The Secret life of Pine Mountain

As you get closer to Cartersville, GA the terrain and landscape becomes even more beautiful. You can begin to enjoy the the undeveloped part of Georgia. Most people around the Kennesaw area can forget how pretty Georgia’s landscapes are from the suburban lifestyles we all lead.  The rolling hills of the Appalachians boast beautiful fall colors and the steep formations of the Blue Ridge Mountains make for great weekend getaways or backpacking trips. However, even Cartersville, just 25 miles north of our Kennesaw home, holds its own secrets about the beauty of Georgia to only the few that seek it.   

Brendan Bowers shredding some gnar

Pine Mountain is located about 25 miles north up I-75.  Tucked away in the foothills near the northwest side of Lake Allatoona are a series of campsites, family RV spots, historic structures, and hiking trails.  However, on Wednesdays and Saturdays the Pine Mountain hiking trail is open to mountain bikers. Now, the difference between hiking and biking trails is actually quite significant.  Typically, mountain bicycling trails are more flowy, have less roots, less large rocks to finagle your way around, and are generally more bike friendly to the novice riders. Pine Mountain is NOT the case for bikes.  The descent is steep, rocky, technical, and will seriously test any mountain bikers’ skills to the fullest extent. Comparably speaking, local mountain bike trails like Blanket’s Creek and Rope Mill Park don’t have nearly the type of advanced trail riding that Pine Mountain has.  

When we finally made it up the treacherous one mile climb to the Overlook, the sun was just starting to dip down onto the horizon and we got a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape. Off in the very distance you could see the Atlanta skyline, the buildings no bigger than the head of a pin.  To the west, you could see the smoke stacks from the Rome power plant and off to the east was a stunning view of the mountains.

A very pretty Santa Cruz Hightower

Brendan and Connor from the KSU team was joined by Clay at the top look out. Tyler Cole, a rider from Georgia Tech, was also part of the party. We took a few moments to catch our breath the top and enjoy the scenery before getting back on our bikes to head down.

Typically, riders would just descend the same trail they came up on. It’s a very, very short out-and-back but well worth it!  However, if you know the right people, you can find the right trail…

Now, I’m not saying these exist, but a birdie told me that there are some trails somewhere on the backside of Pine Mountain. After venturing further off the beaten path with the gang, we found them. I “don’t know” how they got there, but these trails are steep, fast, and more technical than anything else you’re going to get south of Lake Allatoona. These trails have it all; 3 and 4 foot rock drops, scoops in and out of gullies, and stretches where you can reach speeds of nearly 30 miles an hour… Or so I’ve been told…

After hearing only hearing legends of these trails and imagining how fun they could be, we mysteriously found ourselves at the bottom of Pine Mountain on the opposite side we climbed. Weird. The paved road we approached lead us to the enormous Lake Allatoona dam. It was truly impressive.  I couldn’t believe, even after having lived in Georgia for 22 years now, I had never been ventured there before! It was such a cool area. The rushing sound of the water leaving the dam’s pipes was almost soothing. We followed the road back around the base of Pine Mountain and got ready to do another loop. We found our cars at the small gravel parking lot and refueled with water and some snacks.  Who’s up for round two?  

We made a treacherous ascent again only to come right back down. The front side wasn’t quite as fun as the backside. Technically speaking it was still quite eipc. Natural berms, rocks, roots, and steep, treacherous terrain lead us all the way to the bottom. We got some great pictures and videos but unfortunately not when Connor went over the handlebars! Luckily all was well but more importantly, the bike is ok!  After around of high-fives, knuckle punches, and a few sodas did we all get back in the car to head out after a good evenings’ ride. Connor and I ended up stopping at Huey Luey’s Mexican restaurant to grab some grub. The ride had left us beat and starving for some tacos.

In all my years of living in riding and Georgia, I cannot believe that I had never made up to Pine Mountain. It truly is Cartersville’s best hidden gem for cyclists.  It truly is Cartersville‘s best hidden gem for cyclists. Nowhere else South of Lake Allatoona can you get such a formidable ascent and a descent that rivals the North Carolina gravity trails. I can most assuredly say that I’ll be returning soon to practice my hill climbs and shred some more gnar.  

The Party to End and Era

The KSU cycling team is first and foremost a group of dedicated cyclists that ride together in competition to promote and advocate for bicycling and all its surrounding culture.  Throughout the years I’ve been captain, it has evolved and changed into an amazing group of students and KSU faculty that encompass all forms of cycling. We now have 35 cyclists signed up for the team including two iron men and women. Our mountain team members have competed across the Southeast in Enduro races, Six-Hour endurance races, and XC races alike to prove to themselves and the community how much time and effort they have put into the team and their own training.  The road racers are on the same trajectory, stealing podiums and wins along the way. The KSU team is truly a force to be reckoned with and is a group well worth getting to know.

The new captains lead on!

