The Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder has finalized its 2012 roster, adding Laura Ralston, 2011 Collegiate National Criterium Champion and collegiate athlete at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Ralston looks to take her racing to a new level. “I am really looking forward to be racing with Team Kenda in 2012. They have established themselves as one of the most friendly development elite teams in the country, but also have a record of consistent competitive results and great riders. Finding support as a female cyclist can be tough at times, and so I think it’s remarkable what Team Kenda has been able to do for so many female riders over the past 13 years.”

In 2012, the team will focus on the National Criterium Championships (NCC) and National Racing Calendar (NRC) events coupled with a heavy presence at the Tour of America’s Dairyland, in which the team placed 2nd last season.

Jacqueline Denny, a returning junior rider promoted to the elite ranks, stated that she knows that racing at higher levels takes hard work, dedication and sacrifice, but hopes to bring that attitude, desire, and a joyful spirit to Kenda’s elite team this upcoming race season.

Geargrinder, an eco-friendly clothing and accessories company, will be releasing another cycling-inspired product in 2012, which will be visible on Team Kenda athletes.

“After watching Paul Forsythe’s management team shape Team Kenda and seeing how these women worked together and motivated each other this past season, Geargrinder is proud to be back in 2012, offering an even stronger level of support for this team of role model athletes,” said Paul C. Weaver, co-founder of Geargrinder Active Lifestyle Apparel and Accessories. “Geargrinder believes in doing what it can to secure the future of cycling, and Team Kenda has not only solid Elite and Regional teams but strong up-and-coming talent on the Junior and U-23 teams as well.

“It’s important that Team Kenda have the proper resources to keep the momentum building so they can be serious contenders at the NRC and NCC races, like Tour of America’s Dairyland (ToAD),” said Weaver. “Last year at ToAD, Team Kenda took the Overall Oarsman Capital Category 2 Amateur Green Jersey, and placed two racers in the Overall Pro Women Top 10…will be great to see Team Kenda atop the NCC ToAD podium next year.”

“Kenda USA is proud to be the banner sponsor of Team Kenda Tire p/b Geargrinder for the 9th season. They are the one of the best and largest women’s bicycle racing teams in the country and we are confident that this is going to be their beast season yet;” stated Stefano Lumbaca, Road/Cyclocross Marketing and Product Development.

Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder Elite 2012 Roster:

Amity Elliot (Tabernash, CO)
Beth Lauer (Whitewater, WI)
Cara Gillis (Fredericton, New Brunswick – Canada)
Colleen Paine (Dahlonega, GA)
Gwen Inglis (Lakewood, CO)
Jacqueline Denny (Liberty, MO)
Jamie Dinkins (Asheville, NC)
Jane Weakley (Dayton, OH)
Jen Greenberg (Chicago, IL)
Kat Clark (Pooler, GA)
Krystal Lacy (Farmersville, OH)
Laura Rolston (Cambridge, MA)
Mitzie Goldman (Atlanta, GA)
Shailie Sanbrooks (Wellington, New Zealand)
Stacey Jensen (New York, NY)
Zayda McGuire (Portland, OR)

The Team regrets the loss of Megan Baab, who was fatally struck by a vehicle while training on December 15, 2011, near Lees McRae, where she attended college on a cycling scholarship.

Team Kenda Women’s Cycling receives support from the following: Kenda USA, Blue Competition Cycles, Plant Solutions, Verge, SRAM, Thomson, Rudy Project, Mercury Wheels, CycleOps, Terry Precision Cycling, Headsweats, Skins, Deen-Gross Eye Centers, Thule, , Sportcrafters, Cateye, Ferguson & Associates, Hoo Ha Ride Glide, and Anni Fanni.

About Team Kenda Women’s Cycling: Team Kenda began in 1999 as Team Ameritech with nine riders who excelled at bicycle racing. Over the years, the team has steadily grown in size and now boasts NRC/NCC Elite, as well as Southeast, Mid-Atlantic Elite, Midwest, and West Regional Teams. The team competes in the United States focusing on the National Race Calendars, both NRC and NCC. In 2010, the team finished 8th among 73 teams in the National Racing Calendar (NRC) Women’s Team competition and 8th in the 2011 NRC campaign.

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Megan Baab passed away on Thursday, December 15 in North Carolina. All related news about her can be found by visiting the Lees-McRae College Athletics website.

Megan was to join the Elite Team in 2012.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

To date, Dr. Gross has raised over $265,000 for the multiple sclerosis (MS) cause. He has no family members with the disease, but he has seen its affects in his patients and wants to do what he can to see a cure for MS.

