The Rob Report

Buffalo Giro, Sunday, March 25-
By Rob Dietrick

The cold Buffalo morning brought out a big group of riders. After the customary series of attacks at the front in the first couple miles, Jason Skalski (Preferred Care) put his fresh legs to work initiating a decisive break & taking with him JW Dundee’s-Home Performance Rider, Steve Burgett, an AG Edwards rider, and Joe Halter (Handlebars). As the break was establishing itself the field lulled & Al Lombart (Full Moon Vista) made a beautiful (textbook) attack to bridge up solo to the four escapees’. With all the major teams represented except Shikluna, all were content to let it go! So, a lap of moderate tempo let the break get away…..BUT OH NO!! With 1.5 laps in & 1.5 to go, Steve Burgett flats! Now, all the workload shifted to the JW Dundee’s- Home Performance Team & Shikluna to chase & bring the break back. It was all hands on deck & we chased, and chased….. With one to go, the break was within 15 sec, but the chase became disorganized for a time and Skalski put the afterburners on to stretch the lead. Skalski brought home the goods. Great efforts by JW Dundee’s–Home Performance riders Dan Staffo, Kevin Mahoney, and John Roden in a chase that made it a pleasure to ride for this team. As John said: “A number of people mentioned to me how well the guys were riding at the front and the way we took control of the effort to bring the race back. Your strong riding was noticed and respected by people in the pack. Hats off to you!” We raced hard and learned so we can be successful next time!

Roden's Road Report

Rochester Giro - Saturday, March 24
By John Roden

After last weekend's double cancellation of the Spring Giro series, Saturday brought more suitable weather to the Rochester area. A decent size field of maybe 50 riders in the "A" race rolled out under calm winds and dry roads. Before the last wisp of smoke had cleared from the starter's pistol, Rob scrambled off the front and made good his escape, dragging along two PC riders and a couple others to make a total of five. After a while, Rob found himself in the situation of riding along with two very strong PC
riders, (Mike Mathis and Ryan Nye) all alone in the world as the pack slumbered along. After a time, all of the break had returned to the fold, with the exception of the two strong youth in orange, which provoked a solid chase effort in the peleton, featuring yeoman like work from Rob, Cheyne and Mark Dux. A bumble and a tumble left PC's Mathis on the floor, uninjured but back with the main group, and a break now consisting of a lone Ryan Nye, cutting his solitary furrow across the Pittsford wasteland. A flurry of late race flat tires left Nye and Gary Egan (Full Moon Vista) sidelined, throwing the race back to square one with five miles left to go. A series of attacks left a group of 10 or so to contest the finish, with PC, Shickluna and JW Dundee's-Home Performance all
with two riders. A textbook "hail Mary" attack from Cheyne Hoag looked like the game winner, but he and his hopes were swept up by the charging pack in sight of the finish line, much like on TV. A final sprint which thankfully featured no crashes but plenty of near misses left PC's Sheske with the victor's laurel, new Shickluna strongman Justin Jones in second and your humble author in third.

2007 Sponsors and Riders

For Release:

INTERLAKES CYCLING ANNOUNCES 2007 ROSTER, SPONSORS

Webster, NY (March 1, 2007) –Backed by continued support from JW Dundee's Ales and Lagers (High Falls Brewing Co.), the team announced today it's complete roster of riders, new sponsor lineup, and new look.

The off season prior to the 2007 racing season has been an extremely busy one for the JW Dundee's / Home Performance Cycling Team. First off, the sponsors: As has already been noted, for the first time in our existence, we have a co-title sponsor, Home Performance, Inc. Home Performance is a local contractor specializing in home electronic systems. They are also an authorized Bose dealer. Watch this space for more information on Home Performance. In addition, we are pleased to announce continued partnership with the JW Dundee's brand of premium ales and lagers, produced right in our hometown of Rochester, NY. Look for the team to debut a newly designed kit that better embodies the JW Dundee's branding; check the previous post to see what the new kit looks like. We enjoy continued support from long time sponsors RV&E Bike and Skate, ML Caccamise Electric, Specialized Bicycles, Hammer Nutrition and Ritchey Bicycle Components. New to the fold is North Country Malt Supply (we love beer-related sponsors!), Rudy Project glasses and helmets, Ozone/Elite (embrocations and trainers), and Handlebars Cycle Company, western NY's only true pro shop.

The team will continue to administer the Western New York Wellness (formerly Interlakes Foundation) Survivor Ride Program, for cancer survivors and caregivers. Our rides will begin again on Mondays in May.

Our roster has grown considerably since last year, as we have enjoyed the interest of some of the best bike racers in the area. Continuing with the team are riders Taylor Hogan, Dwight Roth, Rob Dietrick, Dave Rowley, Mark Rowley, Bob Wells, Mark Dux, Mike Dispenza, Yvette LaBombard, Mick Snyder, Cheyne Hoag and Kevin Mahoney.