This week, the team gathered at Clay Wilderman‘s house to signify the end of his leadership as 3 year captain of the team and to set the stage for next year.  Now, this gathering was first and foremost a meeting but we all knew it wasn’t going to stay professional for too long. With a pool, hot tub, a lake in the backyard with a couple kayaks, and more pizza than we know what to do with, needless to say the ‘meeting’ portion was quite short. However it was still extremely effective.  Before the debauchery truly started, we began an election process to announce the new captains of the KSU cycling teams. Aaron Denning, a novice road cyclist turned semi-pro in a year, was

Aaron Denning, President

elected to be the new president of the team. Autry Short, a self-made businessman with an aptitude for photography and videography, was elected to be our PR officer. Christian, and avid road cyclist and triathlete was elected to the treasury seat and will be handling all monetary assets, team due collection, and team expenses.  Connor, a mountain cyclist with the heart of an ox, will be captaining the mounting team. I truly believe that all of these captains elected will lead the new team with pride, tenacity, and great leadership.

Now, let’s party! Oh! Wait… Not yet..

Time to get some more things straightened out first! The best part of being on this team is how well we all communicate. We opened the floor soon after elections to hear what the other riders would like to see from these leaders. We discussed a more pronounced marketing campaign to promote our activities to the community and involve more students. Getting a corporate sponsor is also top priority on our list.  After several budget cuts from the University last year, the team is going to have to work extra hard to raise the funds necessary to get riders to races. It won’t be an easy task, but I believe that teamwork will allow the team to travel to all races within a reason. After the final part of the meeting ended, we open the rest of the boxes of pizza and food and really got to enjoy our time with each other.

It was very cool to see both the mountain in the road teams together under one roof. These two groups rarely get a chance to interact with one another and most of them don’t even know who each other are. This year we had a mountain and a road cyclist in the same class with together.  During a lecture on rotational velocity, a picture was sent to our two separate group chats (the mountain team and road team) on the slide involving a bicycle wheel. Each one of them sent a different angle of the same slide to the different group chats. They didn’t know each other until I introduced them after seeing the pictures! I think we can do a lot better with communication across the parts of the teams in the future.

I am so excited to see where a new captains are going to take the team in the coming year. I think there’s a fantastic foundation for them to grow from and I believe that each one of them will learn from my own mistakes.  I know they’ll be able to take how I’ve lead the team the past three years and figure out a ways to do things that much better! I look forward to staying involved with the team and helping them out whenever I can. Graduating at the end of July won’t be nearly as emotional as officially leaving the KSU Cycling Teams.   

CYCLISTS ARE HUMAN BEINGS

This is a call to action and awareness to our motorists, students, teachers, commuters, and others who use the road that road cyclists are not out there to ruin your day, make you late, or hurt you. We have friends. We have families. We are brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers and we live the same type of life everyone else does. We are there to get exercise and enjoy the great outdoors.  It just so happens that are sport of choice also involves riding on paved roads that motorists share. Not once, and I do this quite frequently, have I ever counted more than 10 seconds between when a driver passes me on the road to when I catch up with them at a stoplight, or stop sign. Motorist, do not value human life at 10 seconds of your time.  

Earlier this week, we had two road cycling friends struck by cars.  Our own riders including Clay, Autry, Nicole, and Tyler were involved with a “buzzing” encounter that almost clipped their elbows and pushed them onto the shoulder of the road, nearly causing an accident both with the car involved and the riders.  The combination of all three incidents hit incredibly close to home. 

Now, the KSU cyclists are all OK.  However, Robert Lyew, a close friend of the Kennesaw team and former Auburn Flyers racer, was struck and suffered injuries so severe he had to be rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Robert was struck from behind by a black Mercedes at a high rate of speed in Charlotte, NC on Saturday, June 23rd.  He was thrown up over the car and into a ditch on the side of the road. While Robert himself cannot

This is one of the pictures taken of Robert before he went into the ER.  He received 28 stitches in his face to sew up the laceration caused by road debris and brables in the ditch he was thrown into.

even remember the crash, the only other witness Lee Flythe, and oncoming driver and good Samaritan who stopped to help, recounted that the black Mercedes that struck him made no indication of trying to avoid Robert on the open road, slow down, swerve, or even stop once he had hit him.  According to Flythe, “This car actually moved farther onto the shoulder and hit the cyclist squarely.”  This disgusting act of malicious violence of this motorist towards Robert is almost unforgivable, however Robert says, “I just feel lucky to be alive”.  He suffered three broken ribs, a punctured lung, and 28 stitches in his face from the laceration caused by the road debris in the ditch he was propelled into.  

 

The pictures of Robert and his destroyed bicycle or more than gruesome. The only reason I’m posting this specific picture (and one that the news will not post because of its graphic nature) is to show the actual damage that an act of careless violence can inflict on a human being.  Robert however is now with his girlfriend, family, and others after being released from the hospital. His recovery time is going to cancel the rest of his race season, but we are just glad to be able to ride with Robert again soon. 

His bicycle faired about as well as Robert did.