If you would like to learn more or support this great cause, please visit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

(Sunday, July 17 – New Haven, IN) Junior riders Sarah Fickel (13-14 years) and Hope Zimmerman (10-12 years) took top honors at the Indiana State Time Trial, which is part of the Lance Armstrong Junior Race Series. Hope covered the 20k course in 44’47” to take the 10-12 age division. Sarah raced in the 13-14 division with a finishing time of 43’41”.

… more to come…

When did you decide to enter the Tour Divide?  I finally decided to race the Tour Divide while on a backpacking trip with my boyfriend Kurt last fall. It must have been 11pm at night while we were still hiking and he asked again if I would want to race it. Kurt raced it in 2009 and was also planning on racing it in 2011 so he had brought up the idea a few times. Maybe it was because it was late or I was tired but something about that night made me excited about the race and I said, “Yes”. “Yes” to spending a month pedaling across the country, seeing country and doing something that seemed so out of reach at that time.

How did you prepare?  For such as long race I did lots of long rides. During the work week I rode between 2-4 hours a day but the weekends is where I put in the long hours. For instance during the winter months on Saturday I would ride 8-12 hours and Sunday would be 5-6 hours. The Divide has lots of climbing so my routes would include lots of climbs and preferably be on dirt. About two months out from the race I started doing bikepacking trips on the weekend that included all my race gear so I could get used to the extra weight. I kept limber by going to yoga a few times a week and ran once a week.

Can you talk a little about the equipment you used to get through the Tour Divide?  The Tour Divide is a self supported bike race so you have to carry all your own sleeping gear, clothes, tools, food and water. Gear selection is important because it needs to last 2,700 plus miles. My bike of choice was the Blue Competition XC2 that handled perfectly on the varied terrain encountered during the race. I ran the Kenda Small Block Eight tires because they are fast and good for a variety of riding conditions. I had a new rear Small Block Eight tire put on in Salida, CO at Absolute Bikes. The route was a mix of gravel, dirt, mud, rain, snow and paved road. We had perfect weather in Banff , Alberta Canada which is where the race started. However most of Montana consisted of rain off and on, a 7 mile snow hike-a-bike and a few muddy stretches that clogged the bike up. Wyoming and Idaho had rain and some mud. Colorado was relatively dry expect for the 5 mile snow hike-a-bike before Steamboat Springs. Throughout the race I encountered lots of horribly grated gravel roads but the worst was in the Gila section in New Mexico .

What mental tricks did you use to keep you going when you felt that the tough got going?  The Divide is such a long race that many mental tricks had to be used throughout the race depending on where I was. If it was cold outside getting something warm to drink could have been a huge motivator in constant forward motion. The same for when it was 95 degrees outside, just getting to the next town for a cold drink was a huge reward. A fellow divide racer who finished the race a few years ago just published a book about the race called, “Be Brave, Be Strong”. For the later part of the race I would keep chanting “Be Brave, Be Strong” in my head like a mantra. Her book title is so true for divide racing for all the many times I was out of my comfort zone. I also knew that Kurt was waiting in Silver City , NM for me to finish and I wanted to get done as soon as possible to see him.

What is next for you as far a MTB is concerned?, what does the remainder of the schedule looks like?  Right now I am just trying to recover from the 3 week long race. I have been sleeping a lot and going on easy bike rides and runs. The Tour Divide was my only planned raced for the year so the remainder of the year is open.

Will we see you on a cyclocross bike sometime in the future? I currently do not have a cross bike and have yet to enter a cross race, though it may be entertaining racing it on my mountain bike. It would be interesting to see if I could transition from ultra endurance cycling to short, hard effort cycling in a season.

Anything else?  I am still trying to figure out what my next big adventure will be but in the mean time I’m just enjoying the Colorado summer.

WI State Road Race Podium: Lindsey Durst (IS Corp), (center) Kelley Hess (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder) and Holly Mathews (IS Corp)

Wisconsin resident and rider Kelley Hess wins the Wisconsin State Championships road race.  She battled 39 miles, a 8.5% climb/369 feet per lap and a finishing straight of 18% climb.

Her most recent accolades include top finishes at the recent 2011 USA Cycling Collegiate Road Championships representing the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She finished 7th in the Women Division 1 criterium, 20th in the road race and her team snagged 8th place in the 2011 Omnium among 57 teams.

Race report by Kelley Hess

The Wisconsin State Road Race Championship was 6 laps of a 6.5 mile course in Spring Prairie. It was a four corner course with flats or rolling hills except for just before the start/finish. The deciding climb was a ~45 second power climb which reached 18% grade and then leveled slightly into a 200 meter false flat to the finish. The women’s categroy 1-2-3 race featured approximately 20 racers, including a number of strong riders from the Chicago area.

