Meet the Team - Chris Liebsch

Hometown: Redmond, WA, but was born in St. Louis, MO

Racing category: Cat 4 in Cyclocross, Sport in MTB

Years racing: 1.5

Racing highlight: 3rd place White River Revival 2008, Beginner Men (35-44 yrs)

Favorite racing venue: Bavarian Bike & Brew Fest, Leavenworth. I love the downhills and the water bars. I was so pumped that I almost killed myself last year when I shot off a water bar and landed on just my front wheel and continued in a nose wheelie for 6-10 feet.

Location most likely to be riding: My commute takes me on the trails of 520, Sammamish River, Tolt Pipeline, Puget Power, and through the Redmond Watershed.

Years on team: This is my first.

Why I joined the team: I like the team's focus on mountain, cyclocross and downhill racing. I hope to get involved with team rides outside of races to help improve my skills.

Goal for 2009: Improve my mtb technical skills to the point that I can ride all obstacles at the Lake Padden venue. Last season I had to walk over a couple of them. This goal will be especially challenging since I have moved up to Sport and will now ride the entire course.

Long term goal: Stay healthy!

First bike: It was a little blue singlespeed bike with a big, black banana seat. It had super tall riser handlebars and I liked to clip playing cards to the frame with clothespins and buzz around the neighborhood.

Time spent off the bike: Playing PC and PS3 games, playing Dungeon & Dragons, skiing, backpacking, canoeing, fishing, reading...presently I am into anthropology and genetics books.

Support crew: My wife Claudia, who also joined the team this year, and my main man Donovan, who is currently 3 years 3 months old.

Interesting fact most people don't know about me: I still like Speed Metal...Slayer, Strapping Young Lad, Sepltura, Exumer, Annihilator, old Megadeth & Metallica. Mom said once I grew up I would stop listening to the stuff...I guess moms don't know everything!

Shout Out to our sponsors: I love Ritchey SpeedMax Pro Tires!!! Initially I bought them for cyclocross, but found out they work especially well for me on the hard-packed trails I commute on. I also love FSA cranksets!!!.

First MTB Race of 2009

We had a great team turnout on Sunday, February 22, for the BuDu race at South SeaTac. There were 16 of us racing, sporting our new black, gray and red Therapeutic Associates, Inc. kits, and nearly that many more of our family members and friends who came out to support us. Thanks for the words of encouragement and setting up and dismantling the team tents!

The BuDu series is typically used as an early season testing grounds to see where, or where not, local mtb racers' current fitness levels are at. From my observations, 2009 is looking like another year that many of us will be seen on the podium and even more of us will surpass our individual performances from last year.

Typical of an early season race there were a few racers on all teams plagued by mechanicals. Anything from broken chains, to Ron's stripped crankset to several flats. On our team alone we suffered a total of 4 flats by Jenn, Ron, and Henry, always one not to be outdone, had 2! Fortunately for Jenn she was almost finished when she heard the telltale sound of psssssssssst. Immediately she suspects the noise is Bob McGee playing tricks on her, as he had recently been doing research on how to slow down competitors and one of the ploys apparently involves making a loud psssssssst sound, make-believing that the other person's tire is flat. No such luck it was indeed a flat caused by a 2" nail. Jenn ran the rest of the race, finishing second place to Karyn's first place. Nice racing Karyn and Jenn!

We are going to check in with Francisco to see if Bob was using the "flat" tactic during their neck-to-neck race. When they would come through the open pasture area it was Bob leading on lap 1 and Francisco leading on the last 2 laps. Bob made a strong attempt to pass Francisco on the last sandy hill, but Francisco managed to fend him off. Thanks for the exciting race guys!

Zach and Chris Leibsch both had a very respectable race especially considering that this was their first mtb race at the sport level. Congrats to both on your upgrades and a hearty welcome to the team, Chris!

Gavin made the drive over from Ellensburg and was quite pleased with his race claiming he "had one of his better first-race-of-the-season." We look forward to seeing you more on the west side on your singlespeed.

It doesn't look like Matt has suffered any slowing over the winter. He was blazing fast!

Ron did not suffer enough in the expert race so he also raced in the sports category on his singlespeed. Fortunately this bike held up better than his geared one.

Allan also looked strong out there holding his own against other guys in his category who are up to 17 years his junior!

Speaking of juniors, we had 4 of them racing yesterday; Jackson, Daniel and Bradley were in the beginner category and Mitch, new to the team this year, rode in sport. Especially impressive were both Daniel and Jackson riding the full 2 beginner laps this year; adding the 2nd lap is a huge undertaking!


Recap of placings:

Beginner U-18
4 Jackson
6 Daniel
7 Bradley

Beginner Women 40+
3 Ann

Sport Women 30 - 39
1 Karyn
2 Jenn

Sport Men 30 - 39
8 Zach
10 Chris Liebsch

Sport Men 40+
6 Francisco
7 Bob
DNF Henry (was "sitting somewhere around 3 - 5" before suffering a flat)

Sport Singlespeed
4 Ron
8 Gavin

Sport U-18
7 Mitch

Expert Men 40+
1 Matt
6 Ron
9 Allan


Got to love the new snazzy TAI kits. Especially the black shorts!