race promised to be competitive as week 2 winner, Clint Gibbs (Bike Works), and multi-time podium finisher, Fred Lintz (Gator Cycle), squared off with Chris Bilowich (Bike Works) and Regan Woodall (Top Gear Bicycles). Little did they know that Darren Dewey (Top Gear Bicycles) planned on throwing a wrench in their plans. The Alcove HoleShot went to Cabe Crissler (Super Cool Bike Shop), who became the first racer to win the prize after three weeks of domination by the senior Woodall. That didn’t mean he didn’t have to work for it against the younger Woodall, who gave it his all to defend the family name despite a second row start.

While Crissler led into the woods, it wasn’t long before Woodall found himself in the lead. After the first lap, Woodall had a scant 20 second lead on the first chase group comprised of Gibbs, Dewey and Bilowich with a second chase consisting of Lintz, Rick Bunning (352 Racing p/b Bikes and More) and Crissler an additional 30 seconds back. During the second lap, Dewey made his move and dropped Gibbs and went on a solo pursuit of Woodall. On the bell lap, Woodall still had the lead, but Dewey was closing fast and Gibbs and Bilowich were pursuing relentlessly. When the dust settled, Dewey took the win by 5 seconds over Gibbs. Woodall, followed closely by Bilowich and Lintz, rounded out the podium

Alcove HoleShot Winner: Cabe Crissler

The beginner field was stacked with many new faces and, like in previous weeks, we saw a new winner as Mark Singleton took home the top prize with a two-lap time of 53:20. This was the second week of racing for Singleton who finished in fifth place at the previous race. Unlike previous weeks, where the beginner field winner has won from the wire, Singleton took a different approach. He came across the line on the bell lap in third place, 30 seconds down on his podium neighbors, Jason Quick and Keith Hill. Quick did all he could to hold on to Singleton’s wheel when the pass was made during the final lap, but could only muster a finish 20 seconds after Singleton. Hill was close behind for third place. This was the first time on the podium for Quick and Hill, both of whom have raced three times at the Summer Mountain Bike Series p/b Syzygy Graphics this season.

Beginner Race Podium (L-R): Hill, Singleton, Quick

Six women lined up for the Top Gear Bicycles Women’s Race. Sue-Ann Hopkins took the win by five minutes over Kelly Rooney and Sari Sanborn. This was Hopkins third race in the series and her second win. She has consistently been inside or near the top ten in the mixed field. This week marked the first time Rooney has lined up and her individual lap times improved drastically in her first night of racing. If she keeps this up the top end of the women’s field will surely tighten up. For the second time this year we had a woman step-up to the advanced race. Dana Summers performed admirably against her male counterparts earning a coveted free entry for her next time out at the races.

Women Beginner Podium (L-R): Rooney, Hopkins, Sanborn

The Summer Mountain Bike Series p/b Syzygy Graphics continues next Wednesday night at the Rock Trails at 6:00pm. The series is promoted by 352 Racing, which is based out of the Bikes and More Bicycle Shop at 2133 NW 6th Street in Gainesville, Florida. Local Gainesville business sponsors of the race series include Syzygy Graphics, Alcove Bar, Gator Cycle, Top Gear Bicycles of Ocala, and Ryan Saylor Realty.

I turned 31 on Sunday.

It is hard to believe, but when I look back at it things are going pretty darn well right now:

• Known my better half for 9years and been married for 4.
• Pretty awesome family around the country.
• Have a professional sounding job title.
• Living in sunny Florida in a decent apartment with two crazy cats and a bad-ass three legged dog, Otis.
• Can still ride bikes.

So, yeah, things are going well right now. The only thing that could make it better is traveling to Europe in a couple of weeks!

Sarah and I went to Miami for a weekend of fun, family, and adventure.

I even got to try out my new seersucker suit.

Thanks go out to the Little Guy for the inspiration.

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We went to the new Miami Marlins stadium. It is pretty darn epic. Lots of taxpayer money went into that thing, but holy crap is it awesome. If I lived in Miami I would make it to quite a few games.

Here is a picture of their giant new sculpture in center field that goes crazy when a homerun is hit:

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One of my favorite things about the trip to Miami has to be the monorail. I have blogged about them a ton before, but boom, I finally got to go on one! Super awesome, and it was free. What a great way to see a little bit of the city.

