Welcome to Rogues Racing, Blacksburg’s only non-collegiate cycling team.

Mission: The mission of Rogues Racing is 1)  racing to achieve top results by giving the elite racers the support they need to train and race, 2) to give novice racers the experience and coaching to develop the skills and fitness to reach the elite level and 3)  is to promote racing and performance cycling in Blacksburg and the surrounding areas.

Rogues Racing is primarily a road racing team, however many riders compete in cyclocross racing after the end of the road season. We also have a healthy number of mountain bike riders and some racers.

Racing takes a lot of training. Therefore, in addition to individual training, Rogues Racing takes part in three weekly rides: Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday. Additional rides and information are posted on the Rogues Racing listserv.

Our focus is primarily racing, but we still make time to support cycling in our area. Each year we host a local race weekend, assist the VA Tech cycling team in putting on a race weekend, a fall cyclocross race, and work the NRVBA to run the Burke’s Garden Century ride in late August.

Please check out our Join page if you are interested in racing or supporting racing. Whether you’re a seasoned racer or a recreational rider that wants to take cycling to the next level, you’ll have place on  our team.

Rogues Racing also supports local businesses with advertising opportunities via our sponsorship program. Please check out our Sponsorship page to see a list of our current sponsors and information on our sponsorship program.

Sponsorship

Rogues Racing has various sponsors that help out with our racing. In exchange, we provide them with advertising via logos on our website, jerseys, fliers or other creative ways based on needs.

Sponsorship has many forms whether it be donation for a prime in a criterium, team discounts or a few bucks to help with race entries, sponsorship is appreciated from every person in the team.

Next time you see someone in a Rogues jersey go by, check out their jersey. Every one of these sponsors in on there, you could be too!!! Just think, each of our riders is on the road an average of five days a week, for around ten hours; in addition to the many races we participate in. This is 10 hours a week per person, plus races, wearing our jerseys with YOUR logo on them. Think of YOUR advertising opportunities…

The Rogues try to make sure everyone knows how generous each and every one of the folks has been. We do not limit our sponsors to cycling related businesses. We look forward to working with any company that looks to advertise in a sport that requires dedication, strong training, the proper equipment, and the time and wherewithal to compete.

Rogues Racing currently has advertising opportunities for our summer race weekend and will soon be starting our 2010 sponsorship drive. If you are interested in partnering with Rogues Racing, please contact our sponsorship chair, Brian Meadowcroft at vmi2uscg@yahoo.com.

John McKenna and David Lehn finished the NC Winter cup yesterday on a day of cold damp slippery racing with a few sand pits to boot. David raced cat 4 and Masters 35 + through out the whole series and McKenna raced Masters 35+ and pro/1/2 cats all but yesterday racing only the Masters 35+. It was a tough race. John never has a good start, cyclocross starts are perfect for sprinter types so missing the hole shot means you always have to do battle to get up front. The usual suspects went off the front right away and quickly that group separated. Four off the front, a chase group of 3 and stragglers behind. McKenna went into TT mode and slowly started picking off people climbing the ladder to the front. “I noticed that peple thought the mud was more slippery then it was, it was actually a bit sandy and had good grip, almost too much grip in some places. I wasn’t feeling particularly strong today but I could see I was makeing a lot of time up in the corners so I had to initiate attacks to make sure I was the one leading into the corner so I could exit ahead a few seconds.” Soon enough McKenna caught up to the chase group on a fast decent around a small pond with a thick muddy flat section. Attacking the chase group there and holding gave him a 15 second lead on the chase group with two laps to go. John kept looking back to make sure the chase group kept it’s distance and rolled in to a 5 place spot for the day.