 

Please read more on Robert’s story from the WSOCTV website: Cyclist left battered after Mercedes slams into him, drives off

As many know, bicycles can get quite expensive.  His bicycle was completely destroyed and will be unable to replace his bike after taking care of his hospital bills.  If you would like to contribute to Robert’s GoFundMe, follow this link to make a donation: Robert’s GoFundMe Campaign

That same weekend, Bobby Swift,  another collegiate cycling friend of the Kennesaw State team and graduate of the University of South Florida’s Cycling Team, was struck in Tampa, FL. He was wearing a white, hi-vis jersey and even had his rear bike light flashing. Thirdly and almost more importantly, he was in an actual bike lane when he was struck. How careless can one motorist be? Luckily, Bobby  only suffered a couple minor scrapes and scratches. He married his fiancée Tess two weeks later.  

Bobby and his wife Tess enjoyed a beautiful wedding this week! Congratulations!

 

This week, the KSU cyclist returning from Kennesaw Mountain at about 6:30 using the paved noonday Creek bike path. To get back to campus quicker, they took Duncan Road, a low travel back road that acts as an access path for dump trucks and other utility vehicles for the Vulcan quarry.  The riders we’re on the left-hand half of the right lane, riding two abreast as encouraged by cyclists and even Georgia State Law for safety precautions. About 500 yards from the Duncan- Chastain intersection, a driver decided to make a priority of accelerating to a high rate of speed and cutting off the group as close possible, horn blaring.  The driver was caught at a red light not eight seconds ahead of when the team rolled up to his stopped car. “You’re blocking the whole road! I couldn’t get around you! You’re endangering yourself just by being out here!” He said once Clay knocked on his car window.  

This is the car we caught at the intersection of Duncan and Chastain after the intentional buzzing.

 

To let all motorists know, Georgia state law encourages and allows cyclist to ride two abreast when appropriate for safety precautions. In addition, it requires that motorists give cyclists at least 3 feet of clearance when passing and to only pass when that required three feet of clearance does not endanger any other user of the road. This particular driver was reported to the police for his aggressive behavior. The only thing that we can do is inform motorists of the law and get them to understand that we are human beings enjoying the same road as you do in a different way.

Please read more about the GA Laws protecting cyclists here: GA Laws protecting cyclists

 

To cyclists on the road; be safe, be aware, and be courteous.

 

To motorists who see a road cyclist; be safe, be aware, and be courteous.

 

Thank you.

 

The Velo Bros take on Skyuka

A few years back, a group of collegiate cyclists from different corners of the South East took on the name “The Velo Bros” after the friendships grown from several seasons of racing together.  We have a couple riders from Auburn, Furman University, Kennesaw State University, Florida State University, and more. We were all a very tight group of friends throughout our collegiate racing at seasons and we’ve made it a point every summer to get together and do an epic ride. This past year, we decided to do the infamous 6 Gap up in Helen, Georgia. This year we found ourselves in Greenville, South Carolina doing the Hincapie Gran Fondo route.  This route is about 80 miles long and has about 8000 feet of climbing, including the treacherous Skyuka climb.  

Riding towards the Skyuka climb

The Velo Bros all met up in Greenville, SC On Friday night and set out the next morning 8 o’clock to get in the saddle. The route starts off with about 20 miles of easy rolling Hills until you make a left-hand turn onto Skyuka Mountain Road.  We all got into our easiest gear and cranked up the incredibly steep 3 mile climb which included 16 switchbacks. We were able to get a fantastic view of the SC valley from the top look out. Pictures just wouldn’t do it justice. We Crested the top and began to decide down the treacherous switchbacks on the backside of Skyuka.  Michael took a corner a little too hot and ended up going down at the apex of the corner. Luckily he was all right! After NOT learning his lesson, he had a ditch it into the bushes again soon after. He got lucky twice.

Howard’s Gap was next and similar in length but not in difficulty.  After many more switchbacks, we made it to the top again! After our summit, we got ready for the fun descent.  Joe Whalley decided to one up Michael in speed and wreckage. Screaming down the straightaway, Joe got a bit overzealous with the speed and couldn’t slow down before they quickly approaching switch back. Instead of making the sharp right hand turn, Joe had to go straight, bunny hop his bike over a drainage rut, and then find the best place to ditch his bike.  Slowing down was not an option. Unfortunately the best place he could go was into a tree. Joe hit his head and wrecked his bike pretty bad, chinking the carbon…totally FUBAR. After checking if he was all right, we flagged down a passing work truck. Joe rode in the backseat with his bike and Hayden to a close by gas station where they could then be picked up and brought back to their cars. Luckily, Joe will be alright!  The rest of us continued on with the rest of the route.  

The third and final climb at mile 68 just about killed me. While it was shorter than the other three climbs, the fact it was in the high heat of the day and that far into the ride made it worse. I had been battling cramping legs despite the amount of hydration I had been consuming.   All was well though and I was able to pull back with the rest of the group after having my moment of doubt. Slow and steady won the race in this case. We stopped at a gas station so we could all refill our water bottles and grab a last minute snack. Funions are always my go-to. They’re all carbs and salt! What more could a cyclist need?  

