Marc Pro - Strava

Nearly a year after the pump track’s grand opening, the Truckee Bike Park Project (TBPP) unveiled even grander plans for areas along the west side of Riverview Sports Park, and plans to break ground on a new jump zone this summer.  The all-volunteer group, consisting of  Mark Featherstone, Aaron Sturm, Cortney Knudson & Brooks McMullin, hosted the fourth fundraising event on April 30 at the Cottonwood Restaurant and Bar in Truckee, CA.  TBPP stylishly raised over seven thousand dollars for the cause, while Cottonwood also broke records with 102 burgers sold that evening, clearly providing a memorable venue and fun times for everyone involved.

Like the first phase, this and each future phase will be solely supported by such fundraisers and private donations from avid park users and volunteers from all walks of life.  “Valuable local support is also granted by the likes of Title sponsor Clear Capital and grants from the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation, High Fives Foundation, Truckee Rotary, Tahoe Mountain Resort Foundation and continued support from Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District, and the Truckee Sanitary District”, said Mark Featherstone. For interested folks wanting to further engage and contribute, the Truckee Bike Park Project has a Facebook page where direct donations can be made and are always appreciated. Everyone involved to date has been directly responsible for contributing to the epicenter of Truckee's bike revolution.

More than just great music, food, and drink, this fundraiser was thick with conversation and anticipation for future phasing and detailed plans that were shared for all to see.  TBPP aims to bring all the greatest hits from well known trails such as ninja cougar, black velvet, unemployment line, big tree & simper dirticus to Truckee's Bike Park, providing progressive lines for everyone from beginner to advanced riders. With the help of qualified consultants, design plans have been prepared and submitted to Town Planning and Building Department for approval to begin construction of phase 2. “Aiming to ensure our success at the upcoming June 18th hearing, we've hired planning consultant Gavin Ball, Quality storm water prevention plan developer Greg Porter to facilitate all necessary LID & water quality standards” said Brooks McMullin.  Pending approvals, installation of temporary erosion control measures will immediately occur, which allows trail crews to commence in early July, 2013.

With the successful implementation of upcoming phase 2, estimated to take a month or so to complete, continued community support will most likely spread.  Future planning for phase 3 includes a dual slalom course, flow lines, and cross country trails. “Each summer, we'd like to introduce a new phase, and although we've been stoked with our crew of volunteers, loyal sponsors, and epic fundraisers, we’ll need your continued support”, said Featherstone.  Into the future, Phase 4 includes progressive drop zones, skinnies, and teeter totters, where Phase 5 aims to provide intermediate and expert jump zones, and of course, Phase 6 plans for epic slope-style flow trails for a well rounded, bike nirvana for all.  “As soon as we have funds, we will build it!” exclaims McMullin.

It's not the most exciting course in the world - 4 turns in an office park, dead flat. But it was a good "warm up" for Berkeley Hills, so some of us showed up to throw down. The Marc Pro - Strava squad for the day consisted of Justin Rossi, Keith Hillier, Chuck Hutcheson, Willie Myers, and Nate Freed.

We were active and aggressive putting 1, and usually 2 guys into every move that went up the road. Justin was away solo for a few laps early, but we were unable to get a guy across to him and he was eventually swallowed up. Keith, Willie, and Chuck were attacking or in the break more often than they were in the field.

With about 15 minutes left to go in the race, I managed to sneak into a move with Chuck, Michael Jacques from Clif, and Martin Acosta from Leopard Sapporo. We worked well together, and instantly built up a huge lead. With 9 to go, Chuck jumped to grab a preme, and attempted to hang on for the solo win. I sat on Jacques and Acosta and forced them to pull, but they were already spent. The gap between us and Chuck stayed consistent, but the field gained on us very quickly. With about 3 to go, our break was swallowed up. Chuck hung on for a little longer, but was caught as well.

It came down to a sprint finish, with Chuck grabbing 5th and Keith 7th. Justin's derailleur exploded and he had to drop out.

I couldn't find any actual race photos, but these are probably better any way:

Place: Cold Spring, NY

Date: Sunday, May 5, 2013

Distance: 79 miles

Climbing: 6,500 ft; Terrain: rolling, hilly rural roads

Entrants: 256 mass start, all age groups

Master men 55-59 category: 49 pre-registered/39 finishers

Teammates: Kevin Susco (2nd, 15th overall),  Kevin Keenan (5th, 26th overall)

Place: 1st, 14th overall

After agreeing that going to Italy to race in the world championships would be a fine idea, we needed to show up to this race as it was the only qualifier in North America.  The hilly route seemed to our liking and competition unknown except for 2 riders.  Our plan was simple enough: stay near front, don’t pull unless absolutely necessary, scope out others in our category and stay together as much as possible.

