Kenda-Seven racer took lead early and never looked back
In commanding fashion, reigning U.S. National Champion, Mary McConnloug (team Kenda-Seven Cycles), earned her second consecutive victory at the Mount Snow stop of the NORBA National Series this Saturday, June 17. Attacking from the start, Mary took a decisive lead in the first lap that she never relinquished and finished with a nearly two-minute cushion over second place.
Mount Snow is considered one of the most demanding courses in the series. It features approximately 1,000′ of climbing per lap, perilous descents, and ribbons of classic rocky, rooty east coast singletrack. Fresh off of the World Cup circuit in Europe, Mary said of the course, “I’ve always loved racing here.”
In the pro men’s cross-country event, teammate Mike Broderick scored an impressive 13th place, despite a poor call-up position. He and Mary have focused their season on the World Cup and have not contested any of the previous Nation Series races.
Both McConneloug and Broderick have their sights set for next weekend’s World Cup race at Mount Sainte Anne in Quebec, Canada.
With the help of two identical Seven IMX hardtails, the folks at Cyclingnews are attempting to answer the question, once and for all, “Is bigger better or is less really more?”
While pondered for years, previous attempts to definitively answer the question of whether a 29″ wheel is better than the traditional 26″ mountain bike wheel have failed because of too many variables between the test subjects. So for the first time ever,Cyclingnews and Seven Cycles have removed all variables to create the perfect test.
In describing the two Seven’s, Cyclingnews notes, “We worked closely with the specialists at Seven Cycles to obtain a pair of Seven’s premier carbon and titanium IMX hardtail frames. Seven’s unique talents were tapped to normalize the ride qualities of the two frames by varying the titanium tubing stock as well as the carbon fiber layups, and the handling characteristics were matched as closely as possible.”
“Of equal importance was the fit of the two IMXs and this was calibrated down to the last millimeter relative not only to the rider, but also to the ground. To that effect, critical dimensions such as cockpit length, saddle height and setback, handlebar height and sweep, and even bottom bracket height are 100 percent identical between our decidedly high-zoot test pair.”
Kenda-Seven racer took lead early and never looked back
Riders raced 50 laps on the closed city loop
A very fast one! 50 laps, around a .7-mile loop, with no actual corners, a real “loop”, around Bushnell Park in Hartford, Connecticut. The weather was about as perfect as it’s been since we arrived out East.
Downtowns always look so nice when it’s a holiday weekend, and Hartford was no exception. A beautiful capitol building and the grounds were green and clean.
Mike suited up while the Scrapper and I did our normal routine: check out the competition. The Nerac Team was hosting the race, and so they were out in numbers, as was the Fiordi Fruitti Team. And Colavita’s Italian Stallion: Davide Frattini (whom I did not recognize at first…the blonde bombshell is no longer blonde!). 110 guys lined the start of the Men’s P1/2 race. Luckily the streets were wide and the pavement was smooth!
Seven’s Mike Taylor lines up with the 110-strong Pro/1-2 field
Race rules read and they’re off! Taylor got a good start near the front of the massive peloton, while the Scrapper and I found a nice resting spot in the shade. (She forgot her sun-screen!) About 7 laps later, my “Seven” rider comes hammering off the front at turn one, leading the way. Suddenly a Colavita guy flies past! Frattini leads the way into turn two with Taylor on his wheel; but soon, with 108 guys chasing, the field was quickly back together.
The bunch was very attentive, and while many riders attempted to escape, no one ever got more than 15 seconds off the front. Right around lap 48, the Fiordi Fruitti 8+ man train took their turn at the front. Taylor quickly took his position behind the train with Frattini hot on his wheel and some Target Training riders in close proximity. The storming peloton was strung out like a snake, and the only guys who weren’t on the train were the ones who got crashed out.
As they turned the last corner, I could see Taylor in the distance. Too excited to see him in the front of the race, I closed my eyes. So I missed one of the “Red men” zig-zagging his bike dangerously across the road in the sprint. Mike finished strong though: 5th place and in the dough!
We celebrated a fine Sunday with a plethora of sushi and beer—and toasted our sponsor/employer (Seven Cycles) for the lovely day!
Kenda-Seven racer took lead early and never looked back
Mike Taylor is not only the newest member of the Seven Cycles Fit Specialists team. The easy-going Minnesotan is also a six-year pro road racer who will be flying Seven’s colors on the racecourse. Seven Cycles is proud to have Mike onboard. Read Mike’s bio and race highlights below.