Local racing in Blacksburg Virgina at it’s best. Last weekend November 7th and 8th on Virginia Tech Campus.  Two days of cyclocross including night time racing under the lights. I entered the masters 35+ races on both days. It was a live and learn experience for me. It’s amazing how after racing cyclocross for 6 years now I still learn something from every race. Saturday night start time was 5PM. Still plenty of light throughout our race though the stadium lights kicked on toward the end. The field size was a decent 20 or more and then combined with the 45+ made for an interesting crowd. Having volunteered for this race I was busy all day setting up the course. I managed to sneak in a 30 minute power nap which was very refreshing and I did about a 30 minute warm up for the race. My start was not very good but then, my starts are never really good. I saw the break away go and knew I would have to make some passes before I could bridge up. I started making the passes and launched an attack. Trying to make this attack stick meant I really needed to nail all the corners hard. Coming around one corner that transfers from off camber to a level ground around a pine tree I over cooked it and went down. All the folks I passed went right by me so I had a lot more work to do. I managed to get with the chase group again and start to bridge up. The lead group of three was now splintered. Once again I went down in a tight corner around a sapling on another off camber section. I had to laugh because I couldn’t figure out what happened. I simply got launched over the bars. I think I may have hit a root or some object but it was wildly unexpected. I was alone at that point so no one passed me but I lost anther 15 seconds or so. Once again I began charging forward. With two laps to go I could see the 3^rd place rider inching up on the 2^nd place rider as I was catching them both. My only hope was to keep the pressure on and see if one of them goes down or cracks. I finally bridged up with about 50M to go but when we bumped up onto the final paved stretch to the finish line and after all the exertion to bridge up I couldn’t sprint around anyone and ended up in 4^th place.

Sunday’s race when off at 10AM but was delayed till 11AM which helped a lot since I was scrambling to rearrange the course. The course design was slightly changed and run in reverse which makes it like a totally new course really. I got in a descent warm up and got up front on the start line. I am not a very good starter in cyclocross so being up front helps a lot. After the gun I was probably 6^th through the whole shot which is a long straight along some pine trees. The leader got too close to the trees and a branch grabbed his bars and he went down taking some one else out. I squeezed through and quickly a group of 5 formed with one guy off the front. I sat in with this group for one lap trying to determine if this was the speed the group was capable of or wondering if they are all just sort of sitting in and waiting. I decided to test it and attacked on the second lap. I pu in a hard effort to get away and bridge up to the solo leader. I rode with him for almost another lap and decided to attack again and see if I could get away. It worked. Those two attacks hurt bad so I settled into a time trial mode watching the group behind me and trying to keep them away. After recovering and getting the rhythm for the course I was able to make more gains especially in the fast sweeping corners and the long single track to the log piles. There were two log piles that were ridable and you could carry a lot of speed right up to them then jam the brakes on and bunny hop the piles. With two laps to go I was certain I had the race. The chase group had broken up with Ignacio Moore off the front. I kept watching him and was holding him at bay but I know he was putting in a tremendous effort to bridge up. Thinking that I might race the Pro/1/2 race later that day and being certain I would win this race I eased off the pace. Ignacio was gaining but was never closer then 50 meters which is a huge difference on the last lap of a cyclocross race. I wasn’t planning on letting him get any closer and even if he did manage to bridge up he would have been so cooked as I was recovered he wouldn’t stand a chance on the finish sprint.

This was my mistake and my lesson learned from the weekend. On the final lap with maybe ¼ lap to go I flatted. I have no idea what I hit but the sidewall blew out. Racing on tubulars I can still at least ride the bike but with no where the efficiency obviously. Ignacio gained on me. I was riding right by the pit but I knew if I went in for a wheel change I would be passed so I went on riding the flat. Ignacio passed me just before the paved finish and it was all I could do to stay on his wheel for second place. Moral of the story and lesson learned is never ever think you have the race in the bag. Always push yourself to the very end. If I had, then I would have been able to ride the flat in or would have had the time to make the wheel change.

Tuesday I went down to Ace Speedway, http://carolinaspeedwayseries.com/default.aspx, again. However, the story doesn’t start there. Tuesday’s races came after a weekend of racing at the Tour of Possum Creek and only one day off. Thus, I started the “C”, Cat 4/5 race on what I thought were tired legs.  The “C” race was 25 minutes with two primes. As I started out I was thinking “I just want to finish in the field sprint.” I took care to make sure I didn’t do much work for the first half the of the race and didn’t compete for the first prime. Nothing exciting happened until the second prime at four to go. As I wasn’t thinking about winning, I went for this one. I hopped on a wheel of one of another rider and then sprinted for the line and took the prime. By this point the two us had opened a gap and I heard Webb yelling to keep going. I briefly looked back and saw that I had about 50 yds on the field and the other
rider was no longer there. Two choices lay before me, 1) keep going or 2) drop back into the field and compete in the sprint. I’d rather risk it all have a good win than play it safe and fight it out in the sprint. On the next lap around I saw two to go. After looking over my shoulder I saw I wasn’t being challenged. With one to go my gap was still strong and I eased up a little to save some for the next race and easily took first place.