We pulled back into our cars after almost falling over on the final ascent of the parking lot. The ride was tough, hot, but nonetheless fun.  Despite the amount of wrecks, the 80 miles we covered, the conversations we had, and the last we shared made it a successful Velo Bro’s weekend!

Thor brought the hammer down on the second Atlanta Motorsports Park Crit

Atlanta Motorsports Park has not only a fantastic track to race the high speed Karts and race cars around but also one built perfectly for a bike race.  There’s a great flat straight away, steep descent, and sweeping ‘S’ curves that make taking corners at high speeds not only fun but safe as well. It’s a closed course meaning that there are no cars, intersections, or stop light! The only thing that could really ruin the race is a crash or bad weather.  Well, Murphy’s Law chose the latter.

We started off almost the same time the rain started coming down in sheets.  Big, fat drops splashed off our glasses and pinged off our skin. The rain was so fierce that it became painful to race.  We made it a lap before we heard the first rumble on the course. We had all been checking the radar and the system seemed to almost be skirting around us.  “Around us” didn’t exactly work considering we were in the middle of the deep red on the radar. There’s oddly something exciting but still calming about riding in the rain.  You have the cool water on your back and the warm up-spray from the road. Honestly, it fun to race in an environment short of perfect. Well, until the lightning came in.  

The clouds were moving in faster than this smokin’ McLaren 650S

Thor decided to show up in lap number three and he brought the hammer hard! The rain had let up by about half the intensity (which honestly was still awful) but now we had the added bonus of lightning strikes.  If you’ve never been close to a lightning strike before, you can feel it before you hear it. Consequently, you can hear it before you see it. It’s a very cool experience, ya know, from the safety of your home or car and not while riding a bicycle on an open course with nothing protecting you but a flimsy, soaking wet jersey.  I got this sense of static similar to when you go down a playground slide. Then came this electric crackling sound. Finally, the visible lightning bolt itself struck the ground maybe 25 yards to our left. It felt like the clouds were charging up and then releasing everything they had. Again, very cool but not on a bike!

The official on his motorcycle called the race to be postponed, honking his horn to get our attention.  Unfortunately, we were a half mile from the pit zone so we had to keep riding around the course. On the final corner, another bolt struck the ground with even more intensity and was accompanied with deafening thunder.  As the smell of ozone hit our noses, our averaged speed to the pit zone increased ten fold.

We let the storm pass and got back out on the track to finish the remaining thirty minutes of racing.  As the final lap came around, I got into position and took the sprint. I knew that I had to be first going into the final corner because the shape and angle of the turn slows everyone down.  If you’re stuck behind the leader at that point, you’re as good as second. I sprinted through the corner way too hot and unfortunately pushed myself all the way to the outside of the course.  I tried to downshift but my bike’s gears were so waterlogged that I couldn’t get into an easier one. I had slowed down so much to stay on the course and basically sealed in my fate. I sprinted as hard as I could to regain my position but at that point, the other riders were using their momentum to pass me.  I came in a measly fourth place. Ugh- should have had that one.

We all came out of the race happy though.  This was mainly in part because none of us died due to being struck by ten million volts of electricity.  All’s well that ends well. Big kudos to Michael Storck, a rider on the team, and his girlfriend Callie who came out to support Clay in the race.  

The Tuesday Night Crit was L.I.T

The Tuesday Night Criterium (TNC) training is a way to get the racing dynamic without the heat of competition.  For those that do not know, a criterium race, also known as a crit race, is a competitive cycling event around a short circuit course.  Have you even seen NASCAR? Well, that’s basically what a criterium race is, just on road bicycles.  This particular training goes for one hour plus 5 extra laps.  Every Tuesday at 6:30, fifty or so cyclists line up at the bottom of West Oak Circle in Marietta to get in their training.  It’s a perfect way to get in shape and practice for a real race.  Just make sure to pay our awesome police officer Sgt. Ogle five bucks so he stops the traffic for us!

That being said, this training is not for the faint of heart.  This is more of a pro training course with legitimate riders all trying to push themselves to their limits. This past Tuesday was one of the toughest I had ridden in by a long shot.  Within the peloton sat the Rob, Tracey, and John of the Free Flite Bicycles Masters Team, Johnny and Luis of the Roswell Bikes Cycling Team, Huntley Nash and Pablo Diego Di Marco who are two current professional cyclists, and finally Aaron Denning and myself, the two captains of the KSU Road Cycling Team.  Among the other 48 signed up for the TNC, we knew going into this training ride that it was going to roll fast, especially with the lineup we saw.

A selfie at 25 mph!

Gary Daniels, the organizer of the event each week and local cycling coach, gave his announcement and training objective for the ride before we set off. “This week I would like the focus to be maintaining momentum and placing while cornering.  Focus less on your braking and more on body control with acceleration through the corners.” Good training tip, right?

