A-D Ubercross Carbon Disc Classic reviewed by Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine

A-D Bikes is The Bike Company of the Future

A-D Bikes is The Bike Company of the Future and the enterprise that is restoring Austro-Daimler to its former cycling glory. Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine met up once again with President and Founder Fred Thomas at the Gull Crest fields in Cape Elizabeth, Maine in October and had a chance to ride the Ubercross Carbon Disc Classic and learn more about what is planned for A-D Bikes for 2015. “I love cyclocross bikes.” Mr. Thomas said as he took a break from riding an imaginary course that runs around two football fields, winds through the woods and labors up the Mother of All Run Ups at the nearby transfer station. “But I need to practice my cyclocross racing a bit. The last cross race I entered, I crashed through the tape, fell repeatedly and then spent the remaining part of the race in the pit trying to get my damaged bike fixed. It was such a farce that I actually had a great time.” Mr. Thomas rides cyclocross for training and rode another hour on trails in a nearby meadow before heading back home.

Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine tried out the Ubercross Carbon Disc Classic the next day and rode Mr. Thomas’ imaginary course at Gull Crest. Riding the Ubercross is like the first day of a summer vacation. The old feels new, the hard feels easy and the stale feels fresh. It is the perfect platform for the dedicated cyclocross competitor or the gravel road enthusiast. We rocketed across the grass, rolled through the trails and lifting the bike for the Mother of All Run-ups was second nature. Mr.Thomas’ Ubercross Carbon Disc Classic is built up with Shimano Ultegra 6700 mechanical drive train, Shimano CX70 cranks and front derailleur, TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes running 160 mm rotors, Ritchey WCS Classic aluminum bars and Carver 38 carbon tubular rims. Alan Starret of Bikeman.com did the build. The bike (size 50 cm) weights 8.3 kg (18 pounds 8 ounces). The Champagne finish has a deeper and suitably autumn tone (something you will notice only if you park the bike next to your Superleicht Limited or tt Carbon Limited) and the down tube graphics feature the Austro-Daimler lettering. Cycling Pro Road Review has to say that the name Ubercross in the American Hustle font is the most refreshing addition to the pantheon of cyclocross bike names. “I still cannot believe that someone hadn’t already thought of Ubercross. The umlaut over the “U” even creates a smiley face, which captures the spirit of this bike perfectly. It is so original and weird that I still chuckle every time I think about it.” Mr Thomas said. 

The Classic and Limited Series frame sets feature the A-D 55UCX disc carbon front fork, English thread bottom bracket and oversized head tube (1 1/8 inch to 1 1/2 inch steer tube). “The only difference between the two frame sets is the graphics. The Classic has the lettering and the Limited has the logo. They both have a great voice and both are very easy to build.” Additional features include internal cabling on the down tube and top tube, external cabling on the chain stay, an aluminum seat post collar to accommodate a 31.6 mm seat post and a Cane Creek 110 Series head set in the blue finish.

Over the course of one year, Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine has reviewed all three of the frame sets offered by A-D Bikes and has followed the exploits of the enterprise during numerous conversations with Mr. Thomas both on and off the bike. We are impressed with the quality, value and performance of the frame sets and with Mr. Thomas’ vision and management of the brand. It is easy for us to understand why consumers buy A-D frame sets and we will not be surprised to see more of these fabulous frame sets enter the market over the next year. “Everyday it seems there is a development that moves this enterprise forward, wether it is the sale of a frame set to an individual, an enquiry from an international distributor or a new connection on Facebook.” Mr. Thomas said. “I am getting to the point where I have to start planning for an expansion in both human and physical capacity which is exciting stuff because that has always been the plan. I am in this for the whole tour.” 

Mr. Thomas frequently refers to A-D Bikes as “The Bike Company of the Future”. We pressed him on what he means exactly by this over a well deserved Cappucino back at his home in Cape Elizabeth. “To me it means a company that combines the convenience, selection and price of the Internet with the community, service and support of the local bike shop. It also means a company that is built around the Internet right from the start with policies and principles that are different from industry standards. For consumers, it means things like the A-D Bikes Cash or Credit Program and the A-D Bikes Conversion Program. For dealers, it means on demand access to inventory and being allowed and encouraged to sell A-D frame sets through their own on-line channels. It means Thinking Outside the Bike.” 

Mr. Thomas pauses for a moment and warns that once he starts Talking Bikes, the chances of Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine missing his afternoon flight to New York are significantly increased. Mr. Thomas is given the thumbs up to proceed. “The model transaction that is in my mind has the consumer standing in his or her favorite bike shop looking at an A-D frame set or demo bike, and then ordering the right size frame set right there on the spot through the shop’s A-D Bikes iPad. Three days later, the frame set turns up at the shop and the techs get to work on the build. The consumer gets the support of the bike shop and the selection of the Internet, the bike shop gets the fitting and the labor and both parties get the relationship, the convenience and the value. That’s how I thought we should be buying our performance bikes in the 21st century.” 

