5/3/2010
Monday, May 3, saw another very well attended VC monthly
meeting. Some half a dozen of Mangia Pizza's finest concoctions were
consumed in a remarkably short time; President Joe Haas called the
rabble to order as the feeding frenzy slowed and the smoke cleared . . .
The first order of business was another bush beating for volunteers to
fill a handful of vacant duties at the State Age-Based Crits, set for
Saturday, June 5, at the Driveway. John Collins posted VC's remaining
needs on this listserv. Email John if you can lend a hand:
jccgtown@yahoo.com
Joe Haas and VC sponsor Bobby Fiddes announced Bobby's Bikes' expanded
services. Bobby says he can now obtain just about anything
parts/components/accessories-wise your well-trained heart desires ---
Campy, Shimano, SRAM, Michelin, Vittoria, Tufo, Velo Flex, you name it.
Email, or better yet, phone ahead. Bobby says it'll be no more than 3-5
days for almost anything (except PowerTaps, which take about 4 weeks),
and he'll basically match any price in town. See
http://www.bobbysbike.com/
Annick Beaudet, the City of Austin's Bicycle Program Manager, returned
to update VC members on bicycle infrastructure planning and progress.
She spoke on the status of the Downtown Bicycle Boulevard (still
evolving), buffered bike lane marking on South Lamar from Barton
Springs Road to Manchaca (coinciding with repaving, and set for
completion by December), the possibility of a dedicated South MoPac
bike bridge over Barton Creek, and studies currently under way to
document the effects of signage and colored bike lanes on driver
awareness of cyclists. Annick urged VC members to make their voices
heard among city and TxDoT officials regarding positive developments in
cycling infrastructure and the need for more. She also made the point
that the more cyclists that are seen on the roads, the more general
awareness that results, so get out there and ride! Contact Annick at
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/connect/email_annickbeaudet.htm
Also, see the city's cycling infrastructure and policy page at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/publicworks/bicycle.htm
Joe Haas mentioned upcoming events: 5/8 -- Horse Country TT (Aubrey,
near Denton); 5/8 -- ACA Armadillo Hill Country Classic (Liberty Hill);
5/8 & 9 -- Joe Martin Stage Race (Fayetteville, AR); (5/8 -- Head
for the Hills Ride (Cedar Hills); 5/8 -- Rolling Hills Challenge
(Columbus); 5/8 -- Heart of Texas (H.O.T.) Ride (Brady); 5/9 & 23
-- University Oaks Crits (San Antonio); 5/15 -- Cross Timbers Ride
(North Lake, near Fort Worth); 5/15 -- Hamilton Hill-Aceous 100
(Hamilton); 5/15 & 16 -- Metro and Grand Crits (Houston); 5/15
& 16 -- Rocky Hill Ranch Roundup (MTB) (Smithville); 5/19 -- Ride
of Silence (Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont, Coppell, Dallas, El Paso, Fort
Worth, Houston, Mineral Wells, San Antonio, Tyler, Wichita Falls, and
Willow Park); 5/22 -- Llano Dirt Ride (Llano); 5/22 -- Paws &
Puddles Ride (LaMarque); 5/22 & 23 -- Tour de Cure (San Antonio to
Austin); 5/22 -- Real Ale Ride (Blanco); 5/29 & 30 -- Mellow
Johnny's Classic (MTB) (Dripping Springs); 5/29 -- Gary Glickman
Memorial Crit (Dallas); 5/30 -- GS Tenzing Crit (Frisco); 5/31 -- State
Skill-Based Crit Championships (Fort Worth); 6/5 -- State Age-Based
Crit Championships (Austin)
Joe also shared VC's recent race results, the highlights of which
included Mino Giunta's sweep of all stages and the Junior GC at Fort
Davis, Frank Kurzawa's 5th on GC in the 50+, Weston Giunta's 9th in 35+
4/5, and Ethan Moorhead's 14th in Cat 3; Chris Thibodeau 11th overall
at the Mineral Wells
Stage Race; Ken Greene 20th in the Coldspring RR Cat 4, and VC placing
six riders in the first 18 in the 50+, with Chris Thibodeau and Mike
Haney 7th and 8th, respectively; and several Top 10's at April Driveway
events, including two Junior victories by Mino Giunta and placings by
Greg Hall, Ken Greene, and Doug Ballew. Special mention goes to Ethan
Moorehead and Frank Kurzawa for braving brutal conditions at the Tour
of the Gila. Good on y'all, mates! See all VC race results at the VC
web page (http://www.violetcrown.org/) or at the TXBRA site
(http://www.txbra.org/results10/).
