18, August 2007

Greetings -

With the season just about around the corner, it's a good time for me to send out
information about the folks that make up the Richard Sachs Cyclocross Team. In the
next few emails I will paste in text that comes from each of the riders. I asked my
team mates to write 100 or so words about themselves as a way for others to get
to know them. Here are the first two. The first is from Justin Spinelli who has been
a team stalwart since the late 90s. The second is from Matt Krauss. Matt is a fellow
who I met years ago and for whom it has taken until 2007 for me to be able to make
room on our team. (Is that good english?).

From Justin -
Cyclocross is Fall in New England, the two are one in another. After three seasons
(post J.P. era) on Red which has morphed Black, I have witnessed first hand the
Richard Sachs Cyclocross Team progress into a very nice little New England Cross
program into a full fledged National Level Cyclocross Team.
It seems that the Team's development has gone hand in hand with my own level of
Cyclocross skill set upon my re-entry to the sport in 2004. Every year the Team gets
stronger and stronger. Every year the Team becomes a tighter knit group of friends
with a notorious reputation for producing fine results and looking good in the process.
Most importantly Team Richard Sachs has fun and represents the sport of Cyclocross
in the same exuberant and eclectic manor it was intended to be when first conceived
decades ago in Paris, France.
Personally, I hope to be racing my Team Issue red and white bikes in Treviso, Italy next
January...but regardless of the final destination, the journey continues.
Thank You. You are all supporting and partaking in something very special and rare in
today's world of Bicycle Racing.

From Matt -
I can remember the summer night when I was ten. I got a spanky new Ross Compact
and immediately took it on the dirt trails. There was something intoxicating about gears
and dirt. I grew up riding a bmx bike but did not find bike racing until 1995 at age 25,
racing MTBs in Atlanta GA. My four year Atlanta stay was highlighted by being the
best sport MTB rider in the state.
In 1998 I moved back to the east coast, racing MTB for IF's grassroots program; dabbling
into road racing. In 1999 while a Cat 5, I lived my first cross race in Amherst MA placing 7th
as a B. Most importantly finding cross was finding my athletic home. There was no doubt this
one ruled the roost. In 2000 I was getting on the podium in the Bs, but had to sit out the 2001
season with an injury. In 2002 I was able to return to the sport I love. I was on the warpath
to win the B natz, which I did convincingly. I was ready for the elites.
Since 2003, I have devoted my whole racing chutzpah to cross, including becoming a Cat 2
in 2005. Everything I do in the summer is aimed at the fall. I have always had a job and never
been a full time pro but the last two cross seasons I have done my best to level that gap.
Twenty-four years after the Ross Compact, I am honored (atmo*) to have a spot on this
team, an amateur national cyclocross title, a few masters’ cross natz medals and a top 20
ranking in the elite US men. I do it my way and the really real way. I see cross as an art,
and devote too much time studying how to find ways to improve thiscraft and make the
dern thing go faster.

I can't wait for the first race!
Many 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,
Rex Chiu, Radix Group LLC, Ozell, Stankus Associates Architects, as
well as by Cane Creek, Crank Brothers, Rudy Project, Oval Concepts,
Challenge, VergeSport, Selle San Marco, JB Custom Paint, Nelly's Deli,
and The Wheatmarket
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