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A Message from Brian Matter
"I got my first win yesterday at the local cross race in Milwaukee. Wanted to say a huge Thanks to everyone who has helped make this cross season come together! The bikes are running great and I'm feeling better and better each training ride! The first weekend of cross was a bit of a shock, but I finished a respectable 13th and 14th at the first rounds of the USGP in Madison. I'm in the hunt for a top 5 at cross nationals and another trip to Europe!" - Team GEARGRINDER's Brian Matter!
Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival
Team GEARGRINDER's Brian Matter WINS! Matter bested over 1,800 entrants to WIN the Chequamegon Fat Tire Race! With a time of 2.09 and an average speed of 18.9 mph, Matter held off a strong field of competitors to take the top spot!
Team GEARGRINDER's Lindsey Kriete had a fantastic race as well, taking 4th in the Women's division, 2nd in Age Group. Andrea Matter took 11th Overall and an Age Group 2nd.
Congrats to all Team GEARGRINDER finishers! Click here for complete results. Check this out for the Brian and Andrea Matter of Facts.
Photos
13-Year-Old Jensen Snags Ore to Shore AG First
by V. Eric Jensen
13-Year-old Rachael Jensen, of Shell Lake, took part in her first Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic in Marquette, MI., on Saturday, August 14th, where she not only won her age class, but also earned a spot on the Pioneer Surgical Technology Cup! Rachael competed in the Soft Rock race, finishing the 28-mile course from Negaunee to Marquette in 1 hour, 47 minutes and 25 seconds.
Out of 296 female racers, she finished 17th overall, and 1st in the 12-15 age class. The Pioneer Surgical Technology Cup is awarded to the fastest male and female racers age 15 and under in the Soft Rock race. Their names are engraved on the cup and it is displayed at the local Chamber office in Marquette. They also received a small version of the cup to take home. Rachael is pictured with the male winner, Evan Hartig, of Dubuque, IA.
The Latest From Team GEARGRINDER's Brian Matter
Finished up Gravel Rouser on March 21st...only 13 riders showed for the 4th and final stage, the Strouds Run Death Loop. After 3 days of racing we all had some tired legs. The trails at Strouds Run are amazing, and we had another day of awesome weather. The crew at Athens Bicycle has done an amazing job over the years developing the trail system in town. So we all met in the parking lot, did a group warm up, and then ripped some singletrack. The climbs in Athens are steep....check out the photo of Andrea showing the guys how to climb to the top of the hill.
After the days race I squeaked in one more ride with dad. Monday morning was the painful drive back home. Its amazing how 30 hours out to Tucson went by in the blink of an eye, but the 9 hours from Athens to Sheboygan seemed like an eternity.
So we've been home for a little under a week. Its taken a little time to get settled in....a week off the bike was definitely in order. I needed a little time to organize new gutters, new attic venting and insulation, and possibly a new central dehumidifier. Also needed little time to get back into the swing of things at the shop too. I'm looking forward to getting the bikes dialed next week and coming up with a master plan for training and the race season. Pretty soon its time to let the games begin for 2010.
Thanks to the Fat Kats mtb club for one final donation for last years cross campaign and thanks to the boss man at SBC for letting me take some time away from work to straighten out after a long, long season in 09.
2010 looks like its going to be a good one though with our first trophy proudly displayed over the new fireplace! Stay with me here: http://b-matter.blogspot.com.
Get your 2010 Matter Supporter tee
Support Team GEARGRINDER CX Racer Brian Matter as he prepares to head back to the Worlds for the second year in a row. Get your limited-edition Brian Matter Supporter now for just $30, with all proceeds going to Brian to help cover expenses:
Get yours today at Geargrinder Cycling Inspired Apparel before we sell out like we did last year!
North Carolina Grand Prix Day 2
Matter, left in Italian's wake
Davide Frattini soloed to victory on a rainy, muddy second day of the North Carolina Grand Prix of Cyclo-cross. After going clear of the field late in the opening lap, the new North Carolina resident continued to power away, keeping chasers Brian Matter, Jake Wells and Matt Shriver at bay.
Shriver lost contact with Matter and Wells on second lap and rode by himself rest of race to finish fourth.Matter gapped Wells on tricky, slick off camber inside of 400 metres to go to finish second. Wells crossed line in third 8 seconds later.
Conditions were nasty: rain, temps in low 40s, and a very muddy course already chewed up by earlier races.