The club back-slapped Jamie Mitchell for upgrading from purgatory to Cat 4!
Doug Burnett announced that the May Italy trip is off due to lack of a
quorum; however, he's strong-armed a bunch of guys from points
elsewhere to put together an Italian excursion for the end of
June/beginning of July. There's still room! Ping Big Doug if you want
in on the fun.
Prince of Polyester David Wolfe appeared with a box of VC kit extras,
and he still has a few to vend, so if you're looking to pick up that
extra item or two, drop him a note; also, JoePrez reminded all that
ordering info regarding the VC supplemental kit order will be posted
shortly -- stay tuned to this bat channel!
Until June, BASTA!
Scrivano de Corona de Violetta
4/5/2010 meeting
The club dining room at Mangia Pizza was practically groaning under the
strain as upwards of forty VC members, prospective members, and family
attended the April meeting last night. Joe `Prez' Haas welcomed all and
congratulated the faithful for the turnout at the meeting as well as at
recent races and rides, including VC's unofficial annual spring
rendezvous at the Rosedale Ride. Several attendees were sporting their
exceptionally sharp chocolate-and-powder-blue Rosedale T-shirts.
JoePrez ran down the list of cycling events scheduled prior to our next
meeting: 4/10–11 Fort Davis Hammerfest; 4/10 Pedal Power Wildflower
Ride (Stonewall); 4/11 Space Race (LaMarque); 4/17 Ride for Heroes
(Aledo); 4/17–18 Mineral Wells Stage Race; 4/17–18 MS150 (Houston to
Austin); 4/18 Fiesta Wildflower Ride (San Antonio); 4/24–25 Matrix
Challenge criteriums (downtown Dallas); 4/24 Red Poppy Ride
(Georgetown); 5/1 Coldspring Road Race; 5/1 Shiner GHASP (Great
Houston/Austin Shiner Pedal); 5/2 Sugar Land Criterium. Track racing
has also gotten under way at both the Frisco Superdrome and the Alkek
Velodrome (check the TXBRA schedule). And don't forget the Driveway
criterium series, every Thursday evening through October at the
Driveway in east Austin.
David Serrins reminded interested parties to network in advance of
Friday, April 30, for the pre-GHASP Shiner drive-down (drive to Shiner,
drop off cars, ride back to Austin; ride back down to Shiner Saturday
morning, ta-daa! Your car's waiting for ya!). The rendezvous is in
Shiner near the brewery, with a tight wheels-down time for Friday's
return leg. Ping Monsieur Serrins for logistical details.
May is Bike Month in Austin, and mention was made of the Austin Bike
Poster Show, May 6 thru June 5, promoting Bike Month and bike awareness
in the city of Austin. See http://www.atxbikepostershow.com.
JoePrez intimated that the club is considering a kit reorder sometime
in June/July. If you missed out on the season order in January, joined
the club after the fact, or realize that you really should have ordered
a second pair of those nifty redesigned bib shorts, ping Joe Haas and
indicate what items (and how many) you would be interested in ordering.
Once Joe has assessed interest and we appear to be approaching the
required minimums (12 total per item regardless of size), you'll be
notified about preordering and prepayment.
Racing promotion guru and taskmaster-emeritus John Collins made the
official call for volunteers for the June 5 Age-Based State Criterium
Championships presented by Violet Crown and Holland Racing. John
previously posted a list of duties requiring volunteers on the
VioletCrown@yahoogroups.com listserv. See the posted duties and contact
John to offering your assistance.
John also mentioned that the club needs officials for the 6/5/2010
event as well as for the fall cyclo-x race, and the club is encouraging
members to consider the possibility of becoming a certified USA Cycling
race official. John has the details. The club might consider footing
the bill for such a certification clinic -- at least for members -- so
contact John and/or Joe Haas if this sounds like something that might
interest you.
