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FinKraft Athlete's Profile
Eli Mernit
by Roger
On this photo from the Nyack Ride
from right to left
Eli Mernit, Haluk
Sarci, Chris Johnson (Rock Racing), Roger,
Andreas
Eli is now 17 years old and I have coached him for a
while , patience and being observant is key for any bike racer , but more
so for younger athletes and is usually what brings them the
results. If you learn that at a young age, it will pay off later in
your career. I also tell Eli all the time to have fun racing and
riding his bike and not put any pressure on himself ; these are the
years when the most important development accrues and if you push too hard
the talent and athlete could easily be "ruined"
Eli Mernit 's Quabbin
race report;
"Before the race I got a decent amount of sleep and
had a little breakfast from the super 8 breakfast buffet, in the lobby of
the motel where we were staying. The night before, my friends and I feasted
on Olive Garden. The bike racer’s life in full!
It was cold and raining prior to the start of my race--I
was actually looking forward to the race being over, and being able to
enjoy the warmth of the car.
Although I started the race at the very back of the 150+
rider field, I was able to snake though the pack on the neutral descent,
and by the bottom, I was up at the front.
Most of the race was uneventful, really. Some guys shot
off the front from time to time, but nothing looked promising. The race got
a lot less boring once we hit a very fast and very rough section of road,
maybe 45 or 50 miles in. We made a right turn onto a gradual climb, and
several riders and I were going fast and stringing out the field. I think I
hit every pothole on this particular road, and there were many potholes. If
I did not have my tubulars on my bike, I might
have flatted. Once off of the rough and narrow road, the tarmac widened and
the race slowed down. Despite some steep rollers, there was still a large
group (60+ guys), and I was farther back than I wanted to be. At the bottom
of the final climb, there was still a large group, and it felt similar to
the last kilometer of a Prospect
Park finish. However,
the pace picked up, and I slowly made my way to the front. The group
thinned out as we hit the first steep section of the road. I was 10th
wheel, or so. I saw a rider or two off the front-- definitely within reach,
but enough of a gap for them to stay away if they were strong. Rather than
bridging up to them, I knew it would be best to sit in and let the finish
play out by itself, as last year I was in a similar position (Tokeneke) and I burned all my matches attacking on the
finishing climb and then getting passed in the uphill sprint.
I think I was 5th wheel in the middle of the climb,
where the trees cleared, and the reservoir was in full view. At this
point I simply followed wheels, and we picked up the guys who were off the
front. I maintained my position as the 200m to go sign came into view.
After observing the finish on the car ride up to the race, I knew that from
the 200m sign, it was actually a lot more than 200m to the finish. I was on
the left side as we passed the sign, and I watched the sprint evolve. I
waited a few seconds after passing the 200m sign, and then stood up on the
pedals, and had a nice acceleration. I passed everyone pretty quickly, and
then pedaled hard for several revolutions before I crossed the line. I
think I won by at least a bike length. Had enough energy left for a snazzy
little fist pump, Jersey
Shore
style."
BEGINNER
TRIATHLETE PROGRAM FOR WOMEN
hosted
by Westwood Cycle
Ladies, this is for you! Gentlemen, please
pass along this information to women you know who might be interested in
giving this exciting and growing sport of triathlon a try.
Team Lipstick is
launching a 12-week beginner triathlete
program for women in Bergen
County. The
program begins June 1. Please come to the information session on
May 20, 7pm at our shop. During the
meeting, Emma will describe the program to you and answer
your questions.
Team Lipstick is
NYC’s largest and most successful all-female triathlon team. You
will be coached by elite level coaches, and supported by experts in the
industry such as doctors, nutritionists, and bike shop owners. Team
Lipstick currently has 50+ member athletes in NYC and Washington D.C.!
Emma Nelson is the
Head Coach and Team Manager of Team Lipstick New Jersey. She
is also the owner of Get Fit NYC, a personal training and coaching company
in NYC and NJ. Emma raced on the women’s professional bike team
– Advil ChapStick. She is a certified
cycling coach, triathlon coach, personal trainer, and yoga
instructor. Emma is also currently working on her M.B.A. at Fairleigh
Dickinson University.
And most importantly and proudly, she's the mother of her 2 1/2
year old son.
Laura Cozik is the founder and CEO of Team Lipstick with chapters in
Washington D.C.
and New Jersey. She
is also the Athletic Director for CNN’s Fit Nation Triathlon
Challenge. Laura is a USA Triathlon and USA Cycling certified
coach who, together with elite level coaches and experts in the multi-sport
industry, will launch the most comprehensive program of the highest quality
for triathlon first timers in New
Jersey.
Please read the attached flyer for information about the
program. Any questions? please
contact Emma@teamlipstick.com, 917-744-6422. Hope to see
you on May 20.