- Davide Frattini (Ita) Team Fuji 0:59:02
- Brian Matter (USA) Gear Grinder 0:00:16
- Jake Wells (USA) Mafia Racing 0:00:20
- Matt Shriver (USA) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory 0:00:56
- Travis Livermon (USA) Champion System / Cannondale 0:01:58
North Carolina Grand Prix Day 1
Frattini, Matter battle onto podium
Matt Shriver (Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory) took a decisive victory in the North Carolina Grand Prix on Saturday with a brilliant solo effort, besting Italy's Davide Frattini (Team Fuji) by 28 seconds. Brian Matter (Gear Grinder) followed closely behind Frattini to nab the final podium spot seven seconds later.
Shriver's win in the UCI C2 event at Hendersonville, North Carolina was the first career UCI victory for the 29-year-old Colorado resident, a former road and cyclo-cross professional for the Jittery Joe's squad.
"I'm retired from full-time racing so it's funny to win in a UCI race for the first time ever," said Shriver. "This is my first UCI race since CrossVegas [this season]. I've been racing our local Fort Lewis series in Durango and the Four Corners area for some fitness.
"I thought I'd come out here with my teammate Grant Berry and get some [UCI] points. Nationals will be the next big race I do, so now I should be on the fourth row instead of the last row."
The morning chill was long-gone by the time the Elite men's event took place Saturday afternoon in Hendersonville's Jackson Park under blue skies and sunshine. Wisconsin's Brian Matter (Gear Grinder), making his North Carolina cyclo-cross debut, took the hole shot onto the grass after the initial foray on asphalt and kept his position at the front of a single-file field for most of the opening lap.
By the time the Elite men crested the "wall" for the first time and turned onto the paved start/finish straight six riders had established themselves at the head of the race: Davide Frattini (Team Fuji), Matt Shriver (Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory), Jake Wells (Mafia Racing), Brian Matter (Gear Grinder), Eric Thompson (Lees-McRae College) and Ryan Knapp (BikeReg.com). Following 10 seconds later were a chasing duo of Travis Livermon (Champion System-Cannondale) and Grant Berry (Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory).
On the third of eight laps a further selection was made at the front with Shriver, Frattini, Matter and Wells forming a leading quartet which would remain intact until the race's endgame. For the next three laps the four leaders kept the chasing trio of Livermon, Knapp and Thompson at 20 seconds.
The sixth lap would prove decisive as Shriver and Frattini shed Matter and Wells while Livermon and Thompson dispatched Knapp.
"Davide and I got a little gap through the run up and then once we reached the pavement he hit it really hard," said Shriver. "We had a little gap but it started to come together. As soon as he let up I hit it again and kept the pressure all the way through the section in the woods. I kept the gas on and that's when we got the gap."
While the leading quartet had stayed together for several laps the tempo had been anything but steady with Shriver and Frattini putting in attacks.
"Matt [Shriver] was putting in a lot of work at the front," said Wells, another Colorado resident hoping to earn additional UCI points prior to 'cross nationals. "He kept making these accelerations that we had to counter. He took a lot of the sting out of my legs for sure. I felt really good, really comfortable, but when it came down to the final move from Matt I just couldn't react."
Brian Matter, too, was feeling comfortable but found himself out of position at crunch time.
"I was sitting in fourth when it went down," said Matter. "I think it was Davide [Frattini] that made the initial attack which gapped off Jake [Wells] a little bit. I was starting to come around Jake and about the same time I was trying to close the gap Matt counter-attacked Davide and really opened it up.
"I was feeling pretty good, definitely strong enough to be up in that lead group. I had a hole shot at the start, led the first lap and felt strong. I was riding good lines. I thought I raced a pretty smart race except for sitting in fourth wheel when that attack went."
One lap later, on the seventh and penultimate circuit, Shriver forced yet another selection as he cracked Frattini and set off on his solo bid for victory. "Davide had put on the pressure before and it was starting to yo-yo a bit and it came apart through the barriers," said Shriver. "I went through really quick and was on right away. I had a little gap which I extended through the turns. The bike was riding awesome and I got through the turns a lot quicker."
Frattini had no answer for Shriver and was quick to acknowledge his adversary's strength. "Matt and myself put in some good attacks but he deserved the win because he was really strong today," said Frattini. "He had another gear and I suffered a lot. I wasn't feeling that good but I did my best."
While Shriver and Frattini each rode solo through to the finish for first and second place, Matter and Wells maintained a heated battle for the final podium spot which was finally decided in the approach to the "wall" 300 metres from the finish.
"Brian [Matter] made a move and I was hoping to bring that back and go for the sprint for third," said Wells. "[Throughout the race] he was swinging wide coming into the transition across the pavement to the "wall". I was coming in tight every time and came in that last lap and just slid out.
