9, January 2008

Greetings -

I'll say right up front: thanks for bearing with me and the volume of emails I am sending out
these day, especially since there are no more 'cross races. The season never ends, huh.
The Richard Sachs Cyclocross Team newz 'n notz continues this evening with more closing
thoughts from the riders. This evening I'll paste in some words from Alie and Moocher. This
was Alie's first full year of 'cross and it was my pleasure that it was with us. Rebecca wasn't
formally a card carrying member of the team, but we spent most of the season on the road
together. Alie and Mooch formed an even tighter bond at the Natz in Kansas City, as you'll
read here. WhenI re-read some of the stuff that I'm passing on to you, I cringe that there's
still another 8 months before the racing resumes. Thankfully, one of the RS 'Cross Team's
specialties is making memories, and they'll certainly make the waiting easier atmo*.

From Alie -
It’s hard to believe that my first season racing for RGM Watches/RichardSachs has already
come to an end. This was my first time racing ‘cross with teammates and representing an
entity far greater than just myself. Cyclocross racing is much different than racing on the road.
The venues are smaller and more spectator friendly than long distance road races.They are
more conducive to friendly conversations and opportunities to answer questions or explain
certain details of the sport. Although I’m no expert, it was always fun to know that the kit I wore
and the bike I rode made me more apt to be approached. I have lost track of the number of
times I was told that my bike was the most beautiful bike out there. I was also struck by the
number of times a stranger gave me a “good luck,” “good effort,” “nice bike” or loud cheers
from the sidelines. Riding for this team is both an honor and a privilege. There are many people,
young and old, who look to us for inspiration and support. As a team, we represent the attributes
that make it possible to succeed at this type of external encouragement. We learn from our
teammates, and we extend these valuable qualities to our cycling community. We are by far the
loudest cheerers, the best huggers, the friendliest competitors (most of the time)and the highest
skilled sponsor promoters out there, imho.

So, as sad as it is to say good-bye to this season of racing, I feel comforted by the fact that the
familial nature of the team doesn’t have aseason’s end. Though the racing is over for 2007, we
are all still a close-knit unit, supporting each other in the many ways a family will. I can’t wait to
see what 2008 has in store for us!

From Rebecca (With apologies to Mr. Schmittgens) -
I'm not a Richard Sachs racer but I was lucky enough to tag along with the crew for the National
Championships weekend and pretend to be apart of the notorious Richard Sachs family. Its
really a family, ya know.Before the trip I got a stellar care package with all sorts of tight RS gear
so I could look the part of the pit crew of the black and red. After the epic drive from the east
coast to Kansas City, KS which actually on theway there wasn't really all that epic we arrived
and the festivities began.The day before the first day of racing (the Thursday before the Friday
that RS and Matty-K raced in blizzard conditions) I toured the Kansas City area via Alie's bike
and got a nice taste in my mouth for the sweetness of a beautiful steel hand crafted bike as well
as the riding that KS had to offer. I checked out Kansas City from both the Kansas and Missouri
points of view and also found the home town of Melisa Ethridge some where along the way. I
can't tell you a single song Melisa sings, let alone what kind of music she sings, but I know I've
heard the name - probably from my mom - so I took note.

Friday: I got prepped to be the race crew by dawning my pit crew outfit which included a fleece
body suit to be sure I would be warm in the 14degree weather that Weather.com told me I was
waking up to. At the race I attempted to be the Team Mechanic and cleaned bikes and tried to
build a bike stand out of some old pallets I found near our parking spot but in the end I was really
glad when I didn't have to be Mechanic for the Sunday races because honestly if anything would
have actually gone wrong with the bikes the only help I would have been was to confirm the fact
that the bike was indeed not working.

Anyways, the races are whats really important and each respective RS rider will share their race
in detail but here are my notes on the National Championship weekend...

1. Richard and Matt literally raced in the shistiest weather of all time on Friday
and it was freezing cold. I don't think it stopped snowing all day. Kudos.
2. Alie and Amy rode to the course on that very same shistiy Friday and I was
amazed that they made it and in awe that they would even try to make it.
3. Side note: I had red rain boots and I got a pair of RayBan Wayfarers
(courtesy of the box of Wayfarers that Richard keeps in this shop) out of
the weekend. (Ed note: here they are).
4. Even though the actual weather was the worst on Friday, the course
conditions on Sunday for Amy, Alie, Matt, Hamblen, and Spin-doggy
were the worst.
5. Alie crashed hard because of some retard and instead of her racing
and me helping out we got to hang out in the Medic area and get to know
each other better. I don't mind because I can now say the Alie Kenzer and
I are legitament friends due to the experience although I thing the experience
was a bit more pleasant for me as I did not have a hole in my elbow or road
rash down the side of my hip and leg.
6. Amy killed it during her race.
7. The boys didn't kill it quite as much but I think if Jonny wouldn't have been
busy taking out camera men and everyone else would have been able to actually
pedal their bike instead of sliding around in the mud and laughing about the
comical situation that they were in a bike race and nota mud fight, then they
would have killed it just as much as Amy.
8. The drive home to the east was a bit more epic.
9. I am bored of writing, this always happens at number nine.
10. The Richard Sachs crew rules...ATMO?

I have only one thing to say about this team: 'Cross Fukignc Rules Atmo. In a day or so
I'll be back with some nice news from the various sponsors and suppliers who help make
the RS 'Cross Team the funhouse that it is.

By the way - if anyone of the 30,000 folks receiving these emails knows why the texts are
highlighted in yellow, you can have your next frame order filled in three weeks. Cripes - it's
driving me nuts!

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 Architects Associates, as
well as by Cane Creek, Crank Brothers, Rudy Project, Oval Concepts,
Challenge, VergeSport, Wippermann, Selle San Marco, JB Custom Paint,
Nelly's Deli, and The Wheatmarket
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