RepartoCorse.com is the Essence of Cycling Italian Style
Reparto Corse means great products for cycling enthusiasts. It also means racing department and racing is what the owner, Ed Cangialosi loves to do be it on a bike or in the RepartoCorse.com sponsored Mazda Protege. When not on my bike, filling orders for RepartoCorse.com or fitting a customer for their bike at the reparto Corse Fitting Studio I can be found behind the wheel of the Reparto Corse Mazda Protege racing car. It was built to compete in the Sports Car Club of America Showroom Stock Class and National Auto Sport Association Performance Touring E class.
Road racing and mountain bike racing are great training for car racing. Riding in the woods teaches balance and coordination while road riding teaches one about positioning and the most efficient use of the road. Training oneself to look as far ahead as possible has many benefits whether it is riding off road, flying along in a pack of cyclists, driving down the road or racing in a pack of sedans. By using more of your what your eyes take in you can be faster, more efficient and safer all at the same time.
I expected (and relied on) my bike skills to translate to the track when I started track driving a few years ago, but what has surprised me is how much my track time and racing expereince has influenced my bike riding. My lines through turns have improved and my ability to read a pack is better too.
One other benefit of being a cyclist when it comes to auto racing is the level of fitness and flexibility that cycling gives me. My races with the Reparto Corse Protege are are 20 to 40 minutes in length and while it doesn't sound like much, the stress of fighting for position and flinging the car through turns at up to 1.5g every lap do take their toll. After many laps with the end of the race approaching being sharp mentally is much easier thanks to the higher level of fitness possible from the riding I do for most of the year.
It is much more fun being on the inside of the track than in the stands. I always meet great folks and some of them are even cyclists who have come to RepartoCorse.com for their cycling equipment.
The highlight of 2007 racing season came in the form of winning a pair of SCCA races at my home track, Lime Rock Park, and finishing 7th at the NASA NAtional Championship. My reward, aside from the nice trophies themselves, is the knowledge that the hard work and practice that my racing results represent, was paid off with recognition from my clubs and competitors.
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