2011 is outlasting 2010 with Thirty four rides dating back to March 15th compared to thirty two rides in 2010. As we set this milestone we are ready to achieve another as we approach the 110 member mark & nearly 19,000 hits to our site. Last week we got yet another gift when a warm front pushed north from the central plains raising temperatures to near seventy just in time for the start of TNR. For many, the carnival that is cycling has left town and most have gone home, but for nine of us it was yet again a sweet and poetic symphony played out on the back roads of Ingham County. We had a slight head wind heading south, but once we headed north the winds picked up and the dense air acted like a diesel pusher and we were flying in a nine man paceline. I Thought I might have taken the last Mason City limit sprint last week but because of the nice weather Doug now holds that honor, but watch out Doug, everyone wants to do another TNR on November 1st so you will have to defend that honor.
The 2012 Capital Fund Team is filling up quickly, our roster is up to twenty racers and seven club members in a little over two weeks! This is really incredible men. Welcome letter is soon to come and we hope to get designs out for the kits for all of you to see soon. So put your hands in the air, we are off and running, get used to seeing scenes like the one above as we have a winning team men!
With the forecast of sunny and 55 degrees we will be running what would have to be the last TNR of the season on November 1st at 5:30 PM. Hope to see you all then, until... sayonara...

The sun is setting on TNR. We may pull off another, or even two more, but for 19 of us it will be hard to beat the sun & 80 degrees we enjoyed last Tuesday. The trip north on Meridian was hard and fast, it seems we were running over 30 for about 2 miles and splintering the field. Steve unveiled the Capital Fund Title Riverfront Cycling Team before the ride and handed out flyers and team commitment forms. If you need one let me know, I will email it to you. In short we have funding for thirty riders. If you race for the team in USCF races you will receive a kit, no charge, yes that is correct, not just cat 2 riders. Again, if you race you will receive a kit free of charge. In addition race fees will be reimbursed for everyone in any race we podium and earnings from the race are kept and shared by the team. Our hope is that most of you will spring for a second kit at cost (we are working out a deal now, possibly with Louis Garneau) that way we can have mock races next year at TNR with perhaps the cat 4 team lining up against the Masters team, one kit might be dark and one lighter. As for the kit, this is your team, you will have a say in how the kit looks, we will roll out some samples soon and hope to have them in your hands in time for the first TNR next March, only 5 months men.We want to run the ride until we can no longer. To that end next week we start at 5:30, need to roll on time and stay on target. We might be able to get in 35 miles, that's ok, the alternative is stay at home and watch the Biggest Loser... in the mirror!

Capital Fund Title Cycling Team

October 11, 2011

Dear fellow TNR rider;

The what ifs, why not’s and how to’s have been pondered, prodded and finally answered. The conclusion was simple; it is time for the rebirth of a locally sponsored USCF club team in Lansing, Michigan.

2012 will represent the inaugural season for a team with primary sponsorship provided by CAPITAL FUND TITLE SERVICES, LLC and bike, accessories and service support provided by RIVERFRONT CYCLES.

This team is being formed as a club consisting mostly of riders that enjoy participating in USCF cycling events. However we realize there are riders within our TNR ranks that do not necessarily want to participate in USCF events, but enjoy riding fast and enjoy the camaraderie gained by riding with others. We want you as part of this club also. Your participation and strong riding makes the rest of us better, and our sponsors will be proud to see their names on your front and backside.

This club is being organized with several goals in mind; first and foremost have fun. Secondly, create an organized environment locally where those amongst us with years of racing knowledge and skills can mentor those with less experience on training, team tactics and individual improvement.

Organizationally, the club will initially consist of a Board of Craig Webb, Steve Smith, Mike Williams and Mark Warner.

We are very excited about the rider support package that we have been able to put together. In turn, we are equally excited about the name recognition the talented riders in this area will provide our sponsors.

The sponsor support package will be categorized at two levels and is outlined on the attached pages. RACE level sponsorship applies to those riders whose intent is to participate on this team in USCF events in 2012. CLUB level sponsorship applies to riders that have enjoyed the camaraderie of riding at TNR over the years and will be proud to wear a kit for a team born from TNR. Our initial budget for this upcoming season is set up to support 30 riders under the RACE category.

In looking at the results from the MBRA 2011 season there is reason to be very optimistic in 2012. The potential is real to field a team that can capture the 35 master and/or cat 4 team championships. The potential is real to have a local points champion on several fronts. The potential is real to have several individual state road, criterium, and points champions and team championships.

Please take some time to review the attached information. Note that there are specific deadlines for responding. Also note that this information is step one in the process. Once we have finalized the club roster then more information will be forthcoming.

