Whole Athlete
Cycling Team
When
the Whole Athlete Cycling Team was formed last fall, our ambitions
were modest. We wanted to provide a place for junior and U23
to grow and a platform for established racers to take their
riding to the next level. Over the winter we’ve lined
up our new uniforms, set up our new Cannondales, and gotten
a chance to know each other through weekly rides and a successful
training camp. Now we’re rolling into the race season
and the long months of hard work are already paying off. With
just a few weekends of the 2008 season under our belts, the
Whole Athlete Cycling Team has two big wins, two top 10’s,
and a successful upgrade to Cat 2! |
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Rider
Profile: Will Curtis
Fifteen
year old Will Curtis is one of the youngest members of the
Whole Athlete Cycling Team and he already has the distinction
of grabbing our first off-road win. Executed in fine style,
Will dropped his field at the CCCX mountain bike race, winning
the junior class by over a minute. A sophomore at San Rafael
High School, Will learned of Whole Athlete through our volunteer
work with the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League and
decided joining the team would be an ideal step in the direction
of his dreams. Here’s a quick Q&A with one of Northern
California’s rising talents. |
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Q:
What was your first bike like?
”My first bike was a Performance Trailfrog which I covered
in Specialized and Mountain Dew stickers that I got from the Sea
Otter Classic.”
Q:
When did you start racing and what made you decide to give it a
try?
”I started racing in 2006 just because I had been riding bikes
with my dad and thought I was hot stuff. I learned pretty quickly
that I was not.”
Q:
How do you think racing bikes makes you different from typical teenagers?
”I am glad I do not play sports like football. I feel unique
racing bikes, it just sets me apart.”
Q:
What's your favorite part of racing bikes?
”I like winning. It is nice. Going fast and pushing my limits
is the most worthwhile part.”
Q:
What's your favorite local trail and favorite local road ride?
”Coastal trail over on Tam is pretty boss. My favorite road
ride would have to be Shoreline. My favorite trail in general is
Western States up in Tahoe.”
Q:
What do you like about being part of the Whole Athlete team?
”Being on the team is great because I have learned all of
the fine details about riding that make me a better cyclist.”
Q:
What are your goals for the season?
”I really am focused on racing MTB. I want to place well at
the NMBS races so I can go to the World Cup up in Quebec. I would
also like to crack the top 3 in Expert 16 & Under at Sea Otter
and Nationals. I also want to get in the top 5 for the Varsity High
School Series. I do not really know where I stand as far as road
racing goes, but I would like to do well enough to race Category
3 by next year.”
Q:
What are your long term goals for the sport?
”I want to race while in undergraduate school, hopefully for
the National U23 MTB team. Then I want to do a couple years as a
pro before I go back to school and get on with my life.”
Are
you a junior interested in road racing but not sure how
or where to get started? We are still accepting new young riders
for the 2008 road season.
Contact
us today!
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| Product
Spotlight: Panaracer Tires |
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Our
good friend Jeff Zell at Panaracer Tires just hooked us up with
a generous delivery of rubber straight from Japan and boy are we
stoked! For training, we have the hardy, long-lasting Extreme Duro.
With a tough, proprietary 3D casing that protects against those
dreaded sidewall cuts that can leave you stranded in the middle
of nowhere, and smooth-rolling rubber that you’d swear belonged
to a race-only tire, the Extreme Duro fights the notion that you
can’t have your cake and eat it too. And when race day comes
around, we’re lucky enough to break out the Extreme Evo2.
A new ZSG Ultima compound extends the life of these tires, but you’d
never know it from the ride. Sticky in the corners and glassy-smooth
on the straights, the Evo2 rivals the ride of handmade tubulars
– without all that messy glue!
Check
out Panaracer's
web
site.
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| Race
Report: Cherry Pie Criterium
by Sir Joshua Litwack
'Twas a warm and balmy day
in scenic Napa whence I came to partake in the Pie made of
Cherry.
Full field for the 3's with
large representation of a number of teams and as February
racing is wont to be, 'twas a slow race. Verily we rode 'round
'n 'round about the circuit, up and down and all around. Fruitless
were the attackes by men who thought that they were more than
they were but came to discover that they were, indeed, less.
