Tejas Triathlon

John Cascio, from the Shama Road Team, happy not to have to pin a number on his jersey...happy not to have to wear a jersey.

Euan starting off on the bike...

The frantic chip strap swap from Kim to Euan.

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This is what the fastest bike of the day looks like coming into T2. Notice the helmet matches the bike...I can go as far as customers let me.
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The bike split of Euan and his relay team. Yes, that says 29.4mph. The man loves pain!

2400 WATTS...can this bike handle it???

Sidero, the new Steel offering from Guru.

OH SO CLEAN!

Yes, that is one very high number. Yes there is a guy who can hit that and this is his new bike. A friend of mine came to me needing a bike that he can't break. After going through carbon bikes pretty easily and eventually some other steel frames he was just wanting someone to tell him that there is a bike that can hold him for more than a season of racing. Eric Attayi is about 6'3" and weighs about 260lbs. This kind of weight can test any frame, then add in someone who races and who LOVES to sprint and you have a problem...a big problem. Bent crank spindles, cracked bottom brackets, welds broken, carbon cracking...its not even fair to mention the brands since NONE of them usually test out to this kind of rider weight. With some power numbers in one hand and measurements in another I called up Robert at Guru and had a long talk with him about this customer and bike that needs to be built. After some back and forth we decided to go Steel. Guru had in some tubing and ordered some more for the diameter and wall thickness needed for the tubes on this bike. The welder there also used a process for welding used in titanium bikes to make sure the welds are that much stronger. Along with an AlphaQ GS-40 fork this became a pretty expensive frame build but still cheaper than a carbon bike. Two goals for this build, a bike made for crits, sprinting, and a perfect fit.
The bike came in and I did my usual pre fit and just loved how it was looking. Eric of course was too excited to weight and we built it up quickly. Campy Record parts graced this classic Steel frame. Along with a Thompsosn seat post, Deda Newton handlebars and Deda Zero 100 stem. We also used Jagwire cables in white, and white Lizard Skin bartape.
With the Easton wheels as shown here...17lbs 4oz. AMAZING!
The bike being built we put him up on the Retul and corrected a couple issues in his cleats and then fine tuned his position. The word from him after riding it for two weeks...he has never ridden such a nice bike and the fit and position is amazing. First race...I can't wait till he can get out and sprint!

Weekend of Kona chances/Guru Crono part deux

Sram Red rear D, Enduro Zero ceramic pulley wheels (just happened to be blue), KMC gold chain,

Rotor Agilis Cranks, Aero QRing, SABB ceramic bottom bracket

Featherweight Brakes with blue accents

HED Classic aerobars, Lizard Skins bartape.
BELOW
This frame is 2 years old and is one of the most complimented bikes I have done

Shama goes international once again. Andrew Strong, freshly off of a Retul fit on his new Guru Merus is getting ready to race Ironman Brazil tomorrow morning. This is his first triathlon for 2009 and his first attempt at a Kona slot for the year. Either way...he is in Brazil...its all good no matter what.
Then in beautiful Hawaii racing the 70.3 in the morning is Lisa Tilton-McCarthy, Waly Yarrow, and Jeanna Abbott. Lisa has a great shot at getting a Kona slot here at this race. With her newly redone 15lbs Guru Crono she is ready to take that slot and come back again in October! Walt is out for a good time...though he is getting faster and faster and a Kona slot could also be in his future some day. I think Walt's victory will come in the form of just having a faster time than Lisa. ;-)
Jeanna will be doing her first Half Ironman. The girl who loves to train and hates to race will be doing her first half, no, not as her longest distance but as her shortest. Yes, you read that right. Her first triathlon was an Ironman, so was her second and her third. Maybe a bit backwards but it works for her. What happens if she finds out that 70.3 is not for her? She will have a great time anyway...she is in Hawaii for crying out loud and she is with two of the most fun people you can hang with for a race.
This is really what its all about for alot of triathletes. Training for that one great destination race and enjoying everything about it. I might have worked early or late on their bikes, spent hours dialing in their fits and helping pack it up and stressing over every component and keeping the bikes rolling through the 1000 of miles it takes to get to a race...but knowing that I helped get them to their race with the best possible equipment and position to help them get the most out of their day...its a great feeling. I will spend my Saturday morning and afternoon checking on line and waiting to see splits and final times and wait for a text or email about the day. I can't wait!!!!!