Half way through the first lap an ISCorp rider attacked and was off the front solo, but the peloton slowly closed the gap until it caught her on the first start/finish climb. A mile later, Stacy Applewick (ABD/IL) attacked. Lindsey Durst (ISCorp) was quickly on her wheel. The peloton let them go as both teams were well represented to control the pace of the rest of the race. Recognizing a strong pair, Kelley Hess (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder), bridged to the lead group, followed by Holly Mathews (ISCorp). The four riders pace-lined for the next lap and a half while putting space while increasing the gap between them and the peloton. Halfway through lap three Mathews dropped a chain. The remaining three kept rolling at a good, but not overly “solid” pace. Mathews bridged back up 1/4 lap later.

Halfway through the race, the breakaway group had minutes on the field and it became less friendly, with Applewick and Hess attacking each other and the two ISCorp riders. It wasn’t until four and half laps that something finally stuck. Applewick rolled off the front and got a gap; Mathews accelerated to catch her and created another gap. Hess attacked off the front of Durst’s wheel and by the time she passed the Mathews and Applewick, she had too much speed for them to grab her wheel. Hess maintained her lead and the gap grew over the course of the next lap and a half at approximately 10 miles! Hess time trialed it to the finish and won in a dominating matter, putting Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder on the top step of the podium, and successfully defending her title as Wisconsin State Road Race Champion. Mathews battled Applewick for second and third place, respectively, more than a minute later. Durst rode across the line in fourth, and rounded out the Wisconsin podium.

Education and risk assessment are the first steps in stopping the ‘silent killer’

The front line in the campaign to prevent strokes is an educated public.

So the Stroke Program at Inova Loudoun Hospitalset up shop every Friday morning in May – Stroke Awareness Month – in the cafeteria and offered free blood pressure screenings and a wealth of information to all comers. Inova Fair Oaks, Alexandria, Mount Vernon and Fairfax hospitals mounted similar outreach programs every Friday in May.

“Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, right behind heart disease and cancer, and the leading cause of adult disability,” said Jennifer Rasmusson, Registered Nurse in Telemetry and chair of the Stroke Program at the hospital.

“Because one of the risk factors is high blood pressure, this is an easy way to check people and to raise awareness.” One of her first subjects May 20 was Beatriz Betancourt, a food service employee. Her blood pressure was fine, at the “low risk” end of the scale, but Rasmusson went over the National Stroke Association’s risk assessment card.

First, Rasmusson said, acknowledge the risks we can’t change – race (more than 40 percent of African Americans have high blood pressure or hypertension), age and family history.

“But we can quit smoking, become more active, control our blood pressure, lose weight, and move the line over to the low risk side of this table. Minimize risk and then go out and live. That’s the best part, just go out an enjoy life,” Rasmusson said.

Outreach and education are a challenge in fast-growing Loudoun County, Rasmusson said. Much of the population is young families, not at high risk for stroke as a rule. But a significant number of Loudouners are retirees and older people. They are at higher risk simply by being older, and the younger segment needs to recognize the symptoms.

The Stroke Program needs to reach both those groups, and it must reach out to the free clinic patients and to the growing Hispanic population. Most of the program’s materials are available in both English and Spanish.

Stroke patients at Inova Loudoun Hospital can be found in the Intensive Care Unit, the Telemetry Unit or the Emergency Room, Rasmusson said, depending on the severity and nature of their stroke. Staff from those three units, plus other volunteers, set up the stroke awareness table in the cafeteria each week. Friday May 27 will be the last appearance there, staffed by the Telemetry Unit. Anyone who wants more information about stroke and its symptoms can call 703-858-600 at any time and ask for the stroke unit.

The other part of the awareness campaign is to get people to take the first symptoms of a stroke seriously. “We tend to ignore it if it doesn’t hurt,” Rasmusson said. Stroke is known as the silent killer.

“The saddest thing is to hear about someone who had numbness, went to bed and woke up the next morning unable to move. They are beyond the time we can intervene.”

Rasmusson, and nurses Alexis McPoland and Mildred O’Meaera-Lett, handed out FAST cards detailing for the layman the symptoms of a developing stroke:

F is for Face. Is the person’s smile lopsided? Is one side of the face immobile?

A is for Arm. Raise both arms. Are they even, or does one droop, sag, or not move at all?

S is for Speech. Pronounce a simple phrase. Is it clear?

T is for Time. If even one of these signs is present, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Strokes come in two categories, McPoland explained to Sandy Frager, a volunteer at the hospital’s main entrance reception desk. Blood clots cause ischemic strokes; bleeding causes hemorrhagic strokes.

