Cazenovia Hillbender

The Cazenovia Hillbender was an open race southeast of Syracuse. Seeing that Caz is my wife's hometown and the race was a good excuse to visit family, it was a no-brainer. It started bright and early with a heavy fog and temps around 50 degrees. The group was happy to warm up with a slow roll out. After 5 miles a rider from one of the larger teams took off on a down hill. I followed his wheel and accelerated when the road turned uphill. I quickly had a large gap and figured I'd work it to see if any others jumped across. The gap kept growing and I settled into a steady rhythm. I soloed over the firsts sprint line and then the hill turned upward - turns out it's called the Hillbender for a reason. A small group bridged up to me and the race was on. By the top, it was just me and one other - from the same large team as my initial break partner. We worked well together - he was a flyweight and led on the climbs while I took the flats and downhills. The finish was a slow gradient for 2-3 miles and then a steep 1/2 mile hill. I was pretty sapped by the last hill and couldn't quite hold on after my earlier efforts and ended up with a second place - with a 2 minute gap back to third. Turns out the winner is a cat 3 who has won some pretty prestigious races so that eased my pain a little. Now it's time to start winding down and looking towards the offseason. After all, it's almost time to start building for 2013!

Sponsor news - Grace Road East

Grace Road is a young church that meets in the German House in the South Wedge, right around the corner from Full Moon Vista. In it's first three years, Grace Road has grown from a handful of people to nearly 500. In an effort to continue growing, GR is launching a new service in Pittsford on Sunday evenings at 6pm. They will be meeting at The Mosaic building on West Bloomfield Rd (next to Walnut Hill farm). The new service launches September 30th, check 'em out!

East Aurora Road Race, 7-22-2012

Sunday brought about a beautiful day for a race. The East Aurora race was held under sunny skies with a stiff wind blowing out of the south and bringing plenty of heat. The race was two laps for a total length of 46 miles. The northward (with a tail wind) and eastward legs were mostly flat. The southward (headwind) leg had a number of rolling hills to soften up the legs. The final leg had the largest hills, the last coming 1.5-2 miles from the finish. The first lap was pretty uneventful as it quickly came apparent that it would be tough for a break to get away - too many were interested in keeping things together. The second lap started with a break of two off the front by about 5 seconds, but the Bike Shop guys kept the speed pegged at 28-30mph to keep them on a tight leash. My plan was to keep my powder dry and try to get away on the last hill. As the hill approached, one rider slipped off the front and got a 20 yard gap. Theo (Once Again race team) bridged up and I knew that was a good wheel to follow. I jumped and got across about half way up the hill. Two others joined us at the crest or shortly after to make a group of five. Theo was intent on keeping us away and hammered all the way home. The rest of us were content to sit in and wait for the sprint. The finish was on a small riser, but I just didn't have the legs after the final hill climb. The "winner" sprinted illegally and was relegated to the back of the breakaway group. Matt Brophy came home in first, I was able to hold on for the final podium spot. It was a great course, I hope to see it again next year!

Rainbow Jersey comes to Dorschel

Team Dorschel gains the rainbow jersey with a victory at the Thursday Night Worlds! Nevermind the fact that the field was smaller than usual (everyone who showed up finished on the podium), a win is a win!

Giro D'Otisco - June 16, 2012
By: Nick Leonard
Steve and I traveled down to Otisco Lake on Saturday in the hopes of finding fun and enough suffering to call the trip a success.  Both were found in large quantities over the 30 mile course and post race celebration.

The race starts with a 1/2 to 3/4 mile climb up a steep enough pitch to separate the pack.  Steve went off first with the 4's and when the pack blew up he was caught in the middle.  I was at the front of our starting wave and five minutes later we were given the okay to launch ourselves uphill.  I didn't waste any time and quickly found myself with a 200 yard lead over the chasers as I crested the top.  It took 11 miles, but the pack eventually caught me.