VC's resident randonneur ranger Ray Smith gave the club a presentation
detailing the effectiveness of training with power. Ray's chat included
a slide show and handouts discussing the definition of power, its
importance in cycle sport, and its relation to VO2 uptake, heart rate,
lactate threshold, and rate of perceived exertion. Ray discussed the
benefits (measurable physical improvement) and drawbacks ($$$!) of
training with power, the analytical and motivational aspects of the
regime, and the pros and cons of various power meter systems. Ray
endorsed Hunter Allen's power training seminars and encouraged riders
to check them out. Thanks as always, Ray.
Coach James Karthauser, long-time VC denizen, showered attendees with
giveaways including vintage wind vests, skinsuits, jackets, gloves, and
various other cycling raiments accumulated over a couple of decades of
involvement with the sport in Texas and points global. He then
cheerfully bid the club arrivederci before heading off to the magical
hills of Tuscany to run a cyclo-tourism concern with a pal. We're sad
to see him go but happy to have a true VC connection in that most
beautiful and cycling-mad part of the world. Ciao, Coach Kart! Watch
for us on the strade!
Finally, VC TXBRA co-conspirator Jay Bond ran down the list of race
results for the previous month, including Greg Hall, Frank Kurzawa,
Bill Neale, and Mino Giunta all going top 10 at the Ronde von Manda;
Zaza, Mike Haney, Rick Hall, and Brad Houston (3rd, 7th, 8th, and 9th,
respectively) in the 40+ Ronde von Manor; Zaza once again, along with
Ethan Moorhead and Michelle Lester, with top 10 stage finishes -- and
Ethan and Michelle top 10 on GC -- at the Fayetteville Stage Race;
excellent Chronometro performances by Frank Z., Ethan Moorhead, Seymour
Goldstein, Bill Neale, David Wolfe, John Collins, Mark Dawson, Brad
Houston, Ron Burzese/Lynn Wyatt (tandem), and Rick Hall; and a
brilliant Cat 3/4 3-4 by Slim and the Wolfeman at Tunis Roubaix. March
also saw fine rides by John Schreffler, Ken Greene, Doug Ballew, Scott
Morris, John Bartle, Jay Bond, Weston Giunta, Michael Klein, and Jamie
Mitchell. Go to the web site for full details.
Until May . . .
Au revoir, mon amis!
Le VC Ecrivain
3/1/2010 meeting
VC's March monthly meeting was extremely well attended, perhaps
in anticipation of an early-ish kit shipment, and literally half a
dozen of Mangia's finest XL concoctions were inhaled in the blink of an
eye. Several prospective new members and one or two newly enlisted
recruits joined the usual suspects for salad, pizza, and general
conviviality as we speculated about just when spring IS actually
supposed to arrive in central Texas . . .
Generalissimo Joe Haas ran through a brief list of announcements:
* 2010 kit is expected to land before the next monthly meeting -- stay tuned for official word regarding distribution details.
* Race promo swami John Collins has finalized arrangements with Holland
Racing and Andrew Willis regarding the 2010 State Age-Based Criterium
Championships, scheduled for Saturday, June 5, at the Driveway in east
Austin. Beginning at the next monthly meeting (Monday, April 5), John
will solicit volunteers for specific pre-race and race-day duties for
the event. If there is a specific role you'd like to play, ping John
and let him know.
* Upcoming rides/races: 3/6 Bastrop - Pedal thru the Pines; 3/6-7 Bryan
- Tunis Roubaix; 3/13 Schulenburg - Texas Dance Hall Cycling Tour; 3/14
San Antonio - University Oaks Crit; 3/20 Liberty Hill - Spokes 'n
Spurs; 3/20-21 Fayetteville - Fayetteville Stage Race; 3/27 Austin -
Rosedale Ride; 3/27 Stonewall (LBJ Ranch) - LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour; 3/27
Schulenburg - Schulenburg Steeple Chase Bike Ride; 3/27 Manor - Ronde
von Manor; 3/28 Manda - Ronde von Manda
* Gettin'-it-all-over-ya liaison Jamie Mitchell reported his (modest)
and Jen Joy's (much better) results at recent TMBRA mountain bike
events. Jamie yearns for company, so if you're interested in racing
over mud, rocks, beer cans, old abandoned sofas, cow pies, etc., on a
regular basis, chat Jamie up.
