2010 Aspen Lodge CX Cross Race, Estes Park
Posted on 19. Oct, 2010 by Jordan in Jordan, The Gear Movers
Amazing view of Longs Peak from the Aspen Lodge at 730am, unfortunately it was 730am on a Sunday...
Even though getting up at 6am for a Cross race that your not even racing in on a chilly Sunday morning was miserable, what was to follow at this fantastic event was amazing! The Aspen Lodge CX Cross Race in Estes Park put on by our buddy Chris Grealish and DBC events was an inspiring, and tough event. Held under picture perfect conditions just off of South St. Vrain Road below the looming Longs Peak, Colorado’s most ominous 14er, the event catered to exactly what cross riders were looking for. The weather was perfect, the course was gnarly, fast but also super technical, the promoter did a great job showing his love for cross and of course The Gear Movement was on hand to give all the local riders a chance to use our free warm-up tent!
Free warm-up area here...Its trainer time everyone, get on em and get warmed up cause TGM is here for ya!
Can you ask for a better setup? Not really, right on the start line and look at those beautiful turning Aspens. Fall and CX is here folks!
One of our buddies Jerry Greenleaf hanging with us at The Gear Movement, the warm-up tent is full!
Our buddy Jason Sumner hanging in the tent and warming up for the dominant Velonews crews!
That would be a "thumbs up" from Jordan. Yep with his approval this will be sweet!
After chatting with Chris a few weeks ago Ben and myself with his suggestion created the idea for a free warm-up area for all amateur and pro competitors at the Aspen Lodge race and the Boulder Cup, Oct. 31st. Something we have not seen before is a warm-up area right next to the start line in a perfect location for riders of all categories to warm-up for their impending race. Quite possibly gone are the days where you have to warm-up at your car in a parking lot 2 miles away from the start. Now each rider can feel the benefits that the pros get, they can warm up right next to the course and get to see all the action, then get to jump off the trainer and your already at the start!
#1 TGM fan Nicole Duke hanging before the start of here Pro Women's race with Sonya Looney, sizing up the competition, go Nicole!
While everyone is racing Jordan was hanging with the ol' UBikes crew, Kris Lathrop!
Deep fryer extroadinare Steve Illes chilling with Jordan...
Are you freaking kidding me? A portable deep fryer! Best thing ever, thanks Illes for cooking up some mean fries!
Check out The Gear Movement on Facebook for up to date announcements and at the Boulder Cup at Flatirons Mall for a great time and good spot to warm-up at. If you have any suggestions for us on how we could do this better or improve the idea, let us know…
Ladies and Gents the CX season is here. As we leave for the day, the storms come rolling in over Longs Peak, game on!!
CrossVegas and the Madison, WI USGP Cyclocross Race
Posted on 13. Oct, 2010 by Jordan in Jordan, Pro Wrenching, The Gear Movers
David Hackworthy warming up in the Clement Tent on Day 2 in Madison
Anyone want some Cyclocross? For the first time in my career I have decided to throw my skills in the ring for a winter long experiment with Cyclocross Racing. For those of your here who do not know what Cyclocross is, check out this video…
Fast Tube by Casper
Being a purely road mechanic for the last 7 or so years of my life, the switch to Cyclocross is interesting and actually kind of easy. Where as I normally work with 6-8 riders per race, this season I am working with only 1 rider this winter. After getting an email from an old contact from my road racing days I decided to jump back into the mix. Donn Kellogg contacted me to see if I was interested in helping him as a mechanic for the winter season with his re-emerging brand; Clement Tires. Donn recently brought the Challange Tire brand over to the USA in the last few years and when an opportunity to re-introduce the Clement brand back into the world, he jumped at it! Here we talk to Donn about Clement and whats new…
Fast Tube by Casper
The collaboration is between Donn and Clement tires, Ridley Bikes, HED wheels, KORE components, Shimano Drivetrains and Boulder CycleSport for local help. You put all of these great sponsors together to support one athlete, a David Hackworthy the 2009 U23 National Cyclocross Champ and you have a great recipe for fun and success.
Jordan and friend Tom Hopper - mechanic extroadinare for the Hudz-Subaru CX Team
The Cyclocross season floats from the end of September to mid December in the US culminating with National Championships in Bend, Oregon later this winter. The first excursion revolved around CrossVegas! A cyclocross race in Las Vegas at the same time as the Interbike show to kick off the season, could you have a better excuse for a party?
The Mavic boys show Jordan some love in the pit, Mark and Petar, thanks precious!
