This past weekend the Jelly Belly cycling team had five guys racing the San
Dimas Stage Race in San Dimas, California.  The team consisted of Mike  Jones,
Mike Cody, Nick Reistad, Bryce Mead, and Brian Dziewa.  It was a  weekend of
mixed fortunes for guys as Friday’s uphill time trial went well with  Mike
Jones in 10th, Brian Dziewa in 17th and Nick Reistad in 20th, but no one  could
match Scott Moniger’s (BMC cycling team) time as he won by almost 30  seconds.
With three guys in the top 20 the teams goal was to be very  aggressive to
try to win the stage or get a rider on the overall podium.   All the riders were
very aggressive early on getting into breaks, one of those  breaks helped
Nick earn the KOM for the weekend, but mid-race when Mike Jones  got into a
promising break that could have earned him enough time bonuses to  move on to the
podium when Lady Luck reared her ugly head.  Mike  double-flatted out of the
break and a lap later four of the riders were taken  down in a crash near the
front.  Nick and Mike Cody made the second group  after the crash as only 12
guys were in the front group with Ben Brooks  (Navigators) winning.  Mike Jones,
Bryce Mead and Brian  had to shake off blows to the head or bad wheels and
just chase to make the time  cut.  It was a tough day, but at least Nick got the
KOM jersey.

The weekend ended a little better as Mike Jones and Bryce  Mead got into the
early break of 12 that went away in the crit and stayed  away until the end.
Mike ended up fifth and Bryce Mead just buried  himself to help Mike have a
chance to win.  Back in the pack the other guys  just tried to stay fresh in
case the break came back and in the end Mike Cody  won the field sprint.  What
started good on Friday got ugly Saturday and  ended up alright for the Jelly
Belly team, and in the end it was great training  for Redlands.