Meanwhile Steve had managed to catch the lead pack, but with the next major climb upon him, found himself in no man's land for several miles in between the lead group and grupetto he would eventually end the day with.

I sat in with my pack to recover from my solo efforts until the next major climb.  I was climbing at a nice steady pace when I was passed by the eventual winner.  My miscalculation was not expending the effort to hold onto his wheel as I thought the pack would give chase to track him down.  He eventually opened a nice lead, but much to my surprise the pack wasn't working well together.  For the last 10 miles it was myself and 2-3 other guys out of the 15 large chase group that were doing all of the work.  The last climb of the day up to the finish line must have been looming heavy on every one's mind.  It was a climb akin to the likes of Bopple, climbing 500 ft from the lake shore in about 1/2 mile to the finish.

When we took the left hand turn away from the lake to start the climb, we quickly realized the challenge that lay ahead.  "The Wall" turned into a battlefield with people struggling to find a line, or paperboying from side to side to lessen the grade, and in some cases racers were going down having been defeated by gravity in their attempt to keep the pedal's moving.  As I climbed at my steady pace I quickly dropped all but one from our group.  With each turn of the crank I waited for my challenger from behind to pop and as we made the final turn to the finish he could no longer hold my wheel.  I was thankful to ease off and crossed the finish line in 2nd place.

Nick wins again!

Nick showed his form on the Parish North course tonight with a win. He would attack on the finish line hill, get a gap, and solo until caught on the downhill. The last lap he had a partner in a break that stuck and was able to score the win on the uphill sprint. Full points - prime and win. Nice job!

Syracuse Road Race

The Dorschel Cycling Team p/b Reed Eye Associates produced another podium finish at the Tour de Syracuse Road Race Classic last weekend. Nick was able to survive a long breakaway to finish third in the Cat 5, 55 mile race. Jochen also had a great effort, finishing fifth in the same race. Their strong results will have them racing with the rest of the Dorschel team in the Cat 4's soon.

Bristol Road Race - photo links to Your Pal Marnie

This link is for a set of 270 photos of the Bristol Road Race.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marnie/7200410728/in/set-72157629733744370/lightbox/

Bristol Road Race 5/12/12

By: Nick Leonard

The combined over/under 30 Cat 5 race saw 40 strong heading out to complete 2 laps (17 miles  each).  The first 7 miles of lap 1 were tame with everyone trying to stay sheltered in the head wind and a little shaken after passing the Cat 4 crash.  The climb up CR33 was fast and steady without any real attacks.  Hitting Egypt Hill separated the group with me launching an attack half way up only to be caught and counter attacked by some under 30 guys.  It was at this juncture that the eventual winner of the under 30 group turned up the heat and began to separate from the group of 15 leaders.  By the time the chase group reached the top and turned the corner to head back into Bristol Valley, the lone racer had a 15-30 second gap.  I tried to inspire the others in the chase group to work together to track him down, but this came without much response.  The chase group swelled at this point with Jochen giving it his all heading downhill.  By the time we completed the first lap there was a 1 min gap, which continued to grow.

