Congratulations go out to all of the Red Peloton racers for an absolutely stellar 2011 season! Including the 2010 CX season, Red Peloton tallied a total of 63 podium finishes and another 92 top 10 finishes (4th-10th place). That is nothing short of outstanding considering that those results do not include the local TNTs, Grasshoppers, etc! What makes this even more amazing is that this was all done while maintaining a great core of philanthropy and support for our local community charitable events like the Tour de Fuzz and organizations like Santa Rosa’s chapter of Bikes for Humanity.

Needless to say, Red Peloton is proud of all our racers! A big thank you to ALL of our team members, sponsors and supporters for making this a wonderful 2011 season and we are looking forward to an even more successful 2012!

+ 2011 TOP 10 RACING RESULTS +

Bay Area Women’s Cycling Series
Martha Bellisle, 1st Place, Masters division

NorCal MTB Championship Series, Weaverville, CA – October 22, 2011
Keith Flood Sport Singlespeed, 1st Place Overall

Lagrange Fall Classic, Weaverville, CA – October 22, 2011
Keith Flood Sport Singlespeed, 1st Place

Whiskeytown Classic MTB XC, Whiskytown, CA – Sept. 25, 2011
Keith Flood, 1st place, Men SS Sport

Folsom Cyclebration Omnium, Folsom, CA – Sept. 17-18, 2011
Kashy Ghazzagh, Men Cat 3 – 7th in ITT, 4th in Crit, 8th in RR = finished 1st overall
Dan Boyle, Men Cat 3 – 31 in ITT, 1st in Crit, 5th in RR = finished 5th overall
Nick McGowan, Men Cat 4 – 18th in ITT, 5th in Crit, 5th in RR = finished 5th overall
Nina Strika, Wm Cat 1,2,3 – 3rd in ITT, 14th in Crit, 6th in RR = finished 3rd overall
Lauren Rignel, Wm Cat 4 – 4th in ITT, 7th in Crit, 1st in RR = finished 2nd overall
Shannon Mitchell, Wm Cat 4 – 10th in ITT, 21st in Crit, 8th in RR = finished 8th overall
Jennifer Kruger, Wm Cat 4 – 9th in ITT, 19th in Crit, 14th in RR = finished 10th overall
Jonathan Lee, Men Pro,1,2 – 8th in ITT, 10th in RR (11th overall)
Kelli Badillo, Wm Cat 4 – 6th in ITT (11th overall)
Laurie Peterson, Wm 35+ – 4th in ITT (5th overall)
Anette Niewald, Wm 35+ – 5th in ITT (6th overall)

Sacramento Grand Prix, Sacramento, CA – Sept. 10, 2011
Kashy Ghazzagh, 7th place, Men 35+ 3,4

Esparto Time Trial, Esparto, CA – Sept. 4, 2011
Jonathan Lee, 1st place, 35+ 1,2,3
Nina Strika, 2nd place, Wm 1,2,3
John Witkowicki, 5th place, Men 45+
Royce Fraley, 6th place, Men 45+
Lauren Rignel, 6th place, Wm Cat 4
Laurie Peterson, 10th place, Wm Cat 4

Central Coast Circuit Race, Monterey, CA – Sept. 3, 2011
Martha Bellisle, 4th place, Wm 35+

Vacaville Gran Prix, Vacaville, CA – Aug. 28, 2011
Nick McGowan, 5th place, Men Cat 4

Winters Road Race, Winters, CA – Aug. 27, 2011
Martha Bellisle, 5th place, Wm’s 30+

Dunnigan Hills Road Race, Yolo, CA – Aug. 13, 2011
Shannon Mitchell, 1st place, Wm’s Cat 4
Lauren Rignel, 3rd place, Wm’s Cat 4
Jennifer Kruger, 4th place, Wm’s Cat 4
Kelli Badillo, 9th place, Wm’s Cat 4

Patterson Pass Road Race, Tracy, CA – Aug. 7, 2011
Shannon Mitchell, 5th place, Wm Cat 4

Fast and Furious Criterium, Pleasanton, CA – Aug. 7, 2011
Jennifer Kruger, 2nd place, Wm Cat 4

Howell Mtn Challenge XC MTB, Angwin, CA – Aug. 7, 2011
Keith Flood, 6th place, Men SS Sport

Foothill College Circuit Race, Los Altos, CA – July 31, 2011
Kashy Ghazagh, 5th place, Men Cat 3