Our Garmins said “6:30” and the group clipped in a rolled out. By the first corner, a group of around eight riders took Gary’s advice and applied it tenfold.  They rocketed out of the first bend and caused a gap of twelve seconds by the first lap.  I held on to the front of the peloton as we finally began gaining the momentum that would carry us up the first climb.  As the group began to get in a formation known as a pace line, things began to settle.

The laps began to add up; pull, recover, repeat.  The course itself is actually long for a criterium race, however, the nature of the road is more than supreme.  West Oak Circle is 1.1 miles of freshly paved, smooth cornered asphalt which is the perfect set up for racing.   22, 23, 24… they kept going.  Halfway done and halfway dead.  Aaron Denning gathered his strength and launched an attack on the main group, splitting the men from the boys.  That kid is a monster and I’m proud to have him on the team.  He’s definitely improved to say the least and this time, pushed me to my limit.  I fell back to the chase group as Aaron led the leaders to break the gap further.

The final lap was signaled.  Time to play chess.  That’s truly what criterium racing is; a chess match.  Who you need to follow, where you need to attack, and precisely when are all things you have to consider in the last half mile.  Aaron knew where to be.   Around the final bend, Aaron drafted in 5^th, then pulled out a sprint.  He finished in the top 10 along with the other veteran racers, flashing the colors of Kennesaw State across the line.

All things considered, this TNC was a blast.  It was fast, tight, and made us all better as racers.  There were no wrecks and generally speaking, all racers knew the dynamics of the ride and were well prepared with the skill and integrity required for a good work out. If you have never been to the TNC, come join in or watch.  There is plenty of room for riders looking to begin riding and racing along with ample spectator room.  You can be sure to see the Owls next week, hopefully off the front, kitted out, and ready to roll.

 

Some statistics from this training ride (Wilderman):

Time: 1:01:17
Average Speed: 26.3 mph
Estimated Wattage Output: 380 w
Elevation Gained: 1,529 feet

 

5 Owls Shralpin’ The Big Creek Quick 6

Enough of this roadie stuff! Let’s hit some dirt (finally).  Enduro season marks the end of skinny-tire racing the beginning to some good ol’ shredding.  What better a way to kick it all off than with a 6 stage Enduro at the Big Creek trails in Roswell, GA, our home turf.  The 6 Owls in attendance, Daniel, Brendan, Connor, Jeremy, Evan, and Clay were shreddy and eager to get rolling. 

The Owls rolled into the middle school adjacent to the race venue and began to set up the team tent.  The sun was already starting to beat down and the air was getting steamy. All of the local bike shops were present and had their tents up on the green, ready for their demos and business; Free Flite, Fresh Bikes, Sixes Pit, White Tail Bikes, and a couple other vendors too.  This was sure to be a great event with awesome cycling community representation.  

Daniel is always accompanied by his cetaceanic companion Jean- Claude van Whale, always smiling atop his bars.

For those that don’t know, an Enduro event is a stage style race where you’re timed only on specific sections or stages, specifically on descents.  You’re required to complete all of the stages within a certain amount of total time but are only ranked based on your time down the stages. Confused? It’s not that bad.  The most confusing part was actually finding the stages. They were each located across a three mile stretch of trail which made our overall mileage increase significantly.  We knew that the hardest part of the day would definitely be fending off the heat. While the trails were all nicely shaded, the Green Way access trails were out in the open.  

The gun went off to start the race and we all clipped in and rode casually over to the start.  No need to expend energy where it didn’t count, right? Stage One started out rooty and pedally, meaning we had to put in more effort moving forward than braking which is atypical for an endure.  That quickly changed as we dropped into an off camber section between several trees. After a final descent hand made for this event, we crossed the finish line one by one. After regrouping, we headed to the second stage.  Without a hitch, the second stage was done! Two down, 4 to go. 

Evan is in the zone through a flat right hander in Stage 3

Stage 3 was a great descent with a couple jumps thrown in as well.   After we all finished, the owls went to the tent to relax and take a lunch break.  They were grilling hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken patties at the pavilion. Kudos to the grill masters because those dogs and slaw were fantastic! I don’t know if it was because we were half exhausted or that they were THAT good.  I think we’ll stick with the latter. We ended having the quasi-collegiate racers tent during lunch. We were joined by Gunner and Tommy from Auburn and a couple riders from GA tech, all locals to Georgia. It was great to catch up with the riders we hadn’t seen since our fall collegiate mountain season.  

The last 3 stages became the highlights of the day by far.  The infamous Lunch Line, rock drop, and rock garden made spectating quite fun.  Brendan Bowers, although he couldn’t race because of a broken arm, still came out with his bull horn to heckle riders as the rode or crashed by.  He really shouldn’t have given Clay the bull horn… the savagery was intense! The lines were quite long for each state so I parked myself between the two rideable lines in the 5th stage and viciously heckled riders.  If you aren’t heckling, you aren’t racing (even to your own riders!).  Evan, Jeremy, and Daniel all made the collarbone smashing rock drop look like a pebble, riding over and through with ease. The Owls were looking good.  

