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Page Valley Road Race
August 26th, 2008
Ken Hewett, of the Lees-McRae team, rode with the team again, joined by Elliott O'Brien, back from Bolivia after three months and Dave Cobb. This was the same race course as the Virginia Age-Graded Road Race. The only difference was the number of participants and the number of laps. More people and fewer laps.
The day was a mixed bag. Great weather and nice course. The promoters said they cleaned up the gravel on the corners, but there were still a few spots. Down by the parking and feed-zone, an irate nest of wasps took their frustration out on Ken and Elliott, while a stray bee got Dave in the first lap of the race. Thank goodness for the lidocaine spray and some ibuprofen. The feed-zone hand-offs went without a problem, and there were no major accidents in any races.
Elliott finished in 17th place, Ken placed 21st and with the "Langoliers" chasing him, Dave finished 59th. We'll post some pics in a few days, and Elliott promises to begin posting a series of blogs on his trip to Bolivia, including his ride from Bolivia to Chile.
Highland County Mountain Mama Ride and the Virginia Age-Graded Championship Road Race
August 4th, 2008
On Saturday August 2nd, George Richards, Hansen Babington and Dave Cobb participated in the Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge in Highland County. At 9 AM the group of about 340 riders got underway. George and Hansen signed up for 100 miles and Dave for 50. The ride is an annual charity event to raise money for the Highland County Recreation Commission. A great, though tiring, day was had by all. No accidents reported and only a thunderstorm at the beginning which held up the event for an hour. Sorry, no pictures of this since we were all riding at the same time
Sunday the 3rd was Virginia Age-Graded Championship Road Race in Stanley Virginia. Very close to Luray, this was the first year for this event. None of the official Team Traveller members signed up for this, but Ken Hewett, of Lexington, who rides with Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina (Collegiate Division 1 Champions) rode in the 40+ race. The field began with 50 and by the time the race had finished 20 competitors had dropped out of the competition. Probably the toughest race-course of the entire season in Virginia. Ken finished 26th. Check out the pictures in the image gallery.
Bryan Park Circuit Race
July 26th, 2008
Rob Benevento and Dave Cobb competed in the Bryan Park Circuit Race in Richmond, VA. Rob raced his first race in the Cat. 5 race around 10:00 AM. The day was already warming up, but it was still decent. Rob had a flat after the first lap, which was quickly replaced and all went well until the the last few laps when a five-man crash ensued. Four made it back into the race and Robe ended the race finishing just behind the main group in 15th place.
Dave suffered with the heat a few hours later, and had a DNF for the cat. 4 race at 3:00 PM. Given Dave's aversion to heat, it was not unexpected
Photos are up for the Bryan Park race and the Piedmont Triad Omnium Race the previous weekend. There are also new videos on the Race Video page. We have switched to Youtube to save bandwidth. The Pro 1,2,3 Criterium looks really dark -- that is not because of the camera -- it really was that dark.
Team's Summer Racing Season Begins with Piedmont Triad Omnium
Friday, July 18th, 2008
Hansen Babington and Dave Cobb competed in the Piedmont Triad Omnium in Lexington, NC and Thomasville, NC. This was Hansen's first time out in a USA Cycling ssanctioned race and he had a great time. Dave participated for the first time as a Cat 4 with the expected results. We'll have more details, photos, video and results in a few days. Rob Benevento's first race will be Sunday, July 20th in Richmond at the Bryan Park Circuit Race.
Racing News and Alumni Updates
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008
Bill Hart, W&L class of '68, one of Team Traveller's biggest supporters, was in a 400-mile ride through Alaska this Spring. Here is a picture of Bill at Talkeetna, Alaska on the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend (click on it for the full-size photo). Bill is a member of the Virginia Beach Team Fat Frogs. In addition, our first race for the summer has been moved back a week due to scheduling problems. We will begin with the Piedmont Triad Omnium in Lexington and Thomasville, North Carolina.
New Members and Other News
Sunday, June 8th, 2008
First off we want to welcome Rob Benevento, of Lexington, to the team. He will begin racing in Mid July.
Several of our races have been rearranged because Red Rose Races in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has gone out of business. Our next races are July 4th-6th in Roanoke and Blacksburg.
Elliott O'Brien Currently First in Category 4 Best All-Round Rider Competition in Virginia
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
Elliott is currently ahead of Jacob Tremblay from Team Rostello/Fiorucci/Cycor by 27 points with a total of 108 points. Elliott "Kiwi" O'Brien, is a sophomore at Washington and Lee University and is from Te Awamutu, New Zealand. He has moved up to Category 3, but will not be racing, because he is off to Bolivia for volunteer work the rest of the season.
