BikeThrow.com

Minneapolis, MN-

 

The second installment of the Coldsprints series once again was a successful fundraiser for the Second Harvest Heartland food shelf with close to $500 being raised by racers and spectators who ventured to the Downtown Grumpy’s to watch an exciting night of racing. Organizers also made some slight improvements to the software to allow for a more streamlined event which allowed for even more racers to partake in the stationary roller racing. The eventual champions Maria Stewart (Velo Bella) and Ted Schmid (Loon State), were among the first time racers.

Not only were the numbers of participants up, but the spectators increased dramatically with many local cycling personalities deciding to descend upon the races. Bob Williams, the NSC Velodrome director, even managed to let out a little smile when asked what he thought of the nights racing before replying, “Its fun, now we just need to get these people to the track.” Other local racers came to watch, and some even decided to take the plunge and take to the rollers, notables included; past State Criterium champion and BTDC employee, Darrin Homme (Hollywood) who would go on to posting the night’s fastest qualifying time. Homme wasn’t the only State Criterium champion that raced as current champion, Aric Hareland (Hollywood), found himself qualifying in 9th place. Another racer that turned heads with his attempt at racing was James Tainter (Hollywood), a past Masters National Sprint Champion, who threw down some impressive races before getting bounced in the quarterfinals.

The women’s field was once again a major highlight on the night as 17 women took to the line and all produced some respectable times that eventually saw a final between defending champion Linsey Hamilton (Grumpy’s/LGR) and Maria Stewart. Stewart was able to win the close match-up after Hamilton faded late in the match, but the preceding head to head match ups between the women proved to be just as exciting to watch. The large women’s field also included Sara Brokaw (Gopher Wheelman) and last months second place finisher Martha (U/A) whom decided to go with normal tennis shoes this month rather than last months fashionable knee high boots.

After all of the participants put in qualifying runs the computers went to work and seeded the men’s field 1-16 and the women’s field 1-8. Then breaking from the normal opening round seeding matchups of 1 vs. 16, 2 vs. 15, 3 vs. 14 etc… Organizers decided to once again go with a more level seeding format that promised exciting evenly-matched races from the get go. These seeded matchups of 1 vs. 9, 2 vs. 10, 3 vs. 11 etc… Meant that the nights fastest qualifier Darrin Homme would go up against the #9 seed Aric Hareland in the first round. As expected the battle of teammates went down to the wire and set the tone for a night of head to head action of all opening round matches in the men’s and women’s field being decided by less than .3 seconds.

Once again the non-traditional racers made a huge impact on the nights events as 7 of them qualified into the final 16. Last months revelation, Tim W. (U/A) produced a top qualifing time of 1342 feet, and he even unseated last months champion, whom he lost to in semi-finals in November by less than .08seconds. This upset proved to be one of the biggest on the night, until the other unknown Ben Larson (U/A) unseated James Tainter in the quarterfinals. Larson, whom heard about the event through the Star Tribune, has done a few triathlons, but has yet to do any competitive bike racing in the area. These newly discovered talents are hoping to turn some more heads at next months event on January, 25th.

The close matches in both the men’s and women’s fields both culminated with some epic racing in the finals. The women’s final between Linsey Hamilton and Maria Stewart was almost a given when both posted top qualifiying times, but tough head to head battles to get to the finals brought out the best in both riders at the end of the night. With the overflow crowd hovering around and the 500m final going at full speed Hamilton took an early lead before Stewart came on strong at the end to take the victory over the defending champion.

The women’s race was just a small glimpse into what was going to happen in the men’s final as Darrin Homme, who reached the finals by beating Hareland, Tim W. and CurlyBro, was up against Ted Schmid, who eeked out victories against Gil-T, Tainter, and Ben Larson. Before the race as the riders were getting set up for the final, Homme looked over at Schmid and stated, “That dudes arms are as big as my legs!” Schmid, known for his sprinting prowess on the track had been feeling the effects of the multi-round sprints and was now facing an “endurance” event of 500m against the well known road sprinter Homme. At the gun Homme took a rather impressive lead, while Schmid was slow to get off the gun, but 150m before the finish Homme cracked hard, and Schmid pulled it off at the end to take the race. After the race Schmid pondered a new career as an endurance rider, “I think I might have to do the Kilo now.”

Before leaving for the night both riders helped the charity even more by donating their $40 in prize money back to the food shelf and promising all that they would be back on January, 25th for the 3rd round of the Minneapolis ColdSprints. That night the proceeds of the event will go to the Mark Loesch Memorial Fund to help raise some money and awareness for the family of Mr. Loesch, whom was murdered while riding his bike a few blocks from his home in South Minneapolis.

The event was sponsored by Grumpy’s Bar and Grill, Behind-Bars Bicycle Shop, One on One Bicycle Studio , Burlesque Design, RetroSoft and Little Guy Racing. All proceeds went directly to Second Harvest Heartland.

****

81 Registrants / 65 Men, 16 Women

Rounds in seconds; Qualifiers in feet.

