GamJams Racing

Wittwer Wears Pants (And There Is Much Rejoicing).

Greg "Pretty Boy" Wittwer finally put on some pants.  Of course, they aren't just any pants, they are THE pants in the GamJams Cat 3 Cup p/b Mountain Khakis.  As the current points leader in the series, Wittwer proudly announced that "my pants came today in the mail!  Oh they feel nice!"  Unnamed sources close to Wittwer report that Wittwer, who will soon be enrolling in Sponsored Athlete Promotions Training, actually said "I really appreciate the triple stitching, slanted back cargo pockets with velcro closures, side utility pocket, and full length action gusset. These pants set the new outdoor standard for the stout canvas go-to companion.  They really are built for the Mountain LIfe."

With Wittwer finally "wearing the pants," team director Mike May proudly explained that "our master plan is going exactly according to our master plan."  He was most impressed with the team's recent performance at the Reston Town Center Grand Prix where Wittwer took second in an exciting sprint, followed closely by Kyle Murphy in 8th and Paul Rades of the GS Squad in 11th.  

The race played out as anticipated by the team with a series of attacks and counterattacks on the technical course resulting in a consistently high speed and high rate of attrition.  Aric "Shiny Shoes" Line took charge of the tactics in the opening phase and did his best to protect Wittwer by setting a high tempo where he could.  He said, "Greg was staged right behind me so I really just drilled it off the line in hopes of getting Greg and I quickly into a energy-conserving position near the front.  I was surprised to find we had separated from the field.  I didn't rotate at all, I was just hanging out trying to keep Greg in position."  

As the race progressed, the team continued to work together to keep Wittwer ready for the endgame.  Riders like David "the Dalmation" Kirkpatrick and Gus "Free Wheel" Grissom took turns ensuring the tempo was high.  Kirkpatrick explained that he "was in a spot to notice the pace dropping and I told myself I'd hang on to the front at least until they started moving the [freaking] lap cards which seemed to happen about 5 laps after I wanted them to do it."  His efforts were not wasted, but even built upon by Mike May who found himself in a two-man breakaway being called out by Joe Jefferson, "GamJams has put its sprinter on the front to make it happen!"  Little did the Jefferson or the field know that May's effort was just one of many made by the team that day to ensure Wittwer would find a spot on the podium and in the lead of the Cat 3 Cup.  

Of the last lap, Wittwer commented, "Larry [Byvik] and I had talked before the race and he told me the race is won between the last two corners.  I was 4th wheel going into the bell lap.  After the tight left turn at the bottom of the course I made my move and attacked right before the 3rd corner to the finish.  My legs felt solid and knew if I could make it to the final corner in the lead I'd be guaranteed a top 5 finish.  To my surprise I only saw one rider on my rear wheel.  I put my head down and gave it everything I had."  Everything he had turned out to be more than enough as he cruised across the line in second place on the day and first place overall in the season long competition.

It was a great day for Wittwer and the whole GamJams squad, which (unofficially) leads the team competition in the Cat 3 Cup.  But, the real success finally arrived today when Wittwer put on his pants.  As Grissom said, "those baggy, droopy pants he wears on race day only show off one thing: his faded, wannabe-a-gangsta Fruit of the Looms and they aren't as cool as he thinks they are." 

GamJams Enjoys Solid Team Effort at Tour of Washington County

GamJams / Pre-reg.com p/b Cutaway Clothing enjoyed a solid weekend of races and results at the Tour of Washington County thanks to contributions from every member of the 9-man squad that rolled up to the line on Saturday.  Greg "Google Juice" Wittwer scored top-3 finishes in both the TT and the Criterium event, while Gus Grissom found himself in the fifth spot overall at the end of the weekend.  The accomplishments were, in Wittwer's words, "the result of us all working hard all weekend."

As the team prepared for the event, the goal was to put Wittwer, one of the team's younger riders, in a position to win while remaining focused on keeping as many members of the squad in a position to finish with a top-10 in the GC.  Mike "Six Minute Abs" May, in his role as team director, believed these goals not to be mutually exclusive but rather "the result of our unique position in the Cat 3 peloton where we have so many riders on form right now and ready to strike."  The early phase of the road race, however, was fairly conservative and it was not until the heat and some miles had taken its toll on a few riders that Grissom found himself in a position to make a move.  He said, "some of our guys had made a few essentially suicide moves to get the ball rolling and all I had to do was stay up front and consistent to take advantage of their sacrifice and make the various selections that were happening."  In the end, Grissom found himself in a large breakaway group that stayed ahead of the field.  He finished conservatively with a top-10 and the rest of the squad rolled in with various groups a short while behind the leaders.  Terry "Yard Sale" Anderson called the race "a series of cat and mouse efforts that really helped me keep my mind off the heat and cramps."

