This weekend in Seattle

27 08 2010

bikeinfinalweb

Meet at 5pm to hang out and enjoy tunes by DJ NLJB

Music by Concours d’Elegance and Sap’N at 7pm

Short films followed by Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure at dusk (around 9pm)

And on Sunday…

emeraldcity-11

Come down to the Boxcar Alehouse in Magnolia (3407 Gilman Avenue West) for Emerald Sprints!  Lots of bike parking and good times to be had.  Register at 6pm race from 7-9.  Don’t be a stick in the mud spokes, come out and support!  There is even a FACEBOOK page for it!



Emerald Sprints this Sunday- The Final Four begins…

25 08 2010

SUNDAY AUGUST 29TH AT THE BOXCAR ALEHOUSE

EMERALD SPRINTS

REGISTER AT 6PM, RACING 7-9PM

Emerald Sprints.  If you haven’t been to an event yet, they are really coming to a head.  There are four more events planned (one in Bellingham) and they will all come down to the Regional Finals on September 10th.

emeraldcity-1


If you haven’t been in a while- you should know a couple things.

  1. Our gearing has changed. Some folks didn’t like the fact that we were running freewheels.  Well we FIXED that.  We are now running 53×14- Fixed gear- with 165mm crank arms.  This matched with a 23c trainer tire and no resistance on the rollers, make speeds of over 50mph possible…
  2. We are using clips and cages.  If you run clipless pedals, I would suggest you bring or borrow a pair of street shoes- clipless shoes have been known to pop out.
  3. DO NOT ROLL BACKWARDS.  People do.  I don’t know why, but even after they are told time and time again, they roll backwards.  What happens is the rear wheel falls off the roller in less an one second.  This can damage the cable that the magic runs through to make the image on the screen move.  You don’t want to mess with the magic do you?
  4. The distance has increased.  We are now doing sprints of 500m.  Finals are 1000m.  Ouch.
  5. You don’t have to plan to win to race.. Sprints are fun- grudge matches are races that involve you and a friend- winner gets bragging rights.  Do a beer sprint- see who’s fastest at beers AND bikes.
  6. It’s about fun.  Bikes are about fun.  If you aren’t having fun, then you are doing it wrong.

Thanks to Robert at Bunnyhawk put together this flier for the final four.



2010 Gold Sprint World Championships

9 08 2010

What have you been killing yourself on the rollers for lately?  How about this?

If you would like to be involved with the Regional Finals as a sponsor, contact R...@gomeansgo.org

gswc2010_poster

2010 GoldSprints World Championships Racing to Glory During Interbike Tradeshow
WestCoast GoldSprints and OpenSprints unite to showcase best of
international roller racing talent

San Francisco, CA – WestCoast GoldSprints, the premiere event
organizer dedicated to roller racing, has announced it will host the
2010 GoldSprints World Championships this year in Las Vegas,
coinciding with Interbike and in partnership with OpenSprints, the
electronic timing solutions provider for roller racing, Kreitler
Rollers and Marin Bikes.

Taking place on September 23, 2010 at 8pm at Las Palmas Mexican Grill
(953 East Sahara Avenue) in Last Vegas, the 2010 GoldSprints World
Championships will offer racers in both men’s and women’s divisions
$10,000 in cash and prizes. GoldSprints roller racing pits
recreational riders, professional cyclists and industry fans against
each other as they aim to complete the fastest 500 and 1,000-meter
sprints on track bikes affixed to rollers.

The 2010 GoldSprints World Championships will see the best GoldSprints
racers from around the world converge to battle for supremacy.
Qualifying rounds, hosted by WestCoast GoldSprints as well as
OpenSprints organizers on local levels, start August 1st across cities
worldwide and culminate at the 2010 World Championships in Las Vegas.
Wild Card entries will be open to Interbike tradeshow attendees and
the general public, with wild card qualifying rounds taking place at
Kreitler Rollers’ Interbike booth #4381 on September 22 and 23.

“Last year’s GoldSprints event at Interbike was a screaming success
because attendees were so stoked on the Kreiter Cup,” said Murphy
Mack, who founded WestCoast GoldSprints in 2006. “This year we’re
taking roller racing to the next level, with preliminary races held in
partnership with OpenSprints and evening entertainment from H.R.
Muff’N Stuff and the Pedal Panties Girls. We’re looking forward to the
no-holds barred, sweat-inducing, crowd-rousing battle of the first
ever GoldSprints World Championships. Be sure to follow us on Twitter
@WCGoldSprints to keep up to date on developments prior to the big
showdown.”

