team somerset | from the President's Desk

President's Message - December 2014 - End-of-Year

Hope all are enjoying the holidays and time with families, perhaps down time, vacation/travel, rest etc. Always a good time for reflection. 2014 was a great year for Team Somerset. Full plate, as always from early in year to the end. As we are getting ready for Perry Andre' and Eric Schlauch to tackle CX Nationals in Austin, we are discussing our awards party. Eric and Marian have been kind enough to offer their home again for the event, which will be on Saturday, January 31. We hedged it for awhile, as the NJBA year-end event is still not set. Sounds like that will be in mid February. More to follow from Tom Mains. When Eric returns from Texas, we'll start getting our usual rough count of attendees and would ask that anyone with a "perpetual" award plaque or trophy, to return it to Crown Trophy for this year's engraving. I will discuss the awards with the board, junior committee, etc. during January.

In terms of highlights for 2014 for Somerset, there were a lot. I won't be able to go through all of them, but wanted to just touch on a few which include: Strong efforts by the Team Somerset Mountain bike team led by Brooke Wilson, Bob Gebel, Rod Murray, and Andy Indeck, and others on the team. A great effort and strong results in the NJ series and regionally. The team is now very diverse with what we do, so lots to keep on the plate. Great job guys. If I missed anything, or anyone, please feel free to add or call them out.

More to follow at our Awards party. As we look into 2015, the schedules are starting to set up (post NJBA scheduling meeting). TT Cup is most organized at this point, but being finalized into early January. More to follow in the coming months. We are very excited about our new relationship with Pro Power and Larry Towner as he is engaging in work for our junior coaching which is starting now. His partnership with us, and most notably work with the Andre's and Saling's will make our junior effort a great success, coupled with everything that Bill and Courtney Kemmerer are doing at Go Ryde. Looking forward to 2015 to see how this unfolds.

We are scheduled to do our 4 time trials again on April 12, 19, May 9, and August 22. We also may be providing some logistical and/or person support to Jim Ludovici on a road race that he is organizing in August under Bridge Velo and Pure Energy. Looking like that will be in the Skillman area based on the latest discussion and in the Cat 3 and Women's Cat 4 Cup. As we move into the New Year, our winter training rides will go out more frequently. With CX ending late and other issues surrounding the holidays, those have not really taken shape yet.

Hard to believe this is the end of my 6th year as the Somerset Team President. We are, technically, up for elections this year, but we do plan to discuss how we want to handle and also what is the most appropriate transition of the spots over time. Looking forward to the new year, our team party, and best of luck to everyone with their plans in 2015. Thanks for everything.

Chuck

President's Message - November 2014

Hope all are enjoying the fall, now crisp and cold (and wet!!). For those still racing, winding down the CX season in NJ this weekend. Some will still be racing regionally and perhaps at Nationals in Texas in January. Lots of great racing for us since March (and even before for Robert Kowal and others). We will be holding our November team meeting on Wednesday, November 19 at Go Ryde in Somerville on Main St. at 6:30. We plan to cover standard business items and then have Larry Towner talk about his work he'll be doing with juniors. Most of the team knows Larry, but, in addition to a long time distinguished racer, Larry runs Pro Power Coaching and race team. Our board discussed an arrangement/partnership with Larry which starts with our Junior Program this winter. It is also our hope that we can have a larger connection with Pro Power going forward as a partner team. Additionally, if available, we'd love for Marc Cianfrone, at Efinger's, to also discuss what the winter and 2015 will bring for our partnership/sponsorship. Lastly, Rod Murray has offered to run a winter "cross-training" seminar, or two, for us as we transition. No dates yet, but Rod can discuss if he is available to come as a long time team member and coach.

So, we'll cover our usual financial state, race updates, hoping Robert Kowal can discuss clothing as we have an idea to potentially make some changes this year, and perhaps larger design changes for 2016. We'll spend a good chunk of time on the junior program and then also some other training and racing updates. We have put in tentative team promotion dates in 2015 for our 4 time trials and I am working with Jim Ludovici of Bridge Velo and Pure Energy (and Jim Bernstein of BMVELO) to see if the Ringoes RR can be brought back , in August, with Somerset providing some support (but not running the whole show as we had in the past). More to follow on that.

Thus, a lot is on the plate and some exciting things for winter and next year. Look forward to seeing you on Wednesday and we can also discuss any plan for our winter training rides which should be able to start shortly with local CX ending. Hopefully, you have already sent Dottie your October bonus sheet.

Thanks.

Chuck

President's Message - April 2014

Wanted to send out a note of thanks to everyone on the race today at Allamuchy. It was a spectacular team effort and awesome day all around. This is a team that comes together certainly when needed. Also appreciate the help of those outside the team that also helped make the day a success. Results are linked here from USAC, on Jersey Peloton, and Bob Perlee is posting to our website.

A major thanks goes to Bob Peters , who crafted the course, drew it up visually, guided us through the prep for the race, helped set up the course and also marshaled. The Iron Man!! Joe Saling additionally played his usual massive role with all aspects of the race from helping us look at it initially, marking the roads for those training on it, setting up course, cleaning/sweeping, ordering prizes, marshaling, on and on. Typical Joe. Amazing job. Brooke Wilson also helped us review the course and connected me to the relevant parties in Warren County, Allamuchy and Green Township. Key contacts to have, along with the State Police. Was nice to have 4 supportive State Troopers there keeping the race safe - without breaking our bank!!

Thanks to Dottie for helping at registration, writing checks, generally handling the registration area. Also, John Andre played a huge role in also looking at the course, marshaling and being a rover generally to keep cyclists in the right place and cars/trucks off the road. John also helped recruit marshals. Thanks John and Tracy for additionally helping with prizes. Thanks as well to Betty for coming to help with registration and bringing her usual goodie bags + all the goodies brought to us by Sue and Glenn Jankowitz. Thanks guys and your times are nearly identical now (Sue and Glenn).

Herman was stellar managing parking and also helped marshal Gibbs road with Bob. Ken Drake, as usual, an awesome job as the Whip getting riders to the line. A major contribution. Pieter DeHaan was invaluable, as always as the holder. Our other marshals today included Greg and Maria Shutske. Appreciate you always coming out and nice job on that first turn. Thatcher Simpson helped Joe marshal the last tough left turn. Appreciated. A major thanks, as well to Ben Jogodnick for helping to keep riders safe, and cars at bay, near the start finish. Lastly, Jan Curran did a great job at the turnaround and we appreciate her offering to help us with the race today. Thanks, as well, to Scott Breed for offering his tent, which due to the weather and set up for registration/prizes, we did not need today.

I am sure that I missed someone, so will apologize in advance. Many thanks again to all for a great day and see you at the next TT stop at LBI. Good luck to those racing tomorrow at Rahway! Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Chuck