By Kyle | 7/23/08 | 6:23 PM
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Above you will notice a cupcake riding on some real rocks down here in Virginia, Tour ‘de Burg Style.
(The above cupcake also makes some marginally cool fixed gear cogs to mount onto the hub in place of rotor- check out TOMi Cogs)
Close to Gettysburg PA lies a mythical place known for its technical riding and endless miles of unsustainable gullied out trails. Sections of the race course are often created several days before each race solely by a few motos. As a result many of the turns are bermed out for your riding pleasure. This land of short steep mountains and rocks is located within Michaux state Forest. A band of riders known only as “cupcakes” reside in the forest and make the rocks and trails their playground.
They are known for one thing, hosting one of the toughest and most challenging race series on the East Coast. Purposely sending riders the “wrong way” on trails to provide a greater challenge. The “Cupcakes” claim that their rocks are gnarly and crazy but I think that my grandmother could ride them with a cup of tea in one hand. Instead they are full of babyhead rocks, awkward turns and unstainable sections sure to suprise and delight.
But it makes for some killer racing. This past Sunday was their summer race The Curse of the Dark Hollow. It has taken me three years but I finally had a good race at Michaux. Three Years!!!
Despite the heat I finished sixth overall and third in the fifty mile senior race. If you are looking for a challenging race I highly recommend trying the fall race, Terror of Teaberry.
In the meantime I’ll be heading up to PA again this weekend for the Wilderness 101 anyone else going?
By Erik | 7/23/08 | 8:52 AM
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What started as a regular training ride would later take a turn for the worse.
We headed out on a normal Saturday road ride at 7:00 in the morning (way earlier than I like to ride but some people try to beat the heat). Around an hour into the ride something drilled me on the lip. It was instant pain. Some of the worst I have felt in a while. I turned around and headed for the house.
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By Michael | 7/22/08 | 12:00 PM
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6/6-7/19/08
NYCMTB, Pinnacle and Mt Snow NORBA Nats all in one.
Did the only mtb race that happens in NYC, new course kicked butt this year! Only in the city can you have a course 2/3 super techy in the woods and 1/3 with asphalt, climbs and crazy five flights of stair descent.
Those were the best! Three flights, then sharp left down the last two followed by sharp right at the bottom.
We had a small but quick crew racing, knew it would be a fast one especially with Mike Mooradian and Jurgen Beneke as just two of the guys there. Start was fast, Jurgen and Mike took off on first ½ lap, started to catch up a bit as we headed into the first full lap and was warming up when I finally caught up with Mikey. Passed after he made a bad turn (right not left) and then we rode together until the drop-off, at least I thought it was smart folk rode around it. Done it before and this time my derailleur was removed from frame, oh well Mike took off and Jurgen took second, fun to watch but bummed I did not finish.
The Pinnacle, Newport, NH
EFTA NECS # 6 7/13/06
Just a great race and one I was looking forward to as it contains plenty of climb with awesome descent through a wide variety of trail. Some techy single track climbing and descent along with the old ski jump drop into the field makes for a bit of everything.
Started out with the ten guys and just slid back into seventh-eighth after the sprint as we climbed dirt road and headed into the single track. Started to warm up a bit and move along as open spots became available and went for the lead after the first half lap of climbing was set and descent was upon us.
Man that was fun! Whole course could be that way but is not and after catching some air off the old ski jump work started all over again. Next three laps were just crazy, stopped to re-set rear wheel and then two more to get tire sealer to set in sidewall scrape, watched Tom Sampson ride by on the last lap as I spun the tire sideways on last stop and attack started from there.
Escaped from him about halfway through and just pushed it in case the tire blew, thought that lead would help while riding a flat, never had to worry about it. Nice to take the win heading into Mt Snow.
Mt Snow Nationals XC
Arrived two days early and that was a very good thing! First pre-ride on Thursday my right brake handle dropped a pivot/screw and there went the rear brakes. Headed downhill at the time of course, parts were not available anywhere until Gary Fisher team truck hooked me up with ALL the parts including the brake handle that was messed up and had started the whole issue. Thank you guys!
That got done Friday and a quick pre-ride was made, wow my bike was over geared, this was going to be a learning experience. Looked in the Fisher tent and noticed what the team 29er rides were using, more thought goes into this than I realized.
Saturday at two o’clock we took off and it was just a climb for twenty two/descend for eight lap that I would be doing, not much of the old techy to make time in and the gears from heck made it rough.
Did all four and had a great time going downhill, just ordered the new sprockets and will get used to riding with that setup between now and Fort Rock Revenge, EFTA # 7
Regardless of course or gearing it pointed out a couple things that need some work, sleep/time on bike.
By Sam | 7/22/08 | 6:25 AM
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I’ve spent most of the last month racing my bike. I’m broke.
I said I’m retiring but that’s probably not true. I can’t break this habit.
Like so many other pros I’m still waiting for that ride that shows what I can do. When it happens I’m sure I won’t be able to stop at just that.
National racing is full of love and hate. Everybody loves to beat you and hates to get beat. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
It’s hard to contrive a lot of meaning out of racing a bike. I just have to beat everybody so