"I put a foot down and went to jump back on the bike but both my front and rear tubulars rolled." Matter suddenly had third place comfortably in hand while Wells had to shoulder his bike and run the final 300 metres. What Wells once thought as a worst-case scenario fourth place finish evaporated at the hands of Livermon and Thompson.
"It's kind of a hard pill to swallow when you're 100 metres away [from finishing] and fourth and fifth go by as I'm running down the pavement," said Wells.
The North Carolina Grand Prix continues on Sunday with another full day of cyclo-cross racing in Hendersonville's Jackson Park.
- Matt Shriver (USA) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory 0:58:03
- Davide Frattini (Ita) Team Fuji 0:00:28
- Brian Matter (USA) Gear Grinder 0:00:35
- Travis Livermon (USA) Champion System/Cannondale 0:00:59
- Eric Thompson (USA) 0:01:08
Sheboygan WORS
More than 600 mountain bike riders took part in Sunday's annual Wigwam Mountain Bike Challenge, held at Evergreen Park in Sheboygan Wisconsin. The day started below zero but warmed up upon the sunlight hitting the first race of the day. Of which GEAR GRINDER Riley Kustman took 2nd place in the days inaugural race. Heading into the Sport race there was sightings of the Mequon road Mafia in which Scott Mullins, Tom Felton and Pete Epperson made the trip North to tackle the Wigwam course. Pete took home the bragging rights with a 3rd place but was riding against local hero of Brian Christenson who won the overall in the class. In the woman Sport race, Lindsey Kriete raced to a second place upon her return from injury earlier in the year.
Going into the Elite class Billy Street needed to pull off a fare well performance to win his yearly bet with the MTB management. He did so by taking a 4th place overall in the race. We wish Bill the best of luck with his new race endeavors. Anner Matter, needed a strong performance in front of the home crowd and pulled it off over the fierce competition taking 4th overall and thus placing her into the elites top 5 overall for the season. Brian Matter while not in attendance for the days race was able to hold onto the overall series win for the 2009 Elite Champion.
Heading into November we have the last leg of the Triple crown to go. Of which Brian Matter is holding two of the jewels. Be ready. Brian maybe king again?
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/lifestyle/60001892.html
Matter Takes Second Chequamegon
Brian Matter (Gear Grinder) captured up his second Chequamegon 40 win with a vicious attack two miles to go in the 40-mile race, setting a course record of 2:02:55.7 in the process. His attack dropped Cole House (BMC), who taking risks on the final downhill corner, nearly caught Matter at the line and finished less than a second behind Matter. Steve Tilford of Topeka, Kan., who initially went with Matter's final move, finished third.
In the women's Chequamegon 40, Jenna Rinehart (Specialized) also won her second race in 2:19:31.3. Her time was five seconds slower than Lea Davison's record time in 2008. Rinehart won in 2007 and finished second last year. She beat former champions Kyia Anderson (Hidden Bay/Cannondale) and Catherine Walberg (Team Kenda).
House of Oneida, Wis. initially blew the race wide open in the early stages of the race, whittling a lead group of 40 riders down to eight 16 miles into the race. These eight were later joined by another seven riders pulled along by Mark and Jesse Lalonde. Mark eventually placed fourth, over a minute down on Matter. Matter made his first move when the course entered the rolling Birkie hills with nine miles to go, and only House and Tilford could respond.
"I got on the gas with two miles to go in the last section of singletrack," said Matter of Sheboygan, Wis. House, whose legs were cramping, stayed in the saddle and tried to maintain Matter's pace up the final climb. "I took a big chance on the last corner and railed it as hard as I could," House said, but it wasn't enough to catch Matter, who was a member of last year's US World Championship cyclocross team.
Rinehart won the women's race teaming up with the men racing around her. "I got in a good group of guys and just focused on their rear wheels," she said. "The scariest part of the race was on the pavement. If you can survive that ." Rinehart rode the last few miles of the race alone, but by then she had established a comfortable seven minute lead on second-place Anderson.
Jake Richards of Calloway, Minn. won the 16-mile Short and Fat race in 51:57.4, beating Tom Meyer of Seeley, Wis. by six seconds. Meyer was riding a singlespeed. Former Chequamegon 40 champion Cindy Bijold grabbed the women's Short and Fat title. Brian and Kim Eppen (Mercy/Specialized) of Iowa City, Iowa, won the tandem race, placing 38th overall in 2:12:51.1 despite breaking a chain.
Matter win first leg of triple crown!
Just under two and a half hours after he started, Team GEARGRINDER Rider, Brian Matter crossed the finish line to take first place in the men's Hard Rock 48-mile race, with a winning time of 2:28:17.2.