Mike flies Seven’s colors out in front at Sturbridge Road Race. Photo courtesy of Bob Griffith
Mike began racing in 1991, moving from a Cat 5 rider to a Cat 1 rider in a single season. He spent 6 years racing with the Lombardi Sports Team, an elite amateur team in Northern California before becoming a professional rider. He spent the last 6 years as a professional, riding with the National Professional Teams (UCI Div 3/Continental) of Ofoto, Webcor and Mcguire. He also spent two seasons (2002 and 2003) living and racing the Belgian Kermesses and stage races in Belgium, France and Italy.
He recently relocated to Watertown, Massachusetts to work for Seven Cycles in the fit and design group after 15 years racing and working in the bicycle retail industry in California. Mike is very excited to be representing Seven Cycles in the Pro/Elite fields in New England this year. He’s competed and won races both domestically and abroad, is good all-around rider, and enjoys the team aspect of bike racing.
Growing up in the Midwest, Mike’s competitive eagerness began at an early age. His father, a junior high Physical Education teacher and coach, spent many a summer’s evening organizing and supervising neighborhood kids in countless games of the sport in season. Mike’s interest in athletics continued throughout high school where he competed in basketball, baseball, track and cross-country. Mike attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota where he graduated in 1991 with a B.S. in Business Management and was a member of the Varsity Basketball team.
During the off-season, Mike has worked as a mentor/coach of the PenVelo Junior Cycling Team with Clark Natwick of USA Cycling. His hobbies also include mountain biking and cross racing in the off-season and traveling and cycling in foreign countries with his wife, Joni, and his Jack Russell Terrier, Sydney.
Career Highlights
2005 Camden Classic – first place
2005 Lake Rebecca Cyclocross Classic – first place
2005 Red River Cyclocross Challenge – second place
2005 Erikson Brothers Tree Farm Cyclocross – third place
2005 Rum River Cyclocross Challenge – fourth place
2004 Infineon Criterium – third place
2004 Infineon Circuit Race – seventh place
2004 Tour of the Gila – Stage 3 – fifth place
2004 Coyote Creek Classic – second place
2004 Mount Hamilton Road Race – third place
2004 Leesville Gap Road Race – second place
2003 Tongerenn Kermesse – second place (Belgium)
2003 Kapellen-Tienen Kermesse – fifth place (Belgium)
2003 NorCal/NV District Road Race Championship – first place
2002 Winters Road Race – second place
2002 Incourt Circuit Race (Belgium) – fourth place
2002 Wente Road Race – first place
2002 Madera Stage Race Overall – second place (also in 1999, 1997)
2002 Daulton Road Race – second place
2002 Madera Criterium – second place
2001 Pescadero Road Race – first place
2001 San Bruno Mountain Hill Climb – first place
2001 Leesville Road Race – first place (also in 1995)
2001 Vuelta a Tachira (Venezuela) stage 1 – eleventh place
2001 Vuelta a Tachira (Venezuela) stage 4 – fifteenth place
2000 Lucca A Castallenia (Stage Race) (Italy) – first place
2000 Pine Flat Road Race – second place
2000 Mount Hamilton Road Race – second place
2000 Redlands Bicycle Classic prologue – eighth place
1999 McLane Pacific Road Race – first place
1999 California Cup Overall – second place
1999 University Road Race – second place
1999 Ben Hur Time Trial – second place
1999 Suisun Harbor Criterium – second place
1999 Redlands Bicycle Classic Overall – sixteenth place
1998 Madera Stage Race Overall – first place
1998 Daulton Road Race – first place (also in 1997, 1996)
If you follow international mountain bike racing or are a regular visitor to this site, no doubt you’re familiar with the amazing Mary McConneloug. Her podium finish at the World Cup kick-off in Curacao yesterday—while incredible—comes as no surprise.
But say the name Mike Broderick and you’re as likely to hear someone refer to him as Mary McConneloug’s boyfriend as you are to learn that he’s also one of the top American mountain bike racers. In fact, he was the top American finisher at Curacao, crossing the line in 18th place—some 40 seconds ahead of his next compatriot, Adam Craig. The list of racers he bested—which included over 100 competitors—reads like a who’s-who in the annals of professional XC racing.
Mike’s incredible result yesterday comes on the heals of his second place finish at the Ultimate Dirt Challenge in Rincon, PR last weekend. Despite the fact that he has dedicated much of his racing career to supporting his teammate and life-partner McConneloug, Mike is making a name for himself and will surely be on the tip of everyone’s tongue in 2006.
