Spooktacular in Tuscaloosa

The team ventured down to Tuscaloosa this week for the aptly named Spooktacular Cyclo-Cross Race. With Halloween less than 48 hours departed, the course was still in it's costume, and handing out plenty of tricks, and one big treat for the team. We were treated to a tombstone barrier crossing, plenty of ghosts and goblins, spider webs, the occasional body part, our first steep run up of the year, a wall crossing, and tight twisty single track. The tricking started early on during the warm up laps when Zach flatted and Mike G. destroyed a chain guide. They exercised there demons by the time the racing started, and both of them finished without incident. Zach rode an awesome race and brought home a well deserved 3rd place finish in the Juniors race. Mike G. fought off a stomach bug and dehydration to finish 11th in the men's CX 3/4.
The next race tested the team as a whole. Larry and Chris both started fast with Larry leading into the first set of barriers. As the field began to string out, signs of the tricks the course was playing became evident. Flat tires, and lots of them. Larry was bit on the rear tire, Chris had a rear tire go down only to double flat on the next to last lap, and Mike Herring not wanting to be left out had a front tire flat. The flats ravaged the field. Mike G. and Zach manned the pits for what seemed to be a constant stream of CCR riders coming in. Both scavenged parts off of there own bikes to get the team back into the race. Larry's perseverance paid off with an 11th place finish. Mike Herring brought home a 14th place finish, and Chris rounded it off in 17th.
CCR's treat for the day came in the women's CX4 race. After being teased for riding her mountain bike instead of her cross bike, Stacey promptly went out and destroyed the women's CX4 field and won. Stacey navigated the course without a problem and made her victory look easy.
The team will be back in Birmingham this week racing at Herdmont Park. Come on out and cheer us on.

Reports: Larry, Diesel

CCR Storms Prattville

We play with enthusiasm and recklessness. We aren't afraid to lose. If we win, great. But win or lose, it is the competition that gives us pleasure. -Joe Paterno

Team CCR saddled up this week and hit the road for the 70 mile ride south to Prattville, AL. For most of us, this was the first time we had ever been to Prattville. We had heard stories that the Prattville track was wicked fast, and she lived up to her reputation.

The Prattville course is built for speed. It is a perfect blend of long straight speed alley’s, tight technical turns, a technical decent through Kudzu and the climb out, and the sand pit. It is a course that made you trust your instincts, your ability, and your equipment in order to be successful.

As will be the case at every race this season, the C race kicked things off. Mike Garner and Zach Davis had the un-nerving task of setting the tone early for Team CCR. The key to the day’s success for both riders was staying out of trouble. Both missed the crash in the fourth turn, and spent the remainder of there race riding smart and protecting their position. Once again both captured lightning in a bottle with Zach finishing 4th in the Junior race, and the Diesel bringing it home in 6th in the Cat 4 race.

Team CCR then sent out their hammers. Larry Stanley, Chris Leven, Mike Herring, and Stacey Davis boarded the pain train for their 45 minute ride. For the men, they were racing against a stacked deck. There are several riders in the Cat 3 class that should be running higher up, but our boys never waivered. Stacey’s group was a 2 horse race. Stacey got behind early, never throwing in the towel and just destroyed 3rd on back. Exhausted and relieved, Larry brought home 10th, Chris brought home 15th, and Mike Herring followed it up with a solid top 20 effort. Stacey, smiling from ear to ear, finished in 2nd.

Another solid outing with 4 top 10's. Watch out T-Town. Here we come..........

Race Reports: Stacey, Diesel, Larry,

Enjoy some more pictures of our excursion southward.

Zach Davis cruises to victory at Dead Dog 8.

While most of us were laying around last weekend resting up from Avondale, our Junior rider Zach Davis, went and raced his mountain bike at Dead Dog 8. Zach riding on a newly updated course at the Trussville Sports Complex, annihilated his Junior class and cruised home to victory. Zach was so fast that even the camera man could not get his picture till he was on the podium. Congratulations to Zach for a well deserved and hard earned victory.