If you can’t make it May 20, there are other
sessions scheduled on May 5 in Tenafly, May 6 in Paramus, May 12 in Englewood, and May 13 in Englewood Cliffs. Contact Emma
Nelson for more information.
Team Lipstick and Get Fit NYC websites:
http://www.getfitnyc.com/
http://www.teamlipstick.com/
Thanks for your continued support and patronage of our
shop.
Mark
Westwood Cycles
SUPPORT THE CONNECTICUT
STAGE RACE ORGANIZED BY FINKRAFT FRIEND BILL THOMPSON
Date: June 5-6, 2010 - Colebrook, CT
see info link below
http://www.connecticutstagerace.com/
REMINDER - COMING UP SOON
ITALY GIRO CAMP 2010
MAY 22 TO MAY 31
STILL A FEW DAYS
LEFT TO SIGN UP!!
Well , the Tucson Camp is done and it is time to think "Italy".
If you read the blog or you attended the AZ camp
you know what it is all about!
I am happy to announce that a long time dream of mine will come true this
2010 spring. FinKraft, in partnership with our
friend Paolo Zenoni who lives in Bergamo,
Italy will provide a
fully supported cycling experience in Italy. Often called “the mother
country of cycling” in many people’s eyes, we will be riding on legendary
roads and routes that the Giro d’ Italia and
other classic road races like Giro di Lombardy have passed through over the years. There
is no other country with such a strong history in cycling and such amazing
scenery.
Cycling there is a culture and if
you love cycling, this trip is a dream come true.We
will leave in the evening from the US
on May 22nd and arrive in Milan
the following morning (May 23rd). If traveling from a different destination
all arrivals have to be on Saturday morning to enable a convenient airport
pick-up for all clients at the same time.
We will have a support van (Team
bus) which will be our transportation during our stay. Each client is
responsible for his or her own airline ticket and bike transport to Milan, but group
discount for airline tickets might be available. Upon arrival at our base
camp Hotel Cascina Belvedi
(http://www.cascinabelvedi.it/)
we will get settled and after a short nap we will assemble our bikes and go
for a light spin before dinner.
The
personnel is English speaking and our
accommodations include a big breakfast and a nice real authentic Italian
dinner every day. The ride program will be flexible with weather conditions
and logistics such as travel to and from different locations.
Here is a preliminary route schedule:
Saturday:
arrive at the airport on the 22nd (leaving the US the 21st); bus transfer to
the hotel; bikes assembly and short easy facultative ride.
Sunday:
scenic loop, relatively flat and visit to the old city of Bergamo (Citta`Alta).
Spouses take public transportation (easy) and meet up in Citta` Alta. Riding time: 4 hours
Monday:
hilly ride, Passo San Marco. Spa day/hiking for
the spouses (stores are closed Monday morning but open in the afternoon
around 3:30pm so shopping not possible in the am). Riding time: 5 hours.
Tuesday: bus transfer to the beautiful town of Stresa
and flat ride around Lago Maggiore. Spouses can
enjoy strolling through the town and taking a ferry ride on the lake,
visiting the isles and the enchanting gardens. Riding time: 6 hours.
Wednesday:
hilly ride to Madonna del Ghisallo and visit to
the museum of the cyclists and to the sanctuary of the Madonna del Ghisallo. Spouses take bus to Bergamo and train to Milano
to shopping/sightseeing - full day for them and rest afternoon for us.
Riding time: 4 hours.
Thursday:
travel by bus to Bormio. Climb the Mortirolo and the Gavia
passes. Spouses have the opportunity to see this alpine town, where the
World Ski Cup is held every year and ride by bus to the ski town of Livigno enjoying breathtaking mountain views (1,5 hour
by bus from Bormio) and tax free shopping. Riding
time: 6 very tough hours.
Friday:
easy ride around the Bergamo
area. Relaxing in countryside for the spouses. (Idea: take local bus to either
1) horseback riding in Valle Imagna for a few
hours, 2) visit to winery locally, 3) indoor swimming pool for fun with the
kids, etc) Riding time: 3 hours
Saturday: Giro d'Italia
day! Bikes will be left at hotel and everyone can have a fun day watching
the hill finishing 20th stage of the Giro (Bormio - Ponte di Legno - Tonale) - bus trip to
location to watch stage and back later to hotel.
Sunday:
Nice ride through the rolling vineyards of Franciacorta;
bikes packing. Wives bus to Bergamo, train
to Lake Como for the day) Riding time: 4
hours. Monday: Bus transfer to the airport. Program may change due to
weather reasons.
Monday: Bus transfer to Airport Total riding time: at least 32
hours with some extremely challenging climbs.
Deadline for sign up is May 10, 2010. There are a lot of logistics for this
trip, so the sooner the better.
Thanks
Roger
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