This past Saturday (1/3/09) marked the start of the 2009 FM:Race season. The mountain bike team packed up and headed to Dalton, GA to run the first of three Snake Creek Gap Time Trials on the Pinhoti Trail System. We will be racing this same course on February 7th and March 7th and our best time of the three will count in the final results. NWGA Sorba puts on the race and they offer both a 17 mile and 34 mile option. The Pinhoti trail system is considered by many to one of the most challenging and technical trails in the Southeast.

It was an early morning with us leaving around 7am to be up in Dalton by 8:30am. Racing the 17 miler were Bob, Chris and Eric B. Racing the 34 miler were Aaron, Christopher, Emily and Eric N. It was supposed to be dry and warm on Saturday but instead we got foggy and wet. Being a wet trail everyone knew they would not have their best time but everyone put in a solid effort and also learned the course a little better for February. The fog made high speeds really tricky and the rain made the course even more technical.

It was a good day of riding. Snake Creek Gap is one of those rides where you are in pain doing it and as soon as you finish you start thinking of ways to do it faster next time. I know we will see some big time drops in February if the weather cooperates!

Results from the first race can be found here
http://nwgasorba.org/Snake2009/Snake2009_January.htm

Ck has some pics and an elevation profile of the 17 miler on his blog
http://ckdake.com/content/2009/snake-creek-gap-time-trail-series-1.html

Some more pics people have posted
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009# (ton of photos here)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10841725@N00/sets/72157612067183949/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37795592@N00/sets/72157612073526951/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cfernan62/sets/72157609758124538/

Wishing you a magical holiday season full of good cheer!

It was a dreary rainy cold morning. The mustachios packed into the back of Gabes car and awaited what a terrible trail lie before them. A Ron and Eric showed up soon after. The previous day of rain had turned the race course into "Peanut Butter Diarrhea." Despite the terribly conditions the turnout was pretty good.

FM:Race needs YOU to help us get sponsors to support our race team! This year we are fielding teams in Mountain, Road, Cyclocross, and Track. Our sponsors' logos will be featured on our custom kits as well as our team tent, banner, t-shirts, etc. These kits will be raced all over the Southeast and will even be available "club style" to everyone on the boards. Make the kit yours by putting your logo on it!

Here are the minutes from our team meeting:

For 2009, FM will field a MTB Team, a CX Team, a Track Team, and a Road Team

Each team will have two officials: a team leader and a team whip.

Team Leader:
- Sets race calendar
- Maintains website (calendar and results)
- Oversees race reports
- Sets FM Team race quota
- Primary contact for team inquiries
- plans team workshop

Team Whip:
- Team motivator
- Logistics planning (sets up carpools, gets directions, etc.)
- race-day reminders

Official Post Appointments:
MTB Team Leader: Kurt Rampton

the FM Race team is getting together for a meeting to discuss the plans for next year's race season. We will be talking kits, sponsors, goals, aspirations, hopes and of course dreams. We will meet at me and Christopher's place, 8pm. After the meeting we will go for a little road ride.

If you are interested in learning more about our MTB Team, CX Team, Track Team, or Road Team, come on over. We can have a little Q&A after the meeting. Also, please join us for the after-meeting ride. Details after the break.

Courteous Mass Atlanta is now a regular event! Atlanta commuters, recreational cyclists, college students, hipsters, racers, riders, couriers, families with children - the curious and the bored, timid and bold, are all welcome to join local bicycle advocates and organizers for the monthly Courteous Mass. This ride will take place the 2nd Friday of every month.

hello ATL cyclists!

I recently designed a t-shirt that cuts to the core of atlanta bicyclists' love for their preferred transportation method.
a limited run of locally designed and printed T's, they are available on mens and women's american apparel garments.
tell your friends! go here to purchase while they last:
http://www.epidemikcoalition.com
click on STORE.

Dick Lane Velodrome needs our assistance. Participation in two Work Days entitles you to a discount on your 2009 One Pass.

Per: http://fastermustache.org/node/5837

FM has been upgraded from a security patched Drupal 5.8 to Drupal 6.5. Things should be faster/better/etc. I'm still ironing out some kinks, but most things are working at this point! The Gallery will be back soon, things mentioned in the above thread still hold true, and I'll update here as things change. Let me know if anything seems off!

You will need to go to your "My account" to re-set your block and FM preferences. Read on for details.