The final stage wasn’t the most formidable of the day which was actually quite nice.  After 5-6 hours in the sun and 6 stages on the bike, we were all quite burnt out both mentally and physically.  We all regrouped and were ready to crowd the results table to see how we had all done. We used a timing system on our bikes so all results were extremely accurate. Time for the podiums! 

Daniel was throwin’ horns for his first podium!

Amongst the several giveaways including an Evil bike frame, one of our Owls, Daniel Hanna, made it up on the podium in the Sport class! This was actually Daniel’s first race so he was super stoked.  He came away with a great first podium shot, a new hat and tire, and an eagerness for the next race. The rest of the Owls did fairly well in the expert class, too. We are looking forward to hitting the trails more as the summer continues!

Twilight at Atlanta Motorsport Park… Just don’t drink the water

Atlanta Motorsport Park calls Dawsonville, GA its home.  Just outside the middle of nowhere is a fantastic race course meant for high speed Karting.  You can easily take the banked turns at upwards of 60 mph and even bring your own performance car to shred the tarmac course.  Most importantly, Top View Sports has an ‘in’ to let us race bikes on it.

The closed course is completely car-less for the bike race and more than fantastic for really digging into the corners.   The course has two main climbs, a steep descent, and a couple rollers which test the handling and endurance of every cyclist.  As the sun began to set, the racers lined up at the line for the start of the 4-5’s Criterium race, the first of which lasts 45 minutes.  6:30 rolled around and the race was off!

Clay and Aaron gettin’ that sweet lean on

Aaron, Clay, Christian, and Autry all began together.  KSU made up the largest team in attendance.  The Parliament stayed grouped together for the first several laps, using each other to pull, pace, and attack.  Aaron launched an attack early on but was slowly reeled back in.  Soon after, several racers began to fall off the back including Christian and Autry.  The main difficulty of this course was the steep descent into the first of two climbs section.  After tearing down this hill where you could easily roll up to 45 mph, you were shot into a hard left, over a roller, into a right hander, then up a the climb.  If you didn’t choose your line well or if you couldn’t handle the speed required to maintain momentum after the descent, you were quickly passed up by those that could.  This was the demise of most riders, some of which has to ditch it into the hill off-course! Luckily, no major wrecks happen that evening.

The bell signaled the final lap and the remaining two Owls got into position for the finish.  AMP’s finish line is in a precarious place, quite honestly. It’s about 100 yards after an extremely tight ascending right hand turn.  If you aren’t sitting in first position by the begging of that last turn, you aren’t going to win it.  Luckily, Aaron and Clay knew that.  Clay tucked in behind Aaron who sat in second by the final corner.  Aaron made a last minute inside cut to get around the racer in front of him.  While position one could have out sprinted him with his good placement, the momentum carried by Aaron through the corner allowed him to sprint early, granting him the top shelf podium spot! Congratulations on your first WIN, Aaron! Clay was soon to follow but a few places behind second.

Top shelf for the first time! Congratulations, Aaron! 

All faired just as well in the second 1-2-3’s race directly after.   Clay and Aaron did one cool down lap and then rolled right back up to the starting line.  The race ended with Aaron and Clay in the top 10.

All is well that ends well.  No wrecks, a 1^st place podium shot for Aaron, and great Mexican dinner with the crew afterwards.  Mad props to Nicole Brasser, our resident badass Iron Man and World’s Qualifier, for being our ‘team mom’ for the day.  She pinned on our numbers last minute, gave race advice, and cheered us all on to victory.  Thank you!  Autry also stuck around and got some fantastic shots of us all racing into the sunset.

“We’re definitely going to be bringing a watercooler up there for the next AMP event.  I totally missed the sign in the bathroom that said “Non-potable water! Do not drink!” Needless to say, after Mexican food, Clay’s evening was spent in the bathroom gripping, grinding, and clenching.

We should have brought kayaks to the Clemson Championships

Today marked the end of an era for KSU Cycling.  The Clemson South Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference Championships marked the end of our Spring Road season, the culmination of our hours of hard practice, and the final collegiate race weekend for four-year captain and soon-to-be graduate Clay Wilderman. Christian Zember, Aaron Denning, Autry Short, and Clay have been the core roadies all season and all had shown improvement not only on the bike but in team comradery, strategy, and leadership.

Autry Short has been taking all of the professional media content for our team all season.  This is the man behind the camera!

 

We pulled into Clemson and began unpacking with our favorite team, the Auburn Flyers.  They had been nice enough to let us crash with them at the Airbnb they had grabbed a week prior.  Club teams definitely have to look out for each other, especially during travel. We aren’t given the extravagant budgets the varsity teams are allotted by the school so we save money wherever we can. Thank you again Auburn for having us over! As we unpacked we started to strategize about the upcoming events throughout Saturday and Sunday.  The events for this weekend included the road race (RR), individual time trial (ITT), and Criterium races. All looked to be going on as planned and right one schedule. Time for bed!

