Pronghorn Racing Blog

Season opener in Denmark

Klaus Nielsen — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 23:43:22 +0000

It is 1.30 in the night, and I can’t sleep, so this is a good time for writing my blog. The late time of day can excuse all my spelling mistakes. Well today was the first race in the danish race season, and we had a kickoff with international cat2 race. Today was also the first day in my new team-outfit of the join-venture of Rumen Voigt and me. So today was a kind of a start of new thing, so I must admit I was a bit nervous, but everything went as it should, Rumen did a good seasonstart and finished 24th, maybe not his best result, but now he is started and can move on. I have already had several starts this year, so race pace was’nt too big a problem. Well, I was the one setting the pace, and winning the race. Did I mention that we had 4 degrees and rain, and a lot of running?
So now I am sitting here sleeples, which is actually pretty common for me, espescially after racing, I think it has something to do with all the reflections and impressions of a day like this. I haven’t mentioned my bike in this blog, but I can say that it worked problemless, it seems like I’ve found the right setup, and it did its job without any problems at all, despite the severe muddy conditions. Tomorrow there will be lots of cleaning….

The first Marathon in 2010

Simon Qvortrup — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:11:03 +0000

It was time for the Silkeborg Marathon, the race know to be the start of the season in Denmark. Even though it’s a Amateur Marathon arranged by a club hardly reconised in Denmark at any other races, it’s still a great race though it’s almost 99,9 % gravel roads. But it’s still a extremely hard due to the long climbs and they are every where on the course. I mainly entered the race the test how my training was going so i was a little nervous before the start and also i had no idea how everyone else was doing atm. But after the first 10 km, i still felt great and the first elite riders had already fallen behind. after another 20 km, we were a group of only 6 people in the front and i felt superior, usually i always fell like im dying when during marathons, but this time was different. i startede playing a little with them, but i didn’t dare to make a real move. I figured after a while that they were 2 strong riders in the group who could make a difference and decide the outcome og the race, Allan Bachmann, the train and the specialized guy, Thomas Bundgaard. I had a little crisis on a few climbs after about 45 km, but else i still felt superior. Nothing really happend in the group until 10 before the finish line. Magnus from the national team made his move, he had been passiv the whole race and hadn’t been in front even once. He was extremely strong at the climbs and made us all look like we stood still. at the same time my legs began to cramp, i have never in my entire life had cramps more than just a single contraction but this time they didn’t go away. I fell a littel behind, but was able to keep the gap at about 100 meters, but wasn’t able to catch up. Though i didn’t quite understand it, my legs where great, not even tiret, i wasn’t dehydrated actually i couldn’t see any reason why i got cramps. I ended sixth final, which i wasn’t really satisfied with. but then again, i got a good indication of that my training is going alright.

So close, but yet far away!

Klaus Nielsen — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:15:22 +0000

This was my last day in training camp in Cyprus. This wa being celebrated with a race of course. Everything has actually been going my way, training has been good, the course suits me, and my bike suits the course just perfect. The course had relative short climbs, but very steep, and some cool decents, with nice rockgardens. So the scenarie was set. Before the start I had small accident with a puncture and a small argument with an uci-commisaire about starting position, but nothing that could spoil my day. Well I started out in position 40, and after the start loop I think I was somewhere the same. These starts tend to be faster and faster. Slowly I started to work my way up through the field, I definatly had an advantage of my suspension on this rocky course. I the end of second last lap I had a rear-wheel puncture, well, my wheel got torn completely apart, sad as I was in 8-10th position an moving forward. So everything was a kind of wasted work. But hey, now I know my form is in the right place, but it would have been nice though with a good result. Tomorrow I will go back to Denmark, and do my last training before the Danish season-opener. I can guarantee the I will do my best to get a top finish there.

A good start is’nt always half the job!

Klaus Nielsen — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:54:44 +0000

Dear friends, as I told you earlier I have planned to update my blog i bit more often, so that is what I am doing right now. I am still in training-camp in Cyprus, which I of course enjoy. Last weekend I did a small stage-race here in Cyprus, or rather, I did some of a stage race. First stage was a time-trial of apx 25 minutes. On race-day rain was pooring down, and temperature was dropped to about degrees. Normally i do a lot of warming-up, but in this weather it would be more like cooling-down, so I decided to stay in the car, with the heater on for 2 hours before the start, watching the other guys outside, trying to warm up. Normally I hate starting out with cold legs, but I thought, hey it is only 20 minutes of pain!
2 minutes before my start I made my move and jumpe don the bike and dropped the hammer. Boy I felt terrible, slow and heavy legs. I was pretty sure I had done a time in the heavy end of the results list, so I was surprised when I saw I did 11th best time. Well, back to the car. This day I only had 23 minutes of training, but I was a wreck in the evening anyway. Next stage was a point to point race, in freezing cold again, but the course made a bit up for it, it was really cool. I got dropped after 40 minutes in the front group, and thought that I would be alone the rest of the day. Later on I got cought by young-gun Thomas litcher, and we teamed up and started to catch some of the riders from the frontgroup. On the highest point of the course i dropped Thomas, and since it was downhill almost to the fininshline I thought I was homesafe. But this guy is furious, I have never seen anything like this on hardtail, he just past me like I was parked in a parking lot. I must admit that I was really impressed of this guys riding technique.
I ended up in 18th spot. The day after was i typical xc race, on a cool course. Only problem was that I fucked up my head the day before, and did not get any sleep, could not concentrate, and abandoned the race midway. Alway keep your mind on what you are doing. So now I will try and do my best to make up for it in the upcoming weekend.

back again!