2 Wheel Cycling and Early Bird Criterium, Rohnert Park, CA – July 24, 2011
Javier Sanchez, 1st place, M 40+, 3,4
Kashy Ghazzagh, 4th place, M 40+ 3,4
Royce Fraley, 6th place, M 40+ 3,4
Nick McGowan, 2nd place, Cat 4
Matt Abbott, 8th place, Cat 3
Jennifer Kruger, 2nd place, Wm’s Cat 4
Martha Bellisle, 6th place, Wm’s 35+ 1,2,3

Berkeley Criterium, Berkeley, CA – July 17, 2011
Mike Charleton, 6th place, 35+ 1/2/3
Stephanie Buckner, 4th place, Wm’s Cat 4

Colavita Criterium, Novato, CA – July 16, 2011
Jonathan Lee, 3rd place, M’s 35+ 1/2/3
Jonathan Lee, 4th place, M’s 2/3
Jenny Gott, 1st place, Wm’s Cat 3
Shannon Mitchell, 2nd place, Wm’s Cat 4
Kelli Badillo, 6th place, Wm’s Cat 4
Lauren Rignel, 9th place, Wm’s Cat 4
Nina Strika, 4th, Wm’s Cat 1/2/3
Jenny Gott, 7th, Wm’s Cat 1/2/3
Gary Land, 7th place, 35+ 3/4
Nick McGowan, 8th place, Cat 4

San Rafael Twilight Criterium, San Rafael, CA – July 9, 2011
Michael Charleton, 4th place, M’s 35+ 1/2/3
Kashy Ghazzagh, 2nd place, M’s 35+ 3/4
Eric Cinnamon, 9th place, M’s 35+ 3/4

Burlingame Criterium, Burlingame, CA – June 26, 2011
Michael Charleton, 5th place, M’s 35+ 1/2/3

Pescadero Coastal Classic Road Race, Pescadero, CA – June 18, 2011
Craig Fellers, 3rd place, M’s Cat 3

District Time Trial Championships, Sattley, CA – June 12, 2011
Nina Strika, 2nd place, Wm’s 40-44
Laurie Peterson, 5th place, Wm’s 50-54

Benicia Criterium, Benecia, CA – June 12, 2011
Jenny Gott, 1st place, Wm’s Cat 3/4
Jenny Gott, 2nd place, Wm’s 1,2,3
Kashy Ghazzagh, 4th place, 35+ Cat 3/4
Mike Charleton, 5th place, Masters 1,2,3

Joseph Mendes Criterium, Pleasanton, CA – June 11, 2011
Jenny Gott, 1st place, Wm’s Cat 3/4
Jenny Gott, 4th place, Wm’s 1,2,3

Dunlap Memorial Time Trial (ITT and TTT), Davis, CA – June 5th, 2011
Jenny Gott, 1st place, Wm’s Cat 3/4
Nina Strika, 3rd place, Wm’s Pro 1,2
Jonathan Lee, 7th place, Pro 1,2
Matt Abbott, 4th place, Cat 3
Javier Sanchez, 5th place, Cat 3

RP Men (Patrick Zahn, Jonathan Lee, Craig Fellers, Javier Sanchez), 1st place TTT
RP Elite Wm (Jenny Gott, Nina Strika, Soda Sodaro, Martha Bellisle), 1st place Wm’s TTT
RP Club Wm (Lauren Rignel, Kelli Badillo, Jennifer Kruger, Laurie Peterson), 3rd place Wm’s TTT

CCCX Fort Ord XC, Fort Ord, CA – June 5, 2011
Keith Flood, 4th place, Sport Single Speed

Dash for Cash, Pleasanton, CA – June 4, 2011
Craig Fellers, 3rd place, Cat 3
Stephanie Buckner, 5th place, Wm’s Cat 4

Bicycles Plus / Sierra Nevada May Crit, Folsom, CA – May 28, 2011
Lauren Rignel, 6th place, Wm’s Cat 4
Kashy Ghazzagh, 9th place, Masters 30+

Boca Road Race, Reno, NV – May 24, 2011
Martha Bellisle, 1st place, Wm’s C Group (7th overall)

Golden State Circuit Race, Sacramento, CA – May 22, 2011
Shannon Mitchell, 8th place, Wm’s Cat 4

Boggs Bash XC, Angwin, CA – May 21, 2011
Keith Flood, 1st place, Sport Single Speed

Golden State Criterium, Sacramento, CA – May 21, 2011
Shannon Mitchell, 3rd palce, Wm’s Cat 4
Lauren Rignel, 9th place, Wm’s Cat 4
Kashy Ghazzagh, 10th place, Cat 3