Heading into the second lap the group started to work together a little better as other riders becoming frustrated with the situation put the pressure on those not working.  In this humble writers opinion it is better to work hard and race for 1^st than it is to hold back and race for 2^nd, but that’s just me.  Heading up CR33 on the second lap saw the chase group beginning to catch up with the remnants of the Cat 4 race.  Small attacks began to happen and the group pushed hard to Egypt Hill. I launched an attack half way up and was countered by the under 30 guys.  It was at this point that I gave it my all to hold onto the wheel in front of me.  Unfortunately, that wheel lost control and crashed in slow motion heading up hill and I ran over the pristine Bianchi before crashing myself.  Luckily it was at 8mph and no major damage was done outside of a scraped knee and palm.  I gave the bike a once over and asked the rider if he was okay.  I quickly jumped back on my bike and took an inventory of what was working (brakes, check, shifter, check, knee, check).  With adrenaline now securely taking over, I raced to the top alone, and turned the corner knowing I needed to carry as much speed as possible.  I pushed a big gear on the descent in an effort to recover.  One last out of the saddle effort over the small hill just before the final drop into the valley and a sprint to the finish secured my position.  A little under a minute later, Jochen crossed.  Unsure of the split between the over/under riders, we both knew we were in the top 10.  When the results were posted, to our surprise, we finished 1-2 for the over 30 group.  With the hard fought efforts and slow speed crash, this was a very meaningful result for us and Team Dorschel / Reed Eye Associates.  I’d like to thank Craig from The Mendon Cyclesmith for his great work on my bike this week in prep for the race.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Geoff earned a tough 14^th place finish in the Cat 4 race with three laps.  Being his longest ride of the season, this is an amazing result.  Scott gave it his best and offered words of encouragement to Jochen and I on Egypt Hill.  Steve turned himself inside out in the Masters 45-54 (Cats 1-4) Race and should be very proud of his accomplishment.

Chili

The fireworks started early as Brent attacked on the first corner and was quickly joined by five more riders. It was all over but the suffering as Doug (Park Ave Multisport), Mike D (Dick Ide), and Mike M, Jim Q, and Frank (CNB) pace-lined out of sight of the pack. The breakaway was able to maintain a solid pace with no chasers in sight and ground out the miles. Frank retired on lap six with back spasms but the group carried on. Brent was gapped at the finish of lap 8 but was able to catch back on to contest the finish at the end of 9 laps. Doug launched a vicious attack at the base of the final hill that left everyone in his dust while Mike M., Jim, Brent and Mike D. crossed the line for the minor placings.

Parish Hill

Nick and Jochen enjoyed the weather so much at Bloomfield that they decided to race tonight with even more rain. Nick laid down the law on the prime lap and soloed the rest of the way home for the win. He wasn't completely alone, though. Todd coached, cajoled and coaxed the final two laps as Nick fought for the line. Jochen was 3rd across, with an asterisk. He didn't quite make the start, so he joined the group on the first lap. Tough racing, well done.

Bloomfield Spring Classic

The weatherman lied. Instead of cloudy and 50 degrees, it was drizzle and 39 with a cold north wind greeting the racers in Bloomfield today. That did not deter the Dorschel hard men as Nick and Jochen took third and seventh, respectively in the cat 5 race. The cat 4 race was a war of attrition as climbs, punctures and wind thinned the field of 50 to a 12 rider pack chasing a solo breakaway for victory. The peloton never bridged the gap and Patrick Walle (Minerva Design) took the win. The chasers made it sporty up the final climb with Geoff taking a solid 7th. The remaining field kept coming, but only 29 riders finished in the tough conditions.

Dorschel Mini Cooper S convertible

This is going to be one of the chase cars used at the Bloomfield Spring Classic on Sunday, April 22nd. Thanks to Rick Dorschel for providing this very cool Mini convertible, and to Josh Gonsenhauser for setting everything up. I hope we can cruise with the top down!

G-Tour 4-10-2012

A cold, stiff wind greeted some hardy racers riding three laps on the Wheatland course tonight. Geoff was able to bridge to the winning break on lap one, and then Brent tried to bridge across but couldn't close the final 20 yards. Brent soloed in no-man's-land for a lap and a half before the peloton caught on. Meanwhile, up at the front, Geoff and Phil (Monroe Extinguisher) were able to shed Frank (CNB) and make it a two man race to the line. Phil surged for the win from the world's longest sprint leaving Geoff in second place, while Brent was able to secure 7th overall from the chase group. That gives Geoff a coin-toss 3rd last week, followed by a 1/2 bike length 2nd this week. What does that mean for next week?

