Where it started:
April 2021, Fayetteville Arkansas
My self and Tyler Orschel ventured from beautiful Brevard to Arkanssa for some UCI racing. We stayed with some NC friends, Pax and Beatta as well as their team owner. This is where we met the owner of Zerouno. It was a very pleasant and fun all-around weekend.
Fast forward to December of 2022, the team hunt wasn’t looking good. One glimmer was the opportunity to race for the Zerouno Factory team in 2023, one of
the few UCI teams on the North American Circuit. After some discussion, we were locked in for what seemed to be a modest but respectable setup with good bikes and some basic support promises.
The first event of the season was mid-February in Puerto Rico. This was well communicated to all parties and we were ensured that bikes and spare wheelsets would be provided! Two weeks pre flight, no bikes, no word. We reached out and were ensured that bikes are being sent. A few more days pass, no word. Reach out again and learn that now hardtails are coming. All good. Now less than one week before the race we learn that bikes are on route minus WHEELS. Ok, no panic, I can borrow some race wheels (thanks Havy). 4 days before my departure flight ( 6 days pre-race) a box arrives with raw carbon hardtail frames and a box of miscellaneous parts and decals to attach to the frame… ok cool. I start assembling the frame and ran into 3 major issues. First, deore level shifter and crank has come. No issue, just heavy. The brakes that arrived ununbranded and are referred to as Luce brakes. The cassettes were found on Aliexpress, seemed ok at first but really did not shift. The major issue was the derailleur sent was XTR 10-45 compatible, so does not work with the rest of the bike’s parts. I made the last-minute decision to disassemble my norco optic and run those parts on my hardtail less than 24 hours before my flight. I got 2 rides in on the bike before my flight and headed to the first race (without wheels, those are coming down with Janna) and 1 day to pre-ride. Leading into the race I was feeling optimistic and physically in good shape. Unfortunately for me those feelings lasted 3 seconds as I broke my chain in the start straight. The trip was fun as we were in a beautiful location however the results were a major indicator of what was to come.
After the race, a meeting was had to ensure this sort of mix-up did not happen again. This led us to mid-March where we were racing in Tennessee and assured bikes would be in with plenty of time to spare. SONK. Tyler borrowed a bike from Pax and Beata and I had access to Eric Orschels Canyon Lux (the first ride on it was the morning of the race). This event was fun with good performance all around, but still no bikes.
Off to the first team event in California. We were staying with the brand owner at his house in Laguna. It was a nice apartment in the hills however this was only temporary as the main lodge was under renovation. Me, Tyler and our two teammates, Jose Antionio and Jose Juan (U23 twins from Mexico) plus the team owner were staying in a 1 bedroom flat. We arrived during California's only stretch of bad weather. It was 1 am, 4 degrees and rain. We walk into this nice but small flat. Inside the home, there is a dirt bike, bike boxes lining the walls, a workstation, and 1 bed. We learned Tyler and I will be sharing an air mattress in the living room. We go outside in the rain to pump up the air mattress with the truck's cigarette lighter and set up shop for the night on the wet, small air mattress beside the dirt bike… I wake up in the morning absolutely freezing. Turns out the place doesn't have heat. The remaining nights I sleep in roots pants, a hoodie and a touque. Anyone who knows us will know we run a loose program but this was by far the worst living conditions I have endured for a race weekend.
Also in the living room were 2 bikes built up with a Deore, XTR mix and Shimano e-bike wheels (after weighing them it turns out they were north of 2200g for the set). We had 2 rides on the bikes pre-race to get them dialled in but it's hard to make a bike with those wheels on feel nice. It was super discouraging as we asked if we needed to bring wheels and were told explicitly no. The performance was about as you would expect. Mentally defeated and on a 29-pound bike. It was a terrible way to start the season. We were assured that our race wheels would be in Arkanssaa in 2 weeks time.
We flew home to Brevard for a quick reset and moved out of our training house. I pack all my things up from a winter in the south and head to Arkannssaa with my borrowed race wheels to our second ‘team event.’ This time, there is no support, a difficult setup for a team race. It is myself, Tyler and the twins, no staff. On night 1 Tyler and I got our own hotel. When we tried to check into the extended stays of America Hotel we were greeted with a “This has not been paid for”. Typically me or Tyler would be happy to pay knowing full well we would be reimbursed however by April there were members of the team not receiving salaries. Because of this, we did not put any money out. When we try to reach out to the team owner, no response… for 6 hours. He finally called us and informed us that there was a mix-up and we were now staying in a new hotel. We make our way over and move into a nice hotel room with 2 queen beds and no kitchen (tight quarters for 4 guys, 3 bike boxes, and 4 bikes). Keep in mind my car is PACKED as I have just moved out of the North Carolina house and no one has a car except me. This is Monday night, we race Wensday, Friday, and Saturday. The first race went ok but the sensations were not perfect. After the race, we learn that we need to move out pre-race on Friday morning to a new hotel. Typically no issue except we have no car as mine is PACKED. There are 4 guys with bikes and luggage. Everyone walks their shit 800m down a 6-lane highway and we get the the new hotel with a pile of things. When we go to check in we are met with the same, this is not paid for. we call Ronny up, and he resolves it over the next 45 minutes. Finally, we get checked in and walk into our beautiful new smoking room. The front desk has no other rooms to offer. When I say smoking room I mean my sheets had cigarette burn marks on them. It was awful. We were informed that this would have no impact on our sleep and performance and to not be so dramatic. The races went better than one might think. After this weekend we set a meeting for Tuesday to ensure this would be the low point of the season.
Come Tuesday during meeting time crickets. We would not hear a word for months!
While it was a very disappointing season in terms of support, there were some positives. I met some great people, like the Prieto twins from down in Mexico and Jon from Suntour who helped out a ton at the North American World Cups. What was promised was not delivered, just needs to be chalked up as a loss at this point. TO ANYONE LOOKING TO ORDER A ZEROUNO ONLINE DONT, YOU WILL LOSE YOUR MONEY AND NOT GET A BIKE. I had numerous people come up to me throughout the year saying they were scammed.
What I Learned
Don’t blindly trust everyone
Prioritize working with good people above all
Despite the negative season, there were a number of people who provided support in a big way. To start, the shredder’s organization has been a big help throughout my career and this continued in 2023, despite not being affiliated with them in any way. Janna was in the feed zone at the first race of the year and carted wheels down to Puerto Rico when I was in a pinch. Shout out to the Masci team Mechanic for getting my spare chain on that day in Puerto Rico! Sticking with the shredders theme, Mr. Kevin Haviland lent me a set of wheels and provided guidance and support throughout the year to keep the boys dialled in, thank you! Simon Kocemba is always in our corner and fills gaps with mechanical and equipment support every chance he gets, can't thank him enough. Coach Jeff Ain was always there for weekly chats to help stay on track mentally and physically. Noah Ramzy was often feed zone support and also had a lightning-quick chain swap for my second broken chain of the year.
I am excited about what 2024 has in store and know that working with good people will only help my performance. For 2024 I will be back riding with Durham Shredders and will be on Pivot bikes. Can't wait to start my season on March 22 down in Windrock Tennessee!
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