Bici Coop Racing

Sunday was a great day for us. It was a chilly morning with an icy wind coming off the pond. It was something of a homecoming for the Bici Crew seeing as how Avondale Park is just a roll down the hill from the Highland Park neighborhood. Our first race was the Women’s 1/2/3 race and Kate held it down! Despite losing her chain coming off the pavement she was able to snag 2nd place, a silver medal, and a FAT check.

Photo: Carole Barton

Photo: Sara Walker

On to the next one; the Men’s 4 race. Team Bici rocked it! I was able to get a gap off the hole shot and keep it the entire race. John crushed it through the off camber and technical sections to coast in with 2nd place with ONE GEAR! And the youngest Porter brother, Daniel, moved up once again to a solid 8th place finish.

Photo: Carole Barton

Photo: Sara Walker. Left to Right Chad, Alan, and John

I was also stoked to share the podium with Chad from Non Stop Art Tattoo (the unofficial tattoo shop of Bici Coop Racing). Chad and Terry have always been super supportive of the events we’ve had at the coop and I’m stoked to see them out there crushing it every weekend.

Next on the docket was the Men’s 1/2/3 race. We had Sam, Ross, and Lee in the mix for us and they did not disappoint.

Photo: Carole Barton. Bici Train rolling in the first lap.

Sam worked his way into an island as the race progressed between other Cat 3’s Josh Driskell and Hardwick Gregg to end up in 8th place for the race and 2nd for the State Champ Cat 3 Race.

Photo: Carole Barton

Photo: Nancy Porter

Meanwhile Ross, in only his second 53 minute race with the fast guys, had a solid race to finish in 13th bringing in a bunch of points for the overall team score. Bravo.

Photo: Carole Barton

As I said in the beginning, it was a big day for Bici and we get to do it all over again next week at the series finale at Avondale Park. Hope to see you there. 

(Photos ganked from Russell Fulmer’s facebook)

(The look on the kid’s face is very similar to what I looked like at this point. A whole lotta “oh shit”)

Sunday had us at Sloss Furnaces, bundled up, drinking Red Bike Coffee, and embrocating. I think I jumped the gun on the medium embro (mine is Russian Thee from Mad Alchemy) - while I was racing it felt awesome, but when the midday sun came out my legs were burning with an uncomfortable ferocity. The grill was busy churning out delicious burgers courtesy of Barton’s Nursery and the beer was flowing; another successful week for our team in both fun points and winner points.

BBC (Birmingham Bicycle Company, to be clear) set up a great course for this week. After the hell we’ve been through with the previous courses, Sloss was nice and flat with some fun twists, turns, and roundabouts, a few obsticle laden trails, and a vicious little back side. Sloss is also a picturesque venue. There’s nothing like imagining the grueling manual labour under sweltering heat for steel and iron work to really get you going. Let’s hope we weren’t huffing through any terrifying dust particles.

Kate rocked the Women’s 4s once again this week with a strong 2nd place finish. She’ll be up there making cash money with the 1/2/3 soon enough! Unfortunately she bonked her knee during a dismount, so lets hope that heals up soon. I felt a little bit better with this course (unsurprisingly I prefer flat sprints to hill climbs), and didn’t get last. Hoorah!

The guys in the Men’s 4s performed AMAZINGLY, their best week yet! Ross took 1st, Alan 4th, and Daniel 5th. Hell Yes. This was Ross’ last week with the 4’s - rules dictate that next race he’ll be up with Sam in the 1/2/3s, and we will all be entertained watching their brother race dynamics.

There was an absolutely adorable kids race mixed in somewhere. We screamed for them all, and I remember Brent’s youngest in particular was very excited about the whole thing. Finally, Sam and Lee got our there and powered through the course with brute force and excellent form. I think Sam finished up nicely in the top 10? We’ll find out soon enough!

Right now we’re sitting comfortably around 4th place in terms of team points, which I think is saying something considering we’re a bunch of rag tag hoodlums. Way to go team!!!

EDIT: Sam had an 8th place finish, and we have a new team memeber that I was unaware of! John placed 3rd in the Men’s 4, and we welcome you with open arms and hands full of PBR.

This Sunday marks one of the best Bamacross races of the season: Sloss Cross. There’s really no excuse good enough to get you out of coming down and cheering on the Bici racing team. Bring some beer, a cowbell, and your best heckling skills and enjoy this great course and the atmosphere. Feel free to come by the Bici tent and hang out with the crew. It will be a great time. Races start at 10 and go through 1:30. BRING IT!

