Spring Series Weekend 4

This past weekend Trail Bikes Eatmore Sprouts Cycling Team competed in the 4^th weekend of the Escape Velocity Spring Series held annually in Langley. Saturday’s road race featured the challenging 10km Atomic road race course which combined S-bend descents, narrow climbs, and careful positioning to avoid the surges that took its toll on the riders. In the 110km “B” race Nigel Ellsay pulled out after knee pains forced him to quit while Doug Merrick was caught out after the numerous surges and ended the race early to focus on Sundays 272^nd road race.

In Sundays 272^nd road race course the riders raced on the hilly 7km loop around Aldergrove Lake Regional Park featured potholed roads, excellent cornering skills, rough roads, and a winding climb coming into the finish to determine the winner.

In the U17 race brothers James and Mark Grant attacked early on and took 1^st and 3^rd after working hard to fend off the large chasing group.

In the C race team riders Steve and Andrew Grant road an excellent race for Andrew Grant to take a top ten finish while Steve was dropped earlier on after the tough course took its toll.

In the B race team riders Doug and Nigel survived the numerous pinch flats (courtesy of the potholes) and surges that dropped plenty of riders. Doug pulled out being dropped 60km in the race after realizing he just “Didn’t have it,” while Nigel struggled with some early knee pain to take the finishing sprint after carefully positioning himself as the group exploded in the lead up to the finish. Nigel’s’ early season has seen him, of the five races; he has finished on the podium four times, of which, twice are for taking the win!

The Win!

New 2011 kits

New 2011 season its. YEAH!!!!!

Island MTB series, Spring Series, and Victoria

Riders from Trail Bikes Eatmore Sprouts Bike Team competed in the Island Mountain Bike Series, Spring Series over in Langley, and the Caleb Pike road race in Victoria the past two weekends. In the opening Island MTB series held in Victoria Amanda Wakeling rode a hard race and rode to a solid fourth in expert womens category, Jeff Beeston rode hard in the second race in Powell River but unfortunately had double flats at crucial moments during the race and finished 17^th.

On the road side of racing Mark, Andrew, James, and Steve Grant, as well as Nigel Ellsay, and Doug Merrick competed in the spring series races in Langley. In the U17 category brothers James and Mark took 1^st and 3^rd in cold and rainy conditions. In the B race riders Andrew, Doug, and Nigel suffered as the 78km wore on and solo attacks were launched with the main group barely able to pursue due to the cold weather Nigel took 3^rd at line. In the C race Steve Grant rode to build on his fitness after many years off due to family and work and was happy to cross the finish line in the conditions.

In the Sunday road race which featured 2 large climbs, a wickedly fast descent, and the terrible conditions from the previous day Doug and Nigel lined up for another hard days’ worth of riding. After initially riding hard Doug suffered in the cold and was dropped by the pack as the cold weather got to him, however after 83km of racing Nigel Ellsay took the group sprint for 2^nd place in an impressive attack on the uphill finish that featured rough, pot-holed roads, and the strong cross winds. In the C race father-son duo Steve and Andrew battled hard in the weather. Andrew however suffered his chain to snap mid race causing him to unfortunately abandon.

The following weekend Doug and Nigel made the trip to Victoria to race the Caleb Pike road race; a hilly 3km course, which featured fast climbs, powerful descents, and luckily, some sunny weather as well. The 22 lap race got off to attacks from within the first 100m, followed by some counter attacks. At the 1km mark Nigel attacked and formed a breakaway of 5 riders that would last the duration of the race. After lapping the field Nigel sprinted on another tough uphill finish to take his first win of 2011. Afterword’s Nigel couldn’t believe how well he had done, in his full race against the pro cat 1,2’s riders, he managed to help initiate the break, lap the field, and take the sprint in an impressive display of power that bodes well as he aims for bigger goals in 2011!

2011 Team Trail Eatmore Sprouts

2011 Team Trail Eatmore Sprouts

Team Trail Bicycles Eatmore Sprouts started in 2010 with a strong group of local riders from the Comox Valley who loved riding and found success in mountain biking, road biking, and cyclocross on the local, provincial, and national level. For 2011 the team expanded their roster from Jeff Beeston, Glen and Amanda Wakeling, Andrew Grant, Dave Nowak, Andrew Brown, Nigel Ellsay, Nigel Hutcheson, and Fraser Ullstrom to bring on Mark, James, and Steve Grant, Dave Damery, Aaron and Jenn Amar, Simon Harrington and Doug Merrick to bring an even greater team of riders to all three disciplines.

To help expand their roster and develop greater junior support new sponsors B.D. Prosthetic & Orthotic Services Ltd, Rob Nygren of Royal LePages Real Estate, as well as Wedler Engineering were brought on to bolster junior funding and to complement Trail Bicycles, Eatmore Sprouts and Greens ltd, Rehabilitation in Motion, Cumberland and district Credit Union,The Freakin' Coffee Shop, Ryan Parton Writing Solutions, Van Isle Veterinary Hospital, and Mount Washington Bike Park.

The team is gearing up to have a successful year as both junior and senior members train together, help each other gain greater experience in riding, and race together. The team hopes to expand on their previous years success in the “Island Cup MTB Series”, the local “Comox Cup” series, as well as other local, provincial, and national events in road biking, mountain biking, and cyclocross.

Caleb Pike Road Race

TB/ES Cycling Team members Nigel Ellsay and Doug Merrick went down to Victoria for the Sunday running of the Caleb Pike Road Race. After an initial flurry of attacks Nigel and four other provincial team level racers established a five man break away that would last the duration of the hilly 63km road race. After lapping the field in an all-out breakaway saw Nigel attack to take the sprint on the tough uphill finish. After taking his first win of the season an ecstatic Nigel was surprised at how high his average power was for the 63km hilly road race; 280 watts.

Doug suffered in the road race and was happy his teammate got in the winning breakaway and could only watch as Nigel in the winning breakaway as he powered by with a couple laps to go before taking the win.

Spring Series #2 & 3

5 members of the TB/ES Cycling Team headed to rainy Vancouver this past weekend for Escape Velocity's Spring Series #2 & 3. James and Mark Grant raced well in the U17 category, finishing 1st and 3rd respectively on Saturday. Doug Merrick, Andrew Grant and Nigel Ellsay raced both Saturday and Sunday. Merrick finished in the 'B' pack Satuday and fought through the miserable conditions to the finish on Sunday. Andrew Grant raced well but couldn't hold on to the 'B' group Saturday, and on Sunday his chain decided to break on him while under load. Nigel Ellsay raced in the 'B' group finishing 3rd in Saturday's sprint finish. On Sunday he won the sprint for 2nd beating the remnants of the peloton, which was 5 minutes behind the solo winner. These results turned out to be promising for the TB/ES Cycling Team at the start of their 2011 road season. Great Job Guys!

2011 Team Sponsors

Here is our 2011 line up of Team sponsors...

Trail Bicycles, Eatmore Sprouts and Greens ltd, Rehabilitation in Motion, Cumberland and district Credit Union,The Freakin' Coffee Shop, Ryan Parton Writing Solutions, Wedler Engineering, B.D. Prosthetic & Orthotic Services Ltd, Van Isle Veterinary Hospital, Mount Washington Bike Park and Rob Nygren of Royal LePages Real Estate

Great to have their support

Looking forward to a strong season

YAAAAH!!!

1st XC Race of 2011 Season

classic first race of the season..

thats about all I have to say about that.

-Amanda "AJ" Wakeling