Elite U25 Cycling

By Elaine Sheikh, Team OAM Now Multi-sport Athlete

The Lowell 50, a classic gravel road race, offer two races: a 34-mile and a 57-mile race. This year’s race, held on April 11th couldn’t have brought us nicer weather to race. While the Barry Roubaix two weeks earlier had a starting line temperature in the teens, it was 45 degrees at 10 a.m. when the first wave, the 57-milers, left the start line. What a difference two weeks in the spring makes!

In the 57-mile race, Team OAM Now was well represented by Dan Yankus, Collin Snyder, and Leonard Van Drunen. After that first wave, most of the 34-mile men rolled out, followed by the master’s men and the women 34-milers at 10:08. The race started with a mile neutral roll-out. Immediately, I knew I was much farther back in the pack than I wanted to be. I had my eye on some strong women, but they were so far ahead of me I would have needed to weave my way around a lot of men to get to them.

Sure enough, as soon as we started riding hard, they were gone and I was still stuck too far back to keep with them. I settled into what I felt would be a sustainable pace, since I had no wheel to draft off of, and committed myself to slowly gaining on anyone who fell off the pack I was behind.

This was my first race since I suffered a pelvic fracture in January. As such, I had only ridden outside once since January, and while my coach Mark Olson has done a fantastic job getting me into shape on the trainer, I definitely forgot how bad a steep hill could hurt! Still, I felt much stronger than I thought I would, and I was able to pass many women quite easily.

At mile 13, I finally saw the jersey of a friend, Heather Goss. I knew Heather to be a solid wheel, so I dialed up the effort level slightly to catch her. She was just falling off small group of men, and was quite open to working together. We were able to keep each other motivated and steady until the end of the race. However, at mile 28, I realized I was in trouble. At that point, I had drank less than 6 ounces of water and hadn’t yet touched my sports drink. I was bonking hard, but without water in my stomach, it would be impossible to get and keep a gel down.

A group of men passed us at mile 30, and I tried as hard as I could to hang with them. By mile 32, though, I was barely hanging on. Heather stuck with the men and I slowly fell back. It was everything I could do to keep peddling. I looked down at my computer and realized how close I was to the finish. I started riding as hard as I could. I finished just 30 seconds behind the group I had ridden with at the end of the race, landing me a solid 5th woman overall and 1st in my age group for the 34-mile race. I was pleasantly surprised with how strong I felt, especially since I have been injured. I guess the whole “winter miles make summer smiles” saying is true, even if those winter miles are on the trainer!

Team OAM Now had a great day, and though we didn’t have a lot of people racing, we did secure six podium slots. Amy Kimber won the women’s 34 mile race, Collin Snyder and Daniel Yankus were both 2nd in their age groups in the 57 mile race, Tristan Greathouse was 2nd in the 34-mile boys’ 13-17 category, and Steve Buccella was 3rd in the 34-mile men’s 50-59 race.

Team Results:
57-mile:
Collin Snyder, 2nd place men 18-29
Daniel Yankus, 2nd place men 30-39
Leonard Van Drunen, 5th place men 50 and over

34 mile:
Amy Kimber, 1st place women overall
Elaine Sheikh, 1st place women 18-29
Tristen Greathouse, 2nd place boys 13-17
Steve Buccella, 3rd place men 55-59
Larry Strayhorn, 9th place men 55-59
Jim Allan, 12th place men 60 and over

By Collin Snyder, Team OAM NOW Elite Men’s cyclist

Some races, it’s all about tactics. Being in the right spot at the right time. 2014’s Iceman was not one of those races. With temperatures hovering in the mid 30’s and rain starting the night before and lasting late into the day, this year’s edition was a test of determination, grit, and survival.

The typical race day preparations went out the window as a steady drizzle greeted racers as we made our way to Kalkaska. The crowd of riders warming up down M72 were absent this year. When we arrived at the start, riders were huddling in the warm, delaying the inevitable. I throw an extra jacket and some huge gloves on and tried to do a small warmup without getting completely drenched. I tool around and swing by the start area. I figured with the nasty conditions, people would skip the normal race to the start line 30 minutes before the gun. I was wrong. I figured the gains in a couple positions would be offset by the early onset of hypothermia so I continue riding. I finish my warmup and make it to the line with a little less than 10 minutes to go which put me near the back of Wave 1. Eying the competition, my former team mate and last years Single Speed winner, Joe Sidel was nearly all the way to the front. I had my work cut out for me.

When the gun goes off, it was the normal 28 mph sprint for the first half mile of pavement. I did my best to gain as many positions as my 1 gear would take me. By the time we reach the first dirt section, I was near the front third of the field. Riders splashed through the infinite number of mud puddles covering everyone in a fine layer of mud. Instantly, everyone’s brakes start making a horrible grinding noise. This was just a small preview of what was to come.