Both can be treated, but doctors at the Emergency Room have to determine which type of stroke is occurring. And they need to know, as precisely as possible,the time of the first symptoms.

The window of opportunity to administer TPA, or Tissue Positive Antigen to dissolve a clot, is four and a half hours at the most.

The gospel at the Stroke Program is “Time is brain.” Bleeding can be treated, clots can be removed, but every minute before treatment means lost brain cells.

McPoland recommends a visit to www.stroke.org. “There’s a section there solely for women about stroke, and you can download the whole portfolio. Only 20 percent of men will recognize stroke symptoms in a woman.”

Reducing risk of stroke:

• Know your blood pressure. If it’s higher than120/80, work with your doctor to lower it.
• If you smoke, stop. If you don’t smoke, don’t start.
• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
• Find out if you have high cholesterol. If so, work with your doctor to reduce it.
• If you are diabetic, work with your doctor to control it.
• Exercise regularly.
• Reduce your intake of salt. The American Dietetic Association has lowered its recommendation for maximum sodium per day to 1,500 milligrams. Most processed foods – canned soups, frozen lunches – are high in sodium.

Disclaimer: this post originally appeared in http://leesburg.patch.com, written by Shannon Sollinger and re-posted with permission.

Saturday, 21 May 2011 – On a humid, sunny day in Champaign, IL, Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder’s Beth Lauer, Kelley Hess, Jackie Kurth, and Morgan Moon competed in the women’s open race at Tour de Champaign’s Rumble at the Reservoir.

A few attacks went off early and were chased down until Kurth and Jessica Prinner (ABD) got off in a break with Hess and Lauer blocking. A couple laps later, Hess bridged up to the breakaway, and the three riders worked together to pull away from the rest of the field.

Hess and Prinner each won a prime over the course of the race. With about twelve laps to go, word got to the leaders that Prinner’s teammate, Stacy Applewick (ABD), was attempting to bridge. Hess and Kurth worked together to keep it away, while Lauer was aggressively covering attacks from the chase group.

With seven laps to go, Hess got on the front driving the pace to prevent or cover attacks from Prinner, putting in a few attacks of her own, and looking to set up her teammate for the final sprint.

In the last straightaway, Kurth exploded from third wheel and took the win! Prinner was 2nd, and Hess was 3rd, while Lauer was just nipped at the line for 6th in the field sprint followed by. Moon was 11th overall.

Sunday, 22 May 2011 – The wind whipped through the buildings and alleyways of downtown Champaign as the previous day’s crew was joined by Imelda March in TdC’s Downtown Champaign GP.

A technical six corner criterium, Sunday’s race presented a greater challenge, favoring those confident in their cornering, willing to take risks, or willing to stick their nose against a headwind in the long start/finish straightaway.

The race stayed together until the first prime lap. Hess attacked on the technical portion of the course, took a couple hot corners and got away. With a 50 meter gap, she turned it into solo break, staying away for 2-3 laps before being chased down by Betty Hodges (Team Wooly Mammoth), who was also dragging Kurth and Lauer on her wheel.

Applewick (ABD) eventually bridged to this group, while the rest of the field was blown apart. These five riders rode together with Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder mostly setting the pace. A few attacks were attempted, but were chased down. Kurth won the second and last prime of the day. With about 8 laps remaining in the race, Hess was on the front with Applewick on her wheel. In corner 5, Hess got a gap, and decided to go with it–attacking in the headwind section. Applewick and Hodges couldn’t stick with it, and the gap continued to grow until Hess was “out of sight and out of mind”.

Meanwhile, Kurth and Lauer marked the remaining riders and covered their attacks. Hess rolled to a 1st place finish hands held high, while Kurth out-sprinted the rest of the break into 2nd place. Lauer, having covered the majority of the final attacks from Applewick, rounded out the top five. Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder celebrated their finishes by shaking up, and uncorking a bottle of sparkling wine from the top step of the podium!

GEARGRINDER offers casual off-the-bike cycling lifestyle apparel and accessories for both men and women.  Every garment and accessory is inspired by some element of cycling, with most offerings being eco-friendly, including the belts and wallets, which are made of recycled bike tubes.  

“We are happy to welcome Geargrinder as a sponsor with modern vision, the same vision that drives their product line,” stated team manager, Paul Forsythe. 

Geargrinder is also sponsor of the Men’s Kenda Pro Cycling Team p/b GEARGRINDER.  The cooperative effort between Geargrinder and Team Kenda represents a refreshing move in support of professional level cycling that is not gender specific.

