mix1 is now available in Safeway & check them out on Facebook

Our main sponsor mix1 just got their product into Safeway in Colorado.  As such they are trying to promote it with social media. So please go to their Facebook page (link below), then "like" the page if you have not done so already, and lastly you need to post some thing to identify our team.  For example "I like mix1 because the mix1 masters cycling team uses it" or "I like mix1 after the mix1 masters cycling team gave me some to try". 

So if you would not mind please head to their page, click on "like", and then post some message with the mix1 masters team in it.  There are points for being funny so have at it.

https://www.facebook.com/mix1life

mix1 will also be sending out coupons for free product to some of the people who post on their page.   So if you would not mind doing this for me I would appreciate it.

CJ

Our own Peter Ismert is running for the ACA Board

Peter Ismert from our Mix1 45+ squad is running for a seat on the Board of Directors for the American Cycling Association (ACA), soon to be the Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado (BRAC). This organization is the primary bike-race permitting entity for Colorado and eastern Wyoming, and will be a local association for USA Cycling. Cycling team leaders will be voting for the new Board at the annual meeting on Dec. 14th.

Peter wants to give back to the sport, the organization, and its members by becoming an active member on the BRAC Board of Directors.  If elected, Peter looks forward to addressing the many organizational and operational issues that will arise when changing from ACA, which has been an autonomous, self-supported entity, to BRAC, which will be partially supported by USAC.  Peter wants to find creative ways to maintain the level of service seen under ACA and also capitalize on the advantages of becoming BRAC. Peter believes that developing a more diversified funding plan is one of the top priorities for BRAC.  With his experience working with other nonprofit organizations and helping them develop fund-raising plans, he can offer creativity to the BRAC Board to help bring sustainable funding to the organization. He also understands that having a full-time, paid, Executive Director for a nonprofit organization such as BRAC is a great opportunity and he wants to help that person succeed to the fullest extent possible. Finally, he wants to promote how the Board of Directors and Executive Director can best interact with its members (racers, promoters, officials, mechanics, and others) to draw upon their skills and to solicit help to move the new organization forward.

2 new riders for the 35 Plus team

The mix1 Masters Team is pleased to welcome Michael Burton and Lee Middlekauff on board for 2012.  Here is a little information about them both.

Michael Burton

Michael is originally from Boston, MA, however he moved out west in 98 to open the Bellagio in Las Vegas. He and his wife, Paula, live in the highlands of Denver.  They share their home with three very needy dogs, Michael works in the wine industry and represent 30 wineries from around the world.  That fact alone was enough to get him on the team..............

He started off his racing life with Triathlon in 1999. After 5 Ironmans with similar results it was clear he was good at 1 of the 3 disciplines, the bike. Highlights from Michael's racing are; 3rd- Ca State ITT 30+, 2nd- Salida Omnium overall, 3rd-San Dimas SR overall, and a "W" Manhattan Beach crash fest. For 2012 Michael is inspired to race Gila, VOS, Cascade, Master Nats, and BAT races for the team. His strengths are Crits and TTs , however never count him out in any RR.  His favorite discipline will always be stage racing!  In addition he has raced the track and cyclocross, but never found them compelling due to the time constraints.

Outside of racing Michael and his wife enjoy snowshoeing, Costa Rica, hiking, lots of Sushi, and a little wine, ok maybe a lot of wine. They both practice Zen Buddhism at a local temple, but are far from enlightened per Michael. They appreciate life in Denver, look forward to a great year in 2012, and told all the guys to just call him Burton!




Lee Middlekauff

Lee is 42 yrs old and like a lot of the guys on the team from back east.  It is ironic, but 4 different team members, including 2 brand new recruits all remember racing with/against each other in the NYC area in the late 1980's and early 1990's.   Lee had completed two 1000 plus mile bike tours up and down the coasts  by age 16 and spent a summer as a bike messenger in NYC where he grew up.  In 1987 he started racing with CRCA and Toga, both well know teams in the New York City area who still actively race today.   He took his passion to the University of Colorado, Boulder where he was involved racing for one of the best collegiate programs in the country, and onto the pro/1/2 fields.  After a 20 plus year hiatus from racing he returned to the sport in 2010 and rediscovered the thrill of the racing scene.  In 2011 Lee started off in the 35 Plus cat. 4 category and moved up quickly, then winning in both the 35's plus cat 3 category and the senior cat 3 category.   He tends to do well in crits, is a past winner of the NJ State road champion, and looks forward to the "Spring Classics" here in CO.

