The TBD Newsletter: Welcoming Spring, Waiting for Summer

It’s well into race season here in NYC, with some teammates even racing 5 times in the last 5 weeks! Incredible! While the author of this newsletter idiotically signed up for a late May half marathon and won’t be racing, I’ve really enjoyed watching the races we’ve had so far and joining for the all-important post race coffee.

As a team we’ve been extremely busy training, racing, and enjoying our new kit for 2023. Stay tuned for some gear reviews coming out in the next few weeks. So far the team-branded Unlimited bibs have been extremely popular. Below you’ll find a few of our favorite articles from the first couple months of 2023.

GREAT DIVIDE: WYOMING/IDAHO RECAP 

Baker’s multi-part journey along the Great Divide continues with Wyoming and Idaho. As he wrote: “Six months ago, my best friend Will Reynolds and I embarked on a life-changing experience on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. The Wyoming and Idaho portion of the GDMBR rocked our worlds with ungodly headwinds, but we managed to capture the most content between these two states.”

The view from the Great Divide.

NEW BIKE DAY: THE FACTOR OSTRO VAM

New bike day is always fun. Especially when the bike is from a brand that is entirely new to the TBD family. But with our friends at ACME Bicycle Co working closely with Factor over the past few years, Matt wanted to give their well reviewed aero race machine - the Factor Ostro VAM - a try.

Matt’s gorgeous Factor Ostro VAM in British Racing Green.

The Old Man Winter Rally Race Report

Danielle, our last remaining CO-TBD member, has a packed race calendar and writes an absolutely hysterical race report from the Old Man Winter Rally in Lyons, Colorado. Is it a race report or a roast of her husband (and partly the author of this newsletter)? Why not both? We’re looking forward to hearing more about Danielle’s adventures out West this year.

Long’s Peak in the distance on a Colorado bluebird day is a sight to behold

Baker’s Prospect Park Race Report, with Pictures

Baker, our most enthusiastic gravel racer turned roadie, reports from his second place finish in Prospect Park. Did he sprint standing up? Maybe. Did he get on the podium anyway, after a late game night, like a true champion? Absolutely.

A gorgeous morning in Prospect Park

Hannah’s Long Island MTB Guide - Glacier Ridge

Hannah, one of our new members on the women’s team, has been riding her mountain bike on Long Island since high school. She writes an extremely useful guide to one of her favorite LI MTB destinations, which I had the pleasure of riding with her on New Year’s Day, due to some climate weirdness. While I’d recommend going with someone familiar with the trail system for your first few rides, if you wish to check it out Hannahs’s guide is terrific. Looking forward to the next guide, and some warmer MTB rides!

An excerpt from Hannah’s guide to Long Island Mountain Biking at Glacier Ridge

RIDING AUSTRALIA'S GREAT SOUTHERN RAIL TRAIL

Rod recaps his journey back to Australia that included some very nice riding on the Great Southern Rail Trail: “I travelled to Australia to see my family for the first time in six years in early September 2022.  Time with my family is precious, but traveling with my bike ensures I keep a good balance and my fitness goals on track.  I first spent a couple of days in Melbourne, riding with my sister and brother in-law, appreciating the wonderful cycling infrastructure, the café culture and finals footy at the MCG.”

The beautiful Australian landscape from Rod’s post.