A Saturday Ride...

Can you hear that screaming...its Eric's wheels...haha

Euan sitting pretty waiting for the light to turn. Sorry you can't tell its him, but the bike is prettier. ;-)

Jeff sporting the Shama gear while Eric sits in amazement of his new Guru

Andrew Strong rolling out his last long ride before Ironman Brazil.

Another ride with the boys while the triathletes were racing the roadies were rolling a common ride out to Fulsher. Lots of fun and its great being able to be on rides and start to see more custom bikes on the road, and from the races below, at the races too!

Cap Tex Triathlon 2009

Mike Shearman is all smiles pre race....
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Lisa, Teresa, Beau, ?, Walt

Well one of the biggest races of the year for most Texas triathletes is Cap Tex Tri in Austin. Ok, maybe not the biggest but definitely the most fun...especially for Houston athletes that love to trek to Austin for a weekend to party and race on Memorial Day Weekend! I have heard some race recaps from the weekend and while I did hear about the racing...I hear more about pre race and post race than anything else. Which just means it really was GREAT WEEKEND!!!!
In the Sprint Race
Lisa Tilton McCarthy won her Age Group, not on her newly redone prized possession Guru Cron but on her new Guru Praemio, custom road bike built to be able to tri on too. Which worked great on this multi loop course.
Walt Yarrow won his Age Group on his Guru Merus. He went full aero for the sprint and killed it!!!
Mike Shearman took 13th in his AG (same as Walt's) on his Guru Ventus which he just started riding again like two weeks ago. Which isn't right since he bested his friend Spencer who works more than Mike...though we think everyone works more than Mike??? haha

In the Olympic Distance race
Ann Hughes rocked a great race in her first attempt of this distance, she was 3rd in her AG on her white with purple Guru Crono.
Jacqueline Fein cruised into 3rd place on her Guru Crono!!!!
Teresa Demetriou enjoyed her race as well.
Richard Cairns rolled to a top ten in his AG on his road bike and my Edge wheels.
Beau Freyou rocked 3rd place in his AG. Way to go Beau!!!
Kendall Gray enjoyed his effort out there.

Combat Triathlon

Ahhh...another great day of racing in Houston.
Combat Tri had quite a few Shama Cycles racers representing.
Trent Stephens who was first across the line and Second Overall.
Ann Smith won Masters Women!!!
Anne Ekern won her Age Group.
Kathleen Smith had a great day on her Guru Venio

Also a special shout out to some friends of mine who raced this one.
Dianne Sweeny (who won OA woman's), Jeff Gill, Andy Stewart, Chris Phenicie, Steve Ohnimus, Dave Depinet (who won his AG on his Crono), Sam Luna, Ann Fickel, and Matilda Guerra

Silverlake Tri!

Here is the recap from Brett Cole of that race...killer bike split! #1 in age group is always a good day!

Philip – a little race recap for Silverlake-

My second year at the Silverlake sprint, and with the cool weather and low humidity (and of course the Guru) I was able to drop nearly 5-minutes from last year, good for 6^th OA, and 1^st in the always competitive M40-44 AG.

My pool work may be starting to help, but still I’ve got a long way to go. Out of the water there were at least 6 or 7 AG guys ahead of me, but I was only down about 1:30 behind Tom Stus, who was in front of the AG - with the fastest OA swim split for the day.

For me the bike course is a real technical challenge, by my count 30+ turns over the 10-miles and my cornering may even be weaker than my swimming. A hard effort on the few straight stretches and I was able to get into T-2 with the top AG bike split and down to just 3 guys in front of me for the run, just under 1:30 down on Stus.

I really pushed it out of T-2 and gave the run all I could, leading to a solid 5:49/mile avg and the 3^rd best OA run split. I think I caught Stus with about a mile to go, and ended up finishing 0:45 in front of him. Still, was about 1:00 out of the top-5, and 3:00 off the OA winner, but I was really happy with the effort and result for the day.

Others of Note,
Coy Connelly rocked his race in Brett's AG on his Crono.
Jane Kang came back to racing after some time off on her Guru Merus, one of the smallest frames you will ever see!
And my friend Lisa Berman won her AG, thanks to her Speedfill no doubt. haha ;-)