Weekly Group Rides are postponed until further notice

due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus

We are still planning on having group rides with leaders starting May 1st, but this is obviously dependent on status of COVID-19.

2020 Bike Season Kickoff

Last night, 85 area cyclists attended our 2020 kickoff party to share some laughs, retell stories and meet friends.

Dave gave us the quick skinny on what is new for RASC in 2020.

Pete gave us a look at road cycling plans for this year. Rides start next week: Monday from Bamber Elementary School and Wednesday from the Bicycle Sports @ 6pm sharp!

Beginning in May, C and D groups will include leaders that will work the make those rides more friendly for new riders.  Visit the Ride Planner.

Jackson shared mountain bike trail updates & plans and brought us up to speed on the Rochester High School Mountain Bike team.  Visit Gamehaven and Eastwood for live condition updates throughout the season.

Joel shared news of area gravel rides, future RASC fun ride events and more.  Be sure to check back here and join the Google Group to see upcoming events.

Guest speaker Trent Raygor spoke a bit about the past and future of gravel cycling, then screened his Banff Film entry 'Delta Of Spirit' for us.

Carolyn has opened the Pactimo jersey store through 3/15/2020 with a nice discount due to our volume.  Be sure to get your kit ordered asap. Pactimo Store   password: RASC

RNST Alumnus 2nd in Birkie

Congrats to Rochester's Ian Torchia on placing 2nd overall in this year's American Birkie

View from camera at the finish line shows Ian Torchia (on left of picture) finishing second and beating out France’s Robin Duvillard, an Olympian and multiple-time World Championships racer, into third place by 0.3 seconds. Niklas Dyrhaug, a 32-year-old Norwegian Olympian and World Cup regular, beat out Ian by 1.6 seconds!

Essex Loopy Loppet

Thanks to Mike Trantow and the RASC grooming team for a very successful inaugural Essex Loopy Loppet race. A total of 53 skiers participated in this event, with many doing the double or triple loppet distances. The event raised $635 towards support of the Essex and Quarry Hill trails. Great way to raise money and have fun at the same time.

This year's Birkie Warriors (Left to right) - Vergil, Caelan, and Tasha Pinckney and David Kettula were at the Essex Loopy Loppet and led off the event.

Full results are posted below.  

Results

Overall Results          Lap Times

You can find more news on the event on KAAL and KTTC News

2019 Tour de Essex Results

The only rain in a 6 day period fell right during the Tour de Essex trail run on Saturday, October 19, 2019. Despite the slick conditions on the downhills, the runners successfully navigated the the rolling terrain of the 7.4 K course in very comfortable running conditions of 51 degrees and an 8 mph west wind. A large washed out, rough section of trail caused by recent heavy rains added another twist to the run.

Noah Billings scampered across the finish line in first running at an 8:01 mile pace. Lonny Olson-Williams (8:11 min/mile) and Randy Shelerud (8:20 mile pace) placed 2nd and 3rd.

Finishing first among women and 4th overall was Kris Nelson cranking out 8:54 minute miles. The next women following Kris over the line were Sabrena Resman (10:28 min/mile) and Beth Kangas (12:21/mile).

Congratulations to all of the runners who conquered greasy conditions on the challenging hills of the Tour de Essex.

Tour de Essex Results 2019

Gamehaven Lakeside Grind

Minnesota Series Mountain Bike Race

September 22, 2019

Congrats to RASC member, Noah Billings, on taking 1st in his age group and 4th overall at USA Triathlon 2019 Youth & Junior National Championships in Westchester, Ohio!

Thanks to Ian Torchia for two great dryland training clinics on August 17th. If you missed the opportunity to attend one of these clinics, we are hoping to have ian back in Rochester for another clinic in November.

Below are video clips from the morning session from local news channels.

Congratulations to Jim Bennett who won the free pair of Marwe rollerskis donated by Finn Sisu!

ABOUT IAN TORCHIA:
Ian Torchia began skiing the day before he turned 2, but was on his Mom’s back long before then, sliding around Rochester’s golf courses during the winter months. He grew up a runner, chasing his older brother Mike around on the roads and trails and cross country skied in the winters as a member of the Rochester Nordic Ski Team. During his junior year in high school, Ian won the American Birkebeiner Korteloppet race and it was later that year, at his 1st Junior National championship in Fairbanks, Alaska, when Ian decided to cross-country ski at the collegiate level, breaking away from his 4 siblings’ tradition of running in college.  He attended Northern Michigan University under the direction of legendary ski coach Sten Fjeldheim, and accumulated 6 All-Americans, tied for most in program history. His junior season, he became an NCAA champion in the 20k freestyle in Steamboat, Colorado. He was a member of the US Development Ski Team for 3 years training alongside the nation’s best skiers.  Ian earned a Master’s degree in Exercise Science and is currently pursuing skiing at the professional level with the Stratton Mountain School T2 Elite Team, a professional ski team that boasts of 3 Olympians, including Gold Medalist Jessie Diggins.  Ian recently got engaged to his fiancé, Kameron Burmeister, who he coached to a 2:42 marathon at Grandma’s, an Olympic Trials qualifier!  He is stoked to come back to Rochester this summer to teach and inspire the next generation of skiers!
  
Dryland Clinics with Ian Torchia are sponsored by the Rochester Active Sports Club and the Rochester Nordic Ski Team

Maplelag Photos

Photos from Maplelag time trial

Thanks to Anna Sortland for all these photos

1st place in the state!!

Congrats to the Rochester Middle School MTB Team on their 2018 season win!

Individual Top 10s for Middle/High School
3rd: Caleb Kittleson - JV2 Boys 
4th: Franziska Rinkleff - 8th Grade Girls
5th: Patrick McCauley - 8th Grade Boys
6th: Ari Walker - 8th Grade Boys
6th: Jack McCauley - 7th Grade Boys
6th: Veronika Voss - 7th Grade Girls
8th: Noah Billings - 7th Grade Boys
10th:Victoria Voss - Freshman Girls