‘The (State) Capitol Hill Challenge’
Team EPS/CSS had an impressive showing at the 2012 Team Challenge this weekend.  The Team Challenge, better known as a modified points race, was held in Cadawalder Park on Saturday May 12th.  Teresa DiSessa, Laura Carlson, Andy Maher, Sue Seybolt, and Andrea Brennan represented EPS/CSS at the Challenge this year.

Team tactics and strategy took center stage as the Team began their preparations for this event.  Andrew Brennan was called in as key strategist and put his years of points race experience to the test.  Andrew weighed the Team’s strengths and developed a plan that maximized the skills of every rider and provided for a ‘sneak attack’ to catch Team Somerset off guard.  The pressure was on for a repeat performance from last year.  In 2011 Team EPS/CSS had a gold medal performance, shattering the field and competition as Amy Cutler managed a solo breakaway team victory.  Knowing that this year’s Team Challenge racers wanted to keep the winning streak going, Andrew took his assignment seriously.  He was in constant contact with Teresa, the Team Captain, and talked with Andy, Laura, and Sue to see where they were in their training.  After all the data was analyzed, Andrew emailed a detailed lap by lap strategy to the Team prior to the race. 

The skies cleared and the sun came out on race day, creating a perfect opportunity to execute our race plan.  As the Team warmed up together Andrew provided last minute instructions.  Andrew explained that the race was fifteen laps.  Each lap points are earned for the first two riders to cross the start/finish line.  During the designated five ‘sprints’, on laps, three, six, nine, twelve, and fifteen additional points could be earned for the first five to seven riders across the line.  The key to this race was threefold, work as a team to earn as many points as possible during the sprint laps, steal points from Team Somerset by marking their riders and out sprinting them, ensure all five riders on our team finished the race.  If we could do this we would ensure our victory by earning the most possible points available.  With the plan in mind Team EPS/CSS rolled to the staging area and got ready to start the race.  Laura and Andy were tasked with setting the pace high and launching the first attack.  The race started with Team Somerset’s Betty Terrell setting a quick pace at the front followed closely by Andy and Laura.  Laura chased Betty up the hill on the first two laps challenging her for sprint points.  Coming into lap three Teresa and Andrea were positioned at the front of the group.  Noticing that Team Somerset was getting ready to take a ‘breather’ Teresa issued the command for an attack.  Andrea launched herself off the front and continued picking up speed through the hill and past the start/finish line.  Team Somerset gave chase but were unable to close the gap without help from Team EPS/CSS.  As the gap grew larger, Andrea rode away from the pack collecting valuable first place points for the remainder of the race.  Back in the main field Andy and Teresa fought hard matching Betty’s attempts to win each sprint.  The Team was able to collect additional points as Andy, Teresa, Sue, and Laura rounded the race course counting down the remaining laps in the race. 

As the lap card read one to go Andrea managed to stay away from the group crossing the line first with the most accumulated points.  Finishing close behind in points were Andy and Teresa.  Sue and Laura contributed to the Team’s strategy as they finished the race adding additional points to the overall team standings.  Mission accomplished, the Team managed to achieve all three goals outlined in the race plan.  Team EPS/CSS got their gold medal ride, a first place finish at this year’s N.J. State Championship Team Challenge.  The winning streak set by the 2011 Team continues!  Can anyone say three-peat?  Thanks to all the racers, coaches, and spectators who contributed to making this year’s Team Challenge a success.            

French Creek Mtn Bike
I raced as a Cat 3(Formerly beginner category). The course is identical to all other racers, I just did one loop, Cat 2 (sport) did 2, and so on. Jess was registered for the Endurance Race (4 hours). I know I have the ability to ride 2-3 hours in the woods, just not race that long...8.5 miles was enough for me. I rode in the woods pretty consistently this fall/winter so my skills were ok. Haven't been on my mtn bike for real since Feb ., but thought-why not...it's an off TT race kind of weekend. There were only 2 women pre-reg. for 40+, and 4 pre-reg for Under 40. A few more signed up day of. The course is rocky and pretty technical..but really fun. I've done this race twice in the past.