New to the squad this year are Dan Staffo, Steve Burget, John Roden, Cindy Dunn, Mike Burri, Brian Gee and Mark Atwood. Staffo, Burget, and Roden help shore up our "Buffalo contingent", and should help to provide us with added presence (and horsepower) in the peleton. Cindy Dunn is fairly new to road racing, but has already left her mark on the local and statewide peleton; she comes from a prolific career in triathlon. Mark Atwood is a local legend with freakish capabilities, and should be a force in the Master's category. Mike Burri and Brian Gee are fairly new to the sport and round out our squad. While Mike and Brian are not the most experienced bike racers, they have already shown excellence in "beer sampling", and we really like that about them.

The JW Dundee's - Home Performance Cycling Team is proud to be a part of the vibrant local racing scene, and look forward to the start of the 2007 season. See you on the road!

2007 Team Roster Complete

The 2007 Campaign for is complete

The following riders will be riding for the good guys. Complete Bios will be coming soon.
JW DUNDEE'S - HOME PERFORMANCE CYCLING TEAM
Mark Atwood
Mike Burri
Steve Burget
Rob Dietrick
Mike Dispenza
Cindy Dunn
Mark Dux
Brian Gee
Cheyne Hoag
Taylor Hogan
Yvette LaBombard
Kevin Mahoney
John Roden
Dwight Roth
Dave Rowley
Mark Rowley
Mick Snyder
Dan Staffo
Bob Wells

Rob’s Report - Giro #2, Buffalo 3/11/07

The ‘Green Machine’ Shikluna was back to full force with the arrival of Jay Joslyn (Shikluna) and quickly put the field on their heels. Jay Joslyn (Shikluna), who just drove back from his winter nest in South Carolina, was sprung clear by a series of attacks from his teammates and was joined by Kevin Mahoney (DUNDEE'S - HOME PERFORMANCE ) and Ryan Nye (Preferred Care). With the field scrambling to get organized, Dan Staffo (DUNDEE'S - HOME PERFORMANCE), Todd Scheske (PC), and Al Lombart (Full Moon) hit the jets and made a move to bridge to the escaping trio. Jay wanted no part of being out numbered in a break away group, and turned the screws & made his way clear –solo!! The five chasers kept a bead on Jay, but never brought him back. Back in the peleton, Shikluna and DUNDEE'S - HOME PERFORMANCE riders continued to counter-attack each other for the sport of it since all the points were up the road. Jay rode home for a solo victory, with Scheske 2nd, Nye 3rd, Lombart 4th, Staffo 5th, and Kevin Mahoney 6th. Hats off to Dan & Kevin for making the right moves & getting on the board! Great efforts today by Steve Burgett (his first time riding with the (DUNDEE'S - HOME PERFORMANCE team), Cheyne Hoag, John Roden, Dwight Roth, and Yvette LaBombard (who stuck in with the A race all day)!

Roden Wins Opening Giro

When you are in every move, you will be in the winning move. That's the strategey used by the John Roden, affectionality known as the "old man" of the peleton. John's debut as a team member was nothing less than spectacular. It was clear to everyone that he was the strongest and wisest in the group. When closing in on the final circuit John and other members of the opposing teams slipped away and John took the final sprint.

Rob’s Report - Giro #1, Rochester 3/10/07

The a big field of GVCC riders emerged from the long winter hibernation this morning to mix it up in the first Giro of the new season. Right out of the gate, Preferred Care’s Todd Scheske uncharacteristically bolted off the front to start the fireworks. Volodymyr Spantchak (Full Moon) quickly jumped to join Todd in the move. The pair dangled off the front until they were reeled near the pivotal Strong Road section of the course. The fireworks started on Strong & the field went single file, with all the teams firing off riders, which then broke Adam Garlapow (Shikluna) free in a solo escape. Teammate Justin Jones (Shikluna) attempted to bridge which sent the field into a full frenzy of chasing. Stabs at the front by DUNDEE'S - HOME PERFORMANCE riders Cheyne Hoag, Kevin Mahoney, Taylor Hogan, John Roden, Rob Dietrick and Nalgene’s Mike Minerva, and Trevor Harrison brought the escapees back & it was game on! Another break formed, but just a little too soon, as they blew thru a Stop sign and attracted the attention of a local Sheriff. The race was stopped & Todd got be the club spokesman (again) while everyone took a breather. The race resumed on Bulls Saw Mill Rd. Soon a break formed containing DUNDEE'S - HOME PERFORMANCE's new addition John Roden, Justin Jones, Brian Cardona (Nalgene), and PC rider Jeff Zygo The group worked well together & opened up a big gap that would stick with John Roden bringing home the WIN for DUNDEE'S - HOME PERFORMANCE in his first ride with the team! Great Ride John!