Ag3r now "Powered by ProBikes"

One of the certainties of bike racing is that cyclists "need" to buy all kinds of bike stuff! So while aligning our team with one shop in particular may place (drive time) hurdles in front of our riders, there are many things we get in return. Things we look for, and what made ProBikes our shop of choice, are: The People... ProBikes employees are a collection of young racing enthusiasts who embrace cycling as a way of life, not just a job. The Service... ProBikes has already demonstrated that they are willing to provide special attention to Ag3r in return for our dedication to buying our bikes and equipment through their shop. The Selection... Ag3r has been racing Cannondale bicycles since 1997... following the brand for a 12th year to ProBikes. In addition to being the leading Cannondale dealer in the Pittsburgh Area, ProBikes also offers Specialized, Seven, Giant, Bianchi and Independent Fabricators as well as clothing and accessories from Cannondale, Specialized, Patagonia, Smart Wool, Arc Terx, Endura and North Face. Watch for a picture and HotLink to ProBikes to show up on the right sidebar sometime soon! In the mean time, you can check out their site at http://www.probikesllc.com/, or better yet, visit one of their stores in Squirrel Hill, Monroeville or across the street from South Hills Village.

New Jersey Rt29 Time Trial

3 years in the making, Brian Hopkins opened up a can of Pennsylvania Whoop-A** on a bunch of New Jersey boys, bringing home the Overall Win in a 36k Individual Time Trial. Read Brian's Story at http://www.briansbikeblog.blogspot.com/

Mingo Park Road Race

The start of the Western Pa. cycling season has been marked for many years by the Mingo Road Race Series (Houston, Pa) ...a history built as much on the weather as the race itself. This year's weather did NOT dissapoint! Cat 4/5 Race Sam Morrison - 3rd Place By Sam Morrison: I hate cold. The whole ride down I was cringing watching the rain. Once the race started, Jake (Pro Bikes) and I attacked on the first hill. Unfortunately, no one drew and we weren't prepared to spend the whole race by ourselves so we drifted back. Iron City was there with 3 or 4 riders and tried to control the race. I went with every group but none worked, until a group of 4 slipped away on the descent into the finish. I realized they weren't coming back when we passed through the finish line. At the base of the hill we passed Shaffes and Briercheck and they gave a hearty yell, so I had to attack and bridge up just to justify the cheering. I snagged the breakaway halfway up the hill and managed to not totally blow the 7 man sprint (two guys bridged up the next lap). See more at http://www.samlikesbikes.blogspot.com/ Cat 1/2/3 Race Crossing together... Mark Briercheck - 20th Dave Shaffer - 21st By Mark Briercheck: Sunday morning was a BEAUTIFUL COLD RAIN during registration and a heavy swirling wind out on the course. The entire backstretch up to the climb had a straight on head wind that would make one want to cry. A true Spring race climate! Shaffes slipped off the back on the 2nd time up the hill but managed to climb back on for the descent. At the start of the 3rd climb he was done. I got dropped at the top of the 3rd hill and didn’t have the power to jump back on for the descent. Gah. So Shaffe’s and I were back together by the 5th lap and then we just finished the race out together. Overall we didn’t feel too bad because we saw a lot of other typical ‘Strong Men’ pedaling their bikes home with their tails between their legs.

Blue Peeps?

Dave Shaffer, Mark Briercheck, Mark Hess and Rob Gaus enjoyed the chilly but sunny weekend weather with a ride around Elwood City. During their loop, a long time Easter favorite was re-discovered... Marshmellow Peeps! Rob Gaus and Dave said, "The heck with Powerbars"...

While Mark Hess simply liked the way the peeps matched his jacket...

But Mark Briercheck (and his horse!) turned their noses up at the whole thing mumbling something about, "... their inorganic non-yuppie flavor..."!!!

We will see if Peep-Food catches on in the Peleton! Personally, I like them best after they get ROCK HARD stale!

Lake Ontelaunee TT

For the second year in a row, Brian Hopkins was Ag3r's first racer of the calendar year. "My first race of the year was this weekend it went well but could still be better. Now I get to reevaluate my training and make some changes." Always the perfectionist, Brian: Won his category, while (temporarily) setting a new course record, then losing it to ultimately end up in 2nd Place Overall. Check it out Here!

New "Worm"...?

