New Website
July 11, 2009
We’re glad that you’re joining us on the new Locos Cycling Team Website! Locoscyclingteam.com aims to provide you with all of the information on the South East’s fastest team, including information on the riders, race reports, and upcoming events.
Join us as we charge forward into the 2009 season. Watch us topple the competition as we speed towards the finish line!
A Crowded Podium
July 11, 2009
The long racing season is rapidly winding down as droves of cyclists look forward to a much deserved rest period. Once the racing has ended, riders will grasp the opportunity to sit on the couch, eat potato chips, and gain three inches around the waistline without having to worry about brushing the crumbs off of their laps. Even Locos Cycling’s riders know that the time for relaxation is just pinch of salt over the shoulder and two steps around the corner, but despite how delectable as that may sound they refuse to succumb to the powerful temptation. If there is any doubt that the closing of the season is slowing them down then the doubting Thomas, Tanya, or whomever the doubter, is certainly foolish to believe such rubbish.
In the celeste train’s most recent racing weekend all doubts were not only silenced but smashed at the Series 7 Atlanta Crit. as the weary but fully prepared warriors on bikes, made an appearance for nothing other than to do battle. This race being just another race in the minds eye, they rolled up on the line completely relaxed, but paradoxically ready to race this race exponentially harder than any “other” race is meant to be ridden. With a pervasive, “I’m going to show everybody how to suffer today” attitude permeating throughout the team, Locos Cycling’s riders jumped from the starting line like a Kentucky Derby’s horse and jockey like it was their last lap before retirement.
With other teams fielding as many as ten guys, Locos threw themselves to the front of the peleton immediately revving the rpm’s past redline to burst the resolve of any team that might try to claim victory. Before long the race would be shattered leaving cyclists for shrapnel spread about the course, and there would be only one color jersey to blame for the carnage; the black and celeste of Locos. After little deliberation and a lot of hammering, these hamburger eating moose turned men turned cyclists, would soon find four of their own in a breakaway. Now the pressure was on, because not too far behind teams were chasing with efforts as vicious as a rabid moribund coyote facing a rabit.
As the peleton was closing in on the breakaway with the ferocity of a speeding freight train, Locos members, Rob Giannini and Whit Clifford, set up the pick for their compatriots Seth Hansley and the team’s alternate rider, O’neil Samuels, to launch themselves off the front of the front. Without hesitation, the two froggy riders were in sync, rhythmically thrusting their way towards the finish line with a few others tagging along. Within minutes, the break was established and the winning move stamped for approval.
Drawing closer to the finish line, Seth and O’neil had no option but to win, because anything less would be shameful at this juncture in the race, so the pressure was on. Heart rates and adrenaline equally high, the move had to be made by somebody in the final lap and the first to palpitate was O’neil. Throwing the first and final blow, nobody was able to match the adept quickness of the snap that Mr. Samuels had in his legs as he pulled away to grip the win. Not far behind, Seth Hansley slugged his way into third as O’neil’s wingman on the podium. After the breakaway rolled through, Whit Clifford would take ninth and Rob Giannini eleventh, placing two more riders high up for a total of four inside the top fifteen.
As a young and budding team, Locos has throughout the 2008 year, asserted itself as a dominant force in the world of cycling, and demanded respect. With the final few races approaching they are still riding with the same passion and energy that they broke the seal of the season with and are determined to walk out of the season with every bit of respect that they earned. Having grown a lot in just this year alone, there are mounds more of potential for the 2009 season and the question still lingers; what will they accomplish then? Only time will tell, but the 2008 season must be finished properly first!
Summer Racing, Having a Blast!
July 11, 2009
With much of the season now in the past for the light weight power houses of Locos Cycling, the motoring moose men have much in the name of accomplishments to brag about. As the summer hits its zenith, the team is still sizzling from continually bringing the heat and scorching the pavement in the recent months. From Vancouver to Providence and Louisville to Gwinnett, the Grill and Pub train made their presence known and their motives clear by taking names and gathering results one after the other. If the team was worth its weight in gold their celeste garbed pedal pushers would be worth… well a whole heck of a lot.
Each rider on the team being a major investment, one of the two first year riders, Whit Clifford, is proving his worth and paying dividends. Ex superstar football player turned ultrafast bike rider, Whit has littered the top of the result charts with his name and Locos Cycling right beside it. Donning a cycling uniform and riding a bike for a mere two years Whit has stepped up to the challenge and has not only met, but exceeded the learning curve. Including his daily high results at the Tour of Atlanta, he has a slew of other top five and top ten placings to go along with that stellar performance. Yet, despite Whit’s act which is tough to follow Locos’ next two riders seemed to have lived up to the challenge.