Our conversation on All Things A-D Bikes continued for quite a while, but your Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine correspondent did not miss his plane and in fact had plenty of time to reflect on our rides and discussions during the journey home. The A-D Bikes Cash or Credit Program and the A-D Bikes Conversion Program are perhaps the most innovative thing Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine has seen introduced in the industry since the move from down tube shifting to dual control levers. Mr. Thomas’ experience running eBay auctions at Frame and Wheel (the sister company of A-D Bikes) has clearly honed his ability to provide personal and professional service to the highest level. The Limited Series frame sets are as nice if not nicer than any frame set available on the market today and represent excellent value. And there are so many exciting things on the horizon: the Ultima Carbon Limited (an aero road frame set), the Bahn Carbon Limited (a track frame set), a steel frame set project, a Kickstarter campaign, the A-D Bikes Racing Team. It is exciting times at A-D Bikes indeed, but it is Mr. Thomas’s commitment to innovation, service and product excellence that is going to allow him to win his market and do what he always says. Be the First.

By Fred Thomas
Editor
Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine

A-D tt Carbon Limited reviewed by Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine

Choice. Value. Performance. Pick three.

A-D Bikes is the modern face of Austro-Daimler cycling and the company introducing the tt Carbon Limited to the global performance bicycle market. Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine caught up with President and Founder Fred Thomas at the 2014 Tour of the Catskills in early August and had a chance to ride the tt Carbon Limited and Talk A-D Bikes. “I wanted to create something completely new for the brand”, Mr. Thomas said as he warmed down from the opening stage ten mile out and back time trial. “When I was racing in the early eighties and nineties, time trial bikes as we know them today did not exist. Now they are ubiquitous and a necessary tool if you want to be competitive in a stage race. I wanted A-D to have a presence in this market.” Mr. Thomas finished the opening stage with a time of 21:14 which was fast enough for 6th place in the Pro 1 2 category (Thomas races for Downeast Racing out of Brunswick, Maine).

Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine took the tt Carbon Limited out the next day and rode the Tour of the Catskills time trial course. Riding this bike is like having a strong cup of coffee. Each pedal stroke stimulates the body, crystalizes the mind and lifts the spirit. It is everything the no nonsense performance cyclist will need in a time trial bike. We shot up the climbs, dropped down the descents and frequently found ourselves drifting along at thirty miles per hour on the flat sections. The TRP Aero brakes (which are included with the frameset) provided the control needed to negotiate the curves and the turn around. Mr.Thomas’ tt Carbon Limited is built up with 3T Brezza II aero bars, Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 ten speed mechanical drive train with 55T/42T chain rings, a Stages Power Meter, a Zipp 900 Disc tubular rear wheel and Zipp 808 Firecrest Tubular front wheel. The bike (size 50 cm) weighs 18 pounds (8.2 kg). The Champagne finish channels the original spirit of the brand and the A-D logo on the down tube differentiates the bike from anything on the market today. Mr. Thomas explains that the tt Carbon provided the inspiration for using the A-D logo on the down tube. “The logo fit nicely and it added some color. The market really liked it which is why it was introduced on the road and cross frames.” 

The Limited Series is the same as the previous generation tt Carbon except that the seat tube water bottle mount has been dropped (to accommodate a curved seat post), the seat post collar has been strengthened and the A-D logo wraps around the down tube more comprehensively. It continues to be an easy job to build up the frame set. “No black magic or power tools are needed. The frame set loves mechanics!” Mr. Thomas quips. Unchanged features include the A-D 41TT carbon front fork, the variable position seat clamp, the BB86 bottom bracket, the TRP 922 brake set and the Cane Creek 110 Series headset.

Cycling Pro Road Review believes that until the industry changes its dogmatic belief in supply-push economics, the market for performance bikes will remain competitive and characterized by oversupply. Why buy an A-D when there is so much choice around? Mr. Thomas explains. “These frame sets are inexpensive premium products that are well-made, comfortable and a blank slate upon which the consumer can create a masterpiece. If you want to ‘ride it now’, you go to the Big Three. If you want something inexpensive, there’s eBay. If expense is not a factor, there are the boutique brands. But if you are like most people, you want choice, value and performance. That is what A-D provides and reinforces with life time-warranties and customer support programs. Choice. Value. Performance. Pick three.” Cycling Pro Road Magazine believes that Mr. Thomas has the right idea and that he has delivered on all three points with the tt Carbon Limited while respecting the history of the brand. The next day, while Mr. Thomas was grinding through Stage 2 of the Tour of the Catskills (a 70-mile circuit race), we took the bike out for a longer ride. It went by very fast.