This information is going to ALL riders that are registered on the TNR web site. In reality there are only about 30 local riders that were “active” with USCF racing in 2011. Our 2012 budget is set up to support 30 racers. Many riders will choose not to race, but will want to join as a club member. Some riders will choose to race with the team they race with now. In the end, we anticipate no more than 30 riders to race actively. Should our estimations prove wrong, we will not exclude, we will just re-work the budget.

The following pages to this document contain:
1. Race level rider package
2. Club level rider package
3. Rider registration form
4. Secondary sponsorship information

Should there be any questions regarding any of the attached, please direct questions to Steve Smith at ssmith@capfund.net. We look forward to hearing back from you.

Regards,

Steve Smith, Craig Webb, Mike Williams and Mark Warner


RACE LEVEL RIDER PACKAGE

The following is being provided to Race level club members.

Team garb

1. Team kit, comprised of jersey, shorts and arm warmers, NO COST TO RIDER
2. Team skin suit available, TO BE PURCHASED BY RIDER AT COST.
3. Optional hats, shoe covers and jackets to be made available to rider at cost.
4. Socks and gloves will be made available to riders at cost.


Team equipment, supplied by Riverfront Cycle

1. Road bikes available at discounted pricing.
2. Riding accessories available at discounted pricing.
3. Service available at discounted pricing.

Reimbursed fees

1. Podium finish equals reimbursed entry fees to all participating teammates in that category for that race.

Winnings

1. It will be team policy that winnings from a podium finish will be shared equally with all participating team members in that category for that race.

CLUB LEVEL RIDER PACKAGE

Team garb

1. All club attire will be made available to CLUB level riders at cost, plus shipping.


Equipment, provided by Riverfront Cycles

1. Riding accessories available at discounted pricing
2. Service provided at discounted pricing.

RIDER REGISTRATION


If you would like to be a team member on the Capital Fund Title/Riverfront Cycles (CFT) cycling team for the 2012 season please complete the following. ONCE COMPLETED PLEASE SCAN AND SEND TO: ssmith@capfund.net.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION IS OCTOBER 23TH.


I_______________________________________________________, would like to be considered as a team member for the CFT cycling team for the 2012 season. I would like to participate at the

RACE CLUB (circle one) level.

Contact Information: 2012 racing season age____________

Telephone number______________________________________

Address_________________________________________________________________

Email Address_________________________________________________________________.

If participating at the race level, please check the appropriate category:

Anticipated race category preference for 2012 season (and current if different); USCF License number_______________

________ Cat 4
________ Cat 3
________ Cat 2
________ masters 35
________ masters 45
________ masters 55



COMPLETE AND RETURN BY OCTOBER 23TH.

SECONDARY SPONSORSHIP

Currently our kit will consist of just two names on it. Capital Fund Title and Riverfront Cycles.

There are 2-3 secondary sponsorship opportunities available. Secondary sponsors would be given a nice advertising location on all aspects of the team kits, water bottles and team awning to be set up at every race.

If you know of a business that you think may be interested in providing sponsorship funds, please have them contact Steve Smith at 517 927 7955.

It's possible Wade, Doug, Brian, Zac, Cary, Mike, Steve, Jeff, Eric Snider and Ralph's bikes were all sold into slavery because they were MIA last night. Sorry boys, you missed a great ride. It was 72 and sunny with no wind at ride time and we had eighteen, 19 if you count Fast Freddie on the R1. Jose had a rough night with a broken spoke and flat tire but Craig made up his bad karma with wins in the first two sprints. We kept the pace high all night, no chit chat.

The 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth in relation to the sun and the orbit of the Earth around the sun is our enemy for the next six months.Short of taking TNR south of the equator, we are running out of time (probably only 2 or 3 more), but we do have some workarounds.

First, cyclocross, what once was the Red Cedar Golf Course East of Clippert, South of Michigan and North of Kalamazoo, is now a great cyclocross course has been cut in. No set times yet but the start is at the old caddyshack off Clippert (right under the cell tower across from Oade's Big Ten). Click image to enlarge.Secondly, the biggest news of the week is that Steve (The Bike Philanthropist) has secured funding for a Lansing based team & we also heard first hand from Mark last night that we have the support of Riverfront Cycle for the team. Many of you might not remember this but Dave, the owner of Riverfront, was in this game before, sporting what could arguably be described as one of the most powerful teams ever amassed in Michigan. Steve is working on a press release now, more to follow. What's this mean for off season training? The thought is spinning sessions, racing tactics training and planning for next season.

Enjoy the weather!