Rob Giannini and Travis Hagner have shelled out some impressive results on top of sacrificing themselves for the team like not many other people are able. Rob, otherwise known as “The Don”, nailed a difficult thirteenth at an NRC race in Charlotte, North Carolina at the highest level with the best of the best. Travis telling the world that his win at the Athens Pro/Am Greenway race was no fluke, wheeled his way to a fifth overall in the general classification in a strong field in Gwinnett after four hard days of racing. Not to mention Travis committing proverbial personal suicide, burying himself in Thompson, Connecticut so that the team could breathe new life with a win during New England Speed Week.
Next in the star studded line up of Locos Cycling, Matthew Hansley, has not ridden his bike quietly either. His contributions to the team have been many, some in the form of softening the rest of the field up by means of obliteration to help propel the team to the fore. Don’t be fooled though, Matthew is a versatile player and has numerous roles including being a podium finisher. He clearly proved himself capable of scoring his right to stand in the winner’s circle in Louisville, Kentucky, at an NRC race nonetheless, taking second place.
The final two to round up the Grill and pub squad, and like all the others pack a heavy punch. Chris Scott and Seth Hansley have both shown off some of their amazing talents this year and have also shown they are gifted. Chris has displayed his muscle sweeping a six man leadout train and the victory in Thompson, Connecticut at New England Speed Week. He also bought himself bragging rights by lapping the field at the crit in Gwinnett, adding to his list of three top five placings in just four days. After Chris, steps in the “mighty” Seth Hansley who has set his cruising speed and altitude high, because he started off the year with great results and has settled for no less. Super consistent Seth has stolen his way to a current fourth overall in the challenging USA Crit Series showing his magic like talents off to the world. He is set to finish in the top five at the Las Vegas World Criterium Finals and easily retain his white jersey as the top Under 25 rider in the USA Crit. Series.
Who says moose are not fast? If anyone ever tells you they aren’t, just point them to Locos Cycling. While you are at it, make sure you visit Locos, because you might spot one of them there. Get on the Grill and Pub train before it goes big, because at this rate there won’t be room left soon!
Locos Cycling would like to thank everybody that helps make them fast. A big thanks to all of the sponsors, each capable of being found on the home page.
Check back really really soon to take a gander at a bunch of good results!
Athens Twilight 2008
July 11, 2009
Athens Twilight is always a special event for the Locos Cycling team, because Athens is where the team’s heart and soul lies. The very core of the team, Locos Grill & Pub along with Georgia Cycle Sport and Cycle Co., are all based out of Athens, making the event one that is highly looked forward to each year. It would be easy to say that this year was no different, but this year surely was. Just like the past few previous years Twilight is the start of the Crit Series, but this year Locos celebrates something great; heritage. This year marks Locos Grill & Pub’s 25th anniversary and Twilight was one big part of the year-long celebration.
To start off, three of moose men on bikes raced the early pro-am qualifier race to spread the Locos colors throughout the long list of events during the day. As this venue attracts some of the best talent across the country, this particular weekend was no exception. The morning pro-am event boasted quite a bit of firepower in addition to Locos Cycling’s Matthew Hansley, Travis Hagner, and the monstrous moose man Whit Clifford. From the gun the nerves that showed on the line were put out into instant pedal power. Within laps of the gun going off for the start there was a breakaway beginning to form initiated by none other than Travis himself. This placed massive pressure on those behind and quickly turned into something serious. With a small group of seven riders formally established and well on their way to victory, Travis sat in the group comfortably and was poised to strike at the precise moment. As the break was surely victory bound the final laps of the race for Travis were nothing beyond pro forma and he just stayed calm cool and collected as it was rapidly coming to a close. With the bell ringing for one lap to go and two riders slipping off the front of the break group Travis reacted in a hurry and floated across the gap with ease and set himself in place with just 1.3 miles to go. Coming into the last 300 meters climber turned sprinter, Travis, sat third wheel in position for the sprint and darted to the far left 250 meters out to earn the victory along with the right to pump his fists followed by a strong 9th for his celeste wearing teammate Whit Clifford.
As the day was headed towards its end, the real racing had yet to begin. With every event done for the day there was one left to close the night off with style and speed. The pro race which is the hectic and crazily exciting main event got underway at 8:45pm and fielded over 150 riders including the hometown heroes of Locos Cycling. Both blistering and chaotic, the race started off as it always does in a tail slinging fist to fist showdown dropping people from the line. Also not to disappoint, the race had its exorbitant number of crashes that scooped anyone and everyone up in the carnage lap after lap. As the number of casualties grew the Locos riders found themselves apart of the count with Chris Scott being the last unfortunate one to add himself to that list in a mad dash crash to the finish with just three laps to continue. Amongst all of the hair raising action, Seth Hansley would be the local Locos hero on the home team to make it through unscathed to pull out an impressive 22nd for the night in a remaining field of not many.