They started us all off together...I always hang off the back at the start..takes me a while to warm up. Slowly I start passing people. I got stuck a few times behind slower women, but just took a short break, then went by. I saw Jess on the trail carrying her bike-the wrong direction! Oh no, she told me she blew out her tire wall...CRAP-her race is done, I didn't know if she had another wheel...I had to just kept going. Eventually my race got interesting. A girl from Saucon Valley kept volleying back and forth with me. Her name was Liz Allen. I was in front, then she passed me on a long-hill walk up section. I couldn't get it together fast enough to keep up with her. I worked my butt off trying to catch her the rest of the race. Technically she is much better, but on the straight aways I had the speed. I kept her in my sights and tried to stay with her. In the end she beat me by 15-20 seconds. We high fived at the end. What great sportsmanship we both had. We both agreed that we never had that much competition in the woods. You are usually by yourself most of these types of races...later I found out she has been having a kick ass season.

I can honestly say this is the first mtn bike race that I actually raced, not just rode hard. There was so much more motivation catching and racing against someone in your sight. In the end they scored all the Cat 3 women together. I came in 3rd, and was thrilled! I never saw the woman who won...Next time....I really do love riding in the woods.. ~ Bonni Schervone

Team EPS/CSS is proud to announce that team member Amy Cutler has earned her Cat 1 upgrade! Despite impatiently waiting for two solid weeks for the final approval, Amy was excited to still meet her goal of becoming the first registered Cat 1 female cyclist in NJ. Only to be swiftly followed by a second member of the NJ Cat 1 club, Victoria Hanks of team Peanut Butter & Company/Human Zoom. We are glad to have sparked a trend and welcome all NJ female cyclists to join the club. Congratulations to all and good luck with the rest of the season!

‘Teamwork + Plan Execution = Podium Results’ A. Wendolowski.  Audrey Wendolowski’s quote aptly summed up the Tour of Colts Neck this year.   Team EPS/CSS had a great day at the races with podium finishes from Andrea Brennan and Amy Cutler.  Although these riders crossed the finish line in second and third place respectively, credit is due to the entire team including racers, coaches, and cheerleaders.  

Anne Racioppi, Andy Maher, and Sue Seyboldt executed the team strategy perfectly during the Women’s 123 race this past Sunday.  The Team gathered an hour before start time to warm up and finalize plans for the race.  Anne, designated as team captain for the day, channeled her inner yogi bringing an aura of focused calm to the pre-race meeting.  Anne began the meeting saying, “Ok the monkey wrench here today is obvious with the late registration of Kim Geist”.  Amy agreed noting that Kim’s wheel was the one to watch.  The Team discussed two possible outcomes …a sprint finish or a break away.  It was decided that Amy and Andrea would mark Kim.   Sue, Anne, and Andy would chase down attacks and protect Andrea in the pack.  Before the meeting broke up Anne reviewed the plan for the lead out train to be launched during the final lap of the race.  With our goals and strategy in place Team EPS/CSS headed to the staging area.  The first two laps saw an early attack by Britlee Bowman of CRCA/Innervation Fitness.  Amy promptly responded and reeled her back in.  Amy and Anne both went to work setting a steady race pace for the next lap and half. 

Coming into the third lap, Andrea was sitting pretty behind Kim Geist of Team Alliance Environmental and our own Anne Racioppi.  After the steep hill climb Kim started shifting gears and both Amy and Andrea knew the attack was coming soon.  Kim launched off the front with an aggressive burst of speed, Andrea gave chase.  Andrea managed to catch Kim’s wheel and stay with her as they began increasing their gap.  A few attempts were made to bridge the gap by the riders in the main field but these were no match for the blocking tactics of Team EPS/CSS.  Andrea in a two man break away could not believe her luck…she kept thinking, don’t look back my girls have me covered.  For the remainder of the race Andrea spent much of the time sticking to Kim’s wheel and taking short efficient pulls to conserve energy.  The rest of the race was a waiting game for Andrea watching for Kim to launch a second attack.  The attack never came.   Andrea rode the last lap smart not allowing Kim to pull off the front on the approach to the start/finish.  Kim did her best to shake Andrea from her wheel executing a few track maneuvers on the course.  It was a great break away sprint finish with Andrea finishing a close second to Kim.

Once the break was established, Team EPS/CSS went to work setting up their strategy to win the field sprint, with the goal of keeping Amy in leaders’ points for the Maxxis Cup.  Andy Maher was summoned to the front of the pack to keep the pace high and string out the field.  Coming into the third turn Andy took her position as first rider in the lead out train.  After giving all she had Andy pulled off and turned it over to Anne to finish the job.  Anne Racioppi knows how to race and race to win…which she did for the team.  She left it all out on the course as she screamed down the final hill across the bridge giving Amy the perfect lead out.  Amy put the hammer down and her legs looked like that of a locomotive as she opened a gap of seven bike lengths between her and field.  A great field sprint and a decisive team victory.  Congratulations to the Team and to everyone who worked behind the scenes to make the race a success!