CycloCross Season Kicks Off at Avondale

The 2008 Alabama Cyclocross Series got under way Sunday at Avondale Park in Birmingham. The Avondale course according to most, is one of the most difficult in the series. It races around what used to be the Birmingham Zoo, and an amphitheater that hosted groups like the Allman Brothers in the 60's. The grueling course contained some very technical sections consisting of rocky decents, off camber turns, tight switch backs, cobble paths, and the stairs. The stairs are crazy hard. They are inconsistent from step to step and really test your mettle.



Team CCR sent 3 rookies and 3 veterans into the first race of the season. The first race of the day for CCR was the "C" race. This race was a combination of CAT 4/5 and Junior Classes, and also had all 3 of our rookies. After 30 mintues the dust settled and our 3 rookies were now veterans. Zach Davis brought home 3rd place in the Junior Class, Mike Garner brought home a 9th place in the 4/5, and Mike Herring battling through a list of mechanicals brought home a hard fought 17th in the 4/5 race. Stellar results from the rookies.



We then unleashed our veterans, who proceeded to build on the foundation laid by the rookies. The "B" race was made up of all the womens categories 1-5, and the mens Cat 3/4 race. After 45 minutes of mind blowing, soul searching pain, Stacey Davis brought home the best result of the day for CCR coming home 2nd in the Womens Cat 4 race. Larry Stanley followed up with a 9th place in the 3/4 and Chris Leven battling the mechanical gremlin that was in Mike Herrings bike finished 19th.



Four top 10's to kick off the last racing series of the season was an incredible effort. It is nice to have a little momentum going into the Prattville race.

Race Reports: Larry, Stacey, Chris, Diesel

"The Piranha" Strikes

Our very own Brad Fish won the Sprott TT (Alabama State Championship) on Sunday. Details to come!

Bump N Grind 2008- Justin

Bump N Grind has passed and blessed us with some good results:

1st- Stacey Davis- Sport Women 40-99
2nd- Larry Stanley- Sport Men 40-44
4th - Zach Davis- Sport Junior 18 & under
7th- Mike Herring- Sport 45-49
10th- Justin Poland- Sport 25-29
14th- Josh Powell- Sport 25-29

This year's race, on one the finest courses in the southeast, was very successful with over 500 riders in uniform. Weather was a bit humid with a high of 88. There was only one report of a dislocated shoulder but other than that, just scrapes and bruises.



Many Pro teams showed for the event: Trek/VW, Gary Fisher 29'er crew, Kenda/Titus/Hayes, Luna Chix and Sobe-Cannondale. Shonny Vanlandingham took the top spot for the Pro Women and Ryan Woodall took the top spot for the Pro Men. Unbelieveably fast riders! Jason Sagar was rumored to be making an appearance but DNS.



All age group races seemed to be larger than last year, making the single track parts harder to pass. So many riders at once really loosens the turns and crashes provide the entertainment. Flat tires were the plague this year, much more than last.



Thanks to BUMP and all the volunteers for the privilege of riding on this amazing course because of the work that they put forth and we look forward to next year's event.



Check out the results, photos and race reports. Thanks for reading!



Reports: Justin and Larry
Results
Photos

Cheaha Challenge- Mike Garner

Team CCR sent 10 riders for the teams first ever assault on the Cheaha Challenge, "The toughest ride in the South". The ride boasts cumulative climbing of over 7400 feet for the century riders, but still leaves plenty on the table for the riders who choose the shorter routes. The climb up Cheaha was rated in the top 100 climbs by Bicycling Magazine.



The bad weather that washed our race day out on Saturday, left us clear blue skies and cooler less humid temperatures. Our assault began at 7:30, along with several hundred other riders. The first 22 miles are a dream, pancake flat, with a few rollers. It is very easy to get caught up in the moment and hammer the first 22 miles, but you have to keep reminding yourself that there is a long way to go and a lot of climbing to get there. Read More>>