A-D Bikes runs a standard crash replacement program in addition to the refreshingly simple and innovative A-D Bikes Cash or Credit program. This allows the original owner of an A-D frame set to return it in exchange for a credit towards a new frame set or a fair market value cash payment. This means that A-D owners can easily extract the remaining value of their A-D frame set without having to deal with Craig's List or eBay. The full line of A-D Limited Series road, time trial and cyclocross frame sets are available at The Chain Station in Brunswick, Maine (Please ask for Jeff Yingling). The frame sets can also be obtained through Fit Werx 2 in Peabody, Massachusetts (Please ask for Marty Miserandino). For customers outside of New England, the frame sets can be obtained through the A-D Bikes Shopify Store. Please call Fred Thomas or Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine directly on 207 221 5151 with any questions. Dealer enquires are welcomed.

By Fred Thomas
Editor
Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine

The Internet of Bikes: 2014 Tour of the Catskills

The Tour of the Catskills is a three day stage race held in Windham and Tannersville, New York. The race features a 10 mile out and back (up and down) individual time trial, a fast 65 mile circuit race and an epic 109 mile road race that includes 8,000 feet of climbing and the infamous Devil’s Kitchen climb at mile 100. The race is a personal favorite because of its challenging terrain and its proximity to family. I joined 55 riders in the Pro 12 Omnium category. Weather for the weekend was dry and calm with temperatures in the 70s. The main feature of the individual time trial was the new pavement on Route 23 and the five miles of climbing on the outbound section. Despite the short and long hills, the outbound section went by very quickly. Inbound was almost all downhill; the only way to make time was by pushing the 55T through some flat sections. There was traffic at an intersection which slowed things down a bit, but I was nevertheless able to catch three riders and a ghost rider and finish the course with a time of 21:14 which was fast enough for 6th place. 

The main feature of the circuit race was a two kilometer climb at the beginning of each loop (20 miles per loop). This climb stretched things out each time through, but never caused a break; a long downhill on the other side ensured that the field always came back together. The compact was very useful: the low gearing allowed me to spin up the climb with the field and accelerate sharply to close any gaps. There was a break of four riders up the road after the final climb. At this point the Kelly Benefit Strategies eight man team moved to the front and rode down the break over the course of 12 miles (the pace was a sustained 28 to 30 miles an hour). Coming into the final three miles, the there was a crash as a result of a cone in the road marking a pot hole; of course, no one could see the cone. The field raced on leaving bouncing and skidding bikes and riders in its wake and charged up the last climb into the Windham parking lot. I finished with the group in 29th place and thus maintained my position in the general classification. Another pleasing result: I did no work except for a few efforts on the climb and felt very fresh. 

In retrospect, the strategy of sitting in and conserving energy (a strategy relayed from Dan Vallaincourt) was clearly the right one. The road race was longer than previous versions (109 miles compared to 90 miles previously) and climbed out of Prattsville rather than descending into it. The field broke up going into the switch backs and the pace did not slow on the following climbs, some of which were eight to ten percent in sections and long. I was gapped at one point and watched the field power up a climb. I was about to resign myself to a solo ride, but it turned out there were enough riders behind me to form a groupetto; we successfully chased back on. This is when I realized how difficult this race was going to be: we had covered only 35 miles. 
The following descent is long and very steep in sections; sight lines are very good and thus speeds top out at 55 miles per hour. In 2013, I had to ride this descent in the pouring rain which was stressful. This year, conditions were dry and the field seemed relaxed and keen to recover. Unfortunately, someone touched wheels and about four riders went down at terrific speed. This was unsettling and the field was in full chatter mode on the next climb trying to figure out how that could have happened. The next crucible was the five mile climb back up to Windham. This climb was hot and ground on relentlessly at three to six percent; it was a big ring climb. There was a rider up the road on this section so the pace was fast. Riders were cracking and getting dropped; I managed to keep up by marking strong wheels and trying to keep a steady pace. I got through it but it was very hard. 
The race pushed on back up into the elevations and down the screaming descent and made its way to the Devil’s Kitchen. At the base of this climb, there were about 30 riders remaining; I was tired and keen to get up and over this difficult climb. I managed to do so using very low gearing (34T x 21-28). This allowed me to set a steady pace that was fast enough to make gains on other riders and avoid blowing up and turning into a paper boy (weaving from side to side of the road). I lost time as the lead elements of the race were able to get up the steep climb very quickly. I recovered at the top and pushed through the final miles with two other riders to finish in 14th place. I lost time and slipped in the GC to 11th place, but was very pleased with the result nevertheless: there were so many opportunities get dropped during this four and half hour ordeal that to finish within four minutes of the leaders felt like a significant accomplishment. The Superleicht Carbon Limited ran very well, and set up with a compact and a set of Zipp 202s, it adopted mountain goat characteristics. The Catskills is a very nice place to spend the weekend racing and the event was well run. Many thanks to the organizers.

