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Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the 2012 Fort Collins Cycling Schedule. All of this is subject to change but this is how it looks right now. Flyers and info will be posted on the YGR calendar and the YGR race pages when available. You can view Cheyenne/Laramie races by clicking on the 2012 Wyoming Races tab at the bottom.
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Feeling good. Photo by Rob Noble
Not feeling so hot here. Photo by Rob Noble
I was not too concerned about the bike at this point. It was late August and I could not really ride for another six weeks, plus Fall is for cross and mountain biking, so I hung the bike back up and went inside. Over the next few months, I pondered what to do with the old girl (two years old). I could strip it and sell the groupo and the proprietary fork and seatmast and turn the frame into some sort of functional art piece that my wife (and most people) would mock. I could Ebay it "as is". I could fix it and sell it "as is", or I could fix it and turn it into a belt drive single speed or a regular single speed. The belt drive would take a bit of breaking/fixing to make it happen, but it would be pretty cool. After reading the Velo News article on repairing carbon, I decided to fix it, train on it and sell it "as is".
For me, it came down to two options, and the manufacturer crash replacement program was not one of them. I could spend a ton to have a broken carbon frame that worked great and looked great or spend a little and have a broken carbon frame that worked great and looked okay. As far as I was concerned, the resale value was shot no matter what so why spend a ton making it look nice. Velo had great things to say about Broken Carbon down in Boulder. The price was right, so I fired Brady Kappius an email to check his availability. At the time, the Cliff Bar Mtb/Cross Pro was busy at CX Nats (he would go on to finish 5th in the single speed race) so the repair would have to wait a few days.
I met with Brady at his house/office on Friday the 13th to get the ball rolling.
To say that Brady knows what he is doing would be an understatement. He has a Bachelors of Science in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines as well as a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has repaired roughly 100 carbon fiber frames. His house and garage were littered with all the big brands in various stages of repair including Cannondale, Specialized, Trek, Giant, BMC, Ridley etc... belonging to weekend warriors to regional heavy hitters all the way up to Euro pros. Some of which can't be mentioned here for various reasons.
I spent a few hours over the course of two mornings watching Brady work his magic.
According to Brady, the repair process has three basic steps:
Preparation: where I remove paint, clear coat and damaged fibers bringing out the raw carbon. Lay-up: I select the carbon fiber size and type that I want to use based on the damaged areas size, stresses and cosmetics, wet it out with a 2 part epoxy resin, then apply it to the frame and apply uniform compression. The final stage, and probably the most time consuming, is the finish work. I sand down the repair to a smooth, tapered finish and apply clear coat and paint in some cases. This quote was stolen from a Mud and Cowbells interview with Brady last fall.
Broken Carbon saves 3-4 frames from the landfill every week. The most common affliction to those frames is a broken stay either seat or chain. Repairs at BC take between 1 and 2 weeks and usually cost between $175.00 and 200.00. I found it very interesting that BC technically could have you back on the road 10 hours after you snapped your frame. This depends on two things, BC being available to make the repair and you not caring about the cosmetics. This repair would be strictly structural.
Below are before, during and after photos of my 2010 6 Series Trek Madone. I dropped the whole bike off (no disasembly required) one Friday and picked it up the next. The current plan is to train on it for the spring and Ebay it to help pay for a new one.
If you have any questions for Broken Carbon, please tag @Broken Carbon and post them in the Facebook comments section below.
Brady can be contacted at:
The repair process has 3 main steps. Preparation: where I remove paint, clear coat and damaged fibers bringing out the raw carbon. Lay-up: I select the carbon fiber size and type that I want to use based on the damaged areas size, stresses and cosmetics, wet it out with a 2 part epoxy resin, then apply it to the frame and apply uniform compression. The final stage, and probably the most time consuming, is the finish work. I sand down the repair to a smooth, tapered finish and apply clear coat and paint in some cases.
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Colorado Wielersport LLC invites you to come out and see some of their old cyclocross film footage. They've dug through their massive collection of old films and compiled the best of the best cyclocross films. They have some footage that goes back to the 1920s. Most footage is from the 1960s-1980s.
Entry is $ 7.00 and all proceeds will benefit the Davis Phinney Foundation. There will also be a few prizes given away. This event is organized by Colorado Wielersport LLC, held at the Mayor of Old Town. Prizes are donated from Phoenix Cyclery. Come enjoy cyclocross culture and it's history.