The event turned out to be a bit funky by being also run as a Grando Fondo in which about half the riders were there just for a day out on the bike and the other half biting at the bit to get qualified.  The mass start and the lack of assigning numbers to age category gave too much ambiguity for something to travel across the county for but it was the reality..  We lined up about �
� back and had a neutral start on the climb out of town with riding only on the right side of the road.  The hundred or so serious riders were crowded tight until the first hill at 5 miles at which time Scottie Weisz from Virginia takes off and gets a gap and no-one follows and essentially time trials the rest of the way for the win by over 5 minutes. Impressive to say the least!  The pack begins to stretch out on the subsequent hills which mostly turn out to be stair step affairs of differing lengths. On the third climb at about 20 miles a select group (which included these monster climbers from Canada and Susco) get a gap but is brought back by the 30 or so in the chase which now includes the two top women of the day (Amy Thornquist of Reno and Ali Jones of Laguna Beach).  Several steep rollers until the next significant climb at about mile 45 in which the group splits into three. Up until now the three MPS guys are relatively comfortable surfing the front of the pelaton, chatting, drinking, drafting, hangin’.   The screws get turned by the Toronto trio and the lead eight is followed by a group of six including Susco and then the rest of us. Significant efforts are made by Dan Martin of Safeway and several others to bring these groups back but it takes another minutes or so to regroup.  Keenan and I are comfortably or semi-comfortably hanging in with the chasers, happy not to be obliged to work.  The group ahead gets brought back but it takes a draft from a horse trailer to help bring back the leaders who didn’t look to me like they worked that hard.

We hit a flat area for a few miles from about mile 60 to 63 and several solo attacks go nowhere. Then onto the final climbing section over the next 7 miles of stair step ramps followed by a longer gradual climb of about 4 miles (4-5% grade).  The legs were starting feel the fatigue and hint of cramping but I found myself propelled off the front on a short roller and took a short lived dig up the final climb before the Torontos blew by and then the rest of the lead pack. I was able to hang on but the pack was now reduced down to about 25 with Keenan getting gapped a bit.  At the top at mile 71, I knew the climbing was done and was happy to see downhill the rest of the way.

Sketchiest, odd finish I can remember in a road race.  We were directed around town to the south end main drag and paraded on the left side of the street to the middle of town with traffic stopped on our right  then were directed to the right side at the main intersection of this little town to a downhill section then to a 180’ hairpin at the bottom and then back up a 400 meter finishing straight.  Not liking the looks of the line most took, I braked and went inside and ended up 4th wheel when the bike straightened out after the hairpin.  Afterward I  just went as hard as I could until the finish but got passed by a bunch to end up 14th overall. Martin won our field sprint, and looking back at the line saw Kevin right there behind.  Keenan was about a minute further back in a small group of three.

Hopeful and confident we placed well, we waited for results while eating pasta and chatting with everyone.  Mission accomplished!  Still strange that 3rd place was right behind Susco and I and that Keenan led out the guy in 4th.

Trentino here we come! but not until September after Natz.

Thanks for reading, enjoy the ride!

George

The Wente RR has a little bit of everything. Rolling hills, fast descents, and flat sections that can challenge riders with crosswind. To top it off, the best riders go home with quality t-shirts and booze. Whats not to like?

We had a strong contingent of MPS riders representing. Unfortunately, we didnt set out with a concrete plan on how we were to win the race and I think this was to our detriment. The first time up the climb a 15 man group broke off the front. I was the only MPS rider in there. It was a mix of lots of teams, only mike bikes had two riders.

I did what I usually do which is pull too much. With strong numbers back in the field I should have realized that my best play was to pull as little as possible and hope that teammates would bridge up. Lesson learned.

The break ended up staying away despite people sitting on and messing up the rotation. Tyler Brandt crushed the climb and took the win. I could only hold on for a respectable fifth place, which was good enough for gas money, wine and a T-shirt. We are looking forward to working more cohesively as a team this weekend at the Cats Hill Classic.

Breaking ground on the jump park this summer, nearly a year after the pump track’s grand opening, the Truckee Bike Park Project plans to build additional flow lines, a cross country loop and a progression park in the immediate and near future.  The all-volunteer group, inspired by volunteers Mark Featherstone and Brooks McMullin, is hosting the fourth fundraising party this evening, April 30, at the Cottonwood Restaurant and Bar in Truckee, CA.

Like the first phase, phase II, will be largely supported by these fundraisers, avid park users and volunteers from all walks of life.  Valuable local support is also granted by the likes of Title sponsor Clear Capital and grants from the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation, High Fives Foundation, and continued support from Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District, the Truckee Sanitary District.

Always a fun time and a great way to kick off the season, come out and join us for the party, where all raffle proceeds go directly to the Truckee Bike Park Project, and where Cottonwood donates an additional 15 percent of all food sales to the epicenter of Truckee's bike revolution.