Well it's official. Anne Racioppi will be racing for CAWES for the Liberty Classic! She has known these women for several years now and she is honored to have been chosen to race for them in one of the most prestigious one day races outside of Europe. Anne is looking forward to representing our team and sponsors in the Liberty Classic and she promised to report back on her incredible experience with a great group of ladies.

http://www.cawescycling.com/index.html

So my morning started by leaving Philly at 6am, carpooling down to Columbia, MD with Alaina. Thankfully the overnight and early morning rain tapered off as we drove further south and eventually the skies turned blue and the temperatures started rising. The Carl Dolan course is in an industrial park with one 800 meter rise coming up to the start/finish and then a long downhill. There's only one real corner - at the lowest point of the course - and the rest are sweeping curves.

CAWES was the largest team but there were several teams with 3+ riders. Being the only Riptide rider I only had one goal - do my thing. Ride smart, read the field, read the wind, find the sheltered spots, stay ahead of trouble, and find where I need to be through that last corner before blasting it up the hill to the finish line. Last week after having to sit up and scratch myself from the Philly Naval Yard Crit, I came into the Carl Dolan race with revenge scrolling across my mind's eye.

With 30 riders in the Women's 1/2/3 field and about the same in the Cat 4 field, we were all pleased that the promotors decided to split the fields and start us a minute or two ahead of the Cat 4's. The race started without anything to report. The pace was comfortable and there were many surges. The race was 10 x 2.1 mile loops so as each lap went by, I gave myself a goal to figure out. How far back should I be on the last lap? Where do I need to be going into the final corner? How long should I wait as we go up the final hill? Where should I start my sprint? Where is the wind coming from? How far away is the finish line once the hill crests? As each lap ticked by, I figured out one more piece to my game plan so that with two to go, I had it all figured out. I just needed to execute it.

As we came by with one to go, there was only one rider up the road. The last lap had nothing going on so everybody was preparing for the uphill finish. The field didn't take that last corner too fast but they gunned it for the ~200-300 meters of flat before the hill starts. From every lap before that I learned that being about 10th out of that corner would put me in the perfect spot to have plenty of draft to pull me up the beginning slopes and that draft would also provide a slingshot towards the front when the hill starts. Not only is it smart to be right near the front with less than 1k to go but every lap proved that the accordion effect presented an unsafe scenario as the back of the field caught up with the front. And with it being the last few hundred meters of the race, it would be even less safe and I wanted no part of that.

There was a strong headwind coming up towards the finish so I needed to jump from wheel to wheel to get the maximum amount of draft possible. Plus the finish was another 100 meters beyond the crest of the hill. A hundred meters that would feel like forever. I was able to find the perfect lines up the right side of the field, picking people off as we drove up the hill. I maxed out on my standing sprint so I sat down with about 200 meters to go and drove it with everything that I had. I think I only looked up twice at that point and I only saw one woman in front of me. Crossing the finish line, I couldn't breathe and I was incredibly thankful for the downhill. Every muscle between my hips and ankles seized and cramped and I couldn't pedal. My legs were completely spent. It felt horrible but it was incredibly satisfying.

The funny thing was, after crossing the line and looking up I saw a lot of women ahead of me cooling down. I was confused because there were a lot of riders on the road. I didn't think I finished around 8th but hell, I would have been satisfied with that. It was a strong field with all the Cat 1's and 2's. I wasn't really concerned with the placing. I rode a smart race and I sprinted so hard my legs completely stopped working. That's the perfect race in my book.

After a little while the results were posted and I was 3rd. It felt really good to see that because I had an idea I could have finished there but I had no idea where all the rest of the people came from. In the end, I guess they were Cat 4's that finished or were pulled from their race?

Mission accomplished!

The team would like to introduce the new edition to the 2012 roster.  It was a tough pick but we are confident that the new 4 ladies we picked will be great asset to the team.  We would like to welcome; Chloe Chepigin, Jessica Kutz, Erin Mandato and Sherry Shapiro.  Be sure to look for them in the Riptide kits this year!

Race Category: 4
Hometown: Westampton, New Jersey
Occupation: Audit Manager, CPA
Nickname: Big E

Personal Goal for 2012:
Since I'm new to this, I want to learn as much as I can about racing and to race as much as my schedule allows

#1 Team goal for 2012:
Get the teammates to participate in an International Race in Denmark!