A few weeks back we had our third mountain bike race. It was a good race with our highest total of racers to attend. So far we have had 113 different racers attend and 76 of those are on a one-day licence. I am thrilled with this turnout.

Sadly, we had to cancel the race on June 27th because of the remnants of Tropical Storm Debbie. The course got soaked in the rain and riding on the trails would have ruined the course. It was a smart move to cancel. A few people still showed up to ride, but they were aware that the race was canceled. I find this a tad disturbing as in Minnesota it is relatively understood that riding on wet trails can bring about tremendous damage. That doesn’t seem to be the case here.

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The past few blogs have focused on the Mountain Bike Series and have gotten a few comments from an old friend of mine, Bob Schwartz. He is one of the promoters behind the Durand Road Race. He has mentioned a few concerns he has had with working with USA Cycling in his comments. I encourage you to go back and look at what he has to say and see if you agree.

What I do know is that I will be paying roughly $1000 in USA Cycling fees for insurance and $50 for permitting to have this a sanctioned event. I have found working with USA Cycling to be extremely easy, especially considering our hasty attempt to reschedule for a rain cancelled event, and I do not believe that having this race as a non-USAC event would be anywhere close to as beneficial. In short, while we are paying $1000 for the right to have a USA Cycling branded event, we are getting a USA Cycling event which seems to carry weight down here in Florida.

If we were not paying the $1000 to USA Cycling would we still get the 100+ riders to make up for the loss designation/sanctioning? I do not think we would.

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Summer Mountain Bike Series Week 3

In what quickly is becoming a tradition at the Summer Mountain Bike Series presented by Syzygy Graphics, Ryan Woodall (TopGear Cycles) took the Alcove Bar HoleShot for the third consecutive week ahead of 28 other racers including hard charging, week one winner, Victor Alber (Super Cool Bike Shop). Unlike past weeks when he was confronted with lack of fitness or a strong finishing kick, Woodall was able to put on a dominating performance and take the win by nearly four minutes over podium regular, Fred Lintz (Gator Cycle) and five minutes over week two winner, Clint Gibbs (Bike Works).

The first lap in the advanced race seemed to be playing out like the initial weeks of the series, but a poorly timed mechanical ruined Alber’s chances for a victory. Joining Alber on the sidelines early in the first lap was week one third place finisher, Chris Borgert (Super Cool Bike Shop). These early retirements meant there would be new faces on the podium this week and Chris Bilowich (Bike Works) and Cabe Crissler (Super Cool Bike Shop) took advantage and landed in the prize money.

(Advanced Podium: Bilowich, Gibbs, Woodall, Lintz, Crissler. Photo: Keith Richards.)

The Beginner Class had a record 36 racers line up at the start with week two winner, Travis Sink, moving up to the Advanced class, the field was destined to have a new winner for the third consecutive week. Racing newcomer, Dustin Rivas, took the win by almost two minutes over 13 year old, Troy Davis (Gator Cycle). Rivas turned out an impressive 51 minute race time in his first ever race and promises to be a force in the Advanced class in the coming weeks. Davis, on the other hand, promises to come out for more weeks of racing action and has his young eyes set on the top step of the podium. Gaining third place in the Beginner class was series regular, Matthew Hina.

(Beginner Podium: Hina, Rivas, Davis. Photo: Keith Richards.)

A field of six women lined up with the men for two laps of racing action and a tight battle developed between Sari Sanborn (Bike Works) and series newcomer, Pauline Hazan. Sanborn eventually bested Hazan by 30 seconds with Sarah Whitehurst two minutes behind rounding out the podium.

The third week of racing at the Rock Trails in Gainesville, featured a record attendance of 65 total racers and 25 new faces. Over 110 different racers have experienced the fun over the past three weeks.

The Summer Mountain Bike Series presented by Syzygy Graphics continues next Wednesday night at the Rock Trails at 6:00pm. The series is promoted by 352 Racing which is based out of the Bikes and More Bicycle Shop at 2133 NW 6th Street in Gainesville, Florida. Local Gainesville business sponsors of the race series are Syzygy Graphics, Alcove Bar, Gator Cycle, and Ryan Saylor Realty.

For more information visit: www.summermountainbikeseries.com