Tutu's on Top

 

Event Name:	Sprinker Cross Race
Date:	October 27, 2012
Description:	Fast and semi technical course in Tacoma.  Promoted by Seattle Cyclecross.
Cat 3 35+:	1st - Greg Kauper 5th - Ryan Dean

Ladies and Gentlemen Kauper has won again.

This is his first 'W' in the rough and tumble Cat 3 mens 35+ field.  He clawed his way to a leading role on a field that included Martin Turek and never looked back.

"Front of the bike race!", "Coming through!" was heard across the whole field as he charged his way past riders Jess Cutler and Erik Anderson to name but a few.

He also rode the spine-chilling off camber switch back to the cheers and jeers of the hoots of NW cross fans...

"I knew that if I could get a good start and stay upright, the training and technical skills would carry me past the competition.  Lately, crashes and mechanicals have hampered my results.  I'm looking forward to Woodland (MFG Season Finalie 11/14).  I might not be the strongest, but I like to think my technical skills should help me post up one more time this season.  Hopefully the course will not be "dummied" down. 

Big thanks to SCX Promotor for offering prizes for the category winners,  Greg's and Ryan's families ate Sunday night.

Cheers!!

TuTu Power

 

Event Name:	Magnuson Park Cross
Date:	October 21st, 2012
Description:	Another cross race for the masses.  A pretty mundane course on the shores of Lake Washington.  Nothing technical, just a full throttle cross race.
Cat 3 35+:	2nd - Greg Kauper
Cat 4 Men:	4th  -  Dean Jasper

RAIN RAIN,  come our way!

After a much touted weekend of showers and storms Sunday shaped up to be cold with sun breaks.  Being a group who enjoys the more technical side of cross, we were hoping for some creative corners, off camber sections, run ups and descents.  After the course map was published, we deferred to mother nature to make up for the lack of course creativity in the form of mud and water.  It was not to be, the ground soaked up the rain like a sponge.

Dean lined up for the Cat 4 race donning Tutu.  After rolling a tyre at Starcrossed Dean had something to prove and prove he did.  Without a callup Dean managed to get a great start and put himself in the lead pack.  The 4s field was HUGE, 75 guys minimum.

Dean's bike handeling and patience paid off.  He smoothly navigated the course for three laps and put himself in the lead group of 5.

On the last two laps Dean dropped two or three guys and put himself in a great position for the finish. 

Unfortunately on the final sprint Dean zigged when he should have zagged and got pinched out from coming around for the win.  Congrats Dean for a 4th place finish.

Even though it's cross, the "peleton" (is that what they call themslves in the dirt?) considers themselves "serious" and could not resist jabbing the Tutu.  "Is that the point's leaders Tutu?", "did you lose a bet", "tutu scare Mongo"...

Greg has been dying to get a cross clash sticker but can't seem to figure a way to get around his nemesis so far this season.  Today, beating his nemesis was his MAIN goal and was feeding the race fire.

Gun goes off and Greg nailed the hole shot.  Matt O. came around after "the crack" and took over leading the first lap.  Greg sensed Matt fading back a bit and hit the gas big time.  The field was huge and not broken up yet.  Matt offered words of encouragement as Greg took off.  Martin T and Brian B quickly responded and grabbed Greg's wheel..  And that's how it went for the next 6 laps.  The three traded attacks and no one really pulled away. 

The last time up the "hill" Greg hit the gas a little bit and Martin responded with his own attack.  Martin managed to get a great line on the final turn and hold on down the home stretch.  Greg held on for second but the elusive cross clash sticker rode away from Greg once again.

SCX #3 Silver Lake

the only thing worse than getting beaten in a race is to be beaten by a guy wearing a tutu

sand power

more sand power

2nd win of the year!

Is that beer in the corner of my eye?

I think a little different dismount is in order.

 All pics (except a couple from Greg) via Woodinville Bikes - thank you!!


