By Laurie
Jim Holbrooks has been a cyclist his whole life. Riding and racing are two different things, however, and he didn’t really start testing himself on the bike until he was in his late-30s. His first few years with the Capital Bike Club (CBC) racing team were challenging. “Literally, I could not hang with the team for more than 15 or 20 minutes.” But everyone has to start somewhere, and hard work usually pays off in the end.
Now 52, Holbrooks recently returned from the UCI Masters and Amateurs World Championships in Stavelot, Belgium where he took fourth place in the individual time trial in the 50-54 age group.
Early in the season, Holbrooks’ primary goal was to compete and learn at the Master’s National Championships in Bend, Oregon. As part of his training plan, he built in a trip to Colorado to race in the August Fort Collins Cycle Fest. The Cycle Fest happened to be one of only two World Championship qualifying events held in the United States this year, and Holbrooks took 2nd in his time trial age grouping.
“When I did well enough to qualify, it made me realize, ‘What the heck, I might as well go. It’s an opportunity to see what goes on at that level,’” says Holbrooks. After a 6th place finish at the National Championships the first week of September, he hopped on a plane to Belguim where he ended up posting the fastest time for all of the U.S. competitors in his age category.
Now his sights are set a bit higher. Holbrooks believes he has the ability to win both a National and a World Champion title. Right now he’s off the mark by just over a minute. “I’ve always felt that when people are finishing in the top ten, they’re probably capable of doing the job if they figure out what needs to be done to get it done.” Holbrooks knows that to shave 60-plus seconds from his time, he’ll have his work cut out for him, but with the help of coach, Tashony Noplos, and nutritionist, Becky Groser, he thinks he has the right tools to figure it out.
Holbrooks wasn’t the only Olympia rider to have a successful road season this year.
Olympia Orthopaedic Associates/CBC riders David Gordon and Tom Potter were ranked number one and two in the Washington State Bicycle Association Best All Around Rider (BARR) Competition for Masters 50+. The BARR is based upon performance at a set number of races including state championships in all disciplines: Long distance road racing, criterium, individual time trial, hill climb, and omnium.
In addition to Holbrooks’ 6th place in the time trial, at the national level, Jeff Gaeckle, also of CBC/OOA took 10th in the 40-44 road race, and Dave Gordon was 8th in the 50-54 road race.
15 year old David O’Brien of Revel Consulting/Rad Racing NW was undefeated in the Seattle Area Lance Armstrong Junior Race Series in the junior B (15-16) age group. He and other local juniors, Andrea Casebolt and Michael Turner, qualified for the USA Cycling Development Camp held at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon in July.
Olympia Orthopaedic Associates/CBC Racing is open to any and all cyclists who would like to pursue bike racing. They support year round road, mountain, track and cyclocross racing for members. The team will be hosting a “Meet the Team” ride this coming Saturday, September 24th.
Location: Tumwater Falls Park
Rollout Time: 10am (arrive early for introductions and route call-out)
Ride Time: approximately 2-3 hours
Contact Person: Michelle Kautzmann at Joy Ride Bikes: (360) 491-9551
Special Instructions: This is a Rain-or-Shine/No-Drop Ride. Fenders with Buddy Flaps are requested if rainy
For more information about OOA/CBC Racing:
For more information about bike racing in the state of Washington:
