The Batteries Were Dead

This was a busy weekend for a couple of us Milkmen. Saturday there were two road races, Mt. Nebo and Iron Hill Twilight Crit. Sunday was the Trailspinners Fair Hill race.

Shawn and I did Mt. Nebo. Chris did the Twilight. None of us did too well. Shawn took 23rd, me 29th on a course that had over 1000 ft of climbing per lap. Chris got bumped out of the peleton, lost the draft, and couldn't hang on to the blistering pace.

Fair Hill was a disaster for me. My legs felt ok but the engine just couldn't find the gear I guess. I DNF'd. Chris was in the Elite/Pro race. It was stacked with a lot of pros and I didn't see where he came in. The rider formally known as Fort James took 15th in his group.

There are no pictures because the batteries were dead upon arrival.

Millersville Recap

The Millersville road race course was awesome. It was full of twisty downhills, power climbs, longish climbs, and some really nice flats. I really did love the course. In time I think more people will race it. All those twists though lead to a lot of braking if you were stuck in the middle of the pack. It seemed that every time I started to make my way up, I would be squeezed out by someone cutting across the road to gain one or two spots. In the end I did make it to the front but by the time I did my legs felt like rubber so I put in a big pull for Joel and Shawn. Hoping they would be catapulted on the final climb. Turns out, they weren't feeling all that great either. Go figure. All the on and off tempo killed them as well. I don't think any of us even checked the results.


Maybe next weekend...

Cheyney, Camp, Phoenixville...etc.

So I finally managed to get some pictures (thank you Staci for the Skellington picture). Woohoo!

Let's start things off with a Cheyney Road Race wrap-up. The race itself was actually boring and frustrating. It had two fairly long climbs but they never seemed to split the pack due to a long recovery zone (and some super slow riding by those at the front of the peleton). Why didn't Shawn or I move up to the front you may ask? Well, all the roads were too narrow and no one was willing to give up even one inch. Can't say I blame them. I put this race in the "Probably never again" category not only for the reasons listed above but also because the final 400 meters were supposed to be closed on the last lap. Those sprinting found themselves dodging at least two cars at 35-40 mph. Fun.

Let's go to mountain bike camp. This is always fun. Even though we had a very wet week, the campers made the best of it. We watched videos on freeriding, downhilling, and trials. This week the weather has been better but most of the trails are still a mess. So far they don't seem to mind riding the same loops over and over (which is good since that is all we can ride). We are trying to teach them not only how to mountain bike but to be good trail stewards as well. Up top is a picture of Kate. She is great. Actually, she is one of the other instructors.

Last Saturday was the Phoenixville Crit. This race was almost identical to Race Ave. only the slopes were a little steeper. I did the 4 and Consorto did the 1/2/3. The 4's did 30 laps in the pouring rain. It was pretty uneventful until 13 to go when there was a crash in turn 3 right in front of me. I swerved left to miss it only to find the course marshal running to the crash. I swerved to miss him almost at a dead stop by this time. I looked up to see the peleton exiting turn 4 and I just knew that was my race. Now I'm not sure on the rule but I may have been able to take a free lap but since I wasn't technically in that crash I didn't take one. I still ended up 13th. Chris took 5th in the big boy race.

This Sunday is the Millersville Road Race. Drop me a line if you want directions and start times.

Race Ave Update. Next the Cheyney Road Race

Since I bailed on the Tour De Tykes I decided to double up the day before at the Race Ave. Crit. It's a simple 4 corner 1 km loop with a false flat for the final 250 meters (roughly).

The 4/5 race started with a bang and by that I mean a crash on the start line. This is why I try to stay away from 4/5 races. Two laps into the 20 lap race there were two more crashes. I decided to leave the "safety" of the peleton and go on my own. It was really a false attack. I just wanted to pick up the pace and drop the squirrels. It worked for the most part (only one more crash the rest of the race). With 12 to go I was back in the pack and another rider took off. We let him go. The next lap another rider shot out of the group. We let him go too figuring the group would catch them. When the bell lap came it was pretty obvious we were not going to catch the lead riders. On the back stretch of the final lap a Spinners rider took off. Being only 500-600 meters from the finish I hopped on his wheel. Around turn 3 he peeled off leaving me in front. Not a great place to be about 400 meters from the finish. I told myself that if I gained a gap going into turn 4, I was going for it on the previously mentioned false flat. I stayed seated and put a few good pedal strokes down. I was trying to hide my attack as best I could. I felt a gap open up behind me and I went for it. Out of turn 4 I stood up and got a 10 meter or so lead. About 20 meters from the finish my legs were burning but I was so close I pushed through it. I took 3rd! Beating the peleton to the line. Average speed was 25mph.

