Brush Fires Reported as Seeley Blazes to Victory at Whiskey Dick Tri

Photo by Brian Myrick Daily Record News

Event Name:	Whiskey Dick Triathlon
Date:	July 29, 2012
Description:	1 mi swim, 28 mile bike, 6.2 mi run
Individual Men:	1st - Lane Seeley

Winning. Domination. Course Record. Bragging rights. More bragging rights. All of these things were achieved Sunday at the fairgrounds in Ellensburg. FareStart's Lane Seeley is a man of many talents and... many sports. With a victory like this, we can't hold anything against Lane for wandering from the straight and narrow.

Lane was on the jazz from square one, chasing down anything and everything in sight. With 200 meters to go, he scooped up his daughter and wound up his sprint, crossing the line in 2:30:03, a new course record.

When asked how it felt to singlehandedly demolish every one of the individual competitors (and all but one of the teams), the mild-mannered Lane replied "Victory tasted sweet in my first triathlon in two years and my first race post 40."

The Daily Record News gave Lane a write-up for his work.

Well done, Lane. Now put those shoes away and get back on your bike!

Official Results

Team Sponsor: Speedy Reedy

Founded by Reed and Brooke Sillers in the year 2000, SpeedyReedy serves as the Puget Sound region's triathlon store, bringing all of the specialized products and knowledge you need to help you succeed. From sprint distance to Ironman distance races, the folks at Speedy Reedy can help you reach or exceed your goals.  I spoke with store founder Reed Sillers about the history of the shop and its upcoming entry into the online marketplace.

Jed Barden:  How did Speedy Reedy get its start?

Reed Sillers:   Before opening the shop in 2000, I had done triathlons for six years.  I knew quite a bit about the sport and industry from both competing and by working at a well known local bike shop.  I also worked for a short time at a company called Visiontech, which made cutting-edge aero components.  Visiontech was subsequently acquired by FSA.  There was no shop in the Seattle area dedicated to serving the needs of triathletes, and the idea was born. 

JB:  Was that about the time the sport of triathlon was coming into its own?

RS:  Triathlon was still in its infancy back then, but has since exploded in popularity.  Another advantage we had was that carbon bikes were first starting to appear on the scene.  Brooke and I originally thought about starting an online store, but decided to open a physical location.  Our friends and family helped us out financially and our initial customers were patient with us during the first few months as we got up and running.  We did not have much of a business plan or business training, but here we are 12 years later.

JB:  How has the shop grown over the years?

RS:  The first six months to a year was tough because we had to figure out a lot such as logistics, software, developing relationships with suppliers, and everything else that goes into starting a store.  Our service department grew rather quickly because of our location on the Burke Gilman Trail.  Once we got past that initial phase we were able to hire employees and develop more of a presence outside the store.  About three years ago we were bursting at the seems of our original shop so we moved across the street into our current location.  We are now working on developing an online store so people can by products from us directly over the Internet.     

JB:  Wasn't that your original idea, an online store?

RS:  Yes, but we feel it is a necessity now.  Customers are much more willing to buy products online these days, especially in the triathlon/cycling industry.  There is also much more information out there for customers to become educated on what they need to purchase.  A huge challenge for us and the entire industry is competing against online retailers like Amazon that have entered the market.  Our goal is to differentiate ourselves by conveying to customers the value that a shop like ours provides.  We give you knowledgeable advice and assistance, whether you buy in person or online. 

JB:  And is there value to the customer in developing a relationship with a specialized shop like yours?

RS:  There certainly is a personal connection that can develop.  I really enjoy working at the shop because of all the great people I have met.  It is a joy to watch people achieve their dreams in triathlon.  The environment in the shop is very positive. 

JB:  What are your plans for the future of Speedy Reedy?

RS:  Getting the online store started is a big goal for us.  This takes a lot of work with developing a separate inventory system, but we will hopefully make a big announcement about the launch of our online store soon.  We also want to have more of a presence at races, hopefully you will see us out there.

JB:  Thank you to Speedy Reedy for sponsoring the Farestart cycling team.  This really is a fantastic shop and if you have not been there yet, give them a try. 

Team Sponsor: Ace Hotel

Tim Farrell shares his experience with our sponsor, Ace Hotel.

I was just remarking the other day about how quickly the race season has gone by and it reminded me of my first race of the season, Cherry Pie in Oregon.  For President's Day weekend, Katie and I decided we were sick of Seattleites and decided to visit our neighbor to the south, Portland, along with one of our sponsors, Ace Hotel.  

We had stayed at the hotel a while back soon after it opened, it was great then and even better now.  The hotel has maintained it's wonderful restaurants [link to Clyde Common/Kenny and Zukes] and coffee shop [link to Stumptown] and added an amazing breakfast run by Ace.  While Powell's Books anchors the neighborhood, there is a bunch of new local businesses within some great rehabs of existing buildings, and as the Ace used to form the edge of the Pearl District, the area has enveloped the hotel.  One of the most exciting additions to the neighborhood for a cyclist was the new West End Bikes.  This place is a cyclist and architect's dream, not only was it a really cool store, it carries top notch brands and has a good team racing for the shop.  

After returning from racing in Corvallis, Katie and I went to Clyde Commons for an amazing dinner, including fideos with squid ink.  We then got a good nights rest in our extremely efficient room and got up the next morning grabbed an Ace breakfast and Stumptown coffee, then set out to explore the surroundings once again.  In true Portland fashion, there were about a million food trucks parked within a square mile and we were always close to mass transit and an expansive network of green bike lanes.  Portland has Seattle beat on so many levels, but Seattle did originate many of them like the Ace Hotel.  I am proud to carry the Ace Hotel on my back in training and race day, and we look forward to many more stays.  Maybe next year it is pre-season training camp at the Palm Springs location!