Bamacross 3 had us heading out early to Munny Sokol park in Tuscaloosa for our first out of town race of the season. The course was hard, not like Cooper Green hard but more of a technical course. Plenty of off camber turns and roots in the turns with tall barriers and steep ride ups. Oh and did I mention the single track section that provided ample time for those on mountain bikes to catch up with the likes of me. It didn’t much matter for Kate Stribling as she continued her quest to dominate the Women’s CX 4, starting her steady pace in the first lap and getting a gap as big as 30 seconds with one lap to go. She cruised to first place finish in her badass homemade skeleton costume.

Photo by Anna.

And while Anna didn’t have the race she had hoped for, she had by far the best costume of the day.

Photo by Kate

My race in the Men’s 4 left something to be desired. I had hoped to maintain or even move up from my 4th place finish last race. It started out alright, briefly. I got a great start coming down the road in 4th wheel. Coming off the road however I burped my back tire, losing about 10 psi. No bueno. I probably should have stopped in the pit and hit up the pump, but I thought maybe I could stay in the top 7 or so. Which I did until I crashed in a sandy corner. I think I lost about 6 places or so while I fooled with my front shifter trying to get it straight. At that point the youngest Porter caught me and we worked our way through the field.

Daniel and I making our way through the barriers. Photo by Carole Barton.

I actually had more fun in that part of the field because there was more action. In previous races I had found myself in an island for a lap or two and not really had to battle with anyone. By the end of it I made it back into 9th with Daniel just a few seconds behind in 11th.

Daniel earned a dollar in the singletrack section. Photo by Kate.

Ross utilized his amazing handling skills to get 3rd behind Anthony Payne and Bad Hood. Also, Ross cross dressed for the race.

Photo by Kate.

Sam and Lee lined up next for the Men’s 1/2/3 race. First of all, being the Sunday after Halloween, Sam may have had a little bit too much fun the night before as the ‘Strongest Man in the Universe’.

Photo borrowed from Hayley’s facebook.

Sam had a really good race hanging with the lead chase group for the majority of the race. Again the Porters’ healthy dose of dirt bike racing definitely helped in the turns at Munny Sokol. It wasn’t until Gavin attacked that Sam wasn’t on his wheel. Perhaps if ‘Artie’ hadn’t been out so late the night before there would have been more gas in the tank. Lee held down the middle of the field on the single speed bringing in some much needed points for the Men’s team.

Next week is Sloss and I can’t wait.

-Alan

Sorry for the delay in the post, the iMac gods were not smiling upon me last week when my hard drive died and I lost a bunch of stuff. Including but not limited to my sketches for next years Bici Coop Racing skin suits. 

Anyway, last week was the second and final race at Cooper Green Park and it was as dusty as ever. Our setup in the Bici compound was legit. We camped just past the treacherous creek crossing and on the bottom of a sharp off camber hill. It made for excellent heckling. We also had an amazing spread of burgers and brats provided by Barton’s Greenhouse and Nursery. It was rad. 

Photos by Kiki. 

Kate’s race was first and, it being her birthday race, she crushed it. After four laps she put a decent gap into second place and passed one of the masters’ men coming up the hill. What better way to kick off your post race birthday party than to win the race?

Kate crushing it up the final climb. Photo by Chad. 

Then came the 4 race. Ross and I remedied the problem we had week by camping out at the start line, guaranteeing a spot on the front line. That made all the difference. Coming into turn 3 there was a pile up just on the inside of me and then at the creek crossing the group bottlenecked just as i made it through. There we were, Ross and I were in the front 5. I rode 4th wheel for the next two laps but fell off in the last lap. Having held that pace for so long I was able to come through in 4th with no one around really. I had no idea at the time but Ross was able to hold off 2nd place for the win! 

Ross rolling solo. Photo by Kiki. 

Coming out of the creek in 3rd. Photo by Kiki. 

Sam and Lee raced next. This week local legend and crusher of souls Will Fyfe was in town and that’s what he did. He crushed. Sam was still pretty sick from an unfortunate bout with food poisoning. He still rode a good race finishing in the top 15. Lee finished up in 23rd. All in all it was a really good weekend and an excellent way to close the double header at Cooper Green. Sunday is Tuscaloosa and there is rumors of a belgian waffle stand at the Bici compound. Bring some cash if you wanna get some. 

-Alan