“B” Race.
Less than 10 minutes later the 40 minute “B” race got started. I’d told Webb that I would work for him as I was blown from the first race. A few people tried to pull off the front and Webb did a good job of getting in these groups. I tried to block for them, but nothing usually happened as the groups didn’t come together. The race continued this way until 15 minutes to go. Two groups of two had gone off the front and had been out for a while and the main field had let them go. I asked Webb if he thought they’d be brought back and he said yes. I moved up to try and lead a bridge to them, but when I looked back no one had followed. I decided to keep going and joined with chase 1. This time the break was working together perfectly. We then caught the lead group with 11 minutes to go. 8 of us then became 6, and then 4. However, the four that remained lead a textbook break. Perfect rotation with steady hard power. With three to go we caught the main field and
each of us knew we were in the top 4. I found Webb and we quickly discussed out a leadout. I sat on his wheel as he pulled me through the last 3 laps. With a 1/3 of a lap to go he opened it up and pulled me out of the field. Surprisingly, it didn’t seem like anyone had followed!! Webb pulled away and we both crossed the line together, I took first and Webb won the field sprint for fifth, still in the money. The leadout was textbook perfect. Racing with teammates does pay off.

Thanks to Webb for the leadout and tactical advice during both races. I also have to credit SOS Message for helping me get ready for nearly back-to-back days of racing. I’m not sure this will happen again as I’m probably a marked man from winning two races back to back. Rogues should continue the momentum and  put the hurt the Ace Speedway Races the rest of the summer!!

On Saturday, August 15th their will be a family day of a racing at Ace. This is a make up race for an earlier one. The concession stands will be open and other events to make it more family friendly.

The Tour of Possum Creek, 10-12 July, provided for another great weekend of racing. I was flying solo this weekend as teammates where moving, getting married or recovering from each. Saturday started off with a 56 mile, rolling hills road race for the Cat 4’s. None of the hills were worst than the out and back WW course. This was two laps of a 28 mile course. At the pre-race briefing we were told by roads were narrow and to be careful. I started the race on the back to save energy for later. Bike Zoo maintained the pace for the first lap and didn’t allow any breaks to get started. On the second lap the attacks started. Bike Zoo’s sprinter, a Krystal rider, and I got a break started with a few others, but after a few minutes people weren’t pulling through so we fell apart. With no real hill to cause a separation, nothing happened until 5 miles to go. I missed the initial break, but was able to get in the bridge up to it. By the last 3 miles, which were flat to down hill, top riders were fighting for position for the field sprint. We were given the whole road about .5 miles out, but I hadn’t pre-riden the finish line so I wasn’t ready for the all out effort at the end. I finished 10th after gaining back ground I lost for not being ready.

The 12 mile TT was later in the afternoon on a course with similar terrain, rolling hills. Even through it was in the evening, temperatures where still in the upper 80’s with no cloud cover. Coupled with too much of a warm up, this was very tiring combination. This was my first long TT with my new aero bars and helmet. However, due the hills, I didn’t spend as much time in my bars as I wanted to. The first half the of course had 4 hills had got me out the bars and on the hoods. We did have one railroad crossing on the top of a hill at which most riders got air as they crossed. I got passed at mile 4 by a Krystal rider and then again at mile 9 by the Bike Zoo sprinter. The last 3-4 miles were mostly down hill and were fast. The bars and helmet definitely paid off there as I was hammering just for the sake of finishing. In the end, I finished in 35 minutes and took 7th.

The Crits took place Sunday afternoon. After Saturday’s races and heat I decided I was better off skipping the Master’s 30 race and focusing on my Cat 4 crit. Due to a last minute decision by the Gale City, VA mayor, the crit was moved to a highschool parking lot with 2 hills, 4 U-turns and little distance between to work with. By the trip we showed up 3 juniors had wrecked out and the races were behind schedule. The 4 field set off for 30 minutes. I quickly found out that my legs weren’t ready from Saturday’s efforts and my nerves weren’t up for the course. I held on the best I could for 20 minutes. After that it turned into a windy TT for me. In the end, I finished without wrecking and in 12th.

Overall, I took 7th in the Omnium. This weekend also proved Rogues are not unknown. I parked next to one of Matt L’s coworkers who was heading back for the wedding. Sunday, I was asked about John M. and told how he put the hurt on the 4’s last year. I think people are looking forward seeing us out there later this season.

Webb completed in the RR but flatted.  Other notable resutls from Blacksburg, Cora took 1th. Andrew took 1st and last in the Pro’s. Ben won enough primes that he could now open his open sock shop.