"Asphalt is for Racing...Dirt is for Worms"... ...is the Ag3r Roadie motto! However, our "Ag3r Worms" say: Either way, a new Worm may have joined our ranks! With the purchase of a 2008 Demo (used) 29er MTB from ProBikes in Squirrel Hill, Hunter Dimmick has entered the "pleasurable" world of Mountain Bike ownership! His first ride was a 20 degF, windy, Rail-to-Trails ride, which included some snow drift surfing!

So, he proved he will ride in the cold & snow...

..but will he ride in the mud? Only time will tell :)

Greetings from sunny Florida!

Unlike the rest of my teammates who have been riding in the cold of winter and across frozen lakes and such I have spent the last 3 weeks in Southern Florida. I've been putting in some pretty big miles (by my standards, not Sam's) and I've finally got back on my TT bike. It seems to take a while after being off my TT bike for so long but things are finally starting to feel "right" again.It was really windy on my ride today and I got pretty beat up but considering it was also 74 degrees and sunny who am I to complain. Been doing some cross training also................not really but I was forced to go so I figure I may as well make it sound like I was training. Don't worry, I rode 52 miles later that day when I got home

Riding on Water

Some of the best rides can only be done (once) a year.

After a bit of road riding, followed by some snowmobile trails, and a stretch of hike-a-bike, we made our way to Moraine State Park Lake for today's ride!

At first, we were full of energy, with Sam and Richy racing each other until Sam found a bit of a snow drift, and over the bars he went!

What may have seemed a bit boring at first, turned into quite a winter workout... and a few gaps opened between riders!

Clear out here... there was no cell phone signal...

...and landmarks were few and far between.

We learned that ice cares not of Studded Tires, nor of Studded Riders!

But there were some fun and games...

...along with a bit of "Island Hopping"...

...with a strange group of "neighbors" proving we were NOT in Kansas anymore!

Near the end of the ride, the ice had melted quite a bit...

...leading to a 3-man, insantaneous & simultaneous crash!

We were all CRUSHED from this seemingly "easy" ride, but we had a great time!

It's a love hate thing......

Did a loop on the fixie this afternoon...around 20 mi. Now in my opinion riding a fixie is one of the best and fastest ways to get into shape....this is the love part...... to read more and see what i found today click here

No Winter Maintenance

Today was a beautiful day for a pre-Super Bowl ride! So while Sam went out with a local C3-Sollay rider for a 7 hour mtb ride(!!!), Frosty and I hit a collection of No Winter Maintenance roads for some packed snow CX grinding! We started by climbing with Jerome(!)... Then followed a few Snowmobiles...

Doing wheelies into snow drifts along the way...

Confirming that behind every Great Team.. is another Great Team :)

Let's Go STEELERS :)

Power in a Cup

While training is best measured this time of year by "time on the bike" and not by "miles", one thing remains constant...the sweet taste of espresso afterwards!

Alternative Training

While some of us prefer riding outdoors... and others of us prefer riding indoors... they are both still (just) riding. Meanwhile, Shredder, marching to the beat of a different drummer, considers cross country skiing to be a viable way to bring his fitness on-line this time of year!

4 hour trainer ride!

It's over and what an experience. Not necessarily a good one but it was an experience for sure. Read about it here.

Big Snow !

3 Hours of playing in the snow for Sam and I today. IT WAS GREAT :) Here are a few pics!

The Enemy!

New Year's Day Ride

Sun, 15 degF, and clear/dry roads made for a nice ride this morning, our 15th Annual New Year's Day ride. Only four of us braved the day, Ray Sielski, Brian Hopkins, John McClintock, and me! (Henry Dimmick)

Coming from 4 corners, we met in neutral turf just outside Kittanning (Pa.), and rode using the sun and "dead-reckoning" as our guide to a 2 hour loop.

A sunny day ride will ALWAYS be a great way to start the year!

Go Steelers :)

Tour d'Liquor

Our 12th annual bicycle tour of Butler (Pa.) neighborhoods... to look at Christmas lights... sing carols outside the best displays... while visiting each neighborhood bar, was completed during a record temperature of 60 degF... with only 2 (momentary lapse of reason) crashes, and 1 (poorly timed) curb-hopper flat tire (...and bent rim) !!! Additionally, Roger Lutz successfully defended his 2007 Foosball Championship :) Also, thanks to Mike Maher for the Ag3r Cow Bells, helping to "herd" us through the evening!