Racing Strength:
TBD (To Be Discovered)

Favorite Race:
Any race that I can participate in

Cycling role model:
My former college teammate, Lori Arbogast!

What brought you to the Riptide team?
I started riding recreationally about five years ago and fell in love with the sport and figured it was time to step up my game. I was also a collegiate athlete and loved being part of a team, after graduation and being away from an organized team for awhile, I realized how much I missed the camaraderie and support of teammates. I heard about the team from a guy on a recreational ride and he said I should look into it, and with a lot of support and encouragement from my loving husband, I contacted Riptide.

Favorite Post Race Meal?
Bagel with Tuna and Salt-N-Vinegar Potato Chips!

Favorite quote:
There are those that fail and those that succeed, but those that succeed had to fail to get the

__
Race Age: 18
Race Category: Track: Cat 2
Hometown: Chappaqua, NY
Occupation: Student

Racing Strength: Sprinting
Favorite Race: the Keirin
Cycling role model: Clara Sanchez


How did you end up racing your bike?
Cycling has always been part of my training as a short track speedskater. A couple of years ago, I happened to ride a few laps around the local velodrome, and it felt exciting and fulfilling. Needless to say, I found myself quickly transitioning into track cycling, and I'm glad I did.

What brought you to the Riptide team?
After graduating from a junior development team, I was looking for a supportive group of people to ride and train with, and I found it in Riptide Cycling. The team is composed of a close-knit group of women who are welcoming, competitive and nice; a rare combination that is especially appealing to me.

Favorite quote:
"The person that said winning isn't everything, never won anything." Mia Hamm.

Personal Goal for 2012?
The goal is to maintain my status on the Junior National Track Team, and to better last season's performance.

Team goal for 2012?
On the road, the goal is to help EPS Riptide win criteriums, and hopefully upgrade categories in the process. On the track, the goal is to display the team jersey on the national podium. 

Favorite Post Race Meal?
Any kind of sugar loaded junk food I find in my equipment bag.

Race Age:  40
Race Category:  Cat 4
Hometown: Frenchtown, NJ
Occupation: Adjunct Chemistry Professor

Racing Strength:  Hmm, that's to be discovered.  Not sprinting :-)
Favorite Race: Not sure, but the most fun I've ever had in a race was cross.

What turned you to bike racing? 
I needed a goal/challenge/outlet after the births of my three sons, racing provided all three.  I had 3 kids in a 3.5 yr time frame and decided to stay home to raise them.  I started mountain biking for solitude.  Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but I needed something that did not involve them and the woods was my answer.  Cycling slowly replaced the challenge I was missing from leaving my career.  Then a cycling friend influenced me to start setting goals, hence racing started.  As my children started their own sports, I found it more convenient to ride on the road.  So I have slowly switched from predominantly the woods over to the road.  

What brought you to the Riptide team? 
Women.  I wanted to be a on team with women who have the same passion for cycling.  Also looking forward to the camaraderie of racing on the road as well as racing with a team instead of solo.

Favorite quote:
It's 5pm somewhere...

Race Age: 24
Race Category: Mtn: Cat 1, Cross: Cat 2, Road: Cat 3
Hometown: Danville PA
Occupation: Grad Student @ Penn State

Racing Strength: endurance, anything technical, working for teammates
Favorite Race: Wilderness 101 or Grand Prix of Gloucester
Cycling role model: Juliana Furtado

What turned you to bike racing? 
Tore my ACL in high school, road a walmart bike during rehab to get in shape for soccer, decided I liked bikes...but not my walmart bike.

What brought you to the Riptide team? 
Looking for a team of women who are passionate about riding, racing, and having a community within cycling in multiple disciplines.

Favorite quote:
"Well-behaved women seldom make history." —Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

  Saturday July 2nd was a beautiful day of track racing at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in T-town Pennsylvania.  Team Riptide turned out enforce to represent in the Women’s 3/4 and the Masters 1/2 fields.  Kristy Swope and Andrea Brennan faced an international field of riders in the Women’s races.  Team Director, Andrew Brenna, faced multiple former Olympians and current National champions in his races.  Kristy and Andrea sparred with the likes of Ecuadorian Track Champion Stephanie Torres, Canadian and British Friday night riders in a scratch race, miss & out, and points race.  Kristy and the A. Brennans started the day with a team warm-up on the track.  Kristy made a smart call by exiting the warm-up ten minutes before the start which put our riders out of harm’s way when a small pile up occurred during the pre-race warm-up. 

