caloso

I joined my current team two seasons ago because there was a decent contingent of 35+ Cat 3's and up. And then last fall, practically all of them jumped ship. Seemed like every time I lined up for a race this spring it was like "Crap! You're on Team ____ now?!?" I hope it was for the frame deal offered by the other team.

Or maybe it was me.

carpediemracing 

I have the 2011 Tour DVD and it shows the car post-stage, the passenger holding a hand up to his eyes. If the passenger was driving at the time of the crash, it's a he. The person driving the car in the post-stage bit (parking the car) is a she. Or at least the driver looks like a she.

hammy56

I helped start up a new team out of my LBS back in 2010. Along with a few other guys who had raced as well as some guys who wanted to start. The owner of the shop who Im friends with was very supportive. Out of the 5-7 guys who talked a big game, only 2 of us raced consistently; mostly last year. 13 races for me. The other guys faded when it came time to drive, pay, and toe the line. Which is one of the main reasons I didnt do any road races this year. Sucks. I miss it. (Ive vowed to go back next year even if its solo).

However, fortunately there are a few guys at the LBS who Im friends with, who got me into mtb racing this year. So thats been nice simply because we all get together and have fun. I suck more at the mtb thing than I do at the road thing, but its something.

carpediemracing 

I'd either try and get more friends/teammates to join your current team or I'd move over to the teammate team.

I was on a team that had good friendship, good teammates, but after a horrific race in 2007 (Nutmeg), all my teammates basically swore off crits so I had no teammates in races. I basically raced with a friend on another team, or for misc friends on yet other teams.

When I left to go to a new team (that my friend was joining too), my old team understood and wished me luck. A team of good people is like that - they'll wish you the best even if you're leaving them.

I wouldn't worry about the kit. It is what it is. If you feel strongly about it then try and get the design changed for next year. Often bad kit designs are a freebie by a resident teammate/designer who isn't a professional graphic designer (and for good reason). Once it's somewhat professional then it's about taste, and there's no accounting for taste.

hammy56

to add- I turned down the chance to be on a big team at the beginning of this year (Florida Velo) because my friend (LBS owner) asked me to stick it out and try to keep our team going...and now theyre not even continuing to order the team/club kits. grumble grumble.

caloso

I had almost the exact same situation in my previous team. We started with 7 or 8 guys. I was the only Cat 4, and I busted my butt the first season to upgrade so we could all race together, but even after I upgraded it seemed like I was the only one who was racing consistently. So I joined a much bigger team. Even though I lost a few good teammates within my category, I'm enjoying my status as an Elder. We're big enough to put on mock races and we'll do semi-regular hill and sprint workouts and it's good fun to beat up on the Cat 5's and Juniors.

Creatre

We should create a Bike Forums team with people from all across the US!

gsteinb

I never heard that idea before.

jwible

He's new here. He doesn't recall the BF travel team of yore.

Smallguy

CDR- I'm the one trying to hold it together the guy who started it moved away....Other racers started up a new team to work with juniors

Right now I've sorta been the one trying to organize things club rides.... not many attend.... club seems to be dying a slow death. I like the club/members just want people to race with essentially.

big john

How about a BF fantasy team?

gsteinb

thanks, but I'm looking for real lead outs not the kind of crap I conjure up in my own mind.

rkwaki

We all know I am on Hammy's fantasy list...

rkwaki

I'll be honest I went with the team I am on now due to their budget. As we all know I stopped racing as did most of the other 1's (marital issues for several of them) but they have several really, really strong juniors coming up for next year and they are really nice young men (no you can't join hammy).
They are also very supportive and have put no pressure on me to get back at it. I have said when I was ready I would be there and would produce. They are a really, really nice group of guys of varying levels (many strong 3's).

gsteinb

link?

merlinextraligh

The Florida Velo guys are nice, and they do some neat trips.

hammy56

yes.

hammy56

I dont know the guys further north, but they got some of the s. fl guys together...in naples, not far from me. Masters guys. One of them a good friend.

Racer Ex 

Masters Track Nats...

kensuf

So I've heard..

hammy56

damn! I knew I should have gotten on that team!

mattm

Tampa, eww. (edit: I'm thinking of Ybor City really)

hammy56

so you have high brow strippers in seattle?

leona88

got my DMT and Shimano shoes today ..So happy . cant wait to test them

mattm

I was just talking about the city in general, not even its strippers.

But to answer your question: I wouldn't know, I'm way too high brow for that kinda ****.