New Title Sequence

With the start of our 9th season together as MTB-Life comes a new little title sequence I put together. We're excited for the weather to warm up in the midwest and the racing season to begin. Until then, enjoy.

Christmas time

Hope everyone had a happy holiday and is enjoying the winter months. We've had unseasonably warm weather this year that has actually been good for some riding. It still isn't the summer though.

Nathan got a new GoPro HeroHD 2 for Christmas and put this together for fun. Enjoy.

A Couple More Races

The team has been out and about a lot over this past summer.  In the last few weeks we have done two races and a large group ride with more to come in September. 

Back in August Nate, Andy, Eddie, and Rob hit the Maybury Time Trial.  This was a great event. Well run, and the course was really in great shape.  Andy hit two different classes, showing what a versatile beast he is on a bike, while the rest of the team competed in just one class each.  The results are as follows:



Andy - 10 Elite
Nate - 9 SS Open
Andy - 11 SS Open
Rob - 10 Beg Clydesdale
Eddie - 16 Expert

The team followed that up with a big group ride down in Mohican, Ohio for the "close of summer" Labor Day Weekend. A lot of riding was done and a lot of fun was had. Nate, Andy, Eddie, and Zandra had a blast hitting nearly every section of singletrack there.  Rob, on the other hand, hit some local trails and decided to sample some soil.  No problem, though. Enough steri-strips, and band-aids, and he will be back on a bike soon.

This past weekend Nate, Andy, Eddie, and Zandra also got together to hit the Addison Oaks Fall Classic. They all had a great time and rode well.  The results are as follows:

Andy - 7th
Zandra - 2nd
Nate - 12th
Eddie - 18th

Thanks again to all of our sponsors.  We appreciate all of your support.

 

6-12 Hours of Ithaca

Almost the entire team came out to endure the hot sun and have fun racing together this year for the 6-12 Hours of Ithaca. A total of six of our eight riders raced, with one handling pictures and pit crew duties. With that setup, we decided to race three 2-person teams.  Nate and Eddie raced in elite, while Andy and Zandra teamed up to race coed in the sport category. Jordan, freshly out of a cast on his wrist teamed up with his dad, Rob to race as father/son in the sport category as well.  Nathan and Don helped in the pits and got some amazing shots.

In the end, the team had a blast and we all placed pretty well.
Nate/Eddie 3rd
Andy/Zandra 2nd
Rob/Jordan 6th

Thanks to Soul Cycles, Honest Johns, and all of our sponsors for the support.

Andy Brown - Mohican/Lumberjack Update

The Official Andy B update:

The first race of the season! Mohican 100K, 62 miles of great riding in the middle east of Ohio. This was my second time at this race, last year it was a 100K of muddy hell, this year the weather was looking better, much, much, better, 84 and dry. My goal was to crack the top 20... At the start of the race I made the selection and was sitting in the top 50 overall going into the single track, and for what it's worth, this race is worth going to just for the single track... Anyway, I was feeling good and stayed with the lead group for a little over an hour, then something started to go wrong. It started small at first, my rear wheel wouldn't engage as soon as it normally would. I push on, it got worse. I pulled off at the second aid station to try to get some lube inside of the free hub body, I jump back on my bike and away I go.. the harder I push the worse my rear wheel gets. As I enter the single track before aid station 3, my rear wheel is toast, I limp my way through the single track, walking most of it and coast down the last hill and roll in the aid station. I'm done, I check out of the race, 16 miles shy of the finish. My first DNF ever at a mountain bike race, not the best way to start the 2011 season. Oh, and thanks to Michelle Simonster for the lift back to town!

Lumber Jack 100

The Big One, the one that sold out in under 15 minutes. Me, I was in a meeting when it went on sale. I missed it. 350 people gobbled them up like they were going out of style.... I had all but written The Lumbar Jack off for 2011, until two weeks before. I secured a second hand entry. Had I trained for the race? Nope. No worries, it's only 100 miles of prime buff Michigan single track and about 9000 feet of elevation gain. Well the alarm goes off at 5:30am, the race starts at 7:00am, I woof down some food and roll to start. 7am sharp and neutral roll out is headed to the single track in a hurry, 27mph as we round the last right hander before the woods. I am waaaaaaay back, I missed the selection, heck I didn't even try to get in to the selection... my only real goal was for a sub 8:30 finish. I rocked out the first lap in 2:45, I was feeling good, I was in a good group of riders, we were all working to together. I was in the middle of the group when some trail furniture decided to take up residence in my rear hang down, out of the group I go. About 40 min later I pulled off the trail for a second time to remove some more trail furniture, this time from my cassette. I roll in around 3 hours, I sit down for a minute at the end of my 2nd lap and get my game plan together for the third lap. All I knew is I had to put in a serious effort to make the 8:30 mark. Mile 80 miles. Heat Stroke! It took everything I had left to make the aid station... it was bad. I sat there for a good bit and got my crap together, and set out to finish the race in under 10 hours. I was in really, really bad shape when I crossed the finish line a little over 9 and a half hours after I set out that morning. Special thanks to my Mom, Sue and my Sister, Heather for manning the pits all day.

Racing Season Begins for Justin Andre..

Member Justin Andre raced the Fun Promotions Hanson Hills Challenge Mt. Bike Race on June 4^th. Andre participated in the 22 mile race and placed 10^th in his respected Division.

Here's what Justin had to say about the race:

"I felt great on Lap 1, held solid position and found myself in 3rd place starting lap 2, however the 80+ degree weather and lack of hours on the bike came into play, mainly on the tougher uphill climbs..."

"Although I ended the race in 10th, I am pleased to be back in the Soul Cycle Jersey and back on the trail..."

"Life has been pretty crazy lately with work, family and training for 120 Mile Canoe Race, juggling time has its challenges.. but now the dust is off the bike and this race will be used as my "KICKSTART" to the 2011 season.."

Welcome Zandra Hudson!

The Soul Cycles MTB-Life Racing team is proud to welcome Zandra Hudson to the crew! Zandra is an accomplished adventure racer, runner, and endurance racer. In her first season racing solo endurance she dominated the competition.

In addition to her skills and tenacity on the course Zandra brings a very positive vibe. Whether she is one or 100 miles into her day Zandra will be smiling.

Zandra will be putting together a mixed season of adventure, running, endurance, and cross country racing. She has set no limits for herself, and we are looking forward to her accomplishments!