 

Lee has been married to Amy for six years and they have 4 yr old twins, Connor and Gracie.  Lee has worked in the investment world since he graduated from college (along with 3 other team members) and he currently is in the institutional equity sales group for Citibank based out of Cherry Creek.

24 Hours Of Moab

Mountain bike racing is not part of what the mix1 team really does, but like a lot of things some of the guys do compete in the off season from road racing.  For some that is on the track, for others that is cross, maybe mountain biking, or even running.  Each fall the grand daddy of 24 hour mountain bike races is held in Moab, UT, on the same course since the 1st edition in 1995.  This year CJ Gauss went down with a team of 5 and raced the co-ed category again.  CJ's team was 2nd last year, but stepped up this year to win their category, and was the 6th fastest team out of the several hundred in Moab.  CJ flew the mix1 flag the entire race and more importantly the team of 5 consumed 2 full cases of mix1 over the 24 hours to keep everyone happy, well feed, and with happy stomachs.  24 hour races are very hard on one's digestive system and mix1 was the perfect drink for all.  On top of that if you are going to stay awake for 36 hours, you better drink something that tastes good.

 Not the best picture, but CJ on the right side of the top step, in mix1 hat and vest.

 CJ's lap is over, time to sit down, put your feet up, and get ready to race at night.

One has to keep it light during a event like this, so might as well stick your tongue out at the camera guy.

New Additions to 45 Plus and 55 Plus

The mix1 masters team is proud to announce the addition of 2 riders to our 55 plus team and 1 rider to our 45 plus team for 2012.  Adam Asnes will be joining our 45 plus team and Butch Stinton and Steve Matous will be joining the 55 plus team.  The 45 plus team won the Best All Around team competition for Colorado last year, but with the loss of one strong rider for 2012 Adam is a welcome replacement.  The 55 Plus team was a new group for mix1 in 2011 and had a great year.  Bill Kelligher won the Best All Around Rider competition in Colorado with only one team mate.  So for 2012 the team will be field 4 riders with Bill and Steve B. returning, as well as new recruits Butch and Steve M.  Keep an eye out for the 35's who are still doing some recruiting.

Here is a little bit more about Butch:

Butch started racing at 14 and has raced most of his life since then.   He has been racing over 45 years, he is the inventory manager at Bikesourse, and his strengths are sprinting, crits, and track racing.  Between 1980 and 1988, he completed over 100 Triathlons including 5 Ironman’s.  He has raced his bike in all the different disciplines in Road and Track and he has won over 400 races including over 40 State Titles, 20 National Titles and 15 World Titles.  At this point Butch is  looking to have fun helping his new Teammates get the best results they can. 

Recent Highlights:

Masters State Crit Championships – 1^st

Raisin Hope Crit – 1^st

Salida Crit – 1^st

Glenwood Springs Crit – 1^st

Coal Miners Classic Crit – 1^st

Vic’s Crit – 2^nd

Wheels of Thunder Crit – 3^rd

Banock Crit – 5^th

Hugo RR – 11^th

BAR & BAT Year End Awards

Report and photos from Peter Ismert. 

The end of the 2011 bike race season was marked by the annual American Cycling Association Awards Party.  Best All-Around Team (BAT) and Best All-Around Rider (BAR) awards were presented to all the junior, senior, and masters categories.  The mix1 Masters Team received BAR/BAT awards for all their respective categories and had a couple first place wins. 

For the individual awards, mix1's Bill Kellagher's won the first place BAR award for the 55+ category.  Bill is new to mix1 this year and he gave racing his all by racing from March through August, winning races throughout the season.  Because he was racing against strong competitors from various teams, his first place BAR win wasn't decided until the last race of the season. Also, Matt Gates from the mix1 35+ team and Peter Ismert from the 45+ team each took 2nd in their respective BAR categories. These guys also raced a long season against great competition from several teams.  They were often seen winning races or getting into the top 3 placings. Bill, Matt, and Peter did will this year due in a large part to their teammate's support during the races, enabling them to ensure high-placed finishes. Congrat's to Jeff Hartman (P2P/Westside Cycling) and Rod Yoder (Natural Grocers Cycling Team) on their first place BAR wins in the 35+ and 45+ categories.