Normally I would be partying for an event like this but this year it was purely work. DOnn had me flying into Las Vegas on Wednesday the 22nd around noon, catching a cab straight to the airport and working on the two race bikes for 6hrs in our Hilton hotel room. The reason for the immediate work was to be ready for the CrossVegas race at 9pm Wednesday night about 5 miles off of the Vegas Strip! I didn’t even have time to gamble I was so busy, this was a good thing!
Jordan washing David Hackworthy's race bike in the Hilton Hotel shower, nicest bike wash this thing will ever get...
The bike race was uneventful with no mechanicals and David placing a modest mid pack result after suffering some back soreness. The kicker for me was 3 and half hours of sleep after the race then hopping in the team car and driving the team equipment to Madison, WI by Friday for the next round of racing. This drive was a beast and I ended up doing the longest haul of my life – 20hrs of driving and 1200 miles in one day by myself, uhh there are 24hrs in a day right? Geeze…
The Pit in Madison, WI at the USGP Pro Mens Race, yeah bike race!!
Having safely arrived in Madison, we raced under clear skis and great conditions with no mechanicals for David for the entire weekend. I will post some more interesting blogs about the actual bike racing later on this winter, for now the logistically tough long drives are done and I will be flying into the next USGP Cyclocross race in Louisville, KY on the weekend of the 24th and 25th.
When in need of a large truck for transport...the roof of a Subi will work, holy cow!
These "pro pool" ladies thought they could kick Jordan's butt, unfortunately him and his buddy Chris Kreidl showed them otherwise...
Until then ya’ll is back to to business at The Gear Movement…
Back in The Game!
Posted on 17. Nov, 2009 by Jordan in Nicole
Nicole Duke of The Gear Movement Pro Team - hitting the barriers
Here I am, and I find myself back in the game. The racing game that is. After taking some time off to have my second child Canin , I am energized, recovered and ready to hang with my girls on the cross course.
My career started back in 1995 as a Professional Downhill and Dual Slalom racer. I raced for teams such as Giant, Mongoose, Intense, and others. In 2000 I decided to retire as I was broken and tired from all the expected downhill racer crashes. For years I didn’t ride—burnt out!! I started a new career as a hairstylist and eventually met my husband Ben. Then came Ryder our first child—the wild thing. I found myself missing the chase, the race, and time with the girls. In 2007 I decided to give cyclocross a try.
My first race was on the only bike I had, a hard tail mountain bike. I really had no idea what to expect and to my surprise I finished 3rd in the Womens’ Open field. All right, game on. I headed to Boulder Cycle Sport to talk with my friend Brandon Dwight. I knew he had been doing this for years and could show me the way. He hooked me up with a bike, jersey and I found myself now racing for their local team.
A sand pit - Nicole Duke on her way to a sweet 5th place finish in the Woman' Pro Race
The season went well and I was making friends fast and racing well. My only problem was I never watched the lap counter. Yes, I was passed several times at the line and left wondering. My lesson for the season, yes I know its obvious, but I wasn’t used to racing on a lap count. Racing DH, it was always the fastest one to the bottom.
Excited now and ready to get serious for the next season I started talking to a few local teams about sponsorship. I had decided to go with Mafia racing, ready to represent. I mean they were sponsored by PBR, they had to be fun. Two weeks later, we learned baby Canin was on her way. Racing had to wait.
Canin was born on October 30th 2008 and I wasn’t sure I would be able to race again. Two kids, a part time job, and not a lot of free time wasn’t conducive to training or racing. I approached the next summer with no expectations of racing and wanted to ride just enough to keep up with my friends. My friends are mostly professional athletes, I had to try pretty hard!
Now, I find myself racing the 2009 Cross season for our new company The Gear Movement and I’m giving it another go. No expectations, I entered the first race and much to my surprise finished 5th. Every race I have gotten stronger and cross-race wiser. I’m now consistently finishing 3rd and sometimes find myself hanging with the likes of World Champion Allison Dunlap and National Champion Allison Powers. Every weekend the family (thanks to the hubbie) looks forward to cowbells, bouncy castles, kids races and sticky mud. A retired racers’ family dream. I’ve found a way to integrate family with racing. My son now “cyclocrosses” his bike over every curb, I am so proud!
Nationals are in my sights. Sounds like fun and I could use a little girlfriend time away from laundry, diapers and screaming kids. Cyclocross, I’ve discovered is actually 45mins of painful freedom!
Mud Time!
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