What: Vintage Cyclocross Movie Night
When: Thursday, January 26, 2012 7:00pm until 9:00pm
Where: Mayor of Old Town
How Much: a cool 7 bucks
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Written by David Young for the Coloradoan:
http://tinyurl.com/75bk5bp
When John Eklund bought a Yeti mountain bike on Craigslist last year, he never thought he would be searching the same website a month later for the same bicycle.
Eklund was only able to ride his bike a few times before it was stolen, along with three other bikes, right out of his garage.
Eklund is not alone.
Bike thefts in Fort Collins are on the rise. In 2010, the latest data available, the city reports 747 bicycles were stolen in Fort Collins - a number that has gone up every year since 2006. Those numbers do not reflect thefts not reported.
Bicycles are often easy targets for criminals - they are mobile and often left unlocked or insecurely stored in dark alleys. Thieves can strip a bicycle for parts or resell it cheap.
It is a problem in Fort Collins that continues to grow each year, Dave "DK" Kemp, the city's bicycle coordinator, said in an email.
Stolen Bicycles
John Eklund and his wife, Lindsay Brinkman Eklund, became victims last year when four of their six bicycles, valued at about $7,500, were stolen from their garage.
In August, John Eklund said he got up in the middle of the night to check out a noise. After checking the perimeter of his house, he returned to bed, but forgot to close the garage door. The next morning, he awoke to find two mountain bikes, a road bike and a vintage Schwinn missing.
"It was pretty unreal at first," John Eklund said. "It took me a second to realize there was a lot of space in here (the garage). Then, it clicked."
The Eklunds said they immediately contacted police and filed a report. While they had photos of all the bikes, they were only able to provide the serial number for the Specialized road bike. They watched Craigslist to see if the bikes would appear - they even rode around town looking for them on occasion
Read the full story here:
http://tinyurl.com/75bk5bp |
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The Ciclismo Youth Foundation will be hosting a free training seminar on Thursday January 12th from 6-7pm at the Fort Collins Club. Join Andy Clark as he explains the secrets behind: The principles of stress and recovery, defining intensity and getting the most out of your training time by understanding the systems in your body. The seminar is open to juniors and adults alike.
The Ciclismo Youth Foundation is a local 501(c)(3) charitable foundation dedicated to getting kids on bikes. Founded in 2010 by Jason Trujillo, Dan Burnett, Andy Clark, Ryan Scalva and Rob Noble, the Ciclismo Youth Foundation arose out of a need to ensure that youth in our community have structured opportunities to learn and enjoy riding bicycles.
The CYF brings you:
New Belgium Short Track Series, City Streets Crit Series, Lory Park Mountain Challenge Series, New Belgium Cyclocross Series |
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 After nearly 6 years as the Fort Collins Bicycle Coordinator, Dave "DK" Kemp is moving on.
Here's DK's announcement.
I have accepted a new job in Davis, California as the Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator for the City of Davis. I leave the FC Bikes Program in excellent hands with the City of Fort Collins and partnering organizations and individuals. While I'm very excited for the new changes and opportunity ahead, I am also feeling nostalgic and very appreciative for all the support that I have received over the last 6 years. Together, we have built an incredible, comprehensive program for the Fort Collins community and it is now time for me to take on new challenges. We will share best practices with respect to bicycle planning and design and always stay in touch.
Much love & respect,
-DK
Here is the City of Davis' press release about hiring DK.
Press Release
and here's the Coloradoan's article.
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Trevor Hughes/The Coloradoan
According to Team Rio Grande Racing's Scott Glasscock a female driver pulled out in front of Craig Hassellbach, Justin Hall and James Stevens as they were descending towards Stout at 30+ miles per hour. The accident happened around 2pm today. Craig and Justin impacted the car and James was able to stop before impact. UPDATED: Both riders have been treated and released from PVH. Craig has seperated shoulder, sprained neck, and two sprained knees. Justin has cuts on both knees and one elbow.
Justin's bike was destroyed and Craig's bike was heavily damaged.
The driver who was described as being in her early twenties, allegedly admitted to being distracted and had just got her drivers license. The Colorado State Patrol has issued the driver a ticket for careless driving.
More information will be posted as it become available.
James Stevens account of the accident:
We had a great day of riding minus the accident. We were returning from Horsetooth and just passed the entrance to the Marina coming off the downhill section from "the Perch". We just turned the corner coming off the level section and were heading downhill again probably at around 30 mph when a car decided to turn left into Sunny Slope Dr directly in front of us. I believe she caught a glimpse of us out of her periphery and stopped smack in the middle of our path but at the speeds we were traveling an impact was a foregone conclusion.
I was roughly 10 ft behind Craig and Justin and saw her looking towards the road she was about to pull into rather than up the road to see if oncoming vehicles or cyclists were approaching. I was able to slow down and veer towards the middle of the road and get a decent view of Craig and Justin make contact with the passenger's side front end.
I chatted with the driver, who was visibly upset, and she apparently had just gotten her license reinstated yesterday and was up there taking in the scenery. She was turning into that road to turn around and head back to town. As the article states she told me she never saw us. Needless to say it could have ended infinitely worse than it did! |
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Name- Jim Dickerson
Jim Dickerson on his way to winning the 1980 Hong Kong International.
Team- Great Divide Brewing
Age- 57
Years Racing- First license in 1975 and raced every year since, with the exception of 1989 when my first daughter was born and we were doing a major construction job on the house.
Category/Age Group- Cat II, masters 55+, but race 45+
Type of Racer/Strengths- TT and all arounder... that means everybody comes around me in a sprint!
FtC resident Since- 1978, but grew up in Loveland
Occupation- Software Engineer for HP
Family- Wife, Dot and two daughters, Janna and Emma
If you’ve ridden in Fort Collins for any amount of time, I can just about guarantee that you’ve been dropped by Jim Dickerson. He’s one of the founding fathers of the local scene. After 3 decades of racing, he’s still going strong. You’ll see him at the Oval, the TTH ride and of course, his baby, Wednesday Night Worlds. In my opinion he’s one of the classiest riders in town as well as one of the strongest especially for 57 years old. He’s raced and trained with everyone from Dave Paranka, Randy Whicker, Eddy Gragus, to Jon Garcia, Alex Hagman and whether he knows it or now, Chad Haga.
- How did you get started racing and what was your first race?
JD- I grew up in Loveland and the state rep used to live there, he got my younger brother and myself interested and then I went to college with Rich Gangl who was racing. So in 1975 I got a license and started racing... the Keystone stage race in 1975 was my first sanctioned race... I ended up second.
- Word on the streets is that you used to own a bike shop where the Steakout is now, what’s the story behind that?
JD- I managed the Bike Broker for Chuck Wanner (owner) for about 20 years, most of them at the location where the Steakout is now located.
YGR-What happened to that shop and where else was it located?
JD- Originally the Bike Broker was on Mason right across from Lee's, then out to Riverside, and when Chuck bought it he moved to Mountain Ave. We closed the shop in the fall of 1998 and I went back to college for a CS degree.
- There’s also a rumor going around that you were one of the original Wednesday Night Worlds riders. Is that true? How/when did that ride get started? How has the ride changed? Who were some of the other original riders?
JD- Bill Lorenze and I both wrenched at the Bike Broker and we would do a hard ride on Wednesdays after work. I don’t really know if we started it but then a larger group would start gathering at the shop after work. Eventually it got large enough that starting in town was not a good option. Back then there was only SCVC in Ft Collins and most everyone would show up... Whicker, Holcombe, Miller, etc. riding as hard as you could and leaving dropped riders left for the buzzards!
YGR- Roughly when was this and who is this “Miller” you speak of?
JD- I am guessing around 1977, we would just name a route and ride it, no set course like rawhide, but always fast... just like now. Brian Miller, one of the "juniors" - Whicker, Holcombe, Miller, and Dave Paranka... all of them very strong.
- You’ve been riding in Northern Colorado for like 3 decades. Have certain group rides disappeared that you miss? Has the style of riding changed? Have any routes that you used to do become unrideable because of the population growth in the area? What has changed for the better?
JD- We used to call the 70’s and early 80’s the pot luck days of cycling... you knew all the riders in town and they were the same folks you had the pot luck dinner with on Friday’s. The only group rides were WNW and the Oval, now you can always find a group to ride with (but you don’t know everyone). Routes are constantly changing... some disappearing because they become un-rideable and others popping up as new routes get paved or become rideable. All in all I would say rides and riding has gotten better over the years.
- What Northern CO race that no longer exists do you miss most.
JD- Tour of the lakes... a stage race with a Masonville road race, TT to Wellington and a City Park Crit. All great courses with a low key Northern Colorado atmosphere.
YGR- When did that race run and what were the courses?
JD- I think it only ran for a couple of years in the early 80's. The TT was out Highway One to just before Wellington... about 8 miles. I mapped the road race:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/62865976
and crit:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/62866966/
- What is your favorite current locale race?
JD- YGR Double Dams
- You’ve seen a lot of riders come and go through Fort Collins. Who were you most impressed by?
JD- Randy Whicker and Dave Paranka both could do it all and often did so at my expense! A lot of the young guys riding out of the Fort now also impress me … it is just that I am not around them when the going gets real hard!
- Who do you miss training and racing with?
JD- If I could go do a ride with Randy Black, Randy Whicker, John Holcombe, Mike Haney and the old SCVC crew out to Galeton I would have a big smile on my face!
- Whats your take on the ACA USAC debacle? You were around for the big break up what was your take then?
JD- I have always had both licenses but It has been the local aspect of Colorado racing which makes it great... Yvonne and the ACA have done a lot of great things to support local racers and keeping it growing... USAC has its place, but it is much easier for me to support ACA/BRAC.
- I’ve heard you keep it in the small ring until you’ve riding 1500 miles in the winter, is that true? Any other training secrets?
Jim Dickerson racing for Life Force Foods (Bob Cooks team) in the early 80s.
JD- Yeah, I am definitely old school in my training habits. I even have the old blue CONI training manual that I look through occasionally. Lots of small ring stuff early to get a nice supple spin, then increase intensity. Oh, and I drink lots of good beer!
- You’ve got a PowerTap now. How do you feel about training with power?
JD-I think it is another great tool for the hand bag, but I think you need to use it along with some good common sense and knowing your body.
- How has your training changed over the past 30 years?
JD- It is very much the same … just with less miles and intensity than when I was 25. I also incorporate the new tools they have become available but my basic training is very similar.
- You do several of the local group rides (Worlds, Oval and TTH). What’s the secret to incorporating them into a successful season?
JD- I think rides like WNW, and the Oval are better than racing, as you are willing to ride till you drop... which is often much more intense than a race where you are more concerned about the finishing place. Because of that I need pay extra attention to rest days and not over do it. I like to have a short conversation with myself before every ride, and figure out what I really need from the ride and then stick to that plan. Riding in a group it is very easy to loose sight of what you need to be doing to improve long term, so figure that out before you start the ride!
- You also do a lot of dirt road riding in the winter. What's your favorite dirt ride?
JD- Dead Pig then Park Creek, although I did Pennock Pass with Williams, Newman, Hegdal last fall and had a blast.
- What else do you do to say in shape during the winter?
JD-Skate skiing
- What state and national titles have you laid claim to?
JD- I shared the National record for Team Pursuit 50+ (although it was broken a couple years ago), I have had multiple state titles in TT, Crit, pursuit and points race. I was BAR in Cat 1’s in the late 70’s and a couple of masters BAR.
- What's your proudest career moment
JD-Wining the Hong Kong International Race for the US team in 1980.
- Did you do any national racing? If so, tell us a little something something about that. What was your favorite National race.
JD- I have had a couple of top 10 finishes at the National Championships in the late 70’s early 80’s, rode in the 1977, 78, 80 Red Zinger/Coors Classic. Internationally I raced in Hong Kong and then in Pan AM Championships in Medellin COL (an off year in between the PAN AM Games).
- What’s your favorite frame of all time?
JD-I had a all chrome Masi track bike, that I always will regret selling.
- Favorite local ride.
JD- Rist Canyon Stove Prairie loop
- Tell us a little bit about your track racing career.
JD- Actually I haven’t riding a lot of track... just a few States and National championships. When I raced for Spike they had the Pro Track team so they wanted the masters team to also ride the track. That is when I was on the winning Team Pursuit team, and set the national record for old guys.
- Ever get into mountain biking or cyclocross?
JD- I brazed up a cross frame in the 70s when you couldn’t find production frames and raced that in the late 70s early 80s... had a couple of top 20 finishes at the Natz. Back then there was a lot more running involved and my knees suggested I quit cross and I listened to them.
- Your wife Dot is very active in Fort Collins cycling advocacy. How did that come about? Did Dot ever get into racing? Kids?
JD- When I met Dot she was racing, she was also the Pres of SCVC for a couple of years and started the Buckeye Road race (another Northern CO favorite) she quit racing in the late 80s but has stayed very active with Ft Collins bike Advocacy, on board for Bike Ft Collins and the Ft Collins Velodrome Assoc. and still rides her bike a ton. Both of the girls ride, but like to put their competitive energies elsewhere... Janna plays tennis for her college, and Emma swims and plays tennis for Poudre.
24. Who should I interview next?
JD- How about some young blood... like Skyler?
JD-Now for my YGR plug. After thinking about the interview I realized that YGR has filled the void of the Pot Luck...no, the cycling community doesn't get together every week for a pot luck and some partying, but YGR does a fantastic job of keeping the cycling community connected in Ft Collins. WELL DONE!
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Good luck to all the NorCo cyclocross racers getting it done in Madison this week.
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