Modesto Criterium, Modesto, CA – May 14, 2011
Nick Kersmarki, 1st place, Cat 3
Kashy Ghazzagh, 2nd place, Cat 3

Berkeley Hills RR, Orinda, CA – May 8, 2011
Craig Fellers, 1st place, Cat 3
Nina Strika, 2nd place, Wm’s 35+ 1,2,3
Jenny Gott, 7th place, Wm’s Cat 3
Shannon Mitchell, 8th place, Wm’s Cat 4

Double Dare Duathlon, Asti, CA – May 7, 2011
Jonathan Lee, 1st place (Road edition)

Tri Valley Velo Criterium, Livermore, CA – May 7, 2011
Jennifer Kruger, 7th place, Wm’s 4
Kashy Ghazzagh, 9th place, Cat 3

Wente Criterium, Livermore, CA – May 1, 2011
Craig Feller, 2nd, Cat 3
Kashy Ghazzagh, 3rd, Cat 3

Wente Road Race, Livermore, CA – April 30, 2011
Nina Strika, 9th place, Wm’s 1,2
Martha Bellisle, 10th place, Wm’s 35+ 1,2,3

Menlo Park Grand Prix, Menlo Park, CA – April 23, 2011
Dan Boyle, 1st place, Cat 3
Jenny Gott, 1st Place, Wm’s Cat 3

Chico Stage Race, Chico, CA – April 16-17, 2011
Jenny Gott – Wm’s 1,2,3 – 10th in RR, 7th in TT, 8th in crit; 9th Overall
Jonathan Lee – Pro 1,2, – 4th in TT (17th Overall after all 3 events)

Napa Valley Dirt Classic, Angwin, CA – April 10, 2011
Keith Flood, 3rd in Cat 2/Sport Single Speed

Calaveras Time Trial, Sunol, CA – April 9, 2011
Nina Strika, 2nd in the Women’s Open
Jonathan Lee, 2nd in the Men’s Merckx and 1st in 2-man TTT

Apple Pie Criterium, Santa Rosa, CA – April 3, 2011
Dan Boyle, 1st in Cat 3
Kashy Ghazzagh, 4th in Masters Cat 3/4
Christine “Soda” Sodaro, 4th in Women’s Cat 1,2,3
Jenny Gott, 5th in Women’s Cat 3/4

Boggs 8 Hour Mountain Bike Race, Cobb, CA – April 2, 2011
Keith Flood, 7th in Solo Open Single Speed
Shannon Mitchell, 3rd in 2 Person Women’s
Twyla Robert, 1st in Beginner Women
LeeAnn Pickle, 5th in Beginner Women
Kelli Badillo, 7th in Beginner Women

Bariani Road Race, Knights Landing, CA – March 27, 2011
Nina Strika, 3rd in Women’s Pro 1,2,3
Nick Kersmarki, 8th in Cat 3
Kashy Ghazzagh, 10th in Cat 3
Scott Orton, 4th in Cat 5

Land Park Criterium, Sacramento, CA – March 26, 2011
Jonathan Lee, 1st in 30+ 1,2,3
Kashy Ghazzagh, 8th in Cat 3

Madera Stage Race, Madera, CA – March 11-13, 2011
Jennifer Gott, Women’s Cat 3 – 6th in TT, 2nd in crit, 20 in RR = finished 5th overall
Jonathan Lee, 35+ 1,2,3 – 4th in TT, 21 in crit, 10 in RR = finished 9th overall
Nick Kersmarki, Cat 3 – 14th in TT, 44 in crit, 22 in RR = finished 9th overall
Dan Boyle, Cat 3 – 1st in Crit

Merco Cycling Classic, Merced, CA – March 4-6, 2011
Matt Abbott, 9th place Stage 1 ITT Elite Men’s 3/4/5

Fort Ross Grasshopper, Occidental, CA – February 19, 2011
Jonathan Lee, 7th place

Bicycle Plus Early Bird Criterium, Folsom, CA – February 13, 2011
Jennifer Gott, 2nd place in Women’s Cat 4
Kashy Ghazzagh, 1st place in Masters 35+ Cat 3/4

Valley of the Sun Stage Race, Phoenix, AZ – February 11-13, 2011
Jonathan Lee, 1st place Stage 1 ITT Elite Men’s Cat 2

On Saturday, September 10th, several club & team members gathered atop the first peak of The Geysers to man The Red Peloton staffed rest stop in the 2nd annual Tour de Fuzz. As noted in an earlier announcement, The Tour de Fuzz is but one of the growing number of cycling events taking place here in Santa Rosa and is a fundraiser for the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Program of Sonoma County.