Matter said that it was a different race than it's been in the past, as 2008 winner Mike Simonson wasn't racing. "The defending champ wasn't in the mix, which was weird," Matter said. After being in a big group until the first major climb, Matter and small group broke free about eight miles into the race, and eventually Matter found himself trailing Mike Anderson. "He had maybe a 20 second gap, and once I bridged up to him it was the two of us the rest of the race," Matter said. Matter said he and Anderson worked together, and he was just able to get him in the end.
Anderson, from Alpena, finished second in 2:28:19.1, while Doug Swanson of Minnetonka, Minn., was third (2:33:10.3), Mike Phillips from Stevens Point, Wis., was fourth (2:33:15.4), and Greg Kuhn of Sterling Heights (2:33:38.1) rounded out the top five.
Matter, who won the Hard Rock in 2004, said it felt great to be back on top, and that the conditions were perfect. "Last night's rain made the course really good and fast," he said.
Anner Matter had a strong showing with her return elite field with a top ten overall taking 8th.
Matter takes WORS #6
Heading into July one would expect the heat and humidity to be upon us in Wisconsin. However with temps in the 70's the hottest action was displayed at WORS #6 at Sunburst Ski hill. Brian Matter continued his successful season taking the overall win, placing his record up to 4 and 0 for the year. Heading into the last lap Brian was able to bridge up to the ladies Category 1 riders and ride the last lap with his wife who took 5th upon the day in the women pro field. Next up will be the triple crown race of Ore to Shore for the Matters.
Matter & Lukas take Michigan Podium
Andrea Matter and Sara Lukas took the Overall women's podium in first and third place, respectively, at the Adventure Mine in Greenland, Michigan this Sunday, July 12. Steep climbs, rolling singletrack, fun descents, and riding with bats! With the 5 mile lap partially in an abandon mine, lights were required in the 1/4 mile tunnel because of the total darkness. Headlamps, a must! In total, long course was 20 miles. Check out photos and video here.
Matter takes Overall at Subaru Cup Stage Race (4th, 1st, and 1st on stages)
Brian Matter of TEAM GEARGRINDER has won the overall stage race of the Subaru Cup. Brain started the race off with Tristan Schouten, Travis Woodruff and Jesse Lalonde setting a torrid pace in the 80 degree and high Wisconsin humid weather. Upon the last circuit of the race Brian new he was in heading into trouble with cramping and had to retreat from the lead pack and thus finishing in 4th overall but just down 1.3 minutes. Leading into Sundays racing Brian had to come from behind and score time or at a minimum win bonuses to have a chance to take the overall title in both the Super D and the Short Track events. In both events Brian captured the win and thus vaulted himself into the overall victory of the race weekend. Now at 4 and 0 for the year Brain will laying his undefeated record on the line while heading to the Tour Of America's Dairyland race held on his training grounds of Greenbush Wisconsin.
Video of race course, and race result listing.
http://tjharron.smugmug.com/gallery/8640762_kMxT7/1/570197048_GQ9cY
http://www.wors.org/results/index.php?year=2009&race=4&event=Subaru+Cup
Brian's x 3
Over the weekend WORS #3 took place in Wausau Wisconsin. In the elite field Brian Matter continued his "streak" of consecutive overall wins to equal 3 for the year. While not racing as much or as early as years past the rest is proving to be as important as the efforts quoted Brian on his 2009/10 training. Heading into Brain's yearly goal will be to race the World Championship in CX but it's always nice to come away with a hard fought win while getting ready for the big ones ahead. Don't be surprised to see Brian hitting a few road races at the Tour of America's Dairyland by the end of the month to complement his training.
Now, onto Brian #2 and #3. Brian Christensen took home a 1st place in Sport and Brian Schwaller took home 2nd in Comp at WORS #3.
3rd race, third win and three Brains on the podium. Must be KARMA.
Family Matter - 1st and 3rd from WORS #2 May 31st
Brain Matter has come out of hibernation from his winter cyclocross campaign to capture race #2 of the Wisconsin off Road Series. After settling on not racing WORS #1 due to training purposes (WEMS) Brian has come out with a very convincing win for the 2009 race year against some of the nations best racers. Jesse Lalonde and Brain created a gap of 5 minutes to 3rd place rider of Ted Hanes. For added information from Brian.
In the Woman Elite Andrea Matter continued her comeback to the elite field with a third place overall podium. Andrea has been attending school and over the past 4 years and has decided to place some focus on the family side job of bike racing for 2009. We welcome her back to the bike and to TEAM GEARGRINDER and look forward to continued success.
Other top 5 showings were:
Brain Schwaller - 2nd in Comp
Riley Kunstman - 4th in JR
Stay entertained during the off season with Brian's blog or Sarah's blog.