Big Wheel Racing

Matt, Jeni and Jeff rode the 3rd annual Durango Fall Blaze Century. This is the 3rd time for Matt & Jeni and the 2nd time for Jeff. Definitely proof this is a century worth placing on the calendar for next year. Appropriately named, the century provides riders with a blaze of Fall color during the entire ride.

Jeff came in at approximately 5.5 hours for the century, and Matt & Jeni rolled in about 20 minutes later…still sub 6 hours!

Many thanks to our sponsors that continue to make this happen for us: Dr. James Slaman (for funding Jeni’s race efforts); Canfield Insurance (for funding Matt’s race efforts); High Desert Bicycles (for supporting us in numerous ways and decking us out in super nice Specialized gear); King Cage (for titanium water bottle cages that never mess up your bottles); Nuun (keeping the electrolytes flowing through the system); Maxxis (to keep us spinning in style); and Sock Guy (for the awesome rasta socks).

Jeff Hemperley, Jeni Turgeon and Matt Turgeon participated in the 133-mile road ride from Telluride. CO to Moab, UT held in support of the Just for Kids Foundation called Mountains to the Desert Ride.  The ride was very, very fast with Jeff arriving in a little over 6 hours and Jeni and Matt riding as a duo in 7.5 hours.  The event was top notch and very well run and the views were amaxing.  Supporting chairty rides is a goal of Big Wheel Racing and we look forward to particupating in more of these in addition to our regular races.  The team members enjoy supporting the grassroots charity events and this one turned out to be one of the best events the team has participated in.  Way to go Telluride!

Team Big Wheel Racing made a great showing at the 12-hours of Snowmass in Aspen, CO this year by picking up the first place men’s solo singlespeed title. Jeni Turgeon worked the pits and supported Matt in the first run of this event which was overshadowed by Lance Armstrong’s return to cycling.

The event was put on by endurance mountain bike racings legend Nat Ross - thanks Nat for such a fun event and we guarentee the team will reutrn in next years event!  Nat did an unbelieveable job in this first year race and it has to be one of the best race experiences the team has seen.  Way to go Snowmass!

Jeff Hemperley and Matt Turgeon rode the Vapor Trail 125 in Salida, Co this year. this was Jeff’s first attempt and Matt’s second at this invitation only event help by Absolute Bikes in Salida, CO. Jeff and Matt were very appreciative of the invitation and want to thank Shawn Gillis and Tom Purvis for all of the help and support for this epic event! Way to go guys!

Somebody had to do it! (Again)

I had not done a road race yet, and with the New Mexico state championship race coming up, I decided it was time. However, I wanted to do it on my Specialized Singlecross. I’ve never heard of a singlespeed category in road events, but it didn’t happen in mountain biking until enough people wanted it. I think road racing started with SS or fixie.

This bike has become my multi-purpose bike- NMORS, NMES, TT, NM Cross, and now road racing. The course wasn’t bad for a SS, no long flats, just down and back up, from and to Oak Flat Picnic Area.

Another motivating factor to enter this race was that CAT V was a distinct group, instead of the usual combination of categories.

The race was exciting, I was up front for most of the first lap of three. There was an unseen break from behind as we headed up the climbs on 14, and I wasn’t able to catch them; I’ll pay better attention next time. I finished 8^th out of about 15 CAT V’s. And, yes, I was the only singlespeeder there.

The promoter offered me a gold medal, but I gave it back.

Chris Hereford