Many members of the team, including the San Angelo contingent, made their way out to Lajitas, Texas for the Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest. This yearly event is a 3 day mountain bike fest in gorgeous West Texas and benefits the Big Bend State and National Parks. The drive may be grueling, but it’s well worth it for the views!
This past Sunday Team IPA stormed the Bicycle Sport Shop Six Shooter Cyclocross race! The weather was beautiful for the first race of the ATX CX Cup series. The course was fairly technical, with plenty of loose ground, a great 2-part sandpit, plenty of barriers, and a challenging hill section with 3 steep up and downs. Ben Adair represented the team in the Men’s Open Single Speed category, while Lucie Hanzlik and Carrie Arnold both raced the Women’s Open Single Speed and the Women’s 3/4.
Ben placed a very respectable 15th out of 21 in the Men’s Open Single Speed. Lucie placed 5th and Carrie placed 6th out of 6 in the Women’s Open Single Speed, and 20th and 23rd out of 24 in the Women’s 3/4. We’re looking forward to next week’s Georgetown Cyclocross Fest!
Lucie looking FIERCE!
Ben is having a good time!
Sand pit!
Sunday the 18th was one of the very first CX races of the season, the Cyclocross Scuffle in Elgin, Texas. It was an extremely hot day and a small turn-out, but still a very fun race! The course was relatively flat with no run ups, but a gravel start, another gravel pit about half way through, a short sandpit shortly after, and a few barriers.
Carrie Arnold represented Team IPA in both the Single Speed Open and the Women’s 3/4, placing 11th and 16th respectively. We’re looking forward to many more races this season!
In the sand pit! (Photo by Nicolle Spurgeon)
Over the barriers (Photo by Nicolle Spurgeon)
Hanging out with Tri star Gertie Adair before the race!
Great day out in Shiner last weekend! Tony, Mark, and Cynthia rode the 50 mile route, while Carrie and Jani punished themselves on the 100 mile route. Thankfully, it was relatively cool for this time of year, but cooler temperatures did nothing to reduce the awful headwind we rode into for the last 20 miles! The cold beer at the end was much appreciated and well earned.
Despite the threat of storms and last minute re-routes, Lisa Lennon and myself braved the drive to China Spring for the Hell of the Southwest gravel ride. We both rode the 101 Ultra Beast along with about 30 others. Despite storms the night before and some nasty wind in the morning, the weather turned out beautiful and the route was gorgeous!
The beginning and end of the ride took us through Talbert Ranch and down a variety of beautiful, tree-lined gravel roads. The wildflowers were in full bloom, and there were all kinds of birds and livestock (including the spring babies) to look at!
Fair warning, language is pretty salty. He really wanted to win!
Team IPA home trail Flat Creek Crossing Ranch is hosting a Paydirt day on April 16th! Start at 9am, work for 3 hours, ride for 3 hours. This is a great way to get some Paydirt in and ride one of the best trails in Texas!
For more information about the Paydirt program, check out TMBRA’s post: http://tmbra.org/paydirt/paydirt.htm
Online waiver can be found here:
http://www.teamipa.bike/fcc-waiver/
Print it, sign it, bring it!
While a few Team IPA’ers were slogging it out at the Austin Rattler, others made their way to Pace Bend for the latest race in the TMBRA XC series. The weather was perfect, the competition fierce, and Team IPA came away with even more podiums! Thanks as usual to Tobin and George for all their work putting these races on.
Cooper on the podium!
Lucie and Kristi on the podium!
Lucie looking fierce
Will on the podium
Ryan Gambino, representing Team IPA’s junior division, with a strong finish in the 12 and under!