TR3 Race Report

The 2010 TR3 is a 3 day mountain bike stage race that starts in Fernie, B.C and makes it's way to Etherington camp near highway 40 in K-Country. It is the solo event run alongside the 7 day "full pull" Transrockies team event. I was competing in the Open Men's category, and went in with the best fitness of my life. The start list had some impressive names including Canada's Max Plaxton, Matt Hadley and Cory Wallace, all fresh off top 10 finishes at the recent National Championships in Canmore, and Team Giant bikes were represented by Americans Adam Craig and Carl Decker.

Day 1- 31km Time Trial Fernie-Fernie

I was super excited to race this course after my pre-ride on Saturday as most of the course was super fun singletrack. However I didnt sleep much that night cause the rain pelting down on the motorhome roof kept me up. Woke up to more rain, found out I was the first rider out at 9:05. Rode well, had fun, got ridiculously muddy (my wife didn't recognize me coming down the finishing shoot) and felt I posted a decent time. Riders went out at 30 second intervals, so I waited around at the finish to see how far behind the next rider would be. After no one showed up for 10 minutes I figured my time was better than I thought. Finished the Day 6th, 5 pro guys in front of me, no shame there.

Before

After- With my Pit Crew Ev-Dog

Day 2- 65km, Fernie to Sparwood

The day started with a 23 km 1300m climb, I decided to see how long I could last near the front. Passed the first checkpoint 20 km in riding with Team Rocky Mountain and Team Kona. Felt pretty good about myself until I broke two rear spokes and wrapped one of them into my rear cassette. After 5 minutes and a few F bombs I rode angry to try and bridge back up. No luck, long day on logging roads for me. Good legs though and only lost 1 spot on the GC.

Day 3- 60km, Elkford to Etherington Camp

This day is best summarized as a replay of day 2 but substitute in a sidewall slash in my front tire and 3 flats. Legs were good and I needed all of them to keep chasing back on. Had some help on the trail to get in, especially Mical Dyck who gave me a tube when I had none left and David Gonda who gave me some CO2. David has some good Karma coming to him, he was one spot behind me on the GC and STILL stopped to help me out. Good dude.

Finished 6th in GC, pretty pumped about that given all the guys in front of me ride bikes for a living. Great event, the Trans Rockies folks know how to put on a show. I'll be back next year, only difference is I'll be battling for the 40+ old guy title. Thanks to my great support team LB, Ev-Dog, and C-Ball, best in the biz.

Ian Auld

Tour De Bowness

Top Gear riders were busy ripping it up at the Niklas Group Tour de Bowness in early August. The event is a 3 day Omnium format which includes a road race in Bearspaw, hill climb at COP, and a crit in the heart of Bowness. Top Gear represented well in all categories, men and women.

The Cat 3 road race saw Top Gear with 3 riders in the top 10. Ian Auld hit the top step of the podium and Mark Franlin was 7th, and Kevin McMahon 8th. More solid results followed the next day in the hill climb up the punishing COP switchbacks. In the Cat 3 race Ian Auld placed first, Craig Fraser 4th, Scott Donaldson 8th and Kevin McMahon 9th. In the Cat 5 race Shawn Bond put in a good time and placed 7th, and Sonia Utting crushed it with a second place in the womens B race.

The always entertaining crit on Monday saw some more great riding from TG. The cat 3 race saw Adam Boyko get a little closer to Cat 2 upgrade with a 6th place finish, Mark Franklin was 7th to cap his solid weekend, and Craig Fraser was super active all race off the front and putting the hurt on the rest of the field. Ride of the day to Jessie James Collins who made the selection into a very elite group in the Cat 1-2 crit.

Top Gear riders in the Cat 3 Omnium-Ian Auld 2nd, Craig Fraser 8th.

2010 Canadian Masters National Road Cycling Championships

The 2010 Masters National Road Cycling Championships were held south of Edmonton in the town of Devon, Alberta (July 1-4). Top Gear was represented in several categories which included Masters 30/39 (Men and Women) and Masters 40/49 Men. The Top Gear squad managed to grab podium spots in three events.

Carrie Tuck took 1st place in the Master 30-39 Womens Individual Time Trial and 3rd spot in the Master 30-39 Womens Road Race event. The Master 30-39 Mens Road Event saw three Top Gear riders in the top 10 with Ian Auld placed 3rd, Dave Jetz 6th and Jeff Bolstad 7th.

