NO Tubes happenings

http://notubesracing.com/womenselite/index.php/2012/05/21/a-plan-is-made-for-changing/

Enjoy

Jenny

XC racing in March

I am keen to join in with several of the early cross country races, partly for the motivation having these events scheduled provide,  for the opportunity to join in with my teammates and to represent our supportive sponsors and to be honest a little for the opportunity to ride in warm places.Along with a bigger agenda of improving my racing and building my fitness into the 2012 season.
The Bonelli Pro XCT weekend fell on my birthday and I jokingly said, my birthday gift to Brian was to head out of town. My birthday gift to myself was to head out of town. Its always nice to leave Gunnison at the tail end of winter and it is really fantastic to have team mates to join in with. I makes it a fun experience that I very much appreciate.

  My race report is below: I am happy with the feedback for March and keen to build on into our 2012 season.

during the XC 

Bonelli Pro XCT. March 10 2012.

This past weekend saw the 2^nd round of the Pro XCT US mountain bike Series in Bonelli park, San Dimas. California.

Stan’s NO tubes women’s team where represented by myself, Sarah Kaufmann, Vicki Barclay and Kaila Hart . We were supported by Jimmy Deaton as our manager, mechanic, along with Bruce Dickman ( Pro Gold Lubricants) and Kenny When’s parents Matt and Joan Wehn.

You know it is going to be a good weekend, when :  It’s your birthday ( mine) , you get to spend it in Southern California (sunny and spring) ,your hosts for the weekend ( Matt) meet you at the hotel and take your bike case’s , and  Jimmy drives ( the team) to Trader Joes to shop on the way to Bonelli park and the race venue.

 Jimmy Deaton is a former World Mountain bike champion, extremely experienced, seemingly mellow and such a wealth of knowledge about cycling. It was very inspiring to be around him and casually pick his brains about tires, riding skills and cornering.

Fitting too, as the course at Bonelli was punchy with varied terrain that required sharp bike handling skills.  The XC race was a 5 lap event of 5 km each.

I was excited. These earlier spring cross country races are ideal tune up races to develop faster snappy riding, an ideal build for later endurance events. It is for me an ‘Anti Complacency ‘plan

We met teammate Vicki Barclay for the first time in Bonelli. Vicki is a smart, sweet, sassy, Scottish Lass, who is a 100 mile specialist. The Bonelli XCT was in fact her first ever Pro national level cross country. She too was excited and happy with how the style of race and the pace challenged her skills and riding.

Vicki's first US Pro xct. 12th!

As a team we performed very well in the cross country. I was 7^th, Sarah Kaufmann was 8^th, Vicki 12^th, Kalia 17^th.

Start with Sarah and Jenny

Saturday night was a relaxed and fun evening with Matt and Joan When.

Sunday saw the short track event at Bonelli park. It was Sarah and I racing it. Matt Wehn came with us as our support crew. We took a long easy warm up around trails in the park, before checking out the short track course, and riding a few fast laps and various lines on the short power based course.

The race was a mere 15 minutes plus 2 laps. We where both oddly looking forward to it. The gun went off and I got a decent start in about 6th place with Sarah right behind me in 7^th  as we dropped into the single track through lap one. I moved up into 4^th and on to the lead group for lap two. Unfortunately I dropped my chain during lap three ( an issue I’m having with my ‘well ridden bike’) and that put me in 4^th chasing. A glance back saw I was being chased by Sarah. Which was super neat to be honest. My thinking awesome if she catches me we can work together. Short track is weird though, when you are all just pinned small gaps are so hard to bridge, so that’s how it stayed. We crossed in 4^th and 5^th respectively. Good results for two mountain girls on March 11^th.

Short track Podium

The event  and racing was very positive for us all. We are very thankful to our supportive sponsors: Stan’s no tubes, Alpine Orthopeadic’s, Elete Electrolyte’s, Gu energy labs, Kenda, Cannondale, Verge clothing , Adidas eyewear, Lazer helmet’s , Ergon, Pro Gold Lubricant’s, Genuine Innovations, Jet Black trainers, Crank Brothers, and Shower’s Pass for the opportunity to compete and to represent them.

Next up for the Stan’s No tubes Elite women’s team is Sea Otter. 

Cheers

Jenny Smith.

Stan's Notubes Women's Elite Press release

Sarah Kaufmann, me, Shannon Gibson, Sue Haywood

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stan’s NoTubes Women’s Elite team rides again

BIG FLATS, NY – The Stan’s NoTubes Women’s Elite team is proud to announce they will be returning for a second season. Coming off of a victorious inaugural year, the women are poised to repeat their success with an even stronger team and additional sponsors.

The 2012 roster includes returning members Nina Baum (Albuquerque, NM), Shannon Gibson (Durango, CO), Kathy Sherwin (Heber City, UT) and U23 rider Kaila Hart (Durango, CO). Joining them will be four additional riders, Vicki Barclay (State College, PA), Susan Haywood (Harrisonburg, VA), Sarah Kaufmann (Salt Lake City, UT), and Jenny Smith (Gunnison, CO).  “We’re excited to add several new women to our team who embrace all disciplines in mountain biking,” said Shannon Gibson, team manager. “Not only are these ladies tremendous athletes who excel in a variety of events, but they are excellent ambassadors for women in mountain biking.”

The Women’s Elite team has also acquired several new sponsors. In addition to returning sponsors, Ergon, Crankbrothers and Verge Sport, the women will be supported by Cannondale, Alpine Orthopaedics, elete Electrolytes, Kenda, adidas eyewear, fi’zi:k, GU Energy Labs, Lazer Sport, JetBlack Products, Light and Motion, ProGold Lubricants and Showers Pass. “We are lucky and thankful to have so many wonderful brands coming on board for our second year,” said Gibson. “Combined with our well-respected title sponsor, Stan’s NoTubes, we know we’ll have first-rate support for the whole season.”

In their debut race, the ladies geared up and took on 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo where they repeated last year’s win in the 4-person women category. Old Pueblo guest of honor and Olympic medalist, Susan DeMattei, made a guest appearance on the team and helped the women secure their victory.

The team’s full schedule will include ProXCT, World Cup XC, National and World Championships, Marathon, National Ultra Endurance, MTB stage races, SuperD and Enduro events.

Gibson added, “As a team, we are a group with a solid presence in the cycling community who will pull together and support each other - a whole greater than the sum of the parts. As individuals, we are all excited to have the privilege of being outside, riding bikes with old friends and new, and inspiring women and girls everywhere with our athleticism, our ability to challenge ourselves to new heights, and our dedication to our sport.”

For more team information, photos, schedule, and race results visit www.notubesracing.com/womenselite.


Old Pueblo women's and Co-ed team photo's

 Podium ( minus Sue D)