Partie Deux de Sumatanga!

What a beautiful day for racing at Camp Sumatanga in Gallant, Alabama. As the previous week there was a great turnout both locally and regionally. The A race was 50 miles and the B race 40.


Do they know how to have a good time in Cullman or what? The Cullman Cycling Club was out with families and a pre race picnic. On the spread was coffee from Primavera Coffee Roasters in Cahaba Heights. Brett and Havilah Burton made ground fresh coffee with a french press to get the Cullman boys motivated. Also on the table was great sandwiches and homemade cup cakes.

The Cullman Cycling Club riders, Cayce Cherry, Brett Burton, Bill St. John and Austin Oliver, plotting some pre race strategy.

Huge turnout in both races. The racers lining up for the 40 mile B race.

Amy Gravlee had a stellar race and made the selection. Amy looked strong and good in that new Team Medplan kit. She was in the sprint to win the race overall.

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Austin Oliver put in another great performance. Austin is a junior racer and finished in the main break.

The race according to Super Dave. David Edwards of Bike Works in Huntsville, giving some post race analysis

AUSTIN POWER!

.......................Austin Power: Local Man of Misery

Local junior rider Austin Oliver has been hitting the gym in preparations for the 2008 season. Rumor is he will be wearing the CCC kit for 2008, and riding with a new Campagnolo grouppo.

New Years Day Ride

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After a fantastic New Years dinner and party hosted by the St. Johns we struggled thru a ride more appropriately an artic ride New Years Day. We had a nice group to start the year off right. Austin Oliver worked over the group...a condition that will become familiar. We rode the Bethsadia loop which was a little over 30 miles.

Homemade biscuits with ham, jam, cheese and coffee when we got back, all the suffering was worth it!

Tour de Lombardia

Held in the autumn season in October the Tour de Lombardia is called "the race of the falling leaves" or "la classica delle foglie morte".

A local priest Father Ermelindo Vigano declared Madonna del Ghisallo the patroness of cyclists, which was recognized by Pope Pius XII. The Chapel of Madonna del Ghisallo contains a museum of cycling with some very interesting artifacts, including an eternal flame for the cyclists who have died.

These are some great pictures worthy of Pez Cycling News. Some of our Cullman Cycling Club members were relaxing and riding around Como and got some great shots.

The group climbing up towards the Madonna del Ghisallo.


Now this one is really worthy of Pez.

Cullman Cyclocross 2007

Two wheels but a lot faster

Country Al was in town for a little brushing up on his other two wheel sport. Al brought several of the Nashville Ducati racers through Cullman on their way to Barber Motor Speedway for a track day.

We had a great lunch at the AllSteak and then headed down to the St. John farm for some dirt track fun. Country Al impressed me with his passion for competitiveness, I dont think it matters what he is doing its all about giving it everything you have.






Couple of the "Super Bikes" on the way to Barbers.

Al working the crew on the XL100s. Smiling as usual.

BAMA CROSS

Avondale Park was a stop on the now super popular BAMACROSS series. Cyclocross is becoming a main event on the cycling scene in Alabama. The weather hasn't been quite like the Belgian sleet storms and mud but every bit as brutal as the classic races in Europe.



Bill St. John showing a fellow racer how its done.

The racers coming through one of the faster sections. The Avondale Park race had a field of 100 racers.