The time trial provided an opportunity for riders like Nate "Slowski" Hakken, a proven time trial specialist, David "Top Shelf" Kirkpatrick, and Wittwer to make up a little time from the previous day.  Though the official results are still pending, unofficially Wittwer finished in second with Grissom only a few seconds behind.  Wittwer says that overall he "was pleased" but is "jealous of Hakken's bike and already searching EBay for options."  

Going into the Criterium event, Grissom thought he was sitting in third on GC.  It turns out that time bonuses had not yet been factored in and he was actually in fourth at this point.  But math has never been Grissom's strength and the team had to base its strategy on the computational ability of an ancient historian.  Mike May spent a lot of time warming up in front of as man folks as possible with his shirt off and eventually gave Wittwer "free rein to attack at will to take the pressure off the GC contender on the squad."  And attack is what Wittwer did. 

As the laps counted down and Grissom felt more and more secure in his position, the peloton gave some distance to a two-man break that appeared to be out of contention for the GC.  Unfortunately, one of the riders from Kelly Benefits was in the break and, unbeknownst to the peloton, was quickly clawing his way onto the podium.  In the end, Gus "Tegaderm" Grissom lost his focus in fourth turn and tested the friction coefficient of the pavement.  He was awarded the same time as the peloton and finished in fifth on GC.  The real story, however, was Wittwer's late attack.  Relying on his cyclocross mentality, he hit the attack hard and committed completely.  He found himself with enough separation from the field to adjust his jersey, salute his teammates and take third place in style rolling across the line with plenty of time to spare.

Special thanks to the Antietam Velo Club and Joe Jefferson (who took every opportunity to beg for one of Team GamJams' Kazane bikes) for hosting a great race.  They provided a perfect venue for GamJams to showcase its strong team of riders committed to working for a common goal.

Beck Strikes At Team Nature's Path / 3-Sports Criterium

Jason Beck of the GamJams GS Squad led a small contingent down for the Cat 3 race held by Team Nature's Path/3-Sports and rode aggressively enough for a third place finish, his best of the year.  Beck says "the idea of a technical course on brand new pavement was enticing" for a racer who enjoys the role of breakaway specialist.  Though the field was a bit smaller than expected, the gaps were forming as early as the first lap.  After watching some of the more well represented teams take turns launching attacks, Beck says the field "was now just a dozen or so individuals on a course which was exactly what this GamJams rider was hoping for all along."  

About halfway through the race Beck saw his chance to get off the front and took it.  The pack countered, caught, and was immediately subjected to another series of attacks from Beck who says he was "feeling pretty good."  It turns out this was an understatement as his next series of attacks found him in a three-man breakaway that finally got clear of the field and "worked hard for the next ten miles or so."  As the last lap approached, Beck attacked his breakaway companions and went for the win.  In the end he says he "got a small gap, but got caught on the downhill section.  They went flying past."  Beck, unable to stick on their wheels, cruised in for third place.  Beck found himself a bit ambivalent at the top-three finish and marvels that he is "diappointed and satisfied at the same time."  It is, however, his best result for the 2010 season and one that helps Team GamJams maintain its momentum as the final phases of the season approach.

Congratulations to Jason Beck for his podium spot; he had the guts to try and the legs to succeed.  Special thanks as well go out to Team Nature's Path / 3-Sports for hosting this successful event on what turns out to be a very exciting course. 

Greg Sticks it for 3rd at ToWC Crit (Multimedia)

photos by Dave Kirkpatrick

Photo Finish for 3rd at Crystal City

Courtesy of Bruce Buckley:

Jose Nunez nips GamJams/Pre-Reg p/b Cutaway Clothing's Mike May at the line for a podium spot at the Crystal Cup. May vows to begin a regimen of rigorous bike throw intervals next week.

Hakken Upgrades to Cat 3, Joins Cat 3 Squad

Press Release

THE INTERNET (17 June, 2010) - Nate Hakken, competitive cyclist on the GS GamJams team, has recently received his upgrade to Cat 3 and has been selected to join the GamJams / Pre-Reg p/b Cutaway Clothing racing team. Hakken's first race with the squad will be at this weekend's Tour of Washington County, where his strong time-trialing skills will, aw hell, we don't really do press releases. Nice work, Nate. And welcome aboard.

For more information:
There is no more information.

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GamJams Squad Hones Skills in Crystal City and NC State Championships

A cadre of racers from GamJams / Pre-Reg.com p/b Cutaway Clothing lined up for the Air Force Classic in Crystal City and found a way to put all three in the top eleven slots following a well organized leadout train.  A smaller contingent found some success down in North Carolina for the State Criterium Championship.

The trio of Larry Byvik, Kyle Murphy, and Mike May lined up with a single goal in mind: "not to squander Larry's gift for finding the front of the race with 400M to go."  Looking to follow only the breaks of 4 or more, they planned on letting the course and the temperatures wear down some of the riders in the peloton while "staying smartly near the front and conserving energy until the last 5 laps."  While May followed a couple of moves made for primes, he said "the pack was content to let me go when I didn't want to be let go."  But, by marking the breaks and not contributing to an extent that would tire him out for the endgame, he ensured that he was ready to "work the plan" and do his part in the end.