Saturday morning wasn’t as early as most. Luckily, we stayed not 4 or so miles from the race venue.  Aaron Denning (KSU) and Robert Lyew (AU) got in a quick spin and rode to the start line from the house.  The rest of the Owls pulled into the race venue and got ready to roll. Aaron and Clay rode out first in the Men’s B field soon to be followed by Christian and Autry in the Men’s Cs.  The RR consisted of a 13 mile loop we did 3 times. Aside from the several rolling hills, there was only one significant climb of around a mile. As soon as racers saw the pretty waterway, they knew that they were about to have to dig hard to stay with the pack.  

Aaron saw his moment and found his climbing legs halfway up the Maw Bridge Road climb in lap 3, splitting the field.  A gap formed between Clay and the lead group and he tried to sprint and bridge it. While he did actually catch Aaron and the leaders, he started going asthmatic, dropped back, then had to catch back up to the chase group.  Clay rolled through the finish line in 12th but Aaron took a Top 5 finish!  Aaron has definitely proved himself to be the best climber on the team and it definitely showed after the multiple attacks he threw on the ascents.  

Christian Zember is smiling way too hard at the start of the TTT.  This guy’s speciality is going ‘in the box’ for Time Trials, Triathlons, and more.

The team took some rest between the end of the road race and the beginning of the time trials.  Aaron, upon looking up at the sky in wonderment and awe (or maybe just pure exhaustion after his morning accomplishment) mentioned doing the team time trial (TTT) instead of all the individual ones.  “Great idea! Let’s do an event in the championships we’ve never once practiced for all with riders on different skill levels! What could possibly go wrong!?” Tim, the director of Top View Sports, had no problem changing the TTT roster for the Owls.  “Why not just wing it (no pun intended)?” said Tim.

The bright sun and light breeze was on our backs as we took off in formation.  Taking 10 second pulls that all complemented our skills, Aaron pulled on ascents, Clay pulled on descents, and Christian and Aaron split the rest.  Truly, the owls nailed it. The finesse on the 180 degree turn-around encouraged a compliment from the official for how well coordinated and fluid it was.  We pushed hard through the finish line and all looked at each other with the same look- “Did that just happen!?”. We knew we had just done something really special and were super stoked to have ended the day on such a high note.  Clay recounted, “I’ve never worked like this with these guys before. It was truly awesome to work with a team that was able to communicate and work effectively together without any serious, prior practice.” 

This is probably the goofiest podium picture you’ll ever see.  Silver medals hung around the necks of the successful Owls!

We went back to the car to change then back over to the podium area.  We were all out of our sweaty kits and into our popsicle button downs, PFG’s, gym shorts, sandals, and able to go thank Tim for switching the registration for us last minute.  “Great work! Get ready for podiums, like, now because you just got second place!” The podium picture below is probably the most accurate representation of the KSU Cycling Team in existence.  No kit, finger guns, and big smiles for the camera. As the team captain, I got to place the silver medals over Christian, Aaron, and Autry’s shoulders for a job well done. Go owls!

Let’s skip past the debauchery that ensued in the evening after the day’s successes and ride through to Sunday morning; dreary, dark, and soon-to-be EXTREMELY moist.  We pulled into the Crit venue which was the square road around Sunbrella Awnings and Fabrications. How fitting considering the approaching clouds of impending doom…  The course was a perfect square meaning that all the corners were a tight 90 degrees. There was also a slight incline to the finish. Luckily, the road had been completely repaved the year before and the whole bathroom facility had been renovated.  Quickly, I turned up the heaters in the breezeway between the lobby and outer doors so that we’d have a space to warm up before and after the race. That’s a pro move right there! 

Aaron Denning was already soaked before the race started.  Luckily, he knew what he was doing.  He has shown the most incredible success from the start to the finish of the season.

The B’s race was off and so was the rain we have all but come to hate this season.  Not but three laps in was the rain coming down so hard that most riders stripped off their glasses.  Honestly, there was no avoiding water in your eyes. Knuckles were clenched as we gripped our wet bars just to hold the line.  Our tires were doing all they could just to hug the freshly paved road. The rain came down harder and with added wind, riders were trying to stay more tucked but almost to no avail.  Still, the riders raced on.

Round and round we went before the official held the card for 8 laps to go.  Perfect! I was feeling fresh despite the rain. It seemed to take my mind off the burning feeling I had in my legs.  I took a swig of my Torq energy drink to get the taste of road, rubber, and grit out of my mouth around turn 4. I was sitting in a good position on the final straight and realized there was one lap left.  The official had actually cut the race short because the conditions were getting so bad! 

Clay was pondering; glasses on and ride blind or glasses off and ride blind.  Hard decisions.  At least his race-face is pretty composed.

