TuTus in full force

Dean, "dancing in the sand".

Rowen, "cross makes me smile".

Event Name:	Lake Sammamish MFG Cross Race
Date:	Sept 24, 2012
Description:	According to the promotors one tenet of cyclocross course design is to use the available terrain to it’s full potential. Given that Lake Sammamish State Park is a flat venue, very flat indeed, speed is what this weekend’s course will emphasize. Oh, and the big long sand stretch. There’s that to contend with as well. Expect a course much like the first time we visited here. Long fast stretches with high speed corners on grass. There are a few off camber bits on the beach end of the grounds, and as mentioned, we’ll be traversing the whole sand stretch without the break in the middle. Ride along the wall, or run? The choice is yours. The S/F will be the same, with a nice long paved sprint to the finish. So bring out your inner speed devil, your tactical sense, and we’ll see some good fast racing!
Cat 3 35+:	4st - Greg Kauper 5nd - Ryan Dean
Cat 4 Men:	20th - Dean Jasper
Beginner Men:	7th - Jeff Lynch ? -  Jed Barden
Kids Race:	Rowen Dean

The race proved true to the promotor's promise.

The course was flat, wide open corners, and long sand section.  It was F-A-S-T!
FareStart donned the Tutus for the first time in 2012.

Several teammates showed up for their first race of the season and some for their first race ever.

Good to see everyone out there.

Kauper does it again, still no TuTu

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Event Name:  Seattle Cyclecross Ft. Steilcoom #1
Date: 9/16/12
Description: The first race of the Seattle Cyclecross Series. One of the classic venues of the Pacific Northwest ‘cross scene. While the eternally long Knapp Time run-up is no more, this edition will see plenty of on-the- bike climbing to sap the legs. The preceding summer weather will ensure that this is a dry and fast affair with drafting and tactics sure to play a key role across categories.

Cat 3 Men 35 + : Third

Hot and dry.  Not the typical cross weather but I'll take it.
I like this course as its harder than most and requires some skills.
Pretty happy with the result as the field seemed pretty tough.

Barden lights up the night in Spokane

Event Name:	Lilac City Crit
Date:	9/8/2012
Description:	The Lilac is really fun crit in downtown Spokane
Cat 3 Men:	Jed Barden 2nd

Jed had this to report back from Spokan. The race did not start until 8pm and it was dark!  I've never done a race under the lights before and it was really cool.  Crowds were huge and a great atmosphere considering this was the first year of the race.  Spokane has a good bike racing history with national championship events back in the 80s.  My race was a 1-2-3 combined field.  Couldn't outsprint the best 1-2 guys but managed 2nd in the 3s.

props Jed

Barden leaves prints in Eugene

Jed just before the beard competition
 

Event Name:

Eugene Celebration Stage Race

Cat 3 Men: Jed Barden

Prologue: 29th
Stage 1 Road Race: 4th
Stage 2 Time Trial: 18th
Stage 3 Criterium: 20th
Final GC 18th place
Beard competition: Full Natural Category 6th
Wing eating: Disqualified for regurgitating on competitor.

Jed Barden traveled south to Eugene, Or. for the last stage race of the season.
The Eugene Celebration involved not just a bike race, Jed contested the beard competition and the wing eating contest.  Unfortunately his bed racing team could not make the event.

Here is Jed's report from day one's road race.

Road race report: Briggs HIll Road Race, 57 miles, circuit three times with rollers and a 5 minute climb. A group of three broke away on the first lap when the road narrowed. Gap grew to 2:30 on the second lap. I went to the front and started rotating with about ten guys to bring back the break. The chasers were tired by the start of the third lap. I was feeling good and rolled off the front. I was dangling for about 5-6 miles and was caught on a descent. I stayed at the front and the pace slowed. After resting for a bit I rolled off the front again. The field was letting me get a big gap this time. Another rider bridged and now there were two of us with about 30 seconds. Another two bridged up making a break of four. We pulled through nicely and put some time on the peloton, which was soon out of sight. We caught a couple guys from the breakaway. Third one I think dropped back to the group. Now there was a group of six, which was better for resting and eating. We hit the last big climb and it broke up. One up ahead, two behind, me and another guy next, and then last guy dropping back. Went over the climb in 4th and started chasing with one other guy. Two GC leaders bridged up from the main field, which was closing fast. With four of us we caught the next group of two. Never caught the one guy out front, who had about 30 seconds on us. Sprinted with heavy legs for 4th.

Nice job Jed.

Ryan Kicks Cross Off

leaving prints

Event Name:	MFG Kick Off Cross
Date:	9/8/12
Description:	Big Finn Hill Cross Race
Cat 3 35+:	2nd - Greg Kauper
Cat 4:	1st - Ryan Dean

MFG Kick Off Cross, brought to you by our friends at Cascade Bike Studio, is the first MFG cross race of the season. Traditionally (as of last year), the TPR crew races the MFG series in TuTu’s, symbolizing our less than serious attitude toward cross, but this first race we shed the ballerina look for a more serious full frontal spandex attack.

Reason, several of us upped the cross ante by racing in higher categories and others they were looking for much needed upgrade points supplied by a W. Ryan, was gunning for the elusive win.

Thumbprint has an upgrade motto, “don’t upgrade till you have won a race or are playing cat and dead mouse with your competitors”. So off came the stache, off cam the tutu, thankfully Ryan wore some spandex.

We all knew this was going to be Ryan’s day. He had a dream road racing season, spending time on podiums in such races as IVRR, Northshore, and Ravendale.

Ryan dedicated the W to his family, because he could not do this without their support.

The only disappointment of the day came from Ryan’s youngest. Upon arriving home after the race, Ryan was greeted with a hug, and the question “Hey daddy, what did you win?”. To which Ryan responded…”unfortunately son, we will go hungry tonight as there was a snafu with results, and I could not collect my Bob’s Red Mill Oatmeal”.