Meanwhile, Larry was hovering near the front of the pack, maintaining his usual role of "DS on the road" while Murphy and May recovered from their efforts and eventually moved up to find Byvik's wheel for the leadout.  May said, "the three of us hooked up in the designated order near the front with 4-5 to go. It was a nervous few laps because we were exactly where we needed to be, and I was wondering how long it would last."  Byvik, relying on his years and years of racing experience, made sure it lasted as long as it needed to and piloted the squad to wheels 2-4 coming into the 180-degree second-to-last turn. May said "I actually caught myself giggling, because I thought we were going to win this thing. We were absolutely perfect, at the most important point in the race to be absolutely perfect."  May was sitting pretty when Byvik hit the wind with the throttle wide open.  He said "I got to the point where I was going to come around him when I saw a guy tearing by me on my right. So I hesitated an instant and got into his slipstream to get around Larry, then kept on the gas to pass my ride to the front. Josh Flexman from CycleLife blasted around Larry's left side, followed by a DVR guy, but I was sure I had third. Suddenly Jose Nunez appeared on my right - we both threw our bikes, but I was convinced I had him. Turns out he nipped me at the line. I ended up 4th, Larry hung on for 5th and I think Kyle was 11th."  The three agreed that this race was "[some sort of word that's more of a letter with an "-ing" on the end] fun!"  What it was, however, was proof positive that the GamJams Racing squad is really starting to come together and understand how to work with one another.

Down in Salisbury, North Carolina, Gus Grissom lined up for the State Championship Criterium on Friday night.  He said of his hometown, "the course was classic: downtown in the historic district, under the lights, with folks dining and drinking outside the cafes to watch us."  The course was a technical one with tight turns and undulating pavement along the brick-paved streets.  Grissom, who calls himself "completely unqualified to race any course labeled as 'technical'," found himself fighting for position all evening long.  In the end he made all the selections, outlasted the attrition and was in a position to contend the sprint on the bell lap.  Alone and unafraid, Grissom could not find the right train to hijack and, in the end, had to settle for "something in the top-15, maybe 12th."  It was, in his words, "a moral victory for me since I really am not comfortable in those situations.  It does make me feel a little more prepared for some of the harder races coming up on our schedule."  

Overall, it was a good weekend of racing for GamJams and points to the fact that their racers all seem to be coming on form at just the right time.   

GamJams Racers Climb Across Two States

This past weekend saw several riders from GamJams GS competing in two not-so-local events.  Eric Puffenbarger and Gerardo Sore both entered the Tour of Tucker County, WV.  Nate Hakken, on the other had, made the long road trip to the Killington Stage Race, VT.  All three reported success and the desire to return to these races again next year.

In the Tour of Tucker County, the GamJams contingent faced the demanding course, called one of the "ten most difficult races in America," with a relative degree of confidence.  Sore, who hails from Frederick County, MD, drove parts of the course and was reassured that the final climb reminded him of his home turf on the Hamburg Hill.  It was longer but the gradient changes were similar.  Though he says he "excused himself out of the back of the lead group" to keep from completely blowing up on the final climbs, he reports that the race was fun.  How so?  "It might have been the Megatron-sized windmills at the end, the thrashing of one's self on a climbing course, or just the adventure that is WV.  It was just fun." 

Puffenbarger competed in the Cat 5 event and, though he threw a chain in the middle of one climbing section, was able to latch on to a chasing group and finish 7th overall.  He says that he was slightly disappointed with his final position and hopes to achieve more next year, but the high point, in his words, was when he rode past the "guy in the neon green sleeveless jersey with toe-clips. He was off his bike pushing it up the final steep section."  It's the little victories that sometimes mean the most.

Hakken made the nine hour drive in the middle of Memorial Day Weekend traffic up to Vermont to compete in the Killington Stage Race.  The first stage, a fast circuit with a downhill sprint that, in his words, "required brass ones," yielded a mass finish with no real indications of the eventual GC standings.  The Time Trial, however, was uphill and windy.  Hakken managed to "stay aero the whole time and pass five riders ahead" of him.  He finished the day in sixth, only 11 seconds off the podium.  He reports the final stage "was a brute with 2 big climbs totalling over 5,000 feet of climbing" and one that saw dramatic shakeups in the standings.  Along with the chaos of a field-shattering course, Hakken reports that he saw "some of the strangest things: a guy just fall over, a rider breaking the rule on public urination still attached to his bike in someone's front yard, parts of a cassette all over the road. I began to wonder if I was hallucinating."  In the end he was not hallucinating, but just riding hard on an exceptionally difficult stage.  Hakken finished just out of the money, a scant one score and six minutes off the lead pace, and reports that he enjoyed the race immensely, "the traffic home, not so much."