For the team awards, the mix1 45+ squad won the first place BAT award for the 3rd year running. The team showed consistency throughout the season by winning races and often placing in the top three spots.  A hard charging Great Divide cycling team kept the season exciting as mix1 and Great Divide often exchanged the lead for BAT from week to week.  Also, the Mix1 35+ team got 2nd place in BAR due to their ability to race as a team and posting many key race wins by several of their riders throughout the season.   Congratulation too the Westwisde P2P team who not only had the best rider, but also a very deep team and deserved their team awards.

The ACA BAR/BAT awards was a good way to mark the end of the bicycle road-race season for Mix1. Great competition and race venues, along with our many generous sponsors, made this season one to remember.  The Mix1 team is looking forward to some enjoyable non-racing cycling this off-season in preparation for another exciting year in 2012.

 Peter Ismert on the podium for 2nd in 45 Plus Open BAR and representing the whole team on their BAT win, for the 3rd year in a row.

 Matt Gates took 2nd in the 35 Plus Open BAR for the second year in a row, with Jeff Hartmann winning for the second year in a row.

 Bill Kelligher taking the win in the 55 plus BAR, which a big credit to his team mates Steve, as it was often just the 2 of them again much larger teams.  look out in 2012, they are bringing in the reinforcements.

Steamboat Stage Race 45 Plus

45 Plus race report from Peter Ismert.

While much of the Mix1 team was racing at the National Masters Championships in Bend, Oregon,  Mix1's Matt Vawter and Peter Ismert decided to race closer to home and participated in the Steamboat Springs Stage Race.  The fields were a bit small, but the racing was still big.  Matt had the best overall success by claiming second place in the end, propelled by a solid time trial result, a good second place finish in the road race, and a hard fought 3rd place finish in the final criterium.  After four days of racing, he was only 14 seconds out of first place overall.  Peter just missed getting into the top 3 spots on the podium for the final overall, but was able to come away from the weekend with success by winning both criteriums.  Matt and Peter's performance put the final stamp on the Mix1 45+ team's successful season which ultimately ended in winning the ACA Best All-around Team competition and Peter coming in second in the Best All-around Rider competition for the 45+ category.  The 45+ team is due some well-deserved down time for the remainder of the year as 2012 is just around the corner.

 Podium for the final stage with Peter taking the win and Matt in 3rd.   We apologize for Matt's belly sticking out!

 Podium from the road race with Matt taking 2nd overall and moving into the top 3 on GC.

Raisin Hope Crit 45 Plus video

Here is a video Peter Ismert shot during the 45 Plus race at the Raisin Hope crit last weekend.  The guys worked to set up Matt V., but it did not come together this time.

http://vimeo.com/27812272

Bannock Crit, a Great Day with 2 Wins

Jeff Oksanko taking a close sprint in the 45 Plus race and his first victory of the year.

CJ Gauss taking the win in the 35 Plus race, as he cleanly out sprinted the 6 man break, just as they got caught by the field.

The team had possibly one of our best days ever at Bannock this past week, but also it worst days ever for rider injuries.  We had guys racing in the 35's, the 45's, and the 55's, and from those 3 fields we went 1st, 1st, and 2nd.  Not too bad.  Unfortunately we lost 3 guys for the year in frustrating crashes.  We say frustrating as Bannock is pretty wide open and safe, so you would think there would not be much crashing, let alone losing 3 guys for the year.  In the 45 plus race both Larry and Henrik we taken out in turn one, Larry ended up with 2 broken ribs and a broken collar bone, and Henrik ended up with a hole in his face that required a lot of stitches in his face and inside his mouth.  In the 35 plus race there was a crash right at the front of the field with 1 to go and Pete and Josh got real unlucky and went down.  Pete will live to race another day, but Josh broke both his wrists and is done for the season.  So good luck to our 3 team mates, glad it was not worse, but get better and we will see you soon


55 Plus Race report from Bill Kellagher:

The story of the 55+ team continues.  Steve and I got up dark and early for the Bannock Street Crit. I guess they figure old folks don't sleep that well anyway, so they started the combined 55/65 field at 7:50.  That meant a 4:30 wake-up call for me.  Ugh.  But knowing that there were BAR points on the line and my competition for the BAR would not be at this race, I knew it was an opportunity not to be missed, So Steve and I dragged our butts down there to start our 30th race of the season. 