Rogues had a good showing at Tuesday’s, 23 June, Ace Speedway crits. Sam H. and I rode down with Reid. It was unexpected surprise to run into Matt L. once down there. He had the same plan that I had. Combine two races into one drive and claim points for a Cat 3 upgrade. We both entered in the 4/5 and 3/4 races. Turn out at Ace was extremely high this week with 58 in the 4/5 and 63 in the 3/4 race.

The 4/5 was challenging race due to a very unsteady speed. However, Matt and I were able to get in and help a break pull ahead by one whole lap and rejoin the field. Efforts where made to break again, but the field wouldn’t let us go. The race finished in a confusing sprint as both lapped riders and leaders went for the finish. I lost count of the laps and wasn’t sure if we were on the last lap, thus my sprint was pretty poor. Regardless, Matt L. finished 4th and I came in right behind in 5th.

10 minutes later the 3/4 race started. Matt, Sam and I were in this one together. The race pace was steady, with minor acculerations, and mostly stayed together. Matt and I talked about positioning and making sure we stayed behind the front, but not lost in the back. We managed to work together a little helping each other stay out of the wind, but no real tactics to speak of. About half way into our 40 minute race we were about 14 and 15 back when three guys made contact and went down in the middle of the group. I was right behind this as it happened, but was able to go high and miss it. Matt got slowed down a little as they were sliding towards him. Luckily, none of us went down. However, nerves were shot a little. The next lap, the race picked back up. About this Sam took his leave to save up for the Pro 1/2/3 race. This race I was much more aware of lap count and time left. With 2 laps to go the acculeration started and the sprint took off on the back
straightaway one the last lap. I was on the outside to get a clean lane. I was able to move around the group in the last turn and took 10th across the line. Matt finished 19th.  This leaves me with 3 tops 10’s towards my Cat 3 upgrade and Matt L with 13′ish points towards his 3.

Sam raced the Pro 1/2/3 next. I missed part of the race as I was changing, but when I returned I saw Sam working with the first of two breaks that were trying to catch the back of the main group. He dropped from the first break and quickly intergrated with the second group. A few minutes later this group caught on to the back of the main group. Sam slowly worked towards the front as the lap count started dropping under 10. While I can’t remember his exact place, he did finish well within the top 10 in a mixed field sprint.

Who woulda thunk?

Rogues racing is primarily a road racing team (with a little cyclocross thrown in), but apparently they can race off-road just as well. Six of us showed up at the Rowdy Dawg mountain bike race held right in our back yard along Poverty Creek, Gap and Brush mountains. Dan, Matt, John, and Cole showed up with a glistening stable of new 29rs, 69rs and 96rs. Brian and I were racing in the vintage category. The conditions turned out to be great. The rain left early enough on Sat to leave the mud dry and tacky. Really perfect conditions. After we got our instructions (follow the little tiny green arrows scattered about the forest), we started going in circles immediately, down the road the wrong way and back through the parking lot. While I was trying to remember how to shift my mountain bike (has it been a year since I have even touched my mountain bike?!), the rest of the team barreled down the road at the head of the pack. Eventually I got going and settled in at a steady pace trying not to bounce off the never ending boulders in to the woods somewhere. Don’t let anyone convince you to buy into this retro, vintage crap. Rigid bikes with cantilever brakes are complete garbage and a leading cause of rigor mortis before death. I still don’t think the feeling has come back to my hands. Eventually the course led across the road to the Brush Mountain side, home of fast smooth trails. I finally started passing some people on the long ascent to the top of brush mountain. This was actually starting to be fun. Unfortunately, the trail turns down again and all those people passed me while I was holding on for dear life. Finally back to the road at the bottom and I am thinking, “this wasn’t too bad”. Then the marshalls point back to the Gap side indicating another lap through rock garden hell (Queen Anne). At this point, my bike is starting to think this is all a bit too much. First my saddle starts to fall off, and then one of my tubes fails. I wasn’t even riding my bike at the time. I was pushing up some hill and then pssshhht, no air. After rattling along for a while I did actually reach the finish to the cheers of most of the Rogues who had already finished and changed and eaten lunch. Strangely, Cole wasn’t there. It appears he went into the woods and was never seen again. If anyone is riding along and sees a hulking man beast running through the trees, no it is not Saskwatch. As it turns out, Rogues scored 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the sport class. (Matt P, McKenna, and Dan) Not bad for a couple of roadies.