Corner 1 down, corner 2; advance positions.  Straight away; move up. Corner 3; 8th wheel.  Corner 4; feeling fresh and ready to gun it.  Around the last bend we all fanned out as wide as the road.  GA Tech and Nico of SCAD Savannah swung wide to keep momentum around the tight corner but found themselves in deep shi… water.  I didn’t think it was possible, but Nico just about hydroplaned on his bike! While the peloton all swung wide, I took the risky move of cutting the inside line.  As the riders all began their sprint late because of the wide swing, I was already in full gas, around the leader, and over the line for the WIN! 

Wearing the collegiate gold for the very last time.

The Criterium was impressively wet for the Owls.   The final standings in the B’s field had Clay Wilderman in 1st with Aaron close behind in the field.  The Owls really made an impression on the rest of the SECCC this year.  With a solid representation at almost every race, including the painstakingly far away race at Lindsey Wilson College in Tennessee, the Owls took numerous podiums throughout the season and all improved in their personal goals and standings.  

“We are looking forward to racing the open races in the spring and summer and cannot wait to finish out the school year strong.  It’s been a long time coming and we are super proud of the season.”

Milligan: A test of fate, will power, and tenacity

Milligan, Tennessee holds a special place in our hearts.  The road race course is hilly, twisty, and full of freshly paved turns through the quaint farm landscape.  Joe Whalley, friend of the Owl’s from high school, true Velo-Bro, and freshman Milligan rider now shows us how to actually ride bikes in the A’s.  It’s always a pleasure to see him in his new home.  The fresh springtime weather had already turned the fields green, however the South East’s good weather trial was about to expire.

Christian in the pain cave, finishing strong

Saturday morning was a balmy 38 degrees, complete with 17 mile an hour winds, biting, freezing rain, and a severe lack of anything warm which could only signify one thing: road race! The B’s had the worst of the rain and cold air by a long shot.  The nor-eastern storm blowing over was dumping snow just 30 miles east and we were lucky enough to just get the freezing rain….?  The weather was relentlessly brutal, soaking our jackets and bodies to the core after minutes, even in full rain gear.

Ready to pass out from a severely low heart rate and body temperature, Clay rolled to the team tent and had the guys of both KSU and Auburn strip off the wet gear.  The wind, rain, and cold had sent him in to near hypothermia but he was in good hands.  Aaron got warm towels from the truck and Autry drove around with the car heater on full blast for nearly half an hour until his uncontrollable shivering stopped.  “Thank you guys for taking care of me! The hot chocolate from Elizabeth (Auburn) was also a life saver.” Truly, these kinds of moments are what brings a team together.  Needless to say that Clay and Aaron can both attest, “that sucked.”

Autry and Christian were up later in the afternoon.  Clay and Aaron hyped the two up for the bad weather and got in the team Tahoe to provide for an extra sag vehicle just in case- considering what happened during the morning, it was definitely appropriate.  However, just as the race began, the rain had stopped and the skies began to open.  How convenient.

This is what happens when you forget to pin your number.  Victory doesn’t taste nearly as good as #347- Just ask Autry.

From the team car, Aaron and Clay were actually able to get a first hand look into how the men’s C/D field paced themselves and the improvement and strategy Autry and Christian had gained.  As the temperatures warmed up and so did the pace.  Autry held onto the main break, bridged the gap after falling back, and launched an attack on the lead group on a climb.  He’s been increasing his skills since the first race and Milligan allowed him to show how far he’d come.  It was very cool to see our own riders competing.  After getting back to the tent, we drove back to the hotel, and then enjoyed a great Mexican dinner with the Auburn riders as our jerseys hung to dry over the hotel heater.   That night also included a midnight recovery apple pie and ice cream from the diner across the street.  Sweet, sweet relief and a sugar coma got us prepared for the next days’ race.

Sunday brought sunshine, light breeze, and warm air.  Where the HECK was that Saturday?! Anyways, the B’s were off!  The course consisted of three sharp left turns, the opposite direction from last year, and one rounder just after a series pavement bumps (which if you were really cool, you could make a double and throw a whip over.  Check the ‘gram for some action on that later).  Trey Higby from Auburn led out a break on the back side of the course and the riders held it through and through.  3 laps to go; Trey of Auburn, Matt of King, and Niko of SCAD Savannah lapped the field.  2 laps, ready? The field was gearing up in position as the three man break continued to lead on.  1 to go…

Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun- Please shine down on me!

A flash of black and yellow pulled up the left side of the field and jumped up into the lead group.  However, the colors didn’t exactly scream “Kennesaw”.  A SCAD rider from the back of the peloton sprinted up to lead out his teammate in the final sprint.  Classy.  Not only was he of no help to his own teammate, he completely changed the outcome of field sprint, putting both Aaron and Clay to a pissed off and confused roll over the finish line.   All’s well that ends well though- the weather was fine and the rubber side stayed down.  You can’t win them all.  We were just glad to have survived the day before.