last updated 7/3/2009
junior mountain bike racing team
2009
HOME
Our goal with CycleYouth is to bring racers, coaches and sponsors together in a unified program in order to develop the skills and abilities needed to succeed!
Our Graduates
Congrats to Cory Rimmer and Wes Lamberson
High School Graduates!
CycleYouth
Asheville, NC
CycleYouth copyright 2009
CycleYouth trademark 2009
Thank you to our sponsors, patrons, parents and team for making us a success
WHO's COUNTING?
Out of the CycleYouth Program:
Junior National Champ 2005 2008
Junior Downhill National Champ 2008
Junior Super-D National Champ 2008
Masters National Champ 2001 2003 2008
Collegiate National Champ 2008
Junior National Series Champ 2006
WE ARE!
What would your symbol be
by Wes Lamberson
an essay on love of cycling
MTB Summer Camp
Will be underway the week of June 22nd. Website will be unmanned during this time...
where are they now
see where CY grads are now and what they are doing. [coming soon]
on test
SKINS
A favorite in the CycleYouth wardrobe are out Travel/Recovery tights by Skins read more
May 09
bike frames
Both GT and Storck are helping with bikes. Following being dumped suddenly and without cause by our former sponsor we are glad for the mid-season assistance from GT and Storck. We will narrow down to one bike sponsor for 2010.
Funds Needed
As Seth and Wes head to Germany the expenses are stacking up. This is the first year these programs have been offered to MTB juniors.
The Germany trip is $850 plus airfare, and usac requires $900 for any junior attending the Canadian World Cups; this is a mandatory fee to usac for a junior attending and also does not include travel.
The World Championships will yet be another costly trip and again no other option than traveling with usac is allowed. Fees apply and airfare is not included.
Jesus Martinez is able to race Canada without fees as he can race under the Mexican flag, even though he is a long-time US resident. He will still incur great travel expenses.
Please consider making a donation to CycleYouth to help off-set these racing fees that this year Jesus, Seth and Wes will need.
Donations can be made through
Pay Pal under:
payme@cycleyouth.com
April 09 CycleYouth experiences it's first let-down of the season as the bike sponsor breaches contract. No fault of ours, but this has taken a lot of effort to overcome and has left CY riders out in the cold without the support they need. Mid-season is a bad time of year to have to find and negotiate with new sponsors.
Travels for 2009
An aggressive travel and race schedule is up for our racers in 2009. This will be our most progressive year yet.
Junior Expert racers, Seth Kemp and Wes Lamberson, will attend a USA Cycling camp in Germany for the purpose of exposing them to international competition to better prepare for the World Championships This is a 3-week camp where other juniors from the US live in the team home in and race several times per week.
A big road trip to include the National Championship in Colorado July 18th, then off to Canada for two rounds of the World Cups, of which now there is an official UCI Junior class. After that remains the final two rounds of the Kenda Cup East Series in VT and NY.
Junior riders qualifying for the World Championships will head to Australia. Upon their return the final big event for the year is the Kenda Cup Final in Vegas - a race the whole team should be eligible for.
Juniors
Cycleyouth will be attending the new Kenda US Cup for the East Coast.
We are excited that this new series format has taken over and grateful for Kenda, our own sponsor, getting behind the sport so well.
The main goal for Cycleyouth is US based events and personal goal-reaching, for our mission is to produce quality Pro/Elite racers.
MTB CAMP 09
June 22nd-27th
Cedar Mtn, NC
DuPont Forest
The 2008 Home page is archived here
RIDE TO AUSTRALIA
"When I started racing 5 years ago I never imagined that one day I would be traveling across the World racing." -Jesus Martinez
Join Jesus in a Friends-Ride fundraiser in Little Rock to help Jesus Martinez get to Australia. He will be racing under the Mexican Cycling Federation colors, and has already been approved to race the World Champs, but needs to raise the funds to get there and back. Donations can be made through Pay Pal into the Martinez account:
these donations go straight to Jesus
*COACHING*
Coach Andy Johnston
Customized personal plans for your MTB racing
The troops head to the high mountains in Colorado
With the National Championships happening around July 17th - 19th our racers are there already acclimating to the thin air of the ridiculously high event.