What: 2010 Gold Sprints World Championships
When: Thursday September 23rd, 2010
Where: Las Palmas Mexican Grill, 953 East Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV
Time: 8pm – 2am PDT; doors open at 7:30pm PDT
Sponsors: OpenSprints, Kreitler Rollers and Marin Bikes
$10,000 in cash and prizes
Entry fee: $20, which is entered into the cash purse



Emerald Sprints Results

1 08 2010

Yesterday, the roving beer fueled circus that is known as Tour de Fat rolled through Seattle for it’s third year, bringing joy and libations to the masses at Gasworks Park. After kicking everyone out, Brouwer’s became the spot to be for the after party and Emerald Sprints, brought to you by New Belgium Brewing.

The winner of the evening rode away with a brand new New Belgium/Felt beach cruiser- so people were pumped up to put in a good time.

The qualifying round had some good times to show- and then we followed it with another round, to bring the men’s bracket down to four people.

0731_qualifier1

Patrick M. raced against Sally in round two, and his foot popped out about 3/4 of the way in to the race.  Generally we don’t start races over if they are over half way- but Sally, the gentleman that he is, bowed out of the race, and gave Patrick his slot in the semi-finals.

0731_finals1

It came down to the final four in men’s and women’s categories and then a single elimination round brought our final round to a head.  With the prizes as good as they were, we decided to double the distance and really make the racers earn their winnings.  1000 meters.  Ouch.  They took it in stride, and the women’s winner- Mary M, rode home with a New Belgium jersey stuffed with over $75 in cash.  The men’s winner- Patrick M, has now added a brand new beach cruiser to his stable.  (This is the second bicycle that Patrick has won at an Emerald Sprints event)

There were also some grudges to settle…

  • Raleigh’s Sally (18.07) vs. Baron’s Geoff (18.84)
  • Stefano (45.04) vs. Iggy (55.32) - this race was 1000m, because these guys are so bad ass.
  • Nexus (24.14) vs. Longhaired Mike (26.02)
  • Bryan D. (23.58) vs. Trevor H. (25.48) - our only beer sprint of the night…
  • Benny B. (21.81) vs. Tommy (21.98)
  • Erik E. (21.30) vs. Eli W. (22.73)

Thanks to the sponsor of the event, New Belgium, to Brouwer’s for hosting and as always, to Wright Brothers for maintaining the Emerald Sprints bikes. Stay tuned for more Emerald Sprints events by following @gomeansgo on Twitter, friending us on Facebook, checking the Seattle Bike Events calendar,  and of course, reading the Go Means Go blog.

brouwers-cafenbbigwrightbroslogo_1



Emerald Sprints at the Tour de Fat afterparty!

29 07 2010

This weekend is the Tour de Fat.  If you have been before, you know it’s a good time.  After the party at Gasworks, head to the afterparty at Brouwer’s Cafe.  At this afterparty, you’ll get to drink more tasty beer and then get on the bikes and go fast.

It’s free, there are prizes, and there is beer.  If that isn’t the holy trinity then I don’t know what is.  See you there.

After party starts in the afternoon. Register at 5pm for Emerald Sprints, race 6-8pm.

web_tour_de_fat



Emerald Sprints Results

23 07 2010

Emerald Sprints went down at The Ballard Loft last night and was a good time as usual.  42Below Vodka sponsored the event and brought drink specials, as well as goodies from the schwag bag.

Wright Brothers Cycle Works has done some amazing work to the bikes, and we are now using custom built wheels connected to new cranks pushing a 53×14 fixed gear.  They spin so smooth!  Charles also sweetened the pot with some great prizes as well as cash!  We have lengthened the race to 500m for the qualifier, and the finals puts people to the test with a 1000m race.

Qualifier Round, with the Top 8 men and Top 4 women advancing.

sprints_qualify

And the final rounds…

sprints_finals

Congrats to Pavel and to first time roller racer Rachel.  See you all at the Tour de Fat afterparty sprints!



Forget me not.

21 07 2010

Thursday at The Ballard Loft

loft-sprints1

Saturday at Cascade Bicycle Studio

watertowerrace_flier_2010_8x112

Be there, or miss out.



Emerald Sprints 7/22

18 07 2010

Who loves sprints?  You do.

Get to The Ballard Loft this Thursday for some good time having.  It’s free.  It’s going to be outside.  There will be drink specials and prizes.  And you can check out the new ratio.  We are going to be running 53×14- fixed.  Yeah.  It’s been a while since we’ve ran sprints with fixed wheels.  Come spin to win.

loft-sprints



Emerald Sprints results are up!