Of the handful of routes on offer that day, the 100 miler was the only one to traverse The Geysers. If ever you’ve ridden The Geysers in their entirety you know what that means and if you haven’t well, you really should. The Geysers serve up some of the most difficult and desolate riding that Sonoma County cycling has to offer. Case in point: though temperatures were quite cool in the valley below, up top it was downright hot with temperatures having already reached the low 80′s by the time we arrived to volunteer at the rest stop at 8:30 in the a.m. Thankfully The Sonoma County Sherriff’s Department thought good to cool everyone off by sending one of their two helicopters up to the top to cool everyone off, if only for a moment. Thanks, guys.:)

Of the near 500 riders registered for The Tour de Fuzz, 140 were signed up for the 100 mile ride, with the first pulling through a little after 9:00 am followed by a steady stream of riders that trickled in until the last rider left the rest stop at 11:30 am. For those of us who regularly ride in local events it was a treat to be on the other side of the ride for a change, assisting winded riders as they crested the climb. Parking bikes, refilling water bottles, advising riders of conditions on the road ahead and a the occasional ill-timed joke were but a few of the amenities provided at The Red Peloton rest stop.

A few select riders were even treated to the support of a couple of roadside cycling fanatics in the form of Jonathan Lee & Nick McGowan, who ran alongside them wildly waving their tee-shirts and shouting in enthusiastic encouragement at the top of their lungs. We still haven’t heard tell whether or not this helped or hindered riders in their completion of The Tour de Fuzz, but of one thing we’re certain: a good time was had by one and all who volunteered their time in support of a great cause and we’re looking very much forward to doing so again at future such events.

Roger Bartels – local pro mountain bike racer, dentist and one of the Red Peloton’s sponsors, finished the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race on Saturday in 7:11hrs placing 23 overall. Congratulations to Roger! LT100 is arguably the toughest MTB race in the United States with a starting elevation of over 9,000′ and tops out at nearly 13,000′ at the halfway point. Last year local Sonoma County pro Levi Leipheimer set a new course record at Leadville besting the like of Lance Armstrong, Dave Wiens and many other pro’s that have suffered through this race over the last 20 years. Roger placed 2nd in the M5 age group and only lost by a few minutes to the legend – Tinker Juarez. Roger is in an inspiration to all of us and we are proud that you are part of our team!

Red Peloton is joining up with the Sonoma County Road Dogs, bike club of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, and Santa Rosa PD’s Blueline Cycling, to sponsor “Tour de Fuzz”, a September 10 charity ride with all benefits going to the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Service of Sonoma County (www.sonomalawchaplains.org).

100m (includes Geysers)($65)/100k ($55)/50K ($45) distances. Law Enforcement demos, live music, huge gourmet burrito meal, open wine bar, $1 beers, real showers, olympic swim pool, bike valet, and much more. Please go to www.tourdefuzz.org for more details and to register.

The Law Enforcement chaplaincy is a non-profit organization whose mission is to respond to requests from law enforcement and provide immediate emotional support and follow up care to them and to the members of our community who have suffered tragedy and loss. They are an interfaith community of compassionate volunteers without religious, political, or legal agendas, who work closely with local law enforcement. It’s a model program that’s making a huge difference here in Sonoma County. Please go to the Chaplaincy’s website to watch their three-minute video “Being There”. Join with local law enforcement on this fun ride, and let’s work together to support a great cause.

Caught in the middle of the on going budget battles within the State of California, Annadel State Park is faced with permanent closure starting in July 2012. Located in the heart of Sonoma County, Annadel is loved by cyclist and pedestrians alike – especially members of Red Peloton. That’s why when a golden opportunity to participate in a major push to keep the gates open presented itself, Red Peloton jumped on the chance.

Piggybacking on the efforts spearheaded by Bike Monkey, LLC through their Annadel XC event, Red Peloton donated $1000.00 to Bike Monkey with the written intent that “…the full amount be donated to Annadel State Park to keep the park open for all users or/and cycling related causes that benefit the park.” It was a donation worthy enough to earn some Twitter love from the Bike Monkey crew:

“@BikeMonkey: HUGE thanks 2 The Red Peloton! They just donated $1000 to Annadel fundraising. Tell ‘em you love ‘em when they pass you.”

In the end, Red Peloton is very excited to give back to our community in this way. Although we may be a cycling club, we truly believe that helping to build a better community as a whole is vital to our well being because it garners respect and understanding between cyclists, pedestrians, and everyone who must share our roads and trails.

Carlos Perez (right) of Bike Monkey receives the $1,000 donation from Red Peloton.