In the end, I'm so proud of this team this year.  Everyone on the mtn bike side put out their best efforts.  It showed, with six riders heading into the series final in the lead of their divisions.  Dan Benson (Cat 1 19-24), Todd Booth (Cat 1 40-44), John Biron (Cat 1 50-54), Dean Swank (Cat 1 55-59), Jon Miller (Cat 1 60-64), and Nick Berkeley (Cat 2 19-24) are all looking to win the series.  Adam Poytress (Cat 1 30-34), Roger Moore (Cat 1 40-44) and Jeff Stern (Cat 2 25-29) are looking at runners up in the series.  Terry Dahl (Cat 1 70+) is looking to round out the top three spot on the podium for the series.  Fourth place series contenders are Chester Gillmore (Cat 1 25-29), Greg Turner (Cat 1 45-49), Steve Silva (Cat 1 50-54) and Dominic Turner (under 10).  Great job guys!

Todd Booth

Mike Krauchi

Gibraltar Hill TT  5/19/12

Platinum riders Mike Krauchi and Tom Anhalt  participated in the Gibraltar Hill Climb TT on Saturday morning.  Krauchi took 2nd place in the Open Men with a 47:08 and Anhalt was 6th with a time of 53:05 (a PR for him by over 3 minutes!...not bad for a "non-climber")  Chris Walker took the overall with a time of 41:20, which was only 2 seconds shy of the course record.
 
http://web.me.com/moniqueritterbeck/3LETE/Gibraltar_T.T..html

               Greg Turner laid it on the line in the Cat 1 45-49 Class!

                    Roger Moore (Cat 1 40-44) sailed into the finish!

                Adam Poytress (Cat 1 30-34) rode strong despite a crash!

         "Danger" Dave Culbertson had a solid performance in the Cat 2 50-54 class!

                         Nick Berkeley (Cat 2 19-24) battled the heat!

                  Todd Booth put in a fast time to win the Cat 1 40-44 class!

          Jon Miller "Mr Consistent" rode to another winning race in the Cat 1 60-64 class!

Luke Werkhoven (Cat 2 Clyds) made his season debute at one of the hottest races of the season!

US Cup # 6  Sage Brush Safari  Lake Morena County  5/20/12

Lake Morena County Park was the host of the 6th stop on the US Cup/ Cal State Series.  The course was a 26 mile loop that included a long road climb up Los Pinos mountain.  The riders were given some of the best singletract seen this season.  Ton's of high speed, berming, twisting, moto type trails which lead the riders throughout the beautiful hillsides.  The heat made the long climbs tough on the riders.  The loop consisted of 3,500' of climbing.  The high temperatures were a big contrast from last season with snow covering the course making it impossible for the riders to race the same loop.  The riders were forced to race short laps on the valley floor.

The Platinum Performance- Sho Air team had fourteen riders battling for the team points as well as for individual overall positions.  So far this season, the team has stepped up the plate and served out stellar performances.  This race was no different!  Four of the Platinum riders won their respective class.  Dan Benson (Cat 1 19-24) put together one of his best finishes of the season.  Benson put his climbing skills to work on the many ascents that the course threw at him.  Todd Booth (Cat 1 40-44) used his descending skills to pull off one of the faster times of the day and to win his class.  Dean Swank (Cat 1 55-59) rode to victory despite a hard crash near the finish of the race.  Jon Miller has been "Mr Consistent" all season with another win in the Cat 1      60-64 class.  John Biron (Cat 1 50-54) pulled off a solid 2nd place finish.  Biron was suffering at the end of the race due to the hot conditions.  Adam Poytress rode the climbs effortlessly to pull off a 3rd place finish in a very competitive Cat 1 30-34 class.  Steve Silva (Cat 1 50-54) had one of his best performances of the season with a 3rd place finish despite the heat and race length.  Terry Dahl pulled off a 3rd place finish in the Cat 1 70+ class.  Dahl has been making a slow but steady comeback after some medical issues kept him on the sidelines last season.  Nick Berkeley brought home the bronze trophy in the Cat 2 19-24 division.  Luke Werkhoven had a solid performance with a 3rd place finish in the Cat 2 Clyds division.  Rounding out the top four were Roger Moore (Cat 1 40-44), Greg Turner (Cat 1 45-49), "Dangerous" Dave Culbertson (Cat 2 50-54) and Dominic Turner (10 under).  Great job guys!!!

