Morgan Stanley Smith Barney/Specialized Racing

It's that time again: Bike for Tots 2010!

It's that time of year again. Bikes for Tots 2010 is October 16th. Join the Team for a fantastic ride for all levels in the lovely wine country, followed by a delicious lobster dinner. The proceeds all go towards providing bikes for children in need and funding junior bike racers. Good times, good cause.

Check it: Anderson, Dyrwal Take One-Two at Dunnigan

New District Champ: Chris Phipps!

Beating out a stellar field that included national champions, Chris Phipps broke it apart, then dropped his only surviving competitor to solo the last four miles for a clear win. Congratulations!

Lodi Crit: Win

Congrats to Greg Anderson for his win in the 35+ 1/2/3 field!

Also of note: Chris Baker make the podium at 4th place in a highly competitive NorCal Pro/1/2 field.

Great work!

Wins at Davis on 4th of July, Late Report of Another Win at Leesvilee

Sure, there might be another bike race in -- where, again, France? -- going on and taking up some headlines, but it's good to remember the local heros.

Mark Caldwell whittled down the 55+ field at the hot and windy Leesville Gap road race, driving from the front on gravel and rutted roads for 10 minutes before the major climb of the day, then escaping and staying away.

And at the next day's Davis 4th of July criterium, Caldwell repeated, gathering two victories in two days at two very different races. Top sprinter Brian Fessenden solidly beat the field for second.

In the 35+ 1/2/3 race at Davis, Chris Baker and Alex Holtz powered to a 1-2 finish! What a podium shot (hint: can't wait to see it)!

Phipps Solos Away at Hot, Windy Leesvile Gap RR

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney/Specialized team riders put the screws to the 35+ field, whittling it down over the rough (and unpaved) roads before the major climb of the day. From there they launched Chris Phipps, who fought the conditions for the remainder of the race to take the big win.

From teammate Paul Dyrwal, who came in an amazing 6th place:

"Chris attacked from the big climb and solo'd the remaining 2 hours to victory, in hot, windy, rough conditions. Very impressive.

Briefly, we had somewhere between 17-20 guys to start. We absolutely drilled the rough section of road in the cross winds leading up to the climb -- with Alex Smith doing several impressive turns at the front and guttering the rest of us in the process -- to the point where there were only 6 or 7 of us left when we started the climb, with Phipps and me still in there. (I think Harlan might have had a mechanical earlier.) I was at my limit when we started the climb and soon fell off. Shortly after I came off, Chris saw an opportunity and drilled it, dropping everyone for good.

I ended up holding on for 6th."

It's been a good 2010 so far!

What with recent wins at the Pescadero Road Race (John Ford in the 45+ field, Steve Archer in the 55+, with Mark Caldwell close behind Steve and Chris Phipps a solid 3rd place in the 35+), top positions in the 2010 Best All-Around Rider competition (Phipps leading the 35+ ahead of some Pros; Caldwell sitting atop the 55+ with Brian Fessenden, Steve Archer, and Joe Saunders all in the top 10; Eric Saltzman knocking on a top 10 in the 45+)... well, it's no wonder that Morgan Stanley Smith Barney/Specialized is solidly up there in the Best All-Around Team list, even without a Pro/1/2 or developmental team.

Congratulations to team members for all the great work! And the year's not over yet... .

The Team at Camp -- Welcome, 2010!

The weather was great -- a week of sun in between the winter rains that hit California this year. It made for a great time for teammates old and new (some older than others) to catch up, pile on the miles, and challenge individual and team fitness in preparation for the 2010 season.

As has become tradition, a few hard souls added in a few long days, pedaling down to Los Alamos from the Bay Area. That's not a quick jaunt, for you CA-challenged people.

Just look at the smiles and suntans!

KMC Chains Joins as New Sponsor

The Team is only too glad to welcome a new sponsor: KMC USA. We will be training and racing on their top-performing 9- and 10-speed, award-winning chains for the 2010 season. Look for them -- way ahead of you.

Bikes for Tots a Resounding (and Fun) Success!

The 2009 Bikes for Tots charity ride and dinner was a great time. The weather and company were perfect, the riding sweet, the lobster dinner even sweeter (and more savory). We'll keep you updated on when we'll be hosting bike-building nights in the next month (locations include spots in the East Bay, North Bay) -- please consider volunteering. It's fun, worthwhile, and you get to see the smiles on the faces of numerous children. What could be better?

A report from team member Paul Chuck:

"I was fortunate to have my son Colby with me this year at the Bikes for Tots event and at the end of the day he  old me that this was "one of his best days ever."

He did the short ride with me and we finished off a wonderful ride at the Bouchon Bakery with Scott and Ann Cole and Diane. Pastries and savory treats with coffee and Chai Lattes.

Shawn...you get better and better every year. The food was fabulous and having Freddy there was worth at least 10 more bikes for the kids. I must let everyone know that Shawn was first to the park Saturday morning but made up for it by being "fashionably late" for the Healdsburg All Club Ride this morning. We chased back on.

Thanks to all of you for not bidding against Colby in his quest for the Specialized sunglasses. When he found out he won he was grinning from ear to ear. For sure it was the coup de grace that topped off the evening. He went
for a ride with him Mom this morning and proceeded to blow her doors off. She was glad he rode yesterday and that he was "tired out" or else it could have been real ugly. He said the glasses definitely made him ride better.

As team members it's nice to see what we can do when we don't wear spandex. I'm extremely proud of what we do for the Trips for Kids program and the Fast Freddy Foundation. I'm hoping next years edition is even better than
this year.

Colby can't wait.

Paul"