SCX #3 Silver Lake

TuTu's rally for the best CX course of the year on the shores of idyllic Silver Lake.  Unfortunately all was not well as in the lead up to the race, Ryan tried to get the necessary USAC upgrade to allow him to race against his usual suspects in the Cat 3 35+.  But the promoter as well as the area USAC coordinator felt it was more important to enforce the letter of the law at the expense of the intent - fair competition for all.  The result?  Ryan stole the candy AND lunch money from all the children in the Cat 4 35+ race - finishing far enough up to place 14th in the open 4s race that started over a minute  ahead of him. 

Greg carried the water in the Cat 3 race and finished a respectable 6th place against a tough field with over 100 Audi riders.  The winner?  Anthony Dickson, another unfortunate victim of the USAC "system" which is tearing the fabric of the hippy/organic vibe right out of the burgeoning CX scene.  Let Anthony ride in the 1/2's where he belongs!!

Marking the end of Thumbprint Racing

Dear fans and followers.

It is with a heavy heart that we must notify you today that the Thumbprint Racing Team riding in the name of FareStart will cease to exist at the end of the 2012 bicycle racing season.

This team was founded four years ago on the principal that an amateur Seattle bicycle racing team should leave its mark in the community by donating it’s title sponsorship to a worthy nonprofit. Over those racing seasons we saw International Justice Mission and then FareStart each enjoy two solid years in the limelight of Pacific Northwest road, track, mountain bike and cyclocross racing.

Without our sponsors, we could not have made this mark in the community and as we part ways at the end of the year we will always be grateful that they chose to honor us and this sport with their attention and money. Thank you sponsors!

It bears mentioning that without FareStart welcoming us with open arms we would not have been able to have such a successful partnership and contribute at events like Guest Chef Night.

As we go our separate ways we want everyone to understand that the end of the team was in no way related to sponsorship (or lack thereof) but rather a deficiency in our ability to renew the necessary leadership critical for any volunteer-led organization to remain viable.

The desire of the team in winding down its operations is to direct the treasurer to cut a check for all our remaining team funds payable to FareStart as our final act. We believe this to be a worthy and appropriate use of those funds.

Thanks also to all of our members that have given back to the team, to FareStart and to the cycling community.

Lastly - thanks to two of our founding members, Guy Tucker and Lisa Picard. Without their passion and initial contribution in the names of these two charities this vision would never have been realized.

Until we meet again!
 
Sincerely,

Thumbprint Racing Board
Martin Criminale, Greg Kauper, Gabe Templeton

Technorati Tags: Thumbprint Racing,FareStart,FareStart Cycling Team

Dust Masks not TuTus

Event Name:	StarCrossed
Date:	October 6, 2012
Description:	One of the biggest cyclecross races in the NW.  Usually held under the lights at the Veledrome at Merrymore park.
Cat 3 Men 35+:	5th - Ryan Dean

Starcrossed was a big dust-up this year, pun intended. I saw three FareStart kits and each was adorned at race time with a beautiful taffeta tutu. Tutu power was not what it usually was though with Dean losing it in a critical 180 degree turn early in the open 4s race. He successfully pitted and clawed his way back through a field of 100 men JUST IN THE 4S! To a respectable mid twenties place.

Tutu's swapped, Greg and Ryan got callups for slightly smaller (70) man Cat3 35+ race. Openers sucked as too much humanity enjoying Marymoor park for 1 mins efforts so we settled for 30 secs. We gunned the start and sat pretty in 3rd and 4th wheels into first skills section and cleaned it. Trouble hit in first barrier section with Greg getting whacked by another dude and going down. Effing cottonmouth from dust was absolutely brutal and set on immediately upon the start. Worst-feeling-ever! Crusty lips and you cannot wipe them because you have no saliva. Time for WB cages.

Greg recovers nice but goes down again at 2nd approach to barriers, this time rolling a tyre off and having to hoof a long ways to pit, but gets a change and soldiers on.

Ryan is now officially sick and tired of Martin Turek passing him without a harder fight. Never saw the winner again after a slight chain mishap and regrets not clawing back 2na and Fischer who came around with 2 laps to go. Took 5th as mistakes cannot be tolerated if you hope to podium.