In other team news: Dave Cobb has upgraded to Cat. 4 and begins racing again in June along with Barrett Salisbury, and a new member begins racing in June, Hansen Babington, a W&L rising senior from Mobile Alabama -- Welcome Hansen.
Elliott O'Brien is the 2008 Cat. 4 State Hill Climb Champion
Elliott has his fourth victory in three weeks, with a first place in the The Wintergreen Ascent Time Trial and Virginia State Hill Climb Championships in Wintergreen Virginia. Elliott posted the third fastest time overall, despite a rocky start. Our coach Rick Beville was there announcing at the top of the Resort, at Devil's Knob. It was a great day this year with warm temperatures and gentle wind.
Elliott has developed quite a reputation since last year. When he started, he was known as "Zebra Skinsuit Guy", "Zebra Man" or "The Cipollini Guy". Now you can hear competitors and spectators screaming "Go Elliott!".
You can check out the photos in the Image Gallery. Unfortunately your photographer was busy with some other business and missed Elliott's finish, but was there when he nearly threw up a Clif Bar or two, after the race. Check out Elliott's Blog for more details.
Tour de Ephrata Road Race Photos Are Now Available
After we misplaced the camera on Saturday, Dave ran around asking people to take photos. Lynn Howard, who's son was racing in the same Cat 4 race, was greatful enough to send us the photos with Elliott in them. Thanks! You are a life saver.
The Tour de Ephrata Baby!
Elliott O'Brien tore through the competition and won two stages and the overall of the Tour de Ephrata (pronounced EF-fret-tuh) in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He also finished second in the last stage, the criterium. Elliott finished about one minute ahead of the competition in the the Cat.4 Road Race in Myerstown, PA, on Saturday. Followed that up with a first place vicory in a hill climb time trial in Cocalico, PA and sealed the deal with a second place finish in the criterium in downtown Ephrata, giving him a solid first place finish for the tour. Images of the criterium and the road race are up now.
Tour de Beach and Casey Crit
Elliott O'Brien, Barrett Salisbury and our new mascot Mario (pictured on the left) gave solid performances in these back to back crieriums. On Saturday's Tour de Beach in Virginia Beach, Barrett finished fourth and Elliott came in 11th with a winning prime lap. Sunday, Barrett came in fourth, bringing Barrett very close to a Category Four upgrade. Elliott had his second victory of the season, finishing 30 seconds ahead of the pack. Elliott is currently second in Virginia for Category Four with 70 Bar (Best All-round Rider) points, only six points off the leader. Mario watched from the top of the car very quietly all weekend. You can read the Blogs for more info. Photos from the Tour de Beach are in the image gallery.
W&L Outing Club Touring Slovenia
Washington and Lee University's Outing Club is riding in Slovenia from June the 8th to June the 15th. This is a self-guided tour and includes: Luggage transfers, Room, Breakfast, Maps, Taxes Transfers to and from airports. Including air fare the trip should cost around $3,500.00. If you are interested contact the outing@wlu.edu and they will be able to help you with all the details.
Cha-Ching!
The team had it's best weekend so far, with back-to back successes. Saturday. Elliott O'Brien won the Category Four section of the Conquer the Canal Time Trial, with the second best time of all categories, and he also won the one-hundred dollar prime (pronounced "preem", which is a race within a race) during Sunday's Langley Speedway Criterium. That brought the overall winnings for the weekend to 200 dollars. Even Dave had a trick up his sleeve. This grainy photo on the right is the only evidence of it, but Dave was leading the pack for a time in the Category Five race on Sunday. Dave Cobb finished comfortably in the middle of the criterium and the previous day's time trial. For more detail check out the Blog and the image gallery for more photos of the event.
Thanks again to Bill Hart, W&L '68 and member of Fat Frogs Club for boarding us during the races this weekend and many thanks to A.J. Sanders, also of Fat Frogs, for all the technical help and the loaner time trial bars -- we owe you.
Rock Hill Omnium
Barrett Salisbury, Dave Cobb and Elliott O'Brien battled it out in Rock Hill South Carolina with the South-East's finest amateur racers. Three days of racing: Sprints, Criteriums and Road Races. You can check the Blog for all the details. We didn't have time to photograph the events ourselves, but we'll post some photos from some professional photographers a little later.
