Now is the time for Syndicate Outreach. Let your bros know that we are recruiting. Please remember the Syndicate Mission.

The Crossniacs are a “syndicate” enterprise democratically managed by its fellow crossniacs. The most important decisions are made collectively by the whole group. To gain entrance into the syndicate you must be invited and endorsed by another member.

So, only endorsed prospects will be allowed to join the syndicate.

Benefits: We are a national team with riders all over the country and great sponsors: Cannondale, Ritchey, KHS, Crank Brothers, American Classic, FPA Scene, Roy Advertising, White Pine Dental & Mantrap Lodge…and more to come

We will be doing our 08 cross season clothing order July 1, so get out there and spread the message. Have them shoot me an email

jaredmroy(at)hotmail.com

let me know if anyone needs anything

jaredmroy(at)hotmail.com

Ritchey said that they are doing a price increase June 1, so get on this one if you can

What a great day - I got out of work early, picked this baby up from the shop on the way home and got my new kit in the mail! The only bummer for today was the gnarly fight that broke out on the bus on the way home - blood was actually spilled (not mine, don’t worry). San Francisco public transit ain’t no joke, people.

Rollers to dial in the fit tonight, first ride tomorrow. August 15th just can’t come fast enough . . .

-Nick in SF

Thanks to FPA and Scott I got to show off the new kit at Buck Hills.

Those of you who live in Minnesota and need a dirt fix before September should try the series.

The race was a blast; the fitness was good but the technique sucked. And the post race party was even better–a good crowd and a little beer. Almost as fun as a cross race!

Photo courtesy of Dana Schoppe.

and a better model… 

It’s a rockin cranberry color. Thanks to FPA and Houle for pulling this off. Team order will be due around July 1, so start saving your pennies.

hey, Houle-thanks for mailing the summer kits out. I gotta say-they rock. Not quite the red we speck’d, but I like it; its dirtier, sexier. Quite the kit I’m looking forward to racing in.If I dont say so, myself. FPA  

Saturday I decided to do some material-strength testing while I was out on the road bike. I thought that while riding my skinny-tire rig I would dangle a very large plastic bag fool of triathlon goodies (for my gf’s b-day) including a brand new pair of steel Salsa skewers. I love their stuff…so does my front wheel. I look down and the corner of the bag is nippin’ at the spokes and before I can bring my trusty steed to a halt, the skewers (from inside the bag) get caught in the spokes! Below are a couple of pics to show you how things turned out:

I spent 3 hours in the ER to make certain I didn’t brake my elbow and I’m chalk full of scrapes and bruises. The one on my cheekbone is a great conversation-starter. Anyway, two wheels down at all times!

-buddhabelly

(note: I posted this before but accidentally deleted the post)

Saturday brought the start to my 2008 racing season at the Front Range 50.  I choose the WaltWorks with a 32 up front and an 18 aft.  They staged all the male categories together where I found myself toward the back as we were given the signal to race.  It would be five 10 mile laps with roughly 1000 ft of climbing per lap.  I found myself early on stuck with pack grinding up the first incline, I settled in knowing that early placement was vital but not necessary.  The climbs were clogged with riders grinding methodically up.  Things finally thinned out and I found my rhythm as things began to flow.  I stuck to my nutrition plan and things were absolutely flowing.  At the end of the third lap, I felt that little twinge in my lower quads, not so much a cramp as muscle seizure.  Went into damage control/survival mode for the next two laps.   

I rolled across the finish feeling strong but a bit disappointed. 

I finished in 4:08 which was good enough for 30^th place in the geared Veteran 40-49 division where I was scored.  My placing in the SS division could be 12^th.

Next big race on the docket is Dirty Kanza.

Mike

23 mile point to point mtb race. It was a mass start on a dirt road for about a mile and a half followed by a right turn staight into single track where passing was really tough. I got a pretty good jump when they dropped the flag and halfway to the singletrack I hopped on a mini-grandstay train that got me past alot of dudes. Once I hit the woods the rest of the race was just going as hard as I could. I lost my waterbottle right away, that sucked. There were about 10 trees that blew down in a storm the night before the race so it was a little on the crossy side. The finish was 2 miles on a straight and flat old railroad bed. There was a group of 6 or so guys that had been yo-yoing in front of me the whole second half of the race, but my legs were toasted. Came home in 26th place. The beer and burgers post race were $$$.

cj