 During the first women’s race a field of twenty racers lined up at the boards for a nine lap scratch race under the scorching Eastern Pennsylvania sun.  The race came down to the final sprint with Andrea finishing fourth and Swope close behind.  Next up was the miss & out.  In this race the last rider is pulled each lap until three riders remain, during the bell lap it’s an all out sprint to the finish.  Both Kristy and Andrea rode this event in expert fashion, coming ‘over the top’ right before the line.  As the field dwindled to ten, five, then four Andrea remained perfectly placed in third position.  As the bell rang, singling the final lap, Andrea put the hammer down finishing second, with Swope in the top five.  The last event of the day was a twelve lap points race.  The winner determined by the rider finishing with the most points.  Points are earned during three sprint laps throughout the race.  The team strategy was to jump after the first sprint lap and ride the rest of the race at the front until the finish.  This is an ideal strategy to collect the most possible points.  Andrea followed Kristy’s lead for the first few laps of the race, riding at the back to strategize and determine which riders could be picked off easily.  The pace picked up leading into the first sprint, after which Andrea launched an attack with Swope close on her heels.  Andrea won the second sprint collecting valuable points.  The race continued at a quick pace until the final sprint.  At the conclusion of the women’s racing Andrea took second place in the Omnium, over-all standings for the day, with Swope finishing fifth.

On a day that was cloudy and cooler than expected, the Cat 4 ladies lined up for the first cup race in over a month. The race was shortened due to time constraints, and the field was a mix of the usual Jersey teams with some Pennsy and New York girls thrown in. The first few laps were very quick as the field leaders (many in their first race) worked out their nerves and figured out how to navigate turns one and two. The field had a lack of continuity, too, as it was nearly impossible to maintain any kind of positioning if you weren't in the front 3 or 4 girls. The pace did finally slow toward the middle of the race and our ladies began to work their magic. Andrea Brennan maintained great positioning near the front, and Valerie and Sue finally caught her wheel with 1.5 laps to go. As the pace quickened and the jostling began, our Riptide girls stayed in their duck row and came out of the final turn with hunger in their eyes! Andrea gunned her hammer legs to finish third and snag her first podium finish! Valerie picked off a handful of girls in the sprint to finish right behind her in fourth, and Sue wasn't far behind in eighth. It was a great effort by our girls, who were 1-2-3 in the Cat 4 Cup standings after the day's results!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After cheering on the furious Cat 4’s to a solid top ten placement, the Cat 3 Riptide women wiggled their way into some spandex and hit the road. On this day we had the pleasure of being joined by our very own Teresa DiSessa, in her first serious mass start race of the year. Unfortunately, the men's master's  race ended with a nasty crash and this delayed the Women’s Open race quite a bit, which afforded the ladies time to get in a little chatter. Teresa got in a a little chatter with some girls from New York. She even displayed an eagerness to introduce the rest of the Riptide crew, now joined by Val and Sue, to some of the Gotham team girls.

Our girls eventually made it to the line and were informed that the Masters 45+ Men category would shortly join us on course, but that we were strictly not to mix fields. As planned, Teresa launched several hard efforts throughout the first half of the race. The savvy Anne kept smart positioning, always knowing just how to administer her effort.  Amy found herself getting caught up in defense tactics more so than planning offense strategies with the other Riptide ladies. The Gotham girls had a strong five-girl presence, and with strength in numbers they had the most potential to be a threatening force.


Leading into the last four laps, Amy overheard two of the Gotham girls devising a plan to perform a breakaway.  Amy tried her best to put myself between the two Gotham girls by taking the wheel of the lead out girl, but was unsuccessful with two laps to go. Off they went, but the field quickly pounced, making it clear no one was getting away. With one lap to go, Anne pulled through and positioned herself behind the sprinting legs of Caryl Gale. Amy caught on behind Anne as they entered turn two, then Caryl dove to the left entering turn three and onto the finishing straight. Not risking Caryl’s dicey shift to the left, Anne kept to the right. Now on Caryl’s wheel, Amy drafted until approximately 150 meters were left, a good distance for her sprint.  Amy launched an attack and won the field sprint for her mom, who was watching Amy race for the very first time! The rest of the field thundering in behind Amy with  Anne finishing 7th and Teresa finishing 13th!

Welcome back Teresa, and congratulations to our Riptide girls on another dominating effort!

Today was the team's first race of the season. With a field of over 40 talented women Amy and Anne did a great  job finishing 4th and  9th place respectively. The team is off to a great start! Stay tuned for more exciting team news as the season matures.

Teresa DiSessa at tapiccola10@aol.com