Superleicht Carbon Limited

tt Carbon Limited

The view of the Kitchen from the kitchen

Germantown

Heading home

The Internet of Bikes: 2014 Tour of the Hilltowns

The Tour of the Hilltowns is a mid summer classic road race in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. The race this year was a 62 mile circuit race featuring short steep climbs, long gradual climbs and long and fast descents. I joined Dan Vallaincourt, Joe Lynch, Matt Moon and Troy Barry of the Downeast Racing team for the event. Some seventy riders started the Pro12 race. Conditions were warm and dry with temperatures in the high 70s.  The main feature of the race was the climb on Charlemont Road. This section of the course was steep and pretty long. The field charged up the climb with very little warm up. It was tough and the field shrunk a bit. The more gradual climb that followed featured many accelerations but no one got away. The descent on West Hawley Road has not changed: there are frost heaves and cracks and visibility is poor because of shadows. Speeds touch fifty miles an hour here.  The field hit the Charlemont Road climb hard the second time around and this is where the field shrank to about twenty riders with two riders off the front. These two built their lead to about 20 seconds and were occasionally in view. The field closed this gap in the final kilometers, but the two riders stayed away with lead elements of the field finishing soon after in a down hill field sprint (with me at the rear of the field in 19th position). I was pleased with my efforts during the race and my A-D Superleicht Carbon ran very well throughout. The revised Tour of the Hilltowns is shorter than the earlier 98 mile version, but it is much faster and just as tough. I will not be surprised if they make the race longer next year or find an uphill finish for it somewhere

A-D Superleicht Carbon Limited

A-D Superleicht Carbon Limited reviewed by Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine

A-D Bikes tops the charts with a Superleicht remix

A-D Bikes is the company remixing the iconic Austro-Daimler Superleicht for the twenty-first century and reintroducing it to the global performance racing bicycle market. Masters category cyclist Fred Thomas founded A-D Bikes in 2010. 

"I wanted to race the bike I raced when I was sixteen years old." Mr. Thomas said recently during a test ride with Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine. "Austro-Daimler had long since closed it doors, so I did what BMW did with Mini Cooper." Four years up the road, Mr. Thomas' knowledge of cycling products, experience working and living in Asia and dedication to the sport have come through in the form of the A-D Limited Series frame sets. Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine recently tested the Superleicht Carbon Limited road bike with Mr. Thomas on his 80 mile Tuesday night training ride outside of Portland, Maine. Part of it, anyway. Mr. Thomas rides with the Downeast Racing team out of Brunswick, Maine and thus is riding the hours necessary to compete in the New England Pro 1 2 category. "You have to live the dream if you are going to sell the dream." Mr. Thomas quipped at one point during the ride.    

Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine is impressed. The Superleicht is a stable and comfortable bike to ride and a fine choice for the no-nonsense racing cyclist. It is steady on the downhills, smooth in the corners, responsive in the accelerations and built up with Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 Di2 eleven speed group set and FOS 38T tubular wheels, the bike (50 cm) weighs fifteen pounds (6.8 kg). The Champagne finish respects the original spirit of the brand and we like the way Mr. Thomas has innovated traditional bicycle graphic design by transposing the A-D logo on the down tube. "I wanted to remix the graphics to leverage the beauty of the A-D logo and give the bike a modern voice. Just ten years ago, this kind of graphic touch was not possible." Mr. Thomas says.

The Limited Series improves on the previous generation Superleicht by offering dual mechanical and electronic cable routing compatibility and a BB30 bottom bracket. "The Limited Series gives the consumer more choice of group set and bottom bracket and it is also a lot easier for your mechanic to build." Mr. Thomas points out. Among the features that are unchanged include the A-D 37SL full carbon front fork, the A-D carbon seat post (31.6 mm), the tapered head tube and the Cane Creek 110 Series head set in the blue finish. 

Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine cannot help but think that Mr. Thomas has his work cut out. The market for performance frame sets is very competitive and the secondary market is awash with lightly used brand name performance bicycles. Why buy an A-D? Mr. Thomas puts it this way. "These frame sets are inexpensive premium products that offer better value and better performance than many other frame sets in its class. They are well made and all that you will ever need to be competitive in races and group rides." Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine is inclined to agree and has to say that there is something authentic and essential about the Superleicht frame sets that gives the completed bike a distinctive and classic voice. Perhaps it was that voice that got us out of bed at dawn the next day to fit in one more ride on our Superleicht before returning it.

A-D Bikes runs a standard crash replacement program in addition to the refreshingly simple and innovative  A-D Bikes Cash or Credit program. This allows the original owner of an A-D frame set to return it in exchange for a credit towards a new frame set or a fair market value cash payment. This means that A-D owners can easily extract the remaining value of their A-D frame set without having to deal with Craig's List or eBay. The full line of A-D Limited Series road, time trial and cyclocross frame sets are available at The Chain Station in Brunswick, Maine (Please ask for Jeff Yingling). The frame sets can also be obtained through Fit Werx 2 in Peabody, Massachusetts (Please ask for Marty Miserandino). For customers outside of New England, the frame sets can be obtained through the A-D Bikes Shopify Store. Please call Fred Thomas or Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine directly on 207 221 5151 with any questions. Dealer enquires are welcomed.

By Fred Thomas
Editor
Cycling Pro Road Review Magazine

Tribute to a tt Carbon

I rode my Austro-Daimler tt Carbon for the last time on 29 June 2014. It was a 50 km "time trial" around Cape Elizabeth. The bike was built up in early 2013 by Fit Werx 2 and according to Strava, I put 2,500 miles on it (both road miles and trainer hours I guess). I ran a Zipp 808 on the front and a Zipp 900 Tubular disc for the entire time I used it and used a Stages Power Meter. As with the Superleicht Carbon, I determined that I would not expect anyone to ride and race a bike that I would not race myself. Thus I have been training and racing on the this model since 2012 and can say that the frame set meets a very high standard of performance and quality. I did not have any problems with the bottom bracket or the head seat or the seat post; it was easy to service and easy to build. I won the USA Cycling Nationals Masters Time Trial 45-48 on this bike which is perhaps going to serve as the peak of my career; I won the Maine Time Trial Series on this bike too and managed a few satisfying results in the Pro 12 categories. Besides all that, I simply enjoyed getting out on this bike for my informal "time trials" around the neighborhood. The amusing thing about this bike is that when we were designing the graphics, it became clear right away that using Austro-Daimler lettering on the down tube was not going to work; it just looked funny. The only option was to superimpose the logo on the down tube. Todd Silvia at Bob the Screenprinter worked his magic and it was clear that this was the way forward (the down tube logo is now available on the Superleicht and the Ubercross). Somehow a white band was included around the logo; it was unintended, but it still worked fine. I have replaced the tt Carbon with the tt Carbon Limited which is the same design with a few extra features. I will blog about the new bike soon.

tt Carbon

2013 METTS Cape Elizabeth

2013 USA Cycling Nationals

2014 Killington Stage Race

2014 METTS Freeport

Tribute to a Superleicht

I rode my Austro-Daimler Superleicht Carbon Di2 for the last time on 30 June 2014. Fit Werx 2 built it up in early 2013 with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 derailleurs and shifters, Shimano Dura-Ace cranks and brakes, 3T Rotundo Team bars and a Fizik saddle. I used a variety of wheels during that time including Zipp 303 tubulars, Zipp 202 tubulars and FOS 38T tubulars. I raced and trained 20,000 miles on it. Notable victories on this bike include 2013 Tour of the Battenkill Masters 45 plus and the 2014 Lake Sunappe Road Race Pro 123 in addition to many satisfying finishes (Silver medal 2013 USA Cycling National Championships, 11th place 2013 Tour of the Dragons, 10th place 2013 Tour of the Hilltowns). Epic rides include Mount Diablo double, Sandy Hook Ride on Washington and RideXme to name a few. The bike received heavy use on the rough roads of New England and the numerous dirt road sections in updated New York and Vermont. It held up very well through it all. 

From the very beginning of this adventure, I decided that I would not ask anyone to ride or race a bike that I would not ride or race myself. I feel that I have made good on that decision and can firmly say that the frame, fork and seat post meets very high standards of quality and durability. I did not have any speed wobbles on this bike, I never had a problem with the front fork, the head set, the drop outs or the bottom bracket and it always felt comfortable and stable. I believe that it is as well made as any other bike on the market, if not better. 

The graphics and the finish are another story: I matched the color of my steel Austro-Daimler using a Pantone board and sent that along to my supplier, along with a single schematic showing where to place the lettering. Although I was very pleased with the color, I learned that I have to send over a detailed schematic for each frame size as positioning of logos change with each frame size. Thus when the frame sets arrived I was hung up on very minor details about placement and positioning as well as some minor mistakes. These concerns faded quickly as it was the color that made the greatest impact and I was really the only one who noticed. 

The A-D Bikes adventure continues with the introduction of the Superleicht Carbon Limited. I am very pleased with this frame set both with its features as well as its graphics and I look forward to posting a review about it soon.