Despite the weather, the dual trains down the opening two track were moving at full steam. I fought for position and moved up when I had the chance, but within the first 5 miles, the field had started to thin. I made it up to Joe and asked if any SS’ers were up the road. He says he tried his best to hold onto Greg Kuhn’s wheel, with no luck. Him and a small train got away and were way up the road. Once we arrive to the first single track section, traction all but disappeared. Riders became nervous and large gaps started to open up. At this point, it was a replay of last year between Joe and I. We work together/punish each other for the next 45 minutes. Both Joe and I’s brakes start going south and made the downhills nerve wracking at best. Normally, to move fast on a SS, you have to do a constant spin, spin, coast sequence. There was none of that today. With the soft trail and brakes that sounded like they were never fully retracted, only option was solid tempo riding. If you let off to coast at all, you’d ride backwards. It was ugly.

Shortly after Willimsburg Road, along the flat open powerline section, a group of 4 geared riders opened a gap on Joe and I and he shrugs and signals he can’t close it. This was it. I put my head down and get in time trial mode. I close the gap and ride their wheels for the next couple miles. When we got to the next single track section, I felt like these guys were holding me up. When we made it to the next climb, I made my move and pulled away from the four. I was on my own. For the last 10 miles, it was just me. My cadence felt good, and I knew that just maybe I could catch Kuhn up the road. I knew as long as I stayed upright on the descents, a podium was in the bag…easier said then done as, by this point, my brakes were completely gone.

Now it was just survival time. The trail had gone from bad to worse, and I was maybe in 10th place out of wave one. I can only imagine how bad this was going to be after 5000 more riders had passed through. The single track in the final couple kilometers had become un-rideable. I was riding one legged, trying to keep it upright. When the trail went up I had no traction so running was the only option. With 2k to go, someone yells Kuhn was just up the road. I’m in near panic mode. I give it everything I have left, but it was just a bit too late. I stop the clock at 2:05:15. Turns out, i was nearly 2:30 behind Greg, but a solid time none the less and good enough for 2nd place. Big congrats to Greg Kuhn of RBS Racing for having nearly the fastest non pro time, on a single speed no les,s and Joe Sidel of KLM Coldstone for holding onto third.

This is one of those races that you won’t forget. When I got home my bottom bracket was nearly seized and 3 out of 4 brake pads were down to the backing. My wheels are making a nice clicking noise each rotation and my clothes had about 10 pounds of dirt on them. But I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

This is the type of race that makes for stories you’ll talk about for years. Remember that one ride that you did a couple years ago where everything went okay, your bike worked flawlessly, and you got a somewhat respectable time at that one race? Of course you don’t. This one on the other hand neared Epic status. Did you miss it this year? If so, pray for horrible rain next year so that you can join the fun and tell glorious tales to your grand kids about how you survived treacherous downhills with no brakes while experiencing the early symptoms of hypothermia. Until next year.

I’d like to give a huge shout out to all the OAM NOW rider’s who braved the weather along with anyone who raced. This was a year to remember.

TEAM RESULTS: 

At the Gravel Grinder, part of the Michigan Mountain Mayhem Series, riders shared thoughts of mud, cold, rain, and an anticipation of a tough character-building ride during packet pickup early Saturday morning on October 4, 2014 in Boyne City. Thankfully, the sun began to peek out periodically and we even saw a rainbow!

The riders headed out on the full 60-mile ride which promised, and delivered on that promise,  to be one of the most difficult cycling events in Michigan. Alex Vanias once again rode a strong race, taking an early position at the KOMs (including a 2-mile uphill ride to one of 5 KOMs). Alex ended up with a third place finish overall, first in his age group, in a very tough field. Continuing their run as the fastest cycling couple in West Michigan, Kaitlyn Patterson finished 2nd in the overall women for the 60-mile event and first, among the women, in KOM points during the race.

Kaitlyn Patterson

Marie Dersham approaches the finish

Alex and Kaitlyn weren’t the only Team OAM NOW riders , with the masters riders making a good show despite suffering several mechanical issues. Mike Krywanski had a flat about 20 miles into the race, and was seen carrying his bike over his shoulder for more than a mile on the sandy seasonal roads. He was rescued by his ever-faithful pit crew and given a new wheel to ride on. However, by that time he was to far behind and, ultimately, out of competition. Leonard Van Drunen also had challenges with chain droppings and a flat. He was rescued by team mate Marie Dersham and her CO2 air pump. Terry Ritter represented in the masters field with a good finish.

Congratulations to all the Gravel Grinders who competed in the inaugural event today. Great organization, good lunch, and warm heaters were available to all at the end of the race. This team with grit will continue to grind in the sand, dirt, and gravel. We’re already looking forward to next year.