SoCal/Nev Disctrict TT's

Sol Cal/Nev District TT:  Tom anhalt pulled off a 12th place finish in the Cat 3 division while Dean Swank (pictured here) had a good ride until a punched tire ended his quest. 

Idyllwild Spring Mtn Bike Challenge   5/5/12

"Danger" Dave Culbertson puts his body on the line every race!  Culbertson won the Cat 2 50-54 race at the Idyllwild XC last weekend.  This photo was from the Santa Ynez race where "Danger" placed 6th.  

Piru TT's  5/5- 5/6/12

Platinum rider Tom Anhalt had a busy weekend on the bike.  Anhalt raced the Piru 40K Time Trial on Saturday and placed 2nd in the Cat 3 division.  Anhalt pulled off a PR in the Piru 20K Time Trial on Sunday.  Anhalt broke the 28 minute barrier with a 27:54 time which won him the Cat 3 division.

2012 Southridge Winter Series   5/5/12

Platinum rider, Dean Swank won the last race of the Southridge Winter Series at Fontana in the Cat 1 50-58 class.  That win secured him the overall win in the California Golden State Series.  Great job Dean!

Devil's Punch Bowl Road Race

Written by Platinum rider Alfredo Gallegos

Last weekend I lined up for DPB, It was perfect weather, 70s for this race as it's normally in the 100F. Short story, I made it over the climb with the lead group for 2 of 3 laps and got dropped on the 3rd lap. I kept going as I knew I could get back into the race on the descent. As I was hammering on the 7 minute descend 2 more guys joined me, but we could not see the lead group. Once we were on rolling terrain and after making a right hander we could see the group up ahead, and we made a push to get back in. After we got back in the race I hide from the wind to try and recover some for the finish, but with the course going up a false flat the whole time and with some steep roller this prove to be difficult. About a K from the finish fireworks started coming fast from all directions and what was left of the front group separated again, I made the front group but only managed to cross the line in 12th place.

Platinum Performance Products Really Work!!!!

Written by Bobby Langin Sr

Sure the San Ynez course may have been a little bumpier than normal but the new section where it tied into the Super-D course could not have been more fun and the weather was downright perfect!

The Platinum Performance team fielded four people in the Cat 1, 50-54 class; John Biron, Ron Takada, Steve Silva and yours truly, Bobby Langin.  Knowing my super-strong teammate, John Biron, would get around me soon enough, I jumped out front a minute or so after the whistle and did my best to push the pace and give him a little boost.  John went by just before the switchback climb while Johnny O was content to stay on my wheel…for a couple switchbacks anyway and then jumped by and got up to Biron near the top.  I’d like to give you the play-by-play of their race but that was the last I saw of them (:o) so you’ll have to read my dribble from another point of view.

My race was fairly uneventful—I could see Ron Takeda lurking and was sure he would reel me in and make the pass but his legs went away near the end of the final lap so was able to hang on to third.  Ron finished sixth with Steve Silva hammering in with the eighth spot.

The big news is that after having stomach issues after cross country events (and two subsequent colonoscopies) I’ve not been at all anxious to race lately.  The issue essentially puts my stomach into intermittent cramps for up to two days after.  I’ve broken many bones, have had 17 orthopedic surgeries and have to tell you this is one of the most painful things I’ve experienced.  As such, I was planning to keep cross country racing on hold and only do cyclocross until after retirement and then hopefully “train” the problem away.

That was the strategy until having the opportunity to attend the tour at the Platinum Performance facility and learning about our sponsor’s products.  After the presentation I approached Mark Herthel about my condition and, subsequently, added to my Platinum Granular the Platinum Power (which contains their Hemo-Flow product) and another product that is used for equine digestive health.  I was hopeful that this would work but must admit, was not all that optimistic.  I began the regiment and was seeing good results after training rides (i.e., feeling strong, having improved endurance) but was still uncertain how it would help at race pace.  After two events I am happy to announce, the results have been dramatic.  I actually feel as strong as ever and what’s more, no stomach issues!

Now I am looking forward to our next event in San Diego and my only concern is to figure out how to keep up with my teammate John Biron so I can give you all a better write up next time on his battle with the O-Show.