Racing for l39ion

Racing for L39ION of Los Angeles....where do I even begin?!?

Safe to say that it's been exhilarating both on and off the bike and I couldn't ask for a better team environment....but let's unpack that a bit.

Heading into the 2024 season, I had no idea what to expect having signed with L39ION. This is arguably the most reputable team in the criterium (crit) racing scene here in the U.S, so with that in mind and being completely new to crits (coming from a roadie background), initially, I was suuuuper intimidated (mi did scared bad bad). With being a roadie in Europe for two seasons prior, I was unsure how successful I would've been with making the transition to crit racing. Yes, both involve racing bikes, but the dynamics of the two are drastically different. The European road racing I was exposed to involved racing for hours over climbs that seemed endless. Crit racing is rather short, spicy, and chaotic around a half to one-mile closed circuit. With that in mind, it was simply a matter of being open-minded and adapting to a new style of racing. At first, like with any new skill, it was somewhat challenging, but luckily, I have the best people around me who I've been able to learn from and have done a stellar job in guiding me while also providing a phenomenal and comfortable environment as a newbie. 

I'll always love the typical road racing, but racing crits has been way more fun; something happens every lap! Yes, lulls do occur, but when that brief moment's over, it's game-time and the action's back on again and it's just really cool to compete in a field like that. Having said all that, at the time of writing this (late May), I finally had the opportunity to race in my national champ jersey. It's always an honor to wear the Jamaican colors and although it can sometimes be overwhelming to be repping a small nation, it has been and will continue to be something special for me. Debuting the jersey was made even better given where the team raced i.e., the New York tri-state area...wul heap a Jamaicans deh deh (a lot of Jamaicans are there) and people from other Caribbean countries. Hearing their cheers during the races felt amazing, and I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity to represent my people in this capacity. 

Besides racing, I've come to appreciate the community-level events we've been able to do in different cities/towns. It always amazes me how many people show up at these rides to interact and chat with us. It's also nice to ride my bike and not worry about watts, efforts, and all sorts of metrics, and simply enjoy being with people who share a similar love for cycling.

To wrap up, riding for L39ION is something I take great pride in. Being a part of a team environment like this is a true privilege, and I'm stoked to see how the rest of the season unfolds. 

Thanks for reading:)

-Llori 

SRAM RED AXS 2024

Lucas Bourgoyne

One word I would use to describe the SRAM Red Axs Groupset is refined…

I had this groupset first installed right before US Professional Nationals, the first of three consecutive rainy crits (US Pro Crit, Easton Twilight, Tour of Somerville). Honestly, I was nervous - I usually don’t like to put new things on my bike the day before a race. But I came to find that installing Red Axs was one of the best decisions I could’ve made for a technical rainy crit. Between the lighter brake pull feel and improved performance of braking I could tell within minutes of starting the race that I had a secret weapon up my sleeve. There’s nothing better than being able to go into a corner at Mock-Jesus speed, pulling brake at the last minute, shooting thirty wheels forward, and to get through the corner with no issues. It’s one hell of a lethal asset. Another exciting feature of the groupset that it’s almost a half pound lighter than its predecessor, putting my bike weight in at just a hair over 15 pounds. How many people do you know that can say they have a 15 pound disc brake aero bike? Last but not least, SRAM is now offering up to a 56T chain ring with their SRAM Red Axs Groupset. As a thic (with three c’s) sprinter boy who’s tasked with going speeds of over 40 mph and pushing 1800 watts towards the line, this has been one heck of a game changer for me. I’m proud to say that since installing the new SRAM Red Axs I have been able to take my first national level win at Easton Twilight this past weekend. It has been one heck of a ride and I can’t thank SRAM enough for putting me on the best equipment possible. One down and here’s to many more achievements on the new Red Axs!

BAck 2 back

Alexis Ryan

Last year, I won Athens Twilight as a solo rider. Athens, my adopted hometown, felt a little bit closer to my heart after that moment. While the race may not be known internationally, it is one of the cornerstones of American criterium racing. It is also a cornerstone event of the Athens community. Thousands of Athenian fans line the circuit on a typically pristine spring evening every April.

Winning the event in 2023 cemented my name in Athens history. As special as that was, the moment also felt a bit lackluster. I missed sharing the win with my team, L39ION of Los Angeles. I missed seeing the joy on my teammates’ faces of a job well done. When I learned that the event would be a team race for 2024, with the help of our ever-supportive sponsors

SRAM, Factor, Assos, Giro, and more, I thought to myself, “Here we go, baby! BACK TO BACK.” It was the same move I made last year. Accelerate through the final corner, exit first, straighten out, sprint to the line. It’s long, but I don’t look back. I hit the line first, instantly enveloped in a cloud of smoke. As the cloud breaks, I’m met with a wall of screaming. Screams of joy, elation, excitement, and passion. Screams marinated in light beer and mixers. All those people screaming are people I know. They’re my family, my friends, my neighbors. My community. I turned to face my sister and my teammates, Yarely and Llori. They were beaming (and screaming). We’d done it!

Despite winning in 2023, I hadn’t been picked as a favorite to win. The competition was fierce—much more so than in previous years. What the cycling media failed to realize is the strength and motivation that a supportive community provides. I love you, Athens! And thank you, thank you, thank you to my team and our sponsors for making this little town I call home the center of the universe for a night.