So there we were, warming up for our crit, enjoying yet another fine breakfast of Cliff bars and Rockstar, as the sun is cracking over the tall buildings in downtown Denver, Steve asks what I was thinking of for tactics, offering to do anything he could to help my chances.  I was just blank.  Thinking that there were lots of Vic's guys who were all good sprinters, and there was a huge target on my back.  Then as I rolled up to the line, I noticed that there were only 3 Vic's guys and the rest of the field wasn't looking super strong.  That's when the light came on and I thought, "just drill it!"  They blew the whistle and bang, I was off going as hard as I could down and through the first turn, out of the saddle down to the second turn.  Head down and going as hard as I could down the back stretch, I heard a voice behind me, Steve Matouse saying that he was with me and willing to work.  Pushed it up a gear and kept pounding.  By the time we were through the 3rd turn, two Vic's guys had bridge up and when it appeared they were willing to work, I knew we were gone.  Meahwhile back in the field, Steve was doing yeoman's work, spreading mayhem and confusion.  Chasing down anything that moved and clogging up the turns.  Steve said it only took about 4 laps and we were out of sight and out of mind, the break was gone for good, wire to wire. 

For the most part, everyone in the break worked hard and we didn't even sprint for the primes.  Seemed like everyone got a chance to roll through on the front to pick up some extra cash.  I even won a prime for a case of Mix1!  With about 7 or 8 laps to go, the Vic's sprinter Steve Worley started to sit on while the rest of us continued to work hard.  But when the field came into sight up ahead, the rest of us started to ease up as we didn't want to lap them and then get caught up in confusion of the field for the final sprint.  With 5 to go, with Worley still sitting on, Steve M and I stopped working.  Since there were two Vic's guys, we forced the other one to tow us around for the last 5 laps with the rest of us holding position.  On the final lap I had good position and timed the sprint well, but Worley was just too fast for me and pulled away, while I managed to hold off the rest of the break.  Steve B continued defending the break, and then even got 4th in the field sprint for 8th place. Vic's got the win, but I got 23 unanswered points for the BAR. 

45 Plus Race Report from Jeff Ofsanko:

The pace was fast from the gun with attacks seeming to come and go throughout the 50 minute event. However, the squad was up for the challenge with Mix1 riders either getting in the key moves or working to bring them back. In the end the race come down to a bunch sprint with Jeff Ofsanko getting his first win of the season.

The squad designated Jeff as the team’s sprinter for the day while Peter x 2 (Pete Lucke and Peter Ismert) were to play the roles of attacking and controlling the race…which they did to perfection. Throughout the race Peter x 2 covered all the key moves and started many breaks themselves. Occasionally, when a move would go and Peter x 2 were out of position to cover it, Jeff would make an effort to keep the break in check.

With 5 laps to go the field was all together when Peter Lucke slipped off the front while Peter Ismert and Jeff sat towards the front of the field disrupting the efforts of the chase. Lucke stayed away until the bell lap. With one lap to go, as Lucke was getting reeled in, Jeff latched onto the back wheel of Ismert and with half a lap to go Ismert took control of the front of the race. Ismert led Jeff through the course’s final 6 corners and just before the finishing straight, Jeff made his jump and held the field off down the 200 meter stretch to take the win.

While Jeff got the honors of crossing the line first, it was the work of Peter x 2 that made the win possible. They controlled the race, Lucke put the pressure on the other teams with his late attack, and Ismert brought Jeff to the final straightaway in perfect position. This race was one of best displays of teamwork for the squad all season. Congrats guys.

 Jeff on the top podium with Adam Asnes from Vittamin Cottage

35 Plus Race Report:

Bannock is an important race for us, as we have been riding very well in crits of late (winning 4 of the last 5) and we came so close last year with 2nd and 3rd.  So this year we looked to do better.  We started 8 guys and had one of the larger teams, with everyone having a job to do, with the only goal in mind getting a win for one of our riders.  Team sprinter Dan Schmatz got going right away and went off the front early with Michael Gibson from Westside.  It was an odd move as they are both 2 of the stronger riders in the field.  Eventually under pressure from other teams they came back and the counter attacking started for real.  From the fray Matt Gates got away with another Westside rider and dropped him.  Matt was not bothered by this and just went on solo, collecting a bunch of primes.