 “Women’s racing is on the rise, and Geargrinder is pleased to offer financial support and resources to help grow the Kenda p/b Geargrinder women’s team and, in turn, expand the growing women’s cycling movement,” said Geargrinder co-founder Paul Weaver.  “Our affiliation with the Men’s Kenda Pro Cycling Team made for a logical association with the Kenda Pro Women’s Team.”

 In 2011, Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder will debut a new racing kit design, and all marketing collateral will reflect the new image and brand changes. 

Under the new banner, once again Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder will be participating in the National Racing Calendar (NRC) while continuing to mentor junior, collegiate, and master women racers. 

Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder sponsors include Kenda USA, Geargrinder, Blue Competition Cycles, Plant Solutions, Verge, SRAM, Thomson, PowerBar, Rudy Project, Zipp Speed Weaponry, CycleOps, Terry Precision Cycling, Headsweats, Skins, Deen-Gross Eye Centers, Thule, Govert Auto Body, Sportcrafters, Cateye, Ferguson & Associates, Hoo Ha Ride Glide, Anni Fanni, Richard Weiss Company, Inc, and Outlaw Earth. 

About Team Kenda Women’s Cycling:  Team Kenda began its roots in 1999 as Team Ameritech with nine riders who excelled at bicycle racing.  Over the years, the team has steadily grown in size and now boasts NRC Elite, as well as Southeast, Mid-Atlantic Elite, Midwest, and West Regional Teams. The team competes in the United States focusing on the National Race Calendar (NRC).  In 2010, the team finished 8th among 73 teams in the National Racing Calendar (NRC) Women’s Team competition.  In 2011, the team will be operate as Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder (Facebook).

Team Kenda Women’s Cycling 2011 roster:

Amity Elliot (Nellysford, VA)
Ashley James (Delafield, WI)
Catherine Walberg (Topeka, KS)
Jacqueline Kurth (Palm City, FL)
Jen Greenberg-Crosby (Lansing, MI)
Jen Rasmusson (Ashburn, VA)
Jill Kislia (Louisville, CO)
Kat Clark (Pooler, GA)
Melissa Ross (Norwood, MA)
Mitzie Goldman (Dunwoody, GA)
Rebecca Blatt (West Hartford, CT)

Ashley James, 2009 USA Cycling U23 Women Cyclocross Champion in race mode. (Photo: Paul Forsythe)

Team Kenda brought back Rebecca Blatt after two season’s absence. Otherwise, the team did not add any new talent to its roster, but simply bolstered its Elite NRC team by promoting top performing regional racers such as Jill Kislia and Mitzie Goldman. Our team is about giving opportunity to hard working women whose dreams are to make it to the highest levels in women’s cycling. Kislia attacks on command like a “terminator.” She is very strong. Mitzie is an amazing climber. Both riders fit well into our game plan for 2011.

Ashley James is the current 2009 USA Cycling U23 Women Cyclocross Champion. She is a great all-rounder. Team Captain, Jacqueline Kurth, is only 19 years old. Jackie, the 2009 USA Cycling Junior Women 17-18 National Criterium Champion, has been racing since she was nine years old. “Jackie plans and reads races very well, and I feel that she can impart her knowledge and skills to the benefit of the team in this new role,” claims TM Paul Forsythe. “It is a logical career step for the Marian College scholarship rider, and Jackie is backed up by team veteran, Catherine Walberg, a solid performer on our team since year number two. It’s all good! I hope that I sound excited, because I am.”

Once again, the team looks forward to continue mentoring junior, collegiate, and master women racers.

Team Kenda Women’s Cycling sponsors include Kenda USA, Blue Competition Cycles, Plant Solutions, Verge, SRAM, Thomson, PowerBar, Rudy Project, Zipp Speed Weaponry, CycleOps, Terry Precision Cycling, Headsweats, Skins, Deen-Gross Eye Centers, Thule, Govert Auto Body, LifesportDR, Sportcrafters, Cateye, Ferguson & Associates, Hoo Ha Ride Glide, Anni Fanni, Richard Weiss Company, Inc, and Outlaw Earth.

About Team Kenda Women’s Cycling:  Team Kenda began in 1999 as Team Ameritech with nine riders who excelled at bicycle racing. Over the years, the team has steadily grown in size and now boasts NRC Elite, as well as Southeast, Mid-Atlantic Elite, Midwest, and West Regional Teams. The team competes in the United States focusing on the National Race Calendar (NRC). In 2010, the team finished 8th among 73 teams in the National Racing Calendar (NRC) Women’s Team competition. (http://www.teamkenda.com, www.facebook.com/teamkenda)