Team SPOKES Go4theSummit is a new venture into competitive racing. By partnering with Go4theSummit we are choosing not to just push ourselves and our equipment to the limits, but to Explore, Motivate, and Educate others about this world that we're embarking!
the team
“I have always struggled to achieve excellence. One thing that cycling has taught me is that if you can achieve something without a struggle it’s not going to be satisfying.”
louis patten
mat fassbinder
DAY JOB: High School Science teacher
Mountain Bike races completed: 0
Fun Fact: Mat once was a part of team that ran across Canada
louis patten
DAY JOB: Senior Business Analyst, Target
Mountain Bike races completed: 0
Fun Fact: Louis recently upgraded from a full suspension Magna to a full carbon Foundry Broadaxe
Mat Fassbinder
justin
justin ratzlaff
DAY JOB: Bike shop owner, SPOKES
Mountain Bike races completed: 4
Fun Fact: Justin is the only one of the team who had a mountain bike at registration time
christian gilbert
DAY JOB: 8th grade geography teacher, Clearwater middle School
Mountain Bike races completed: 0
Fun Fact: Gilbert convinced everyone to do this race...he may be hated at the end
christian
the races
saturday april 26th, DECORAH TIME TRIALS
DECORAH, IOWA is a town of 8,000 with 500 acres of park land, 20 miles of off-road biking trails, and home to the longest running mountain bike event in Iowa.
The 8.75 mile course winds through the rolling, wooded areas of the Decorah Parks System and includes lots of technical single track.
The team will use this race to test out the new equipment, and see how the early
spring training is going
RACE REPORT
team pre-race
Christian - 29/68 1:08:11.15
Justin - 34/68 1:10:01.72
Mat - 46/68 1:14:03.94
Louis - 66/68 1:46:16.91
It was a beautiful spring day in Decorah, IA. The course was slightly tacky, mostly dry providing fast conditions. Fortunately no flats or major equipment malfunctions; a couple dropped chains. Christian and Louis had a few crashes and managed to summersault while still being clipped in to his bike. All and all a great, demanding experience that taught us we need to DEFINITELY get some more miles in before Lutsen, TWO MONTHS FROM TODAY!
-Justin 4.28
saturday june 28th, LUTSEN 99er
this is what it's all about!
"The Lutsen 99er movement continues June 28, 2014, high above the shores of beautiful Lake Superior. This 99-mile course (39- and 19-mile options also offered) takes advantage of the scenery and topography of Minnesota's North Shore.
We will start at Lutsen Ski Resort, in Minnesota’s Sawtooth Mountains overlooking majestic Lake Superior, as we begin a fantastic Category 3 climb. Once over the ridgeline, the course takes advantage of the glacially sculpted terrain, rolling hills, and numerous lakes and streams at the southern range of the Boreal Forest. You will be riding on sections of road and trail that see as much moose traffic as people traffic at any given time."
