NEWS

LAS Victory Helmet Review

2010-09-23T18:29:45Z

The Toyota Cycling Team has been running the LAS Victory Helmets for a few years now and we must say, we absolutely love them! The thing most notable about the product compared to others is the coolness. Not only in style, but also in superior safety and functionality (especially in the brutal Texas heat.) With 25 vent holes, we immediately noticed how much cooler the Victory Helmet is compared to other brands. But, in case we are racing in a cold area, LAS helmets come with 3 different inserts (including 1 with an anti-bug net) useable in different weather conditions. The lasting comfort of the helmet is also unbeatable. The CAT-EYES system allows for minute adjustment to get just the right fit. Rather than constantly readjusting the fit of the helmet the rider can ride multiple hours without even noticing the helmet. The team whole-heartedly believes in the LAS Victory helmet and will continue to use the product in the future.

Tulsa Tough Weekend

2010-06-07T04:06:25Z

This weekend the TOYOTA / Cycling Team p/b GCCA loaded up the 2011 Sienna and headed to Tulsa Tough criteriums in Tulsa Oklahoma. We mounted our Alchemy custom crit bikes and set out to animate the races. Friday we took 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 18th, with plenty of coverage on the JumboTron. Above, we had Colton Jarisch scoring a $200 prime with 8 laps to go on Saturday evening.

Big time sponsors get big time publicity at one of the largest cycling races in the country. Tulsa Tough is a USA Cycling National Calendar Race bringing in amateur and pro teams from around the nation. Thousands of spectators congregate to see the best of the best race through Tulsa's downtown streets. Tulsa also lends it self to an up close and personal feel to teams with pro-pit areas. This allows great exposure for our sponsors, especially Source Endurance and Alchemy Bicycle Co. at this particular event.

Welcome & 1st Annual Houston Cycling Bash

2010-04-29T13:30:27Z

Welcome to the new Gulf Coast Cycling Association (GCCA) site. We're really excited about 2010 and the great folks that have come together to create this site and team. Special thanks goes out to he team that collaborated on the site—Michael with Supply Chain Connect, Dave with DCM Photography and last but certainly not least our designer extraordinaire and best pure sprinter in Texas, Jed Rogers.

2010 Team VehicleCheck back for extensive reviews on products from our sponsors Alchemy Bikes, LAS Helmets, Rol Wheels, and the 2011 Toyota Sienna. We'll also give insight on the real estate guru Judy LaFico and our adventures across the country.

As part of the unveiling of our site and overall coolness of the Houston cycling scene, GCCA is hosting a community get together tonight at El Meson Cuban restaurant from 6 – 9 pm as the 1st Annual Houston Cycling Bash. We'll be raffling off some super cool schwag with Free beer/wine and Cuban nibbles. http://www.elmeson.com/map.html

We are very excited to show off our sponsors and will have reps and product from Source Endurance, Alchemy Bicycle Co., Judy LaFico, Realtor, Rol Wheels, and Boones. The new team Toyota Sienna that will be on display in front of the venue as well. We've got to mention what a great job the folks at SpeedPro Austin did getting this vehicle ready on short notice.

If you can't make it to the party tonight you can see us and our sponsors at the races this weekend, especially Judy LaFico, Realtor and Source Endurance who are both sponsoring the Sugar Land Criterium.

Cheers to a great 2010 season,
Joseph LaFico
Team Director

Drew Hill 3rd Overall at Grueling Ft. Davis Hammerfest

2010-04-27T16:48:27Z

Drew did a great job riding solo for Toyota / GCCA last weekend. Read below for his accounts of how the events unfolded.

Arrival
Friday morning 6:30am. I roll over taking a long spiteful glance at the bleeping and buzzing phone alarm next to me and resign myself to the fact that I have to get up and on the road for the very long day of driving ahead of me. Bikes; check. Food; check. Gear; check. Driving tunes; check. Fort Davis... ok.... here we go.

The drive out to Fort Davis is for some, a race and challenge in its own right. A few lonely country highways leading out to the endless drag of asphalt that is Interstate 10. The only saving grace once on this grand creation is it’s bendable 80mph speed limit that if utilized liberally can easily turn an 8hr trek into less than 7. I made it in under 6...

After calming down from the death metal and red bull once arriving in Fort Davis, I made my way to my housing at the Davis Mountains Education Center just on the outskirts of town. After unloading and organizing all of my gear, I kitted up for an hour or so spin up to the Prude Ranch for packet pick up and a chance to loosen up the legs after far too long in the car.

Upon arriving back at camp, I was informed by my fellow housing mates from Wooly Mammoth Cycling that we were indeed going to be graced by the presence of a true Native American mystic Shaman! (this had previously been discussed but neither confirmed nor denied) After a hearty dinner of well balanced veggies (courtesy of Wooly Mammoth Dinner Tyme) and some self provided meats I was very ready for some seriously awesome ancient magic. And oh how magic it was.....

Colton's 5th Place at Pace Bend

2010-04-22T15:33:16Z

Pace Bend, a race notorious for not suiting a break-away, and ending in a dangerous bunch sprint. This wasn’t the case last weekend though. The morning started off with Joseph arriving at my apartment early Sunday morning. The lactic acid from the prior days tough race was tingling in my legs, along with the anxious hope in my chest at the thought of a podium finish in one of the state’s most well known races. After a fairly ordinary start, with a few moves unsuccessfully trying to get up the road, a group of ~10 guys rolled off the front. Having a ten second advantage on the filed, I decided to bridge to it, in the hopes of staying away. After a few reshuffles, dangling off the front of the peloton, Brant Speed (Team Hotel San Jose), Thacker Reeves (Garmin Transitions), and myself decided to “pull a fast one” on the chasers and put in a few strong digs. Around mile 15 of the 80 mile race and working hard together with our partners for the day (including representatives from Bike Barn, AT&T, Austin Bikes, Metro VW, Velossimo, and ALS-C3) the break got some momentum and eventually put in 5 minutes time to the chasing peloton. Around mile 60, only 7 of the original 12 men were left. With 12 miles left in the race Ryan McFeely (Team ALS-C3) attacked with Brant Speed following. Thacker, David Arteaga (Velossimo), and I stared at each other a little too long trying to make the others bridge the gap. The move worked, leaving the race for third between the three of us and Andrew Gonzales (Metro VW). I attacked through the feed zone with ~4 miles to go and shed Andrew, leaving only Thacker and David to contest against. After slew of attacks, counters, and cat and mouse tactics, Thacker jumped 2km from the finish. He was brought back by David and I countered. Eventually getting brought back and pinned in front of my two break away companions, forced to lead out the sprint. Thacker ended up taking 3rd and David 4th, leaving me with 5th place the 2010 addition of Pace Bend.