It
seemed that no sooner had the race commenced, than the gong
rang "5 To Go" whereupon the participants were whipped
to a frothy fervor of futility. Many a courageous soul ventured
to try his hand at Cherry flavored glory, only to find himself
rapidly engulfed by the thundering hordes, intent on a bunch
gallop. |
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| "2
To Go!" Rang the cry of the barker in to the clear crisp
sky! Around the course we swept. So intent was the competition
on preventing Whole Athlete victory, a fiendish devil in azure
blue attempted to force our hero into the gutter, nay, to
the asphalt. For a score of meters did I skate upon my cleates
whilst straddling my toptube; one foot upon the curb, the
other, surfing the pavement. It looked to be the end for sure!
Crashed out at the last!
But
NO! I remounted my steed with much haste and chased down the
pack of
slavering devils, not be denied the prize for which I had
fought so dearly.
"1
to Go" and the bell pealed its call for all to hear.
And into the back stretch we flew, singing our death song
of "On your left! Inside!" Not to be outdone, I
forced my way back to the front of the horde just before we
hit the ultimate dash for the summit. Drilled it from the
very start I did and dared the others to catch me.
But their efforts were futile. I had triumphed on this day
and, gods be
willing, will do so again. Whole Athlete had won the day,
our first victory. Verily we hope, 'tis not the last.
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Product
Spotlight:
Cannondale SystemSix and SuperSix
While
Cannondale has always been known for their excellent aluminum
race frames, the introduction of their SystemSix and SuperSix
models has lifted the brand to new heights. When faced with
the dilemma of choosing between the two, I went for the SystemSix
while my teammate Adam Waskow chose the Super. So what’s
the difference? |
SystemSix |
First,
what’s the same? Both bikes share Cannondale’s renowned,
race proven geometry, which combines handling quick enough for
any criterium with stability that saves energy on long days
in the saddle.
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SuperSix
|
They also both have forks with oversized 1 ¼” lower
headset bearings and carbon fiber dropouts and Cannondale’s
groundbreaking oversized bottom bracket. This BB30 standard
(named after the 30mm diameter, which is a good 20% larger than
traditional bottom brackets) is quickly being imitated by other
manufacturers like Specialized and FSA, who are envious of its
greater stiffness and lighter weight. |
OK,
so now what’s the difference? The obvious difference (other
than the price tag,) is the material used for the rear triangle.
My SystemSix retains Cannondale’s legendary aluminum for the
seat tube, chain and seat stays, co-molding them to a unidirectional
carbon fiber front triangle. In contrast, Adam’s SuperSix
is entirely carbon from stem to stern, which results in a frame
that is approximately 100 grams lighter and has a touch more compliance
in the rear. Nevertheless, Adam says his SuperSix is the stiffest
bike he’s ever ridden and a far more race-worthy frame than
even his custom Parlee. For my part, I know if I’m not winning
races this year, I sure can’t blame the bike – from
the technical s-turns of Land Park Criterium to the torn-up tarmac
of Snelling Road Race, the SystemSix is a dream to ride.
Check
out Cannondale's web
site or visit our sponsor shop, Sunshine
Bikes in Fairfax to test ride a Cannondale for yourself!
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Race
Results to Date:
Cherry Pie Criterium – 1st Cat 3, Josh Litwack
Cherry Pie Criterium – DNF Cat 4, Scott Duivens (crash)
Cherry Pie Criterium - DNF Junior 17/18, Eric Spencer (crash)
CCCX #1 Cross Country – 1st, Sport Junior, Will Curtis
Norlund Construction Criterium – 6th Cat ¾, Charlie
Schneider
Norlund Construction Criterium – 4th Cat 2/3, Josh Litwack
Norlund Construction Criterium – 21st Cat 2/3 Charlie Schneider
Norlund Construction Criterium – 25th Cat 2/3, Ed Leon
Norlund Construction Criterium – DNF Cat 2/3, Peter Nicholson
(mechanical)
Norlund Construction Criterium – 17th 35+ 1/2/3, Peter Nicholson
Snelling Road Race – 17th 35+ 1/2/3, Peter Nicholson
Snelling Road Race – pack finish Cat 3, Ed Leon
Snelling Road Race – pack finish Cat 3, Nick Jerabek
MERCO Criterium – DNF Junior 17/18, Eric Spencer (crash)
MERCO Road Race – 31st 35+ 1/2/3, Peter Nicholson
MERCO Road Race –DNF Cat 3, Ed Leon (mechanical)
Menlo Park Criterium – 53rd Cat 3, Trevor Scott
Land Park Criterium – 23rd 35+ 1/2/3, Peter Nicholson
Bariani Road Race – 17th 35+ 1/2/3, Peter Nicholson
Exeter Time Trial - 4th 35+ 4/5, Adam Waskow
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