Team Photos
Check out the '08 Team photos in the Image Gallery. We're adding more as the season progresses. Our most recent group includes: Lucy Simko, Chris Browning, Elliott O'Brien, Barrett Salisbury, Dave Cobb and our coach, Rick Beville. Thanks to Professor Bernard Jackson for sacrificing his chance to be in our photos, and being our photographer instead. We'll get you next time.
VBW Smackdown and Dismal Dash Time Trial
It was a busy weekend for Elliott, Barrett and Dave. The three drove to Virginia Beach and stayed with W&L alum and Fat Frog member, Bill Hart. Raced in the Virginia Beach Wheelmen's Smackdown Criterium on Saturday and raced in All About Bikes' Dismal Dash Time Trial on Sunday. Both were in Suffolk, Virginia, and that is where the similarities ended. Saturday was perfect, with temperatures in the 60's and sunny. Sunday was 40's, overcast, damp and windy.
Barrett and Dave raced the Cat 5 Criterium. Barrett finished 10th with the peloton and Dave finished 16th after falling back at the end. A dramatic improvement for both. Elliott finished 5th in the Cat 4 Criterium, having lead the pack for multiple laps.
The Dismal Dash Time Trial was an hour plus. Tailwind on the way out and miserable headwind on the way back. The team members performed well. Elliott finihed 3rd in the Cat 4, Barrett was 26th in Cat 5 and Dave finished 33rd in Cat 5. All round a great weekend, with continued improvement from all three members. Congrats.
Check out the Videos on the new Video page, and pictures from both events in the Image Gallery
Snowball Crit #2
What a difference a week can make. Our race in Virginia Beach went off without a hitch. Dave finished in the back of the field, but finished in the Cat. 5 race. Elliott took seventh place in a field of 50 Cat. 3/4 racers, in his second Cat. 4 criterium. The weather was a little cold, but clear, and we had the best surface on which we've ever raced. We have to thank Bill Hart, W&L '68 and member of Fat Frogs, for putting us up at his house, and the rest of the Fat Frogs for all their support.
First Race of the Season
Barrett Salisbury, Elliott O'Brien and Dave Cobb, raced in the Sonny Hutchins Memorial Criterium in Midlothian, Virginia, south of Richmond, on Sunday March the 2nd. The event was put on by Carytown Bike shop and was held at the South Side Speedway. There were races for Cat4/5, 3/4 and 1/2/3, as well as sinle-gear track races. Elliott raced in the 3/4 and Barrett raced his first criterium in the 4/5 race. Dave made a cameo for the 4/5 race before retiring with knee problems. Check out the image gallery for the latest photos.
Want to Help Team Traveller?
Cycling is an expensive sport. Bikes, uniforms, equipment, travel, entry fees and accomodations all add up. As a club, the members cover most of these expenses rather than the school. To make the sport more accesible, we are always looking to offset expenses through sponsors and donations. If you are an alumnus or friend and want to help the University Cycling Club, you may make a donation by going to How to Make Your Gift to W&L and indicate it is for the "Cycling Club (Team Traveller)" in the Special Instructions section.
If you have any questions, please contact us at team@teamtraveller.com. Thanks again to all the alumni that have helped us with donations and lodging.
Race Across America
Elliott O'Brien was going to enter the Heart of the South 500 RAAM Qualifier but it was cancelled for this year. We are working on a replacement race later in the year. We'll keep you informed.
Permanent Club Ride Schedule
Group Ride scheduled on Sundays at 1:00 PM at Sweet Things (corner of Washington and Lee). Weekdays we meet at Sweet Things at 4:30 PM for a one- to two-hour ride.
Message from the President
Dear Friend,
Last year was a great year for Team Traveller: From two members we’ve grown to over 20, We raised 12,000 dollars for the National Parkinson’s Foundation, Raced in 12 events from Pennsylvania to South Carolina, Won six events and placed in all but one, and developed sponsorships with eight companies for the 2008 season. This year looks to be even better.
With the help of our new coach, Rick Beville, and new equipment from our sponsors, we expect to present a formidable team in the coming season. We will be racing full carbon bikes from VeloVie with Ritchey parts and Spinergy wheels. Our new Champion Systems uniforms will be accessorized by Spiuk gear. Everything being maintained by Pedro’s tools
Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who helped Team Traveller reach this point. Thanks to our sponsors, especially our local companies: Just the Right Gear and Cool Spring Organic Market for their financial and technical support, to alumni and friends who have helped us in our various endeavors and to Washington and Lee University for their financial support.
Sincerely,
Elliott O'Brien
President, Team Traveller
