October 29, 2003

UCI Bans Team’s Cross Bikes

Apparently recognizing that Fiordifrutta/Wheelworks riders had on unfair advantage on their competitors who did not have disc brake cross bikes, the UCI has decided to ban disc brakes for UCI sanctioned elite level cyclocross races. Click to read the industry’s reaction and see the team’s bike.The team will scramble to get non-disc bikes ready for the Nov 1 deadline.

Hamblen 6th at UCI Granogue Estate Cyclocross, Delaware, Oct 25th

The beautiful Granogue Estate in northern Deleware opened the gates of their exclusive properties for a bunch of bikers. The Elite race started with Todd Wells (Mongoose), Ryan Trebon (CCA-Kona), Andy Jaques-Mayne, Jackson Stewart (both Clif Bar) and Jessie Anthony(Hot Tubes) getting a gap on the rest of the field on the first lap. Fiordifrutta/Wheelworks star Jon Hamblen chased hard with Bart Bowen (Kona) and Jeremy Powers (NCC-BikeReg) for the first half of the race. The three caught and passed Jessie then had their sights set on Andy but only Hamblen and Powers made it across to the Clif Bar rider. For the last two laps Powers accelerated out of every corner and kept Jacques-Mayne and Hamblen at bay to take fourth on the day while Jacques-Mayne was fifth and Hamblen sixth. Jon narrowly missed picking up UCI points. Jon also forgot to retrieve his jacket, arm warmers, and knee warmers from the start line...luckily the race promoter showed up in PA the following day and only charged $5 for the return of the clothes.

UCI Prophecy Creek Cross, Blue Bell, PA, Oct 26th

This was a very fast course with lots of smooth grass and pavement, as well as two rock gardens submerged below running water which added a little excitement to the racing. The race started exactly as the day before, only Jeremy Powers made the front group and three other riders joined Bowen and Hamblen in their chase - Adam Myerson(NCC-BikeReg-CycleSmart), Charlie Storm (Fuji), and Mike Cody (NCC-BikeReg.com). The submerged rock garden took its toll on many of the guys in the top ten with Powers, Myerson, and Anthony all flatting and quitting. With three laps to go, it was Trebon and Wells in front, followed by Jacques-Mayne and Jackson Stewart, followed by Jon and Bart who had separated themselves from their group.

Hamblen and Bowen were rapidly closing in on Jackson when Jon flatted his rear tire just past the pits in the first rock garden. Jon lost Bowen and was caught by the Fuji rider, but got a spare bike the next lap and started claw his way back up to the Fuji guy. However, on the last lap Jon flatted his front and had much difficulty driving the bike. He fell several times and was passed by five riders in the last half mile of the race. The race promoter was kind enough to offer Jon beer after the finish in order to settle his anger at the rocks. Ryan "Too Tall" Trebon won the day and our guy ended up in a disappointing 12th.