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The fine folks from Monster Energy! have once again agreed to be our lead sponsor for 2009! This marks the third year for the partnership which has been successful for both the Club and Monster.

Pretty much tells it all. Except for the part about wearing a shoulder immobilizer for the next 6 weeks.Then 6 weeks of therapy.

So, look out January: Here I come.

Raced the Branched Oak Psycowpath today. Legs, check. Feeling good? Check. Bike working as well as an old NRS can? Check. Shoulder pads? Oops, knew I forgot something.

Things were going well. I boogied up the one mile gravel road climb, in site of the leaders and about mid-pack. Into the singletrack no problem. Wow, was that the first (of four) lap I just finished? Cool. I'm right where I want to be. Lap two, still going ok.

Lap three I relaxed. I was keeping my pace, cruising. About halfway though, there is this blind right hander,  with a snow fence catch to keep folks from doing a header into the trees and/or lake. Someone (Kevin Murray but who keeps track?) had hit that earlier and tore it partway down, so I was used to just crusing through the corner with the orange fence on the ground. This time, someone had dutifully put the fence back, Wow, I can blow through here and....  read more »

One of the nicest guys in Nebraska cycling, and just about anywhere, Joe Savoie (Omaha) has qualified for and taken the upgrade to Category 3 in road racing. Joe, the 2008 Nebraska Road Race Champion, has been cycling for a number of years and is currently training for his Cat 3 debut in 2009.

Joe was instrumental in the partnership between EVCC and The Bike Way and has brought numerous new riders into cycling, including Dan Ertz, Brian Tangen, and Nick Ziemet.

Joe deserves the recognition he gets, and will most likely downplay his abilities if asked. But, make no mistake, a determined Joe Savoie is a hard racer to beat.

Congratulations Joe, you've worked hard and will make a fine Cat 3.

We are working on setting the dates and places for our fall meetings and banquet.

The current thought is to have a club meeting and awards dinner in Norfolk for club members and local riders. This would be shortly followed by a race team meeting at a more centralized location such as Fremont.

If anyone has any suggestions, comments, or date issues please let either Dan or Jon know.

Dan Ertz shows the peloton his back at the Downtown Omaha Criterium (Photo by John Peterson)

Dan Ertz, riding for EVCC/The Bike Way, has taken the upgrade to Category 4 effective immediately. Dan has had a tremendous year of cycling both on and off-road. he currently sits in second in the 2008 Psycowpath standings for Beginner Men Opn and could still conceivably  win the series with some luck. Dan also placed well iin many road races throughout the year. He is currently the Mens Cat 5 Road Race State Champion and the Beginner Men's Cornhusker State Games MTB Champion.

Good job Dan, and good luck!