Hornby Hills race photos

4/7/12 - Hornby Hills Kermis

An excellent, and insanely difficult race was put on this morning by the Corning race team. In true spring classic style, the course included many dirt/rock sections and not a single stretch of flat road (capped off by "the wall"). Jochen and Nick started the Team Dorschel throw-down with an early start in the Cat 5 race. They both finished strongly, with Nick grabbing an excellent second place showing! Great job Nick.
Next up was the Cat 4 race for Steve, Scott, and myself. We were riding mid-pack through the first uphill section when a small group of 5-6 unexpectedly took off the front of the group. None of us reacted quickly enough thinking the race was still young - our mistake as this proved to be the winning break staying away for the final 35 miles. I was able to make it into the first chase group for the next 4 laps, often keeping the leaders within view. Unfortunately my luck ran out when I suffered a flat on the last lap ruining my chance of a top 10 finish. Scott and Steve rode strongly, giving the team plenty to be proud of - although none of us will miss "the wall" if we never see it again!
All in all, an excellent showing for Team Dorschel.

4/3/12 - Victor

The first GVCC G-Tour race of the year saw Mike, Steve, Scott and I at the start line. Though there were numerous break attempts, none were allowed to stick. Either one of the larger teams was left out, or the break lacked the collaboration to stay away. In the end it came to a sprint. Scott sacrificed himself with a great leadout, followed by Doug and Ricky (both Park Ave). Doug then took over the lead out. Ricky and I simultaneously started our sprints and the 3 of us ended within inches of each other. Ricky took the win and Doug and I flipped for the remaining podium spots. Steve followed with an excellent 4th place, and Mike snuck in the top 10 at 9th place. Three teammates within the top 10 - a nice start to the season.

New Kit! The Dorschel Cycling Team presented by Reed Eye Associates met for a group ride to introduce our new uniforms for 2012. It was a perfect spring afternoon for photos and a hammerfest in the Mendon area. Thanks to J Smith photography for the pictures and Geoff and Kelly for the great dinner following the ride.

First race of the season!

Five brave souls came together at 6:30am this morning for our first race of the season: a virtual battle thanks to the setup at Crossfit Gordon in Fairport. They had just loaded the spring Giro course and Brent, Jochen, Nick, Steve, and myself went to battle. It was our first experience on the computrainer setup. We started peacefully, trying to get the hang of following the race. There was a constant feed of data, the most important of which was our place and the distance behind the next closest rider (to indicate whether or not we were close enough to benefit from a draft). Nick fired the first shot and the pleasantries ended. It was a constant back and forth, the drafting keeping the group tightly knit. The hills were tougher than expected, the resistance changing to match the course profile. The first time through the hills broke up the group a little until, after about 12 miles it was a 3 man battle. At 15.5 miles my tire went flat (on a trainer!) and it was down to a battle between Nick and Jochen. We decided to end the race at 20 miles to stay within our allotted time. They battled back and forth with the east side hill providing a launch pad for a final attack. Nick got a small gap but Jochen charged back, catching him right at the finish line. It was a photo finish, too close to call. Can't wait for them to upgrade and provide some firepower to Team Dorschel in the 4's. A big thanks to Crossfit Gordon: they have an excellent setup, check the out at www.crossfitgordon.com.

New Sponsor - The Mendon Cyclesmith

We are pleased to announce The Mendon Cyclesmith as our bike shop sponsor. Owner Craig Smith has a great shop which specializes in repair, wheel building, and custom bike builds, as well as some of the best lines of road and mountain bikes available. His personalized service and the shop's comfortable atmosphere makes it a natural spot for riders to congregate. Stop in to see his great collection of classic bikes and especially the latest fat bikes from Surly.

Sponsor News

The Dorschel Automotive Group continues its sponsorship of the team for 2012. Click on the Dorschel logo to learn how clear. simple. different. can improve your car-buying experience.

Reed Eye Associates joins our team as the presenting sponsor for 2012. Since 1978, Reed Eye Associates' goal has remained very simple: to provide patients with the best possible eye care with the most current technology available. Please visit www.Reedeye.com to learn more.