From there riders will split off and head to the Canada World Cups or back home to ready for the final rounds of US Cup East, then off to the World Championships for others.
Recent Top Results
Wes and Seth compete and train in Germany. They are over there getting international race experience and seeing how the euros compete.
Seth wins the marathon and Wes take 9th in a 30 strong junior field in Switzerland.
In 2nd race, which was huge, Seth 20th, Wes writes a report on this race.
In 2nd race, which was huge, Seth 20th, Wes writes a report on this race.
Final German race: Seth 11th, Wes 22nd
Photo Gallery of Germany here
Read more here
CycleYouth gives back
CycleYouth team is collecting and donating prize schwag to the race promoters in order that prizes can be awarded deeper into the junior classes more
US CUP, Cowbell Challenge NC
6-21-09. A hot and humid day at this lowest of events. Half woodsy singletrack and half grass/open field this course was set in a balmy 96 degree heat. In the Expert race our boys took their spots winning Jr Ex and the 30+ race.
Seth and Wes go one-two, while Andy debuts his new GT rig with a win also.
This race may not be seen again on the US Cup as it left many prize winners empty handed. A first place win was awarded the US Cup number plate award and three pretzels. Quite an insult to the racers and a black eye for the race series to have such an disgraceful prize list. The US Cup is to be better than the previous "national" series events, and has lived up to that expectation until now.
GSC at Heritage Park, GA
6-14-09. The first waves saw the Devo racers tear it up. Zach 3rd in kids, Carter, Joe and Hayden 2nd, 3rd and 4th in 11-14, and Andy taking the win in 30+ Expert.
Bump n Grind US Pro Cup
5-31-09. This is the biggest Eastern race for the year so far. With all the pro's and team in attendance the South got a show.
Missing are Seth and Wes who are in Germany, so it was up to Jesus to control the junior field. Despite his common flatting issues Jesus still pulled off a decisive win, rolling right in after Andy's win in the 30+ class.
For Devo Joe, Carter, Hayden and Matt bled the field - see Devo page for more
12 Hours of Tsali, Tsali NC
5-23-09. CycleYouth wins again! This marks the 3rd consecutive year the team has taken top honors racing the 4-man team in the Open/Money class. Official team name: Kenda/mtbandy.com
For the first time the winning team has been comprised of an all teenager squad. This has always been the plan, but last minute issues always kept the team mixed with over-18 riders having to substitute these last two years, and was almost certain to happen again when Cory Rimmer broke his collar bone in two places just 5 weeks ago.
Cory's break was bad enough to require a titanium plate and screws so the bone is stable enough to use now, but against his doctors wishes - that's bike racing!
This was the closest race in history. CycleYouth riders did not take the lead from the start and keep it, rather lost the lead and switched back and forth until early evening when they managed to hold onto what mathematically was the final lead change.
more
Camp Thunder, Thomaston, GA
Andy takes epic long XC race win. Three eleven mile laps. they said a sub hour lap was not possible and that no one would finish under 3 hours. Andy defied both with a finish time of 2:52. Held on a massive Boy Scout property, this is one of Georgia's most challenging courses and has been on hiatus for many years. It is back for good the promoter says.
Kenda Cup #1, SERC #5 Ducktown, TN
5-3-09 Junior Expert sees clean sweep with Seth, Jesus and Wes taking the podium spots.
Andy takes 30+ win, and exciting races in the Devo field.
SERC #4/GSC #3 Fort Yargo, GA
4-26-09 Another beautiful day. In the pro Seth continues his planned rise taking a medal spot with 3rd. Andy follows with a medicore day in 7th.
Wes win Sr Expert race soundly. Cory out due to injury. In the Devo field Carter and Joe go 1st and 2nd with Hayden somewhere in the mix. Zachery in 4th and results from Nutt and others pending.
SERC Round #3, Tsali, NC
4-5-09 Beautiful conditions. Seth takes 8th in another stacked pro/ex field and Cory 21st. Wes, after Saturday's expenditure, finishes 6th in Sr Ex. Andy 2nd, 30+.
