In the 26th edition of of 2011 TNR we were blessed with great weather and even better riding/racing than last week, and last week was not bad. We had 17 riders, some familiar faces were missing (Banky, Brian Crosby, Jeff Chapin, etc.) at the same time some not very familiar faces emerged. For example Zach came back out after a long absence and Roddy all the way from San Francisco, California joined us. Roddy is a jet pilot for a private airline that services corporations with fractional ownership jets, cool. He was a pilot in the Navy before that. Sayonara Lansing, hello California. The attacking and counter-attacking last night was the best of the season. Rinsing and repeating gets stale (i.e. ramp up and sprint) so seeing people attack from three miles out, get caught, then counter-attack, then catch and so on is way more interesting and certainly emulates race conditions better than rinse and repeat. In case you are wondering, last year we ran 32 weeks so that means we likely only have 6 weeks remaining, i don't know about you but that is depressing, so don't miss out on the great riding and weather, get outside! No pictures from last night but thanks to the Barronator in Traverse City we have a great parting shot from the Cherry Roubaix Sprints of Brian. Until next week men, Sayonara!

Flanked by former Tour rider Frankie Andreau, TNR's own Brian Crosby accepts a 40" television for winning the Cherry Roubaix Friday Night Sprints. At his side is TNR alumnus and second place Blaine Benson who won the cat 3 criterium the next day.

Fast Freddie accepting State Champion JerseyAs mentioned Blaine Benson won the cat 3 Crit, but missed was the photo finish with Ben Cox, a TNR alumnus. Cary was 10th in the Road Race after being in the winning break with Derek Witte (winner of the ½ crit the day before) but they got consumed when two fields came together (35+ and 3’s) in Cedar. Cary is leading the points series for masters, but only by a hair. If you are able, help the man out at the upcoming races, this would be a great achievement and he is close. Sam Nichol, TNR alumnus, was 3rd in the masters 45+, very nice. In the cat 4 road race, Jeff Chapin was 4th, , Derrick O’Brien was 6th, Zac Konett was 10th and Craig Newell was 16th. In the cat 5 road race Nikita was 8th. Are you thinking what I am? TNR has the making of a great cat 4 team. TNR stamped their branding iron on Cherry Roubaix.
Last night was a fine a night as we have seen all year, sunny, 80, no wind, no humidity. We had nineteen and by my count half of those rode to the ride, Eric winning the distance competition. How about an 88 miler on Tuesday? That’s exactly what Eric Snider does. Starting in DeWitt Eric rides to work in downtown Lansing, after work to TNR, then TNR, then back to downtown Lansing and finally back up to DeWitt. This is about the distance between Lansing and Ann Arbor. Eric, what are your long rides?
The start was reminiscent of the intro to Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood but like the falsehood that he was once a Marine Corp sniper the subtle start was a lie and soon no one was talking and we were all in the drops and droolin for the first sprint. Another new face last night, welcome Roddy. And a special call out to Robin Allen, men I met Robin a few years back at an Every & Stillman ride looking like your standard recreational set, but he is transformed to the point where the people at Every & Stillman would not recognize him. You are one of us now Robin, no looking back.News flash. Men, a small but dedicated group of us have been discussing a Lansing based bike racing team for 2012 and beyond. Soon we will lay out our plan. Suffice to say keep this in mind as you think forward to 2012. Look above for examples of what is possible. We ride, train, race, eat, drink and suffer together already, let’s accomplish something!

"We felt like bike racers"

No! This is not a picture from last night!
No this is not a picture of last night, but it felt like I assume Ludo Dierckxsens felt in the 2001 Paris Roubiax; wet, muddy, miserable, but instead of cold... Hot! No one was crazy enough to bring any electronic devices with them so no photographic evidence but fifteen were crazy enough to show up and feel like bike racers, and it felt like a race.By the time entered Mason most of us had a cup of dirt in our mouths but we were smiling form ear to ear. Getting rained on and having mud in your eye might slow some people down, but not the hard men of TNR, we just went harder and faster. Mike pulled another video of a our ride from a previous time, click here to see it.

Нікіта

Russian people are hearty souls, it’s in their writings from the likes of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. They have what the Finnish call “Sisu,” they know how to endure and they know suffering.What’s this have to do with TNR and bike racing? Well after climbing the ladder the past few years Nikita Bondar, whose parents emigrated here from Russia, stood on the top of that ladder for the first time at the Maillot Jaune Road Race on July 23rd.
Why do we race bikes? It’s a hard hobby, rarely rewarding, few win, the commitment is steep and the fitness we gain is fleeting. But sometimes we do win! Nikita, after getting 3 sixth places, a fourth and a third place (all strong results) this spring and summer came across the line first.Nice work youngster, your making the TNR Brotherhood to feel proud, SISU!