* Secretary-emeritus and TXBRA envoy extraordinary Jay Bond attended
the TXBRA awards shindig and staggered back with a veritable
embarrassment of hard-won laurels and hardware for assorted VC
stalwarts, including Chris Thibodeau (50+ 'cross Premier Cup champ and
south region 4th place), Jen Joy (Elite Women 'cross Premier 2nd place,
north region 3rd place, and south region 5th place), Jay Bond (50+
'cross Premier 5th place and south region 5th place), David Wolfe (40+
'cross Premier 10th place and south region 2nd place), John Bartle (50+
'cross Premier 11th place and south region 7th place), Greg Hall (40+
road east region 3rd place), Ethan Moorhead (U19 road central region
3rd place) and Mino Giunta (U19 'cross south region 4th place). Jay
also dragged back a couple more team awards, both for cyclo-cross, for
the 2009 and 2010 seasons, respectively. VC now owns sufficient
matching silver bowls to hold the chips, salsa, AND guacamole at the
next holiday celebration . . .
* Bondo also ran down the list of VC skins on the wall for the 2010
competition season thus far, and it took longer than you'd think. I
can't remember them all, but they include three out-and-out victories
(Mino Giunta in the junior state cyclo-cross championship, Frank
Kurzawa at the Sunday Primavera at Lago Vista 50+, favorite son
Kristian House at the Sunday Primavera Pro/1), and several nice
placings by these and other riders including Jen Joy, Ken Greene,
Michelle Lester, Rick Hall, Greg Hall, Ethan Moorhead, Brad Houston,
John Bartle, Mike Haney, and Weston Giunta. For the complete list of VC
results, see the web page at http://www.violetcrown.org/index.html or
the TXBRA web site.
* The aforementioned pride and joy of Violet Crown and reigning British
Professional Road Champion, Kristian House, showed up at the meeting
and shared with us his assessment of the state of racing in Texas
("strong"), his plans for next winter ("Texas, not Oz"), and his big
win last June ("no words suffice; Cav's an OK guy, BTW"). He also
brought a DVD of the Eurosport coverage of the British Pro Road
Championship, which I presently have in my possession. It's definitely
worth watching, and I'll pass it along to another club member next week.
Until April, stay upright, y'all . . .
Kurt Bauer, 2010 VC scribe
The 2-1-2010 meeting
Mangia's
Pizza on Mesa ( just South of Spicewood Springs road intersection )
6:30 PM - Salad, Pizza and
Tea/water buffet ($6.00)
7:00 PM - Meeting
Meeting Agenda
2010 officer elections
2010 season clothing order update
Recent race/ride results
VC glory
Free Q-tips for those still trying to recover from the Texas State Cyclocross mudfest
Tea and sympathy for Copperas Cove survivors . . .
Minutes
We chatted about the pipping of Bam-Bam at the Cat 4 line during
Sunday's Tour of New Braunfels RR and recounted various other rider
experiences from the same event -- getting lost due to bad directions
from people at a church, in spite of the fact that there was a Garmin
zip-tied to your stem; witnessing a harrowing stack-up in the Cat 5
event (shocking, I know); trading how-cold-was-it stories, etc.
We debated the relative grossness factor of crated cats in a confined,
airless space versus a dead cow belly-up in a bar ditch, both of which
featured on club rides this Sunday past.
We congratulated Mino Giunta on his State Junior title in CX, plus various other outstanding VC performances at the same event.
Ethan Moorhead informed us that he has served his time in purgatory and now cats up to 3's.
We patted the responsible members on their collective present and
absent backs for contributing to VC's once again taking the TXBRA team
cup for CX.
We discussed the 2010 season kit order, expected around the first of
March. Socks, sourced from a different manufacturer, are due sooner but
will be distributed with the rest of the kit. Research into the
possibility of sourcing solid black Elite Wrap bibs/shorts at a
discount comparable to custom from LG are ongoing -- the response to
initial queries was unsatisfactory. Tom Paterson suggested we share our
own independently sourced bib/short details -- preferred manufacturer,
style, price, etc., on the listserv as a service to fellow club members.
Jay Bond's BOD appointment as VC TXBRA delegate was announced.
John Collins announced VC's formal agreement to partner with Holland
Racing and Andrew Willis to promote the 2010 state age-based criterium
championships in June. More details and volunteer info. to come.
Joe Haas took over as VC club president for 2010, and Andy Austin was
elected by acclamation to the post of president-elect for 2011. Greg
Lakomski was denied parole on his sentence of 25-to-life as VC
treasurer and was returned to his cell by the lovely Donna. Kurt Bauer
was elected secretary for 2010, relieving Jay Bond from the post he has
held for the past two years.