Klaus Nielsen — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:38:50 +0000

Hey Folks!
This time I promis that my blog will be updated a lot more often. Raceseason is right around the corner, which gives me something to write about. Well season is actually started right now. At this very moment I am in Cyprus for training camp, and, yes you have guesed rigth, Cyprus Sunshine Cup.
I actually like winter, as long as it is freezing and snow, and it was actually really cool that we almost had a white christmas. But now, apx 1 month before european season kickoff it would have been nice with some + temperatures. But winter will not take an end, so I desided to go to Cyprus for a couple of weeks of training and racing, to get a way from the snow-masses. But since all europe is covered in snow, I am not the only euro-pro visiting cyprus. So there is a lot of people here I know, and it is nice to see everybody again. The races here are a bit harder than normal as well. So this is a good opportunity to test my form. Well, it was already testet in the labor back home, and the tests showed that I have never been stronger in a January test before, but one thing is testing, another is racing. Last weekend was first race here, and I did a 15th spot, from a starting-position of 76, so that was good for me. Today was first day of a 3 day stage-race, and I did 11th spot. It was a time-trial in heavy rain, and to be honest I felt slow and like crap. But in some way or another i managed to go fast. Tomorow will be a point to point race. I don´t have a clue about the course, so it will be a kind of a surprise race, you never know what´s around next corner. Stay tuned!

Klaus

First Race in season 2010

Simon Qvortrup — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:05:02 +0000

After the usual ski trip with my best mates highscool class and those massive alcohol amounts i have been consuming the the last month. My body felt torn apart and everything but ready to race. Still I decided to compete in the fight for glory and honor in the 3rd round of the Wintercup.
I’m fairly satisfied with the result, even when i look beyond the circumstances. I ended up in 4th place on my 15 kilo aluminum training Prongy with absolutly no Carbon parts at all, Heavy Deore wheels and 2,4 Nobby nics equipped. I’m not letting my beloved lightweight Prongy loose in this horrible weather.

But back to what matters, the race went good from the beginning I took the backwheel of Allan Bachmann, and Erik Knudsen, the 2 men in Denmark with the most horsepowers as long as it’s flat or a constant gradient which also would be the best way to descripe this race course. So I figured as long as I keep this backwheel I should be the best suited for the sprint and the last slippery hill just before it. But unfortunatly I crashed on the only real singletrack on the 3rd round of 5. And wasn’t able to catch these horses again. Also Klaus vesterlund, the now previous Pronghorn rider, overtook me when i crashed. The last 2 rounds I was able to keep a good pace myself and didn’t lose too much time to the lead, about 45 seconds. Klaus Veserlund Won with Allan as number 2 and Erik Knudsen as number 3.

Better get some race training going soon

Heaven on earth.

Klaus Nielsen — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:12:15 +0000

Once again I can start my blog by saying, long time no hear. Normally when I say that, it is due to being too busy, but this time I have actually been busy doing nothing. Well at this time of year circus mtb makes their biggest stunt of the year by throwing all the cards up in the air, nobody knows where they will be for the next season, it allways gives everybody some uncertainess, and this year was no mistake, same procedure as last year.
The uncertainess is the uncoolest part of the bike-business, and for me it sometimes can take a toll. This year it was extreme, and the toll it took on me was extreme, so I really had some bad days, and the biggest support is my longtime girlfriend. Writing my blog was’nt highest priority.
It this moment things starts to brighten, and the big puzzle starts to show a picture, it is definatly not that everything is set, but the biggest bricks are there, and that’s the most important.
I have also started training again, well I did’nt actually stop, I hate not using my body, but now I have started training after planned programmes again.
This weekend was pretty tight sceduled, and right now it is a quarter past midnight tuesday, and the weekend is’nt over. It started saturday morning where I did a training-clinic with a danish mtb-club, after that I went home, changed clothes, packed a clean bike in the trunk and went to Osnabrück Germany. Sunday morning I teamed up with our Netherland-dirstributor, to make a presspresentation for the dutch market, it was pretty cousy, and we made some good footage on some cool local trails, the day ended close to midnight. Sunday morning I went training in Germany, I was pretty tired, so discovering a small bit of heaven on earth was the big prize of the day. The trails of Bad Iburg (osnabrück) is unknown, but really worth the effort to visit. That gave me some extra energy, and some inspiration to this blog. After training I packed the car and drove to Hamburg and stayed the night.
Tuesday morning, really morning, I went by plane from Hamburg to stuttgart to meet some new interesting people for our company, and have coffee with my old teammate Jochen Käss. Jochen has made a Barista course, and now makes the best coffee in town. I also had some good time with my long time friend and mechanic Eddy, who was kind enough to drive me around to the people I needed to see.
21.40 I flew back to Hamburg to pick up my car and go home, and here I am 00.36 wednesday, sitting on the ferry, waiting to do the last stint of driving.
Pheeew, time goes by.
Gentlemen, start your engines!