4-4-09 On Saturday Andy and Wes competed in the 6 Hours of Warrior's Creek taking the class win in Duo and the overall win. This is why Andy and Wes raced the expert class at Tsali the next day, usually racing pro anyway. Both reported tired legs in Sundays Tsali event. more
SERC Round #2, Chickasaw, TN
A cold day in Tennessee after days of rain and a tornado just a few miles away led up a decent race for us. Sethy and Andy fought the wind, hill, grass and huge pro/ex field to enter the woods in the top 5. The race officials clocks were running fast so Cory and Wesley barely made it to the start line. Actually Sethy just made it but somehow still managed a decent start position. Only Bradley was prompt today since Andy made it with just 2 minutes to spare and without a number plate.
Sethy finished 4th, with Cory in 12th after a long chase and Wes behind him. Brad in the Cat I class, but Andy, probably due to his unusually short warm-up of 1 minute, succumbed to issues and had to pull out.
In the lead were Sam Korber and T Turner. Sam riding strong and appearing to ride Turner off his wheel on a last lap surge. Sethy not far off them show his form is right on track for season's goals. The other guys are yet to show off their form. more
Jesus Martinez in 5th for Men's standings for National Endurance Series.
SERC Round #1, Florida.
3-8-09 Seth Kemp makes a solo trip to FL for round one. This year Seth, age 17, is racing the pro class (pro/open) to enhance his fitness and training. This was a stacked field as every pro in the Southeast wanted to head South for warm sunshine and test their early season form.
Several pros from FL had been racing the FL winter series so were already at peak form. Seth placed 8th, which was a great finish for the field he was in. more
2009 Elite Team Juniors
CycleYouth will field a strong team nationally this year. Seth Kemp (SC) and Wes Lamberson (TN) have already made a name for themselves on the National scene and will be joined by Jesus Martinez (AR). Jesus retains his Mexican nationality and hopes to be placed on the Mexican National Worlds team while racing in the US. All three will race the big US events including Kenda Cup East, National Championships in CO and exit the States to run the two World Cups in Canada this summer.
On the U-23 side Cory Rimmer is the newest and youngest junior graduate and will also run the big events and looks to win the Kenda Cup in the Cat I division. (Expert is now called "Cat I".) He will join Brad Nelson who is also a Union College racer.
CycleYouth League
Jan 14- A new league is in the works for youth in the Georgia and Southeast.
After many years of working with junior cyclist we understand the needs these athletes have. Our approach is a league to help solidify the junior race scene. The Cycleyouth Elite team stays intact, but CycleYouth DEVO League becomes focused on junior racing everywhere and for everyone. Teams are hosted by shops, schools, church's or any fitting organization. Common team jerseys with major logo spots reserved for the specific team helps visually unify our racers. more
KENDA TIRES
A favorite tire of the team is the Small Block 8 by Kenda. It's small knobs, semi-slick-like, roll fast with little weight, yet hook up excellent in most conditions.
The Karma is a great all-rounder. Check out the new glass-bead SWS sidewall shield on our Karma's. A nail gun can't penetrate the sidewall.
Even faster rolling is the Kozmik II Lite or the Short Tracker. Advanced pedaling technique is needed to power up slick hills without slip, but riders of all abilities love this tire. www.kendausa.com
2001-2008 CycleYouth rider and National Junior Downhill Champ Ethan Quehl has been selected to represent the United States at the Pan American Games March 20-23 in Santiage, Chile.
Ethan is one of 6 American Professional downhillers to be selected. 2009 is his first season as a pro and his 12th place finish establishes him as one of America's premire downhill racers.
below: Lamberson and Kemp attend US National Camp in Colorado Springs at the US Olympic Training Center.
Seth (bottom left) & Wes (top, 2nd from left)
at the USOTC Camp
Seth, Jesus and Wes
go 1-2-3 at Kenda Cup #1, TN
Junior Expert
Wes Lamberson
Racing in Germany with other American juniors and U-23 racers.
NEW BIKE SPONSOR
GT Bikes &
STORCK Bikes
available at most LBS
Seth, Wes & Jesus Start of US Cup #1
Wes Lamberson signs with Union College with a Academic Scholarship, and a cycling scholarship. Pictured with parents to the left and right, Wes will start his Freshman year this Fall.
