Kenda/Raleigh has secured an invitation to race the prestigious UCI 1.2 Univest Grand Prix in Souderton, PA on September 6 and the Univest Criterium of Doylestown on September 7. Saturday’s race will be televised live on Universal Sports from 11am-3pm (EDT) and Sunday’s race will be on from 11am-1pm (EDT) - click the banner below to be whisked to live coverage of the Kenda/Raleigh boys driving their bikes with the big boys this weekend.

Fall River, MA

Industrial park criteriums rank at the bottom of the scenic-bike-racing-venue totem pole. Compare racing in an industrial park with, say, racing up 21 Alpine switchbacks, and you’re left with a feeling of emptiness. When you’re suffering on a scenic course, at least you can take a second to look around and dull the pain with some vague feeling of aesthetic fulfillment. When you’re suffering in an industrial park, there is only the suffering to confront; the visual landscape around you threatens a nihilism that saps your soul of the promise of beauty and leaves you almost enjoying the taste of regurgitated carbohydrate goo as you push your body into the red zone.

Spoiler alert: this is the way the race ends

That said (and with tongue removed from cheek), the Blount Seafoods Fall River Criterium happens to be a very fun and well-organized race. The course is basically a four-corner one-mile course, with a descent on one side followed by a fast and hard left turn onto a tailwind straightway followed by a left turn onto a gradual crosswind climb followed by a left turn onto a headwind false flat finishing stretch.

A Kenda/Raleigh contingent of Adam, Mukunda, and Jason Beerman put on their biking costumes and toed the line. The three held out hope for seafood primes until it was announced at the start that the primes would be cash and some equipment. The gun went off and the small field of around 35 racers made their way around the first turn. Mukunda was twitchy and began what was to be an endless series of attacks. The field chased and when he came back, Adam took a dig. Again, the field chased and Jason took a flyer. Seemingly, everyone was bored of chasing and let him build up a lead of 15 seconds or so for a few laps, during which he scooped up a couple primes.

Jason eventually grew tired and the field strung itself out and he was caught after his little adventure off the front. Adam sensed this and timed his counterattack perfectly at the top of the uphill slog, drawing out a strong group of three. The field seemed content to let this move go, and it looked especially good when Mark McCormack (Team Fuji) rocketed up the left side to bridge at the halfway point of the race. Unfortunately, this development catalyzed a hard chase from a few riders who buried themselves to bring it back. When the field finally made contact, the pace had been so hard for so many laps that gaps had begun to open. Jason saw this and attacked hard on the tailwind section hoping that one more go in the wind would snap the elastic.

A small group responded, inspired both by the widening gaps and the fact that the final cash prime of the day was on offer. After the prime sprint, the group was in disarray and Frank McCormack (Team Fuji) jumped and got a gap. Jason sensed the danger and went after McCormack with Ward Solar (Nerac) as company. Ward and Jason quickly separated themselves from the chase and kept McCormack at around 10-15 seconds for the remaining 7 laps, but they could not close the gap to the leader despite an inspired chase. With one to go, it was clear that McCormack’s strength would win the day and Jason and Ward began the battle for the remaining podium spots. Jason was caught in the front spot for the last lap and tried to ride Ward off his wheel on the uphill section, but Ward is (cue Phil Liggett-speak) “a very strong boy” and this attempt by Jason turned into more of a premature leadout for Ward. On the final stretch, the two played cat and mouse until Ward jumped with 100 meters to go and relegated Jason to 3rd on the day.

Full results are here.

Jason’s podium faux pas: he puts his hand directly in McCormack’s face and is quickly reprimanded

Albany, NY

The eastern Massachusetts twosome of Colin and Jason Beerman and the Vermont twosome of Eric and Jason Baer each endured a three hour drive at the crack of dawn to arrive in Albany, NY in time for the 10am race. The 27-man field that materialized for the category 1/2 race probably reflects the late season doldrums that seem to sweep over pramateur cycling each year. When the early mornings turn cold and mist hangs in the air, many racers seem to be at wits end, and field sizes shrink commensurately with the collective motivation. Or lack thereof.

In any event, the Kenda/Raleigh contingent was, as always, excited to slap some Greyhound Juice chamois cream on the nether regions and saddle up. This particular day involved a three-mile neutral section followed by four 20-mile loops, each featuring around 1,500 feet of climbing. The race guide didn’t include a topographic profile but mentioned that the steepest pitch was 15% for 900 feet. That meant pie plates on the rear cogs. And maybe an extra dollop of chamois cream.

The small field rolled out of the neutral section which ended as soon as the field crossed the finish line. It enabled a glance at the finish; roller coaster surges upward followed by a 300-meter hard man’s sprint. At the line, the racing began in earnest. With 27 guys, there was nowhere to hide so there was a good chance the move was to happen early. Targetraining had 7 or 8 guys in the race, and the success of any move off the front today was contingent on whether or not they were happy with the combination.