Podium Finish for Pronghorn in the US

Ray Storm — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:52:53 +0000

Wow What a race to end the season. My second ever endurance race, and already guys on the start line where talking about not wanting to race against me. The race two weeks before I was on fire, and if it were not for the three flats I would have won. Most of the gus had been at the last race and where not looking forward to me putting the pressure on early.

The week leading up to the race was hard, I was sick and did not get good rest, but there was no way I was going to let his stop me from trying to win. As the gun went off, I just attacked right away. I found the last race that these endurance racers do not like to go fast from the start. I had a big gap going into the single track, but after a few miles I knew I had to back off. The lack of sleep was really slowing me down. So I settled in and waited for some help. I was joined by Davis Bently (junior national team member) and Greg Anderson (Morgan Stanley team). The great thing was that all three of us have the same coach, Dario Fredrick (whole athlete). So for three laps we took turns on the front and work harded together. We even shared food, seems strange to do in a race against opponets.

The last lap rolled around, and I knew what was coming. My legs were hurting by this point in the race, but if I was suffering so were the other two guys. We hit the first climb and Greg had some sort of mechanical, so I attacked. He bridged up to Davis and I, and we kept going. Greg came around at one point and hit the front hard, It took everything I had to hold his wheel, but I knew if I wanted to win I had to beat him!

I had to get on the front to control Greg and keep him from attacking anymore. So I took the front, and set the pace. Greg faultered on a corner and I attacked again, again he bridged up. We hit some sand and I attacked again, but could not break those two. I attacked two more times over the last few miles but just could not shake them, they wanted the win too. With bout two hundred meters to go I stood up to sprint for the line and a win…but my leg cramped and I had to settle for second.

I really happy with second, to fight so hard for a race is amazing. I am also really excited to know that I can race and win these unltra endurance mtn. bike races and am looking forward to winning the National Ultra Endurance series next year.

Thank you all for your support.

Ray Storm

Hello from the states

Ray Storm — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:12:15 +0000

Hello everyone! Ray Storm from the US, I think the lone Pro for Pronghorn over here. It has been great to hear about how well everyone did this season, I am stoked to have such fast teamates.

I know the race season has come to close over there, but I have one more race to go. Having switched from the gravity and sprints to endurance racing, I am trying to get some late season racing in so I know how to train over the winter.

I raced last week, first endurance race, and had a great race! I thought I was going to get my doors blown off, but instead set the fastest lap time and had a huge gap on the field…intill I proceeded to get 3 flats in a row. Bad luck, but it is good to know I made the right choice to start racing endurance. So I hope to have some good luck this weekend and bring home my first Pro victory and first pro victory for Pronhorn here in the states.

I will let you all know how it goes

Ray Storm

This is my race face!

Testing the T2T

Klaus Nielsen — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:14:03 +0000

I haven’t really been riding a hardtail lately cause I am really satisfied with my fully. But in this part of the season (offseason) I like to experiment a little, so I have decided to make some testing on our T2T hardtail, and compare some laptimes on my hometrails to my fully. I tested the T2T almost 2 years ago as a prototype, backthen I was a hardtail puritan, but things have changed. Now it was time to ride the production model, build with the same choice of components as my fully. Off I went, boy this thing accelerated from the parkinglot, but as soon I hit the trail things got a little more shaky… There is no doubt that a ultrastiff and light hardtail like this is the hammer when climbing, but doing sharp turns and descending got pretty freightning. I went home again to change wheels for something more voluminous with bigger knobs to compensate. Things got a little better, and I tried to do a couple of laps on my training course, a typical hardtailcourse. At the end of the day it was time to try and do a couple of fast laptimes, they all ended up in around 17.50. Normally i do around 17.35-17.45 on my fully. Maybe I am not fit anymore, and the fully makes more fun to ride, so next day I hit the same trail with my fully, with 17.35 as a result again. So I am pretty sure what my choice would be. With my fully I can ride smaller tyres, and smaller knobs, which all gives lighter and better accelerating wheels. So overall on a course like this I think I am better off with my fully. I will of course be testing all winter in all conditions to figure out under witch conditions I will ride different setups.