5 06 2010

June the 4th brought a packed house to 9 Million in Unmarked Bills for “Beat the Racer” edition of Emerald Sprints brought to you by the Cascadia Crit series. The intent was to bring together those that race road, track and cross, with those that ride or race in the street. “Road vs. street” is how Greg so eloquently put it. A “racer” last night was defined as a rider that has raced in one of the 3 Criteriums that have taken place as part of the Cascadia Crits series.

The idea was that racers and non racers would be going head to head in a challenge that would leave one with a prize worthy of sore legs the next day. If a racer won, they would have the rest of their entry fees paid for in the series ($100 value.) If a non racer won, they would walk away with $75 cash. Sounds like a good deal all around right? The street riders outnumbered road riders 3 to 1 at the event, which has been common in events in the past. There were, however, many that race road, cross, or track that have not taken part in the Cascadia Crit series, so technically last night they were not in the “racer” category.

As per usual, we started off with a qualifying round where the racers put in their best time, with the top times advancing.

es_qualifier

Nat P. made the Quarter finals, but bowed out so the next fastest time took his place.
es_m-semi

es_finals

Even with the Street riders outnumbering the racers by such a wide margin, the finals for the men’s and women’s final came down to “Road vs Street.” All strong riders, the competition was stiff.

For the women’s final- we started with a $40 cash prize pot going to the winning lady. Charles from Wright Brothers Cycle Works and a few other spectators added to the pot, bringing the cash prize up to $90 for the winner!  The riders were not happy about the length of the race doubling to 800m, but all agreed that the cash was worth the pain. Track racer Lindsay F. took the race, with Kerry D. just behind.

The men’s race was a doozy- with the distance being ramped up to 1000m. The longest race that we generally do for Emerald Sprints, and the guys were up to the challenge. With $75 on the line, Patrick from the “Road” camp and Pavel from the “Street” camp started with a jolt when we counted down to “GO!” Pavel got an early jump and Patrick had some difficulties, falling out of his groove. Pavel took the race, with Patrick trailing behind and finishing the race at a casual pace. Both riders are extremely fast on the road as well as the rollers, and it was a night full of intense matches.

The top times of the night will be counted towards the regional qualifier which will take place in Seattle this August. Winners from the regional qualifier will be invited to Las Vegas for the Roller Racing World Championships that will take place in September.

Top 5 times from the June 4th Emerald Sprints Event at 9 Million in Unmarked Bills.

400m (46×16 Freewheel)

  1. Pavel C. 17.537
  2. Tyler J. 18.149
  3. Patrick M. 18.170
  4. Ben B. 18.437
  5. Geoff C. 18.552

There will be more qualifiers in the coming months and Emerald Sprints is seeking sponsors to make these events happen. Please contact Ryan@gomeansgo.org if you are interested in supporting the Roller Racing Regional Qualifier.

Wright Brothers Cycle Works loves roller racing and in addition to being the shop that maintains the bicycles for Emerald Sprints, will be equipping the bikes with gearing more suited to the World Championship equipment. At our next event you can expect a 53×14 fixed gear setup. That is a steep gear- and it will change the game for many people that have raced our setup as it is now. The race length will also be set at 500m, with finals at 1000m.

There were of course some grudge matches. 400m in length.

Robert, the race promoter for the Cascadia Crit Series and the man that brought Emerald Sprints to 9 Million in Unmarked Bills said that he would race the winner, provided the winner chug a beer before racing. That brought Pavel and Robert to the bikes. Pavel drank his can of Tecate while riding no handed, and took the race with 22.43 seconds. Robert finished just behind at 22.60 seconds.

Next was Nathan vs. Randy. Randy won with a 19.75, Nathan came in with 20.62.

Tyler and Eric raced with one foot- which is harder than it sounds. Tyler won with 24.87 seconds. Eric’s foot popped out and came in with 32.53.

Leslie (25.35) won the match against Kiersten (29.44) as the polo representatives of the evening.

Thanks to every one that came out to participate- either racing or as a spectator. A big thanks to Robert from the Cascadia Crit Series, to Charles from Wright Brothers, and to 9 Million in Unmarked Bills for having us, as well as the other sponsors that supported the event. As always, thanks to Greghxc for his knowledge and expertise in making the computer do what we want it to. Also thanks to Christauf for the amazing flier design.



Emerald Sprints - Beat the racer

2 06 2010

sprints_layout_lga

This is the first of a small number of qualifiers for the Regional Roller Racing Championships that will take place in Seattle this August. The winners of Regionals will be going to the Nationals World Roller Racing Championships- in Las Vegas at Interbike this September.