Championships/ Women
27.469 Maria v. Linsey H (-1.262)

Semi-Finals / Women
28.699 Maria v. Suzy Lee (-3.076)
29.068 Linsey H v. Kat (-0.701)

Quarter-Finals / Women
27.502 Linsey H v. Allison (-4.023)
27.845 Maria v. HALEYT (-11.120)
29.486 Kat v. Martha (-0.855)
30.695 Suzy Lee v. AMYC (-0.605)

Championships/ Men
24.247 Franz v. Homme (-0.507)

Semi-Finals/ Men
24.299 Homme v. Tim W. (-1.923)
12.012 Franz v. Ben Larson (-0.097)
* 250 metre race due to technical difficulties

Quarter-Finals / Men
23.614 Homme v. Curlybro (-2.616)
24.310 Franz v. James tainter (-0.738)
24.812 Tim W. v. Racer X (-0.601)
24.901 Ben Larson v. Taylor Olson (-0.310)

Sweet Sixteen / Men
23.876 Homme v. Hardogger (-1.411)
24.220 James tainter v. Bob Beahen (-0.374)
24.361 Taylor Olson v. Doug Larsen (-1.075)
24.678 Tim W. v. Lalla (-0.824)
24.847 Curlybro v. Pat Nelson (-0.088)
24.860 Franz v. Gil-T (-6.947)
25.011 Ben Larson v. Jason (Chedda) (-2.026)
25.150 Racer X v. Pike (-0.728)

Qualifiers / Women
01. 1160.03 Linsey H (Grumpy’s/LGR)                                                                                                                                                    02. 1134.90 Martha (U/A)
03. 1130.97 Suzy Lee (U/A)
04. 1123.90 Maria (Velo Bella)                                                                                                                                                                05. 1120.76 Allison (U/A)
06. 1078.35 Kat (U/A)
07. 1051.65 AMYC (Grumpy’s/LGR)
08. 1046.94 HALEYT (U/A)                                                                                                                                                                       09. 1046.15 MARIEISAWESOME (U/A)
10. 1039.08 Sara B (Gopher Wheelman)
11. 1037.51 Andrea (U/A)
12. 0997.46 Dana D (U/A)
13. 0973.11 AMYMCT (U/A)
14. 0967.61 Gina (U/A)
15. 0962.90 Bitty Booper (U/A)
16. 0958.19 Zoe (U/A)

Qualifiers / Men
01. 1390.94 Homme (Hollywood/Silver)
02. 1388.58 Pat Nelson (U/A)
03. 1387.01 Racer X (Not Jake Helmbrecht)-(Grumpy’s/LGR)
04. 1370.52 Franz (Ted Schmid)-(Loon State)
05. 1365.02 Ben Larson (U/A)
06. 1342.25 Tim W. (U/A)
07. 1339.10 Bob Beahen (U/A)
08. 1337.53 Taylor Olson (Loon State)
09. 1327.32 Hardogger (Hollywood/Silver Cycling)
10. 1313.19 Curlybro (U/A)
11. 1310.04 Pike (U/A)
12. 1309.26 Gil-T (U/A)
13. 1306.90 Jason (Chedda) (Grumpy’s/LGR)
14. 1298.26 Lalla (Midwestern State University)
15. 1292.77 James tainter (Hollywood/Silver Cylcing)
16. 1286.48 Doug Larsen (Larsen Cycles)
17. 1277.84 Tim R (U/A)
18. 1277.06 Levi (U/A)
19. 1269.20 Matt Kriegler (U/A)
20. 1262.13 Marlin (U/A)
21. 1257.42 Tim Hayes (Grumpy’s/LGR)
22. 1252.71 McNolty (U/A)
23. 1249.57 2PINZ (U/A)
24. 1248.00 Mario (U/A)
25. 1248.00 HEATH (U/A)
26. 1244.86 Monty (Grumpy’s/LGR)
27. 1240.93 BOBBY DIGITAL (U/A)
28. 1229.93 T.C. Worley (Grumpy’s/LGR)
29. 1228.36 Jowels (U/A)
30. 1222.86 FRYE (Loon State)
31. 1219.72 Landon (U/A)
32. 1217.37 Deren (U/A)
33. 1217.37 Marc A (U/A)
34. 1216.58 RichZilla (U/A)
35. 1216.58 Super lookieeee (Matt Allen)-(Grumpy’s/LGR)
36. 1208.73 Jim Wellbrock (U/A)
37. 1202.44 Dan Wold (Grumpy’s/LGR)
38. 1201.66 Stewbot (U/A)
39. 1201.66 Kunta Kinte (U/A)
40. 1199.30 Ted (U/A)
41. 1193.02 Crash Dixon (U/A)
42. 1189.09 Red Squrel (U/A)
43. 1189.09 Issa (U/A)
44. 1182.02 Clay (U/A)
45. 1180.45 Mark (U/A)
46. 1179.67 Bjorn (U/A)
47. 1178.88 JT (U/A)
48. 1172.60 Matty J (U/A)
49. 1163.96 Andyrew (U/A)
50. 1160.03 Billc (U/A)
51. 1160.03 Chuck (Behind Bars)
52. 1157.68 Bradpants (U/A)
53. 1153.75 El Gonzo (U/A)
54. 1151.39 SKIBBY (Loon State)
55. 1148.25 Paul Wyatt (U/A)
56. 1141.18 Matt Allyn (U/A)
57. 1134.11 Verb (U/A)
58. 1130.19 Tom (U/A)
59. 1118.41 KIDMICROBICYCLE (U/A)
60. 1108.98 GEARY (U/A)
61. 1060.29 I, Clumsy (U/A)
62. 1053.22 Svenn (U/A)
63. 1004.52 Cliff (U/A)
64. 0911.85 Dopey (U/A)
65. 0845.09 Geneo (One on One)

ColdSprints #1 Results