Back in the field Westside went to the front and brought it back, then launched their strong man Jeff Hartman, but CJ was on his wheel as he waited for the counter move.  Things continued like this for a while, but no group could form a real gap, with Dan, CJ, Josh, Matt, and Matt continuing to try to get away.  With 5 laps to go it looked like a field sprint and the guys decided to work for Josh as he was feeling good.  Literally 30 seconds later time trial stud Jon Heidleman, Westside, went to the front and pulled a small group away.  CJ reacted and covered the move for mix1.  

In the end 6 riders got away, but only had a small lead with 4 laps to go.  CJ did not think the break had any chance, but was smart enough to sit on, with the 2 best sprinters back in the field in Dan & Josh.  Of the 6 riders only 3 were working, with 2 of them being strong TT guys, and the third having more to lose if the break did not work.  CJ's tactics made sense and allowed him an easy ride in the break.  At one lap to go it appeared the break had a chance, but it was small chance.  They there was the big crash in the field, which occurred close to the front, took out a bunch of the best guys, and probably allowed the break to stay away to the line.   CJ moved up and was 2nd wheel with 2 corners to go, his only job was to beat the break, and if they got caught at the line, his team mates hopefully had it under control.  Dan D from 8 Sixteen Racing jumped first and CJ locked on his wheel coming out of the final turn.  CJ let Dan go for a little while and then jumped about 300 metres out for a clean win.   It was perfect tactics for the guys again and the team's 5th crit win in a row, with 4 different riders.

As always it was a total team win, with all 8 guys working for the team, and not too concerned who got the win.  Of the 10 guys on the 35 plus squad, 8 of them have won a race this year . That is a stat we are very proud of.

Lookout Hill Climb 55 Plus Race Report and another Win

Race report from Bill Kellagher:

Steve and I went after both Lookout and Bannock this weekend and I ended up taking first at lookout at a near PR time, and 2nd at Bannock.  Both races had big bearings on my hopes for another BAR championship.  At the start of the weekend, I was leading by a mere 2 points over Kim Workman.  For those of you who don't know, I have been in a very close race with Kim all season long.  He has been consistently beating me in hill climbs and time time trials, while I generally have the upper hand in crits and road races.  And while we have been within 10 points of each other all season long, the third place rider is over 100 points back.  I've also been a bit handicapped as I missed a few BAR races back in the sprint when I had killer form, but was out of state for the Gila and Battenkill.  So now it's down to the last 3 races of the season and it's a very close run thing.

Since Kim had been consistently beating me at hill climbs, I decided that my best strategy would be to mark Kim and let anyone else who wanted to ride up the road.  My rational was that if he was first and I was 2nd, I would lose 3 points to him.  If he was 3rd and I was 4th, I would only lose 2 points. Then if other people would could potentially beat me were already ahead of Kim, then the finish would be easier to manage.  So off we go and sure enough about 200 yards into it, two RealD riders split off the front of the field and I just watched them ride away. The RealD guys really were capable of winning the race, so just before that first left-hand hair pin, the other contenders hit the front and started pulling them back.  When we hit the long flat section at half way, Kim decided the RealDs were not coming back on their own, so he hit it hard at the front.  It was a pace that just about sucked the life out of me, but I was able to sit on and just when I thought he would be able to crack me, he cracked himself and backed off.  We caught the RealDs just before the next set of hair pins and as we hit those steep turns, we had it down to just the four of us, me, Kim, and the two RealDs (Steve Matouse and Jim Wier).  But the RealDs weren't done.  As we approached the last switchback, Steve M took a super hard dig at the front and just as he set up, his team mate Jim, jumped from behind.  But Kim was on it and we pulled the attacker back just before the last turn that led in to the sprint.  This set me up perfectly as it left me on Kim's wheel at 300 meters to go with Kim a little gassed from leading the chase.  When the 200 meter to go sign came into view, I got a little impatient and jumped early thinking that on hill climbs, they usually put that sign up closer to the finish than what it says.  As it turned out, they measured that distance pretty accurately this time around and man was that a long sprint.  I started sprinting at 250 meters, came by Kim as we passed the sign and almost hit it!  Then hung on, hung on, hung on, ran completely out of gas, hit it again, and basically soft pedaled over the line as I had absolutely nothing left.  Didn't even have the strength to put my hands up.  Only thing that I could think of is that Kim was worse off than me and couldn't come around.  I think that was the first time I beat Kim in a hill climb and actually my first hill climb win ever.