Till March . . . Adios, muchachos y muchachas.
KB
The March 2, 2009 meeting's
agenda :
Mangia's
Pizza on Mesa ( Off Far West )
6:30 PM - Salad, Pizza and
Tea/water buffet ($6.00)
7:00 PM - Meeting
Agenda
Clothing update (should be soon)
State criterium championships status update
Randonneuring and other S/M pursuits
Race reports (we have good results -- as well as war stories -- to share)
Sundry (as opposed to sun-dried) items
Minutes
Here's what Pres. Bauer said about the meeting:
"Last night at the
VC monthly meeting, John Collins briefed us on secured sponsors for the
State age-based criterium championships set for June 6 and spoke of
work items and volunteer needs going forward. Anybody planning to
volunteer at the event who hasn't attended a Thursday night crit at the
Driveway might consider checking it out when the series resumes on
Thursday, 3/12.
Greg Lakomski told us we're basically set for a club "sponsorship"
package from Quarq, makers of the CinQo power meter. Quarq will give us
a 15% discount on the price of the package as long as we order five
units. Details of the system(s) available are at
http://www.quarq.us/home , and Greg Lakomski is fielding feelers from
interested club members. You, too, can enjoy the advantages of Quarq
sponsorship, just like Carlos Sastre, Thor Hushovd, and other members
of the Cervelo Test Team.
Kaiser of Kit David Wolfe announced to a happy gathering that 2009 team
clothing is expected this week, and he will have a detailed post on the
listserv and the web site regarding centralized distribution this
weekend. PLEASE DON'T CONTACT DAVID DIRECTLY UNTIL HE POSTS SPECIFICS!
The stuff ain't in yet, and then he needs some time to bag up the goods
per each member's specific order.
Club meetings will remain at Mangia Pizza, Mesa and Spicewood Springs Road, on the first Monday of each month. 'Nuff said.
John Bartle will execute on the hows and whats of the club's official
support of the effort to urge TxDoT and the City of Austin to hold off
cannibalizing the southbound shoulder of MoPac over the Barton Creek
greenbelt before construction of a bicycle/pedestrian bridge. Traffic
pressure has both sets of officials considering taking the shoulder as
another traffic lane, which will leave no "safe" route for cyclists
over the greenbelt. John urged club members to investigate the city's
efforts to revise the Austin Bicycle Plan and mentioned solicitations
by the city for input regarding specific geographic areas where traffic
control modifications and specific bicycle-related monitoring efforts
might fruitfully be made. For more info see http://tinyurl.com/dbq33a
The club members warmly greeted Ethan Moorhead and his soigneur (dad)
with a hearty round of applause as he entered the dining room following
his victory Sunday in the junior race at La Primavera at Lago Vista.
Ethan then regaled the attendees with the wheel-to-wheel wiliness that
he used to schnook the other guys in der schpurt. Ethan has racked up
an impressive 2009 thus far: two fifths, a fourth, and a victory. Well
done! Tom Linehan joined Ethan in sharing the overall great results for
VC this weekend, with Greg Hall grabbing a second place, Frank Kurzawa
fourth, and Tom himself fifth in the 40+ event.
Columbia High Road and Cervelo got nuthin' on VC.
The club welcomed new VC member Luis Acosta. Glad to have you, Luis!
The club heard a personal appeal from Betty Barnes, wife of Dave
Barnes, for support of the couple's efforts at this year's Livestrong
Challenge. Like her friend Lance Armstrong, Betty is coming out of
retirement and getting back on the bike to raise awareness of the fight
against cancer, both in gratitude for her own survival and recovery and
in support of her cousin, a recently diagnosed cancer sufferer. See
http://austin09.livestrong.org/bettybarnes or
http://austin09.livestrong.org/davebarnes
and consider making a donation.
Ray Smith presented a PowerPoint slide show on randonneuring. Ray
completed a 200K ride at the end of January along with fellow VCers
Laura Zotter and Lynn Wyatt. Ray, riding with the Hill Country
Randonneurs organization, will tackle a 300K brevet this Saturday, from
Westlake Hills, around the Dam Loop, out to Fredericksburg, and back
into Austin. Let's hope the wind is kind! Good luck, Ray."
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