23, June 2006

Greetings -

I want to introduce you to Amy Wallace, a first-year RS 'Cross Team member.
When you read my text which follows hers, you'll understand why I am so
excited to have her join us in red, and why the season's start cannot arrive
soon enough atmo*.
Here is what Amy wrote about herself:

I started riding bikes in high school, doing weekly mountain bike races at Holiday Farm in my hometown of Dalton Massachusetts every summer. In college I started road biking, and I joined the small squad of cyclists at Dartmouth in the spring of 2001. I did my first collegiate race the same week that I got my first road bike, and I loved it. Over my yearsat Dartmouth, the team grew larger and stronger and I lived for the funand camaraderie of traveling with a ragtag group of friends all over the northeast for 9 weeks every spring. The team also enjoyed the success of winning three collegiate national championships in 2002, 2003, and 2004. After graduation in 2005, I was so sad that I felt like I would never again have a team and the fun like I'd had racing at Dartmouth. So finally I decided to give road racing on the USCF circuit a try with theVerizon Wireless / Wheelworks women's squad out of Boston. This was a great summer of racing, and in the meantime I picked up a full-time job as an environmental engineer for Woodard & Curran in Andover, Mass andmoved to Medford, Mass. Looking for any way to keep the season going and not get sucked into the working world with no weekend outlet, I picked up my first cyclocross bike in October of 2005. Why didn't anyone tell me about this before?!? This is the most fun I've ever had on a bike, and the cyclocross season last fall was absolutely incredible. Racing in the pouring rain? awesome. Knee-deep mud? heck yes. Snow?!? I can race my bike in the snow?! wow... crashing can be fun! I think you get the picture - I liked it. There was nothing better than driving off to the races Fridayafternoon, staying with a group of friends through Sunday night and then leaving for work early Monday morning. The season was a blast, and was of course highlighted with the National Championships in Providence RI where I finished 9th in the elite women's race. I have been counting down the days until the 2006 season starts forseveral months already and can't believe I get to ride for such an illustrious team as the Richard Sachs team this fall. I am pscyhed for my second season - I have big goals for this year and hope to represent Richard Sachs and our sponsors well.

I want to tell you a little story that I think even Amy is not aware of.
I first saw her at the Gearworks UCI event this past autumn. I was
standing on a 90 degree corner of a downhill section of the snowy
course and, all of the sudden, this woman takesthe right-hander at
summer speed as if it were pavement. To that I will add that, as
it was occurring, she lets out this big "wheeeeeeeeeeee..." like a
happy child might do on a roller coaster ride. From that innocent
chance siting I could not help but follow this rider - Amy - for the
rest of the race to see what all this enthusiasm might yield. She looked
so comfortable in this 'cross arena. I asked someone who she was.
I looked for her at other venues. It was clear to me that she had the
goods. Better yet,she appeared to be having fun. In December at the
'Cross Natz, I watched as Amy comfortably stayed within the top
ten in what I would find out was still her 3rd month ever of 'cross
racing. She was 9th.Afterward, a chance introduction between us
led to a quick chat about the "what-ifs" for the 2006 season and, by
January, Amy had joined our little group. Here is some snipped text
that was within an email exchange between Amy's coach and me that
attests to what I just wrote:
>> for the record - i first noticed her at gearworks
>> and was "floored"; she seemed strong, talented, unawed
>> by the conditions, and - most importantly - lookin' like
>> she really enjoyed the adversity. i watched her in the
>> ensuing races and thought "what if?". serendipitously,
>> she approached me at natz

It is believed that Amy's raw talent, zeal, and bike handling ability
make her acontender for a top five in the Women's Elite division at
the Natz and also astrong candidate for a World's Team spot. I will
do everything possible to makesure she has a seemless, stress-free
season, and that all of her energy andour team's resources are tapped
to yield the best possible results. Man - I cannot wait for 'cross to begin!!

Thanks for reading!
e-RICHIE©™®
* according to my opinion
____________________________
Thank you for your interest and support.
The Richard Sachs Cyclocross Team is sponsored by
RGM Watches and Rex Chiu as well as by Cane Creek,
Crank Brothers, Rudy Project, Oval Concepts, Challenge
Tires, VergeSport, Selle San Marco, JB Custom Paint,
PacentiCycle Design, The Wheatmarket, and Nelly's Deli.
TEAM WEBSITE:
http://www.richardsachs.com/rsachscybc.html
RESULTS/UPDATES:
http://www.richardsachs.com/articles/cybc0506crossresults.html
TEAM PICS:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bobbesrs/album?.dir=83fd&.src=
BLATANT TEAM BIKE PICS:
http://richardsachs.com/2006_cx_gallery/index.html
AWESOME 'CROSS PORN:
http://www.volarebikes.com/richie/rgm/