Chris, Shawn, and I then did the 30 lap 3/4 race. I knew I was going to be hurting but tried to help out Chris as much as I could. It wasn't much as I just barely held onto the peleton. I finished in 31st. Shawn 24th. Chris was just out of the points in 12th (his worst finish this year). Average speed for this one was about 27.5mph.

Sunday Shawn and I will be at the Cheyney road race. We are taking it a little easier this weekend and only doing the 4 instead of the 3/4. It's roughly 15 miles shorter.

Iron Hill Report/Race Ave Crit

Iron Hill was very polarized in how the Milkmen finished/DNF'd. Joel, Seth and Shawn both took DNFs due to feeling sick and throwing up. Yum. Now for the good news. James took 4th in the Sport Vet I field. Tom, me, and Steve took 11th, 5th, and 4th in the Expert Senior I field. This brings us to Chris. The day before he rode the Fulton Road race and won in a bunch sprint in the 3/4. The race was something like 60 miles so we didn't expect too much from him. From the gun he was on my wheel. I had a good start but I could feel my legs were not where I needed them to be to actually win this race with power alone. It always helps to have a bobble or two just to ensure that you are working harder than you need to as well. Anyway, my second bobble and Chris, Gunnar (Cyclesport), and Jamie (Cycle Works) were gone. Hal (D&Q) and another rider came up on me on the second lap and I had nothing to hold them off with. At some point I bent my big ring and was forced to run in my 34 for the rest of the race. This killed my closing speed but kept me fresher on the 4th lap. I picked off two riders as Steve went flying past me on his way to 4th.


All in all it was a great weekend for the Milkmen. Two podiums (thank you Chris) and our teams first road win ever (again thank you Chris).


Saturday is the Race Ave. Crit in Lancaster. I signed up for double duty in the 4/5 and the 3/4. Chris and Shawn should also be there. It's an awesome spectator course and I think it takes 2:30 to 3 minutes to go around. Lots of action.

Iron Hill

This Sunday is the race at Iron Hill in Delaware. This race features the "Mega-Dip". As Fatmarc puts it "...it's like nature's half pipe." Check out his blog for a video of the thing.

Last year I was taken out by an edurance rider. To her defense she was trying to get out of my way. But busted spokes are busted spokes regardless of intentions. This year I will attempt to finish.

Can't wait until the SRAM XX group is available.

Massanutten DH Yee-Ha 5-8/9

Thursday evening after work I set out for Mcgaheysville, VA. The
forecast for this weekend was supposed to be rain all weekend. It was nice
that it had rained everyday that week too. Might as well keep the riders
on the toes while skipping accross horrendous root infested off-camber corners,
and slippery rocks at the tops of all chutes. The Honda Element was loaded
with gear, tools, replacement parts, a backup bike, and my "support/fan club",
my wife Rachael. At Massanutten Resort we met up with Todd Nicolas of
Gretna Bikes, his girl friend, Krisha, and Chris Scotten. Saturday we
awoke to a beautiful morning. After breakfast we geared up and made our
way to the "worlds slowest" chairlift! I made the comment that they should
install cycle trainers on the lifts so we could spin for the long commute to the
top. Other racers agreed. I have never been to a DH event in which I
witnessed so many flats! There are always flats at a DH event, but this
course is head and shoulders more technical overall than most. Last
practice run of friday I went out of control in a chute, that resulted in me and
bike somersaulting, flipping, tallywhacking through the air. I believe I
cracked a rib. Later that evening, Todd, Chris, and I walked the
course and discussed line possibilities. Saturday, race day!
Hardtail riders went first, there were 2, so all podiumed! They looked
thoroughly spent when crossing the finishing line. Finally, 1:37pm and I
am off! That chute I careened out of control on the day before had a
suprise for me. I made the tight left corner with great speed and
confidence to nail this section, and then,...there was a turtle on the
trail! Exactley where I needed to be. Well, he was there first, so I
bunny-hopped him and I planned to "dance" through chunder. Turns out the
guy after me hit him, found out later after the race. I finished in
4:41secs, placed 8th in Sport Class, Masters category. The overall best
time down the course was 3:23secs! Great weekend and a wicked fun
trail!

--Mr. Ben "Dream" Weaver

Click here for the pictures.