Nice work by all the riders who made it out for this event.

Carrie Tuck on the start line.

Ian Auld on the Podium

Jesse Collins keeps it upright in a Crash filled Crit

U.S.A. Race action.

Top Gear cyclists powered by Calgary Cycle, were in Whitefish Montana on the weekend of June 12/13. There was a hiatus of events in Alberta this weekend before the upcoming Banff Stage Race, so 3 of the Cat 1/2 Men drove into the US from Calgary to compete and continue the early season representation. The 3 of us were Dallas D-Rock Morris, Mic Michael Davis, and Anthony Nails Steenbergen.

The weather was totally bluebird sky's for the annual tradition of the Great Northern Stage Race. A two day, 3 event Road Race that features a morning Criterium, an afternoon Individual Time Trial, and a Sunday Circuit Race.

After recent success in Alberta at the long standing Pigeon Lake Road Race, where Top Gear took Top Honours in both Mens and Ladies Category 1/2, some unfamiliar action in the USA would be just the scene to prepare for racing against some unknown riders in Banff, and the coming Canadian National Championships.

So... with an early morning to register in downtown Whitefish, we saw some Pro Team cars driving up, some Idaho area Club and Team vans, and 4 Cat 1/2 Men on the Lonovo Team, Sponsored by Subaru, from Seattle. Other area Teams included Missoula Montanta's ' Team Advanced Pain Centers, and from Kalispell, the eXergy Sponsored Team.

We knew we were going to have our hands full in the Criterium against the full train Teams. But as the race went on Anthony and Dallas were able to each win respectively, two of the four Top Prize Race Primes. Being recognized in the Crowd was cool as we were a few of the 'unknowns'.

The Individual Time Trial left the 3 of us a little bit in the dark, as due to our small car travel arrangements, we were unable to bring all the TT Speed Weaponry Bikes and equipment that would allow us to perform at the Top level. So with aero Clip-On bars mounted to our road bikes, we did the best we could on the flat but twisting course and but managed to stay in the top half of the field, against many of the fully Aero TimeTrial bike guys.

Anthony and Dallas now down 1:24 and 1:42 in GC going into the Road Race, our main focus was to race hard, cover the other 'organized teams, and do our best to capitalize on any breaks.

... When the race whistle went, 12 laps of 8km, a 5 man break got away nearly immediately and that left us working hard and waiting for some of the other smaller Teams to start working towards bringing them back. That break stayed away for just about half the race, and eventually we were all together again. With a couple easier laps now to rest up in the near 30 degree heat, the Pace really started to pick up again near the last 3 laps and Anthony was able to make a sneaky get away into a 6 man break that solo'd towards the last lap. Anthony working hard was able to take a Top 5 in the Podium with 4th in the Road Race in the final Sprint.

All in all Mic got some great training in his first visit to the USA, and Team Top Gear did well making some small wins and a final Podium in the Road Race.

Great weekend, great weather, great racing.

Race Action at Alberta Cup XC #2

Team Top Gear / Calgary Cycle racing members were in Action this past weekend in a sunny Edmonton City Park. The second stop of the Alberta Cross Country Cup, the Perogy XC, took place in Terwilleger Park and was a huge success. Some Mid-Categories reaching 30 competitors of various caliber, plus a serious Top filled Ladies contingent.

Top Gear had two riders this weekend in the 6.2 km lap Event, results here. Veteran Mountain biker back from when ' aluminum' was cool, Dallas Morris, hits a Top 5 in Elite for his first Off-Road race of the year. And Super Master, Thomas Auer cranking on the throttle in the Mens Master combined surviving the day amidst a field with a couple couple crashes.



The race went smoothly under the support of Edmontons biggest Hardcore Mountain Bike Store, River Valley Cycle. And Organizer Kirk Hamilton has this to say, " next year we're thinking of a Stage Race XC ".. wicked. I'm think Stages could be Log Tractor pull, Drag Race, and also Beer chug to wash down the Perogies.. man \They Were GOOD .



The Race itself is already as famous as RVC, due to the label, the Perogy XC.. where volunteers force feed the racers, and sometimes just throw Perogies at them... awesome.

Free Food and Dirt.. . yee haw.