The course’s 1,500 feet of climbing seemed to happen within the first eight miles of each loop, and on lap one, the field broke into pieces as the pace picked up over the climbs. After the first trip over the ridiculously steep section (20% on the inside of the turn?), the field had already lost guys off the back. Over the top, the course descended for virtually the remainder of the 20 miles until hitting the finishing section, so a smaller group of around 18 or so had reorganized over the top. This rolled for a few miles until Beerman and Adam St. Germain from Targetraining got off the front into a headwind section. The two turned the corner and benefited from (a) the resulting tailwind, (b) reinforcements in the form of Al Donahue (Nerac) and Matt Purdy (North Atlantic Velo) and the foursome was rolling. A few miles later, a glance back revealed more reinforcements as Eric Tremble and Targetraining’s Justin Lindine joined up with the front of the race. Two Kenda/Raleigh and two Targetraining meant full commitment from everyone in the break, and the six rolled even turns, quickly opening up time on any chasers.

The situation remained the same for the next few laps; with the break out front for what promised to be 70+ miles, it was essential that everyone work well together. In addition, the 12-mile flat/descent portion featured a strong headwind and a small group or a solo rider stood no chance. With one to go through the finish, St. Germain’s cleat pulled out of his shoe, so the break was down to five and Lindine was on his own. The break motored up the climbs intact and hit the descent, still in alliance.

Beerman had been scouting an attack site on previous laps since, with two Kenda/Raleigh guys in the break, it was essential to put the other guys on the defensive, and hopefully catch them looking at each other. With eight miles to go, Beerman attacked into a headwind immediately before a right turn into a tailwind and got a gap. He rolled a hard pace, but was caught a couple miles later by a hard charging Lindine. Tremble countered, then Donahue countered, then Lindine countered, then Beerman countered, then Tremble countered, etc. until everyone’s legs seized up. At the bottom of the 1km-long finishing section, the group was practically doing trackstands until Lindine punched it and Donahue and Tremble responded. The three finished in that order across the line with Beerman and Purdy right behind.

Full results are here.

Barkhamsted, CT

The Tokeneke Classic Road Race is perfect preparation for the upcoming Green Mountain Road Race, as it features similar terrain. With 2,000 feet of climbing per 22-mile lap and three total laps, the race is taxing but not stupid hard. Colin, Adam, Jason Beerman, Eric, and Toby were the Kenda/Raleigh culprits today.

The race started hot as Jason went for broke on mile 5 and got away with a Targetraining guy. The two quickly got out of sight and rolled the flat sections, eased the climbs, and drilled the descents to get out of sight again. At mile 20, the first iteration of the finishing climb occurred and Jason’s companion dropped off the pace. Jason rode hard over the top, hoping that a nice group would form and the race would be on. That did indeed happen, as Toby made it across with 2 Targetraining and 2 Fiordifrutta. Perfect, it seemed, as the 6 leaders pulled hard through the KOM and began lap 2. Turning around though, it appeared that Targetraining wasn’t happy with the combination, as they chased down the move. Things reshuffled, and at the end of the subsequent volleys, a solo Targetraining guy got away solo and hammered. Toby got into a bridge move with another Targetraining and a couple other guys, but was at a tactical disadvantage, as the Targetraining guy had the right to sit on, which he did.

Toby rode valiantly, but was caught by what remained of the peloton with 5 miles to go. Adam and Eric quickly countered, and Adam drilled it up the 2.2-mile 5% climb for 6th place. Full results are here.

Nashua, NH

The Gate City Cyclone Criterium returned to the racing calendar last year after a long hiatus, and it was a welcome re-addition to the summer. The 0.75-mile course winds around Nashua’s Holman Stadium and features a corner and a chicane and some gentler turns. There’s also a slight climb each lap which begins to burn the legs toward the end.

Colin, Adam, Eric, and Jason Beerman converged on Nashua on a beautiful Saturday. With $1,500 on the line and a gorgeous day, the pre-registration list of 18 ballooned to a full 75-man field, with all the day-of registrations. With New England legend Dick Ring in attendance, Kenda/Raleigh wanted to put on a good show.

The pace was fast from the gun, and a few laps in, Jason countered a move and went away solo for a few laps, scooping up some primes along the way. He was brought back and Toby countered, followed by Eric. Eric’s move was a good one, with representation from every team except Team Fuji (AKA the McCormack family). Jason liked the combination and bridged up so there were 2 Kenda/Raleighs up the road. Colin and Toby sat in and conserved, ready to counter in case things came back.

The group of 7 had a consistent gap of 30 seconds until Fuji started to drill it on the front of the field, bringing the gap down to a tantalizing 15 seconds. The front 7 sensed the danger and took big boy pulls to get it up to 30 seconds again, demoralizing the chase. Eric and Jason took their pulls and the group worked smoothly, except for a couple times when personal greed for primes temporarily broke the alliance.

With 3 to go, the pace picked up all around, as the break didn’t want their hard work to go for naught. It had been a long day up front though, and everyone’s legs were cooked, so late attacks were half-hearted and it came down to a group sprint. Eric displayed his sprinter’s prowess and just missed the top step, and Jason brought up the rear of the group. Full results are here.