Spence attacks Pantoll

AC Junior racer Spence races the clock on our favorite trials road.

Arsenal

Today we have a rare convergence of some high-powered machines. From front to back you're looking at Pinarello Montellos belonging to: two-time olympian and current pro triathlete Chris Hauth; 2007 long-course world champion, 2006 short-course world champion, and defending Escape from Alcatraz champion Leanda Cave; and Above Category founder and champion Chad Nordwall. The bikes are beautiful and spec'ed to be as fast as is technologically possible. Add a world-class athlete to any of these machines and you've got a formidable opponent.


The Lightweight disc on Chad's Montello features carbon spokes (black) filled with composite (white) to create a lenticular solid wheel.
Cables on Chris' bike are bound and directed in front of the headtube to minimize turbulence.
The powercontrol for Chris' SRM is mounted as flush as possible with the aerobars.
Leanda's bike still has a few spacers. These athletes dial in their positions to perfection, which takes many hours of adjusting to small changes. We don't cut the steerer until the very last improvement has been made.
The carbon valve scoop on Leanda's Reynolds disc is a beautiful detail.
Reynolds opts for a perfectly flat disc wheel.
Leanda's bike with the flat Reynolds disc cuts quite a narrow slice through the wind.
Chris is sporting the new Reynolds SDV 66 clinchers.

Down Time

Above Category friend and road rider Greg N. came in for a visit. Yes, that's his collarbone. Having suffered a crash on Highway 1 a few weeks ago, Greg can't get out to ride for the time being. On the upside, he's got more time to hang out in the shop and dream up his next new bike!

AC Junior Team Weekend Results

Tamarancho:
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1st - Spence Peterson (Won it 2nd year in a row!)
2nd - Alex Howard
4th - Skyler Taylor
5th - Isaiah Rapko
6th - Bob Siegel

SugarHill:
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2nd - Isaiah
5th - Alex
9th - Skyler
12th - Spence

The Above Category Junior Racing Team is at it again. On Sunday a full squad lined up for the Tamarancho Invitational Mountain Bike Race in Fairfax. Yesterday the team headed down to San Jose for the Sugar CRM memorial day crit, which is part of the Junior Points Series. Enjoy the pictures and stay tuned for more updates!

Moots

Lately we've been putting a lot of Pegoretti pictures up here. Obviously we love Pegorettis. But there's a bike we come back to time and time again that hasn't had its fair share of praise. Chad's ridden this Moots for thousands of miles, through all kinds of weather, in races, in training, and even to get groceries. People come into the shop and see all these Princes and Responsoriums and Z1's and they say "jeeze, Chad, how do you decide what to ride?" And even with this mind-bogglingly beautiful array of bikes, most often it's the Moots compact that Chad picks. The titanium is timeless. It's bomb-proof. It's quiet, comfortable, fast, understated, won't rust, won't corrode, it's light. It's a bike that is completely unfazed by hype and glam because it is plainly and simply an amazing bicycle.

Spy photos of Rhett's new ride

AC Junior Racing

Following is a tribute to the Above Category Junior Racing team. The juniors have been consistently sweeping podiums and are racing in San Jose in the Sugar CRM Memorial Day Criterium as part of the juniors points series. Go see them if you can, these guys hit it hard and embody the promise of American cycling's next decade.

Peter's Duende

Our chum Peter (who blessed our blog on May 12th) celebrates his birthday today in style with a brand new Pegoretti Duende. Per his request... Red wheels? Green skewers?! ORANGE TAPE?!!!! Somehow it all works out for this guy.


The complete machine. A 62cm Pegoretti Duende.


A no-nonsense front end.


That's Peter's own grit on the spokes there.

Leanda Cave WINS IRONMAN FLORIDA 70.3

Leanda Cave, current and 2-time ITU World Champion, dominated every leg of the Florida Half Ironman on Sunday, May 18th. She was second out of the water, and posted the fastest bike and run splits of the race. She rode her Pinarello Montello Time Trial bike. Way to go Leanda! That is an incredible accomplishment and we are inspired by your performance.





No, we're not getting into running apparel, but we had to put this shot up. Did you see those socks??

Leanda's website is linked on our sidebar, check it out.

Mt Hood, stage 4, final

Ian takes 4th overall! After a very technical crit course, which saw Ian crash out at 7 laps to go, Chad and Ian have wrapped up their work in Hood River. Since the wreck was within the last 8 laps of the race, Ian was given the pack's time and held on to his 4th place in the overall standings. Chad and Ian have made it back safely to Mill Valley and are recuperating from the incredible week in Hood River, Oregon. Stop on by the shop to say hello and hear more details about their adventures at the Mt Hood Cycling Classic.


We'd also like to salute Above Category friend Davis Bentley, who at 15 years old finished 10th overall in the cat III's. A huge result for a rapidly developing racer.

Mt Hood Classic, Stage 3

Yesterday was the final road stage. We apologize for the delayed posting, but we have been waiting for the results from the promoters (and we are STILL waiting!). Ian stayed right with the leader up to the final 15-mile climb. He attacked and splintered the group, but fell victim to repeated attacks from the ten remaining lead riders. He finished 13th after a very difficult climb. The intense pressure from the cat II's in the race left Chad in a small chase group behind the main field. He finished strong, hoping to beat the time cut in order to race the criterium today.

This morning, Chad has yet another Pasta Breakfast:

Mt Hood Classic, Stage 2

Today Chad and Ian undertook the race against the clock. Things went well but not as well as yesterday. Ian finished 1 minute 48 seconds after the first place rider and took sixth place. His time loss cost him the yellow and he is now in second place, 13 seconds off the leader. Chad’s time trial was a bit more casual. He took in the beautiful scenery, resting up his legs for tomorrow’s monstrous climbs.
Chad warms up before his start.


Our Assos bibs on the "spin cycle."

Mt Hood Classic, Stage 1

Chad and Ian lined up with a packed cat 2-3 field of 125 riders to race the Cooper Spur Circuit Race. The course consisted of 3.5 laps going up, then down. We started at the base of the climb, and finished up top. Chad was stylin' on his Pinarello Prince with Lightweight Ventoux wheels, and Ian rolled the Parlee Z4 with Reynolds DV46 tubulars.

The Pinarello Prince with Lightweights
Ian making his way to the start on the Parlee Z4.

The mixed field sorted itself out pretty quickly on the first climb, with many people falling off the back right away. Then there were a few breakaways. They eventually got caught. And then Ian went off the front at the base of the third climb. He built a gap quickly and went over the top with a 1'25" lead.


Meanwhile, Chad found his courage and got a group together behind the main field, and made his way along the course.



Ian stuck his break, finishing alone 1'20" ahead of the field. Chad finished mid-pack in the III's. We know, you're thinking "what happened to the Above Category kits??" So, a couple days ago when Pat from Assos stopped in the shop, he gave us some new Assos prototypes to try out. Survey says: we LOVE THEM! Fashionable, functional, and now, very winning.

To the races!

Chad and Ian have finished their grueling road trip north to Hood River and are tucked into their beds dreaming of victory tomorrow. While they would love to go on and on about the trip and especially about these fantastic bikes they'll be racing, they wisely elected to let their tired bodies recuperate. Stay tuned for race recaps, bike reviews, and tall tales tomorrow. For now, adieu.