The event was organized really well (courtesy of Ben Brown and Montgomery County Parks and Rec. ) and the barbecue from Professional Catering was fantastic.

After a good showing at the Rowdy Dog Mountain Bike race where the Rogues placed 2,3, & 4 in the Mens Sport class, the “regular” race season has come to a close.  Cyclocross has begun & a select few members will be racing in North Carolina & Tennessee.  For those sans CX bike, & dreading the feel of a hard road bike saddle, fear not, a Rogues Epic Mtn Bike Ride is in the planning stage.  The route will be along the ridgeline of North Mountain, aka Dragon’s Back.  The trail follows an old section of the Appalachian Trail that has since be rerouted.  Total mileage I’m guessing to be around 30 miles.   Keep you eyes open for this ride, it will have to be on a Sunday since hunting season is open & the trail goes in the heart of the National Forest. 

Someone might post a recap, but the greater recap is the visual one where you can see the blood, sweat, and tears and then judge for yourself. Congrats to everyone.

Living on the east coast, you get used to the variable weather that the summers bring. Each of us Rogues are very familiar with the spontaneous thundershowers that ruin bar-b-ques, postpone lawn-mowing, and cause race cancellations. Five of us were faced with that very same predicament for the last Dixie Classic Crit of the month. We wanted to race, but a 50/50 chance of thunderstorms had us on edge. Still, we made the drive down south to Winston-Salem, gambling our race-eagerness with some Mother Nature whims.

We made the right choice because Mother Nature had a soft spot in her heart this Tuesday. Only the third vehicle in the parking lot, we arrived just in time for the officials to debate the race – some light rain having begun falling at that point. Minutes later, the rain ceased, the sun came out, and the wind was just as terrible as it was before. So, let’s race.

Actually, let’s race after an hour of warming up. The first crit, Cat 5 & citizens, began almost an hour late due to the tardy people registering. The course was an old go-kart or small auto track – dead flat with dozens of surface imperfections and regular bumps throughout. Warming up on the track at speed, it was an uncomfortable track, to be sure. A warm up under our belts, we watched as the Cat 5 crit rolled off the line.

Matt Cage was representing Rogues in the Cat 5 race. Sticking to the pack for most of the race, he made several attacks resulting in some exhausted pursuers. At least from my perspective, it looked like a great race. He finished in the main field.

Some minutes later, the Cat 3/4 crit began. I was in this field along with Tim Ciarkowski, John Webb, and Eric Carlson. The field was a huge mix-match of ability and steadiness and, fortunately, the half-dozen of uneasy moments never resulted in a crash. Without any change of grade with which to shine on, I was fine with the knowledge that I wasn’t going to win in a group sprint so I prepared to work for the other Rogues. In order to keep my other teammates safely back in the pack while exhausting some eager riders, I attacked off the front on two occasions. Just like all of the other breaks that made an attempt throughout the 45-minute event, no one ever seemed to want to rotate with me in these breaks – a complete lack of cooperation that was the order of the evening. So, after running near threshold for a minute, I would reduce my pedaling and allow us to get pulled back in. Eventually, I succumbed to the field and just rode in the slipstream of other riders to the finish. Oh, and Tim won a mid-race $10 preem. We all finished at various points in the pack.

The flat course was nice to no one but the sprinters. A field of 47 riders and some narrow turns meant that moving up the field over a half-mile track was practically impossible. As the pace of the 3/4 crit picked up, it was clearly impossible to make it to the front unless you had already found your spot there. And, without inter-team cooperation in the breaks, the 3/4 field was a mess.

Anyways, the Pro 1/2/3 crit rolled out shortly after the 3/4s had changed back into street clothes. Tim and John Webb were feeling lucky and decided to go out for round two, there Cat 3 classification providing that opportunity. The lights above the track were turned on as the sun set, fulfilling the promise that these Dixie Classic crits would occur “under the lights”.

The Pro 1/2/3 race was a beast. The pace was fast. The cornering smooth. The breakaway of three Time Pro Cycling riders was the highlight of the race. Watching the pace of the main field made be weak in the knees, but then seeing the Time riders lap the main field twice could have made me vomit my Clif bar were I not careful. Tim finished in the field while John Webb knew better and pulled back.

Afterwards, IHOP. It’s where a cyclist properly refuels. I’m really glad we took the chance against impending weather and I hope we venture out for some of the remaining Dixie Classic crits this year.