2014 Killington Stage Race

2014 Hunter-Greene Summer Classic

2014 Tour of the Battenkill

2013 Tour of the Catskills

2014 Killington Stage Race

2013 Tour of the Battenkill Masters

2013 Tour of the Battenkill Masters

The Internet of Bikes: 2014 Hunter-Green Classic Summer Road Race

The Hunter-Greene Summer Classic road race is a 110 mile road race outside of Windham, New York. It is a 33 mile circuit repeated three times that features some sharp climbs, long straight sections and high summer conditions. I joined Troy Barry, Eliot Pitney, Matt Moon and Dan Vallaincourt of Downeast Racing for the event. Some thirty riders started. Conditions were calm and dry with temperatures in the 70s. The main feature of the race was the early break by Eliot Pitney and one other rider that gained a five minute lead and that held out for the entire race. It was a classic demonstration of panache, group psychology and team tactics. The field did plenty of active riding on the straight sections, interspersed with periods of very slow riding, but never organized a sustained chase. We sat in and watched the chase teams burn up the matches. The power and resolve gradually faded from the field and ensured that the break was away for good. The final push up the climbs thinned out the field a bit and I was able to finish third in the field sprint and eighth overall. It was a great result for me, an epic win for Eliot and a fine demonstration of tactics and strength for Downeast Racing. It was also the last race on my Superleicht Carbon Di2. I raced this bike for two years and had many hours of training and racing on it. There was never a problem and it held up through some very tough conditions. This was a fine event to mark its entry into retirement. This bike is replaced by the Superleicht Carbon Limited. This is the same frame set, but with different features (BB30, dual mechanical / electronic shifting and down tube logo), and an 11-speed drive train and a power meter. It is a fine bike and I am looking forward to the rest of the season racing and training on it.

Ready for its last race

Downeast Racing Team post race image

Packing up for the drive home

The Internet of Bikes: A-D Bikes RideXme - Bethel to the Bay

I have always wanted to ride the Trek Across Maine, but I have never been much of a camper. The only alternative was to ride it in a day. Without much planning, Tak and I decided to go for it: the weather was fine, school was out and there were no races on. I obtained a Maine Gazetter and plotted out the route. My efforts to use a Garmin 810 were fruitless and in the end it was much easier to use a simple cue sheet given that the route itself is very straightforward. We arrived at Gould Academy and prepared for an 8 am start. I carried two bottles of Sustained Energy, a sandwich and some Hammer Gel, along with my cellphone attached to an Anker external battery. This was a smart move given that I got lost right at the start and we spent a bit of time on the phone trying to get me back on course (I went South on Route 26 instead of North. Doh!). Once I was on track, the ride became more relaxing; I was keeping up a brisk pace as I felt like I had lost time and I had a long way to go; I was also not  very sure how long the ride would take. The scenery was very nice: the sun was warm, the sky was a deep blue, the greens were bright and the clouds seemed to be within arms reach. The plan was for Tak to drive to Farmington and go for a ride; I would re-provision at the car and keep on going. Tak would then catch up in the car around Waterville.

The plan worked fine. I arrived in Farmington after four hours of riding. I felt like that would keep me on schedule. I found the car, picked up some food, and continued north on Route 27 towards Kingfield. This section was tough: it was uphill and there was a strong headwind; I was also heading away from my ultimate destination and there were some seriously big and fast moving trucks. I was pleased to get off Route 27 and head south again. From Route 16 almost all the way to Route 3 I had a very strong tailwind; I made up a lot of time here. Nevertheless, it was long and in some places the roads were rough and the traffic was busy. I concentrated on the road and the traffic.

Just before Waterville, Tak caught up in the car. We stopped and I refilled bottles and had a sandwich. I had completed the leg from Farmington to Waterville in under four hours; I was on track to complete the ride within a reasonable time frame. I pushed through downtown Waterville and soon i was rounding China Lake. Although I had some 50 miles to go, I felt like this was the home stretch. Route 3 was busy and very rough but it was the last big road before Route 173, which is  familiar territory and the last section of the ride. Indeed, the last 20 miles were tough as I was feeling the effort and there are some good hills around Liberty and Searsmont. Tak followed me all the way in to Lincolnville Beach. We arrived around 5:30 pm after some nine hours of riding (seven bottles of Sustained Energy, plenty of Hammer Gel, three sandwiches, bananas.) It was a great relief. No mechanicals. No bonk. I was still coherent. It was my longest ride. Would I do it again? Probably not. Some of the roads were just too busy and from a training perspective, a tougher route could be worked out around Bethel. But it was fun and I am glad I did it: it was a cycling adventure that included Tak, we both saw parts of Maine we have not seen before and it was a challenge for me. If I am persuaded to do it again, I will suggest that the ride continues from Lincolnville Beach to Eastport. That would really make it a Ride Across Maine. Anyone? Anyone? 

Staging Selfie

On the road

Make my GoPro go

Route 232

China Lake

Androscoggin River

Fine scenery

Carrabasset River

A-D Superleicht running FOS 38 tubulars

Feed Zone

At Penobscott Bay

Seven of these bottles

186 miles later

Finish Selfie

The Internet of Bikes: Freeport Time Trial - Maine Time Trial Series Race # 3

The Freeport Time Trial is a 16.5 mile loop outside of Freeport, Maine. The course features long sight lines on Route 1, false flats, twists and turns and some tough hills. It is race three of the Maine Time Trial Series. About forty riders turned up to race. Conditions were variable, damp and cool. Temperatures were in the 60s. The course was shorter than in previous years but nevertheless challenging; in fact, its shortened version uses better roads and is easier to marshall. My objective was to prevent the watts from slipping off the target number of about 300 watts. I was able to do this, but it was hard work, and I was not entirely successful. I was tired by the time I arrived at the rollers; I lost momentum on the top of the second rolling hill and struggled up the second part of Bow Street. Regardless, I was able to push through with a Strava time of 34:13, which was fast enough to win the day. The tt Carbon ran very well and I was wearing my Verge Primo short sleeve skin suit. I joined Hank and Jurgen for a post race ride which was very nice and very tough towards the end. A fine day.

The Internet of Bikes: Downeast Racing Killington Stage Race Day 3 Individual Time Trial

The time trial is an 11 mile run and it is the last event of the race. The course is mildly up hill for six miles and then flat with a short climb. Conditions were cool and damp. I had my newly arrived Austro-Daimler Verge time trial outfit. My start time was mid day. My legs felt fine, but the effort of the previous two days could be felt. I set off on time and soon noticed a cross wind that would occasionally turn into a tail wind. I was able to push a big gear and keep up good speed. I caught my one minute man. He caught me on a climb, but then faded quickly. I reached the flat section and could see three riders in front of me. I managed to catch perhaps two of them but it was hard work. The flat section seemed to go on forever and I really had to work hard to close gaps. I was out of the saddle on the short climb and got by a rider there. I recovered a bit on the following downhill, and then started in for the last push. I had great speed and was on top of my 55 x 11, but I lost momentum on the bump that precedes the finish; I should have been out of the saddle sprinting over it. I completed the course with a time of 23:46 which was fast enough for tenth place. I was very pleased with the result; it was the fastest time I have had on this course. I moved up to 21st place in the general classification some four minutes off the winning pace. It was the end of three days of great racing and fine times with Downeast Racing team mates. 

At the start

Outbound on Route 4

Still smiling

Heading home

Loyal fan!

Loyal fan!

The Internet of Bikes: Downeast Racing Killington Stage Race Day 2 Mountain Stage

The Mountain Stage is a 75 mile point to point course that features fast descents, tough climbs and the summit finish at Killington Ski Resort. Conditions were dry and warm. There were about 100 riders at the start. The plan was to conserve until the second time up North Road (mile 40). This was the right plan and everyone was using it. Matt Moon brought me to the front and just in time to catch on to the surge up North Road. It was hard work and the field shrunk a bit in size. The race pushed on through the big descent and the dirt road section. The pace on the fourteen miles on Route 4 was very fast. We passed the 40 Plus field and perhaps another group. It was hard work. Dan Vallaincourt brought me to the front as the race turned onto the East Mountain Road and the final climb. The pace did not slow a bit, and there was traffic from the previous categories. I could see right away that I was going to have a hard time keeping up with the lead group. They were in sight up until the second hairpin, after which the climb became a personal journey to go as fast as possible without blowing up completely. I managed to join a small group that pushed on for the summit finish. The last section was as hard as always with open road and the 500 meter flag beckoning in the distance. I crossed the line in 29th position with a time of 3:08. I was pleased with the result given the level of competition, the difficulty of the terrain and the size of the field. There is no way I would have made it without the nerve and wisdom of Matt Moon and Dan Vallaincourt, who finished the climb soon after. It was warm at the finish and after some recovery, we made our way back to the house. I was really tired. 

The last 500 meters

The Internet of Bikes: Downeast Racing Killington Stage Race Day 1 Circuit Race

The Killington Stage Race is a three day stage race held around Killington Vermont on Memorial Day Weekend. The race features Vermont hills, beautiful green scenery and great bike racing. I joined Downeast Racing team mates Matt Moon and Dan Vallaincourt in the Pro 1 2 race. The first day was a 77 mile circuit race. There were 120 riders at the start and many teams from New England and Canada. Conditions were variable. I was running FOS 38T tubulars with Vittoria EVO CX tires on my Austro-Daimler Superleicht Carbon Di2. The bike ran very well all weekend. 

The first few miles saw a flurry of attacks and two crashes. A two man break formed soon after and things settled down. The pace was brisk on the gradual climb through the back of the course but cool heads prevailed on the fast descent to Route 100. I tried hard to ride at the front with Dan Vallaincourt and Matt Moon, but it was just too busy for me and I was just getting in the way. I settled in and concentrated on conserving energy and staying out of trouble (there were many of flat tires due to lateral cracks in the road). As expected, the break was caught at the last lap and the field charged down the last few miles in the pouring rain to contest the famous sprint. This was not for me and I finished with a group time (2:42), soaking wet but not too tired. 

Off to the Circuit Race

The skye open on the last lap

The Internet of Bikes: 2014 Lake Sunappe Road Race

The Lake Sunappee Road Race is one of the longest running road races in New England. It attracts a good size field each year. I joined Downeast Racing Team riders Travis Kroot, Matt Moon, Eliot Pitney and Dan Vallaincourt for the Pro 123 race. Temperatures were in the 60s. It was damp but clear. The sun was out. The course was changed this year due to construction on Route 103. The race instead followed narrow and twisting Route 103B and Jobs Creek Road around the western edge of Lake Sunappee and was about ten miles shorter than usual. The rest of the course was the same. About 65 riders started the 60 mile race. I was running FOS 38T tubulars on my Austro-Daimler Superleicht Carbon Di2. The bike and the wheels performed very well.

There were a few attacks right from the start. Dan and Matt covered them. None of the breaks stuck. The new section was rough in places and featured some decent hills and fast descents. The key moment arrived half way through the second lap, on the long hill that leads up to the climbs on the northern part of the lake. A few riders pushed the pace and created a gap. Dan and I were there. Dan said "Hit this". So I did. I joined the four riders and pushed the pace into the next climb. All three riders decided to ease up. I did not and soon I had a material gap. At the beginning of the decent into Newbury, no one was in sight and I had the wheel van. A move this bold and this early was not the plan, but I had a gap so I decided to keep it. I concentrated on keeping the pace as high as possible but as steady as possible too, in order to exploit the peloton's naturally erratic speed.

I made good time on 103B. On the straight section outside of Sunappee, I could see a chase group of about six riders; they were not that far back (15 seconds or so), but they were having a hard time keeping me in sight. I ducked on to Job's Creek Road, another twisting and narrow section and was out of sight once again. This worked to my advantage as my time gap increased here. The northern climbs were hard third time through, but I kept the pace steady and avoided over doing it. On the descent I spun out my gears and tried to recover a bit. The three rollers before the circle were the last test. Thankfully there was a tailwind. I arrived at the circle very eager to get up the access road climb. There was some riders in the circle, but fortunately they did not slow things down too much; the chase group had apparently faded to 40 seconds back and they were not in sight; I did not dare look.  

I lost many seconds on the first section of the access road climb. It is steep and there was a head wind. But as climb eased up, I realized that I was not going to be caught and that I was going to have solo finish at Lake Sunappee. It was a fine treat. Nine years of trying and it finally worked out. I could not have done it without the support of the Downeast Racing team I am sure. Hopefully, an image of that finish will surface one day. 

The Internet of Bikes: Portland Velo Club Cyclemania Time Trial (Maine Time Trial Series Race #3)

The Portland Velo Club Cyclemania Cape Elizabeth Time Trial is a 13.5 mile double loop in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. It is the third race in the Maine Time Trial Series. The course features long gradual hills, open roads and some short climbs. I joined Downeast Racing team mate Hank Pfeifle and about 50 other riders to race. Conditions were cool and dry. This was my second time trial on the Austro-Daimler tt Carbon in 2014. The bike was running very well. I concentrated on pushing as hard as possible on the flat section near the Inn By the Sea and choosing a smooth section of road on the back part of the course. There is time to be gained in these sections. The primary challenge of this race for me was the long gradual hill on Route 77 before Fowler Road (completed two times) and the long and a bit steeper climb leading into the center of town. I tried hard to maintain speed in both places; it was tough. The funny thing about this race is that I know these roads very well; they are all in my back yard and I spend many hours riding on them. They have become associated with heading out on a ride or coming back from a ride. Thus when I make a maximum effort on the time trial bike, the experience feels completely different and very foreign. I suppose this means that a time trial is a time trial no matter where you are. I completed the course this year with a time of 29:07 (2013: 28:50) which was fast enough to win the day. Congratulations to all the racers who competed and thank you to Ted Darling and David Brink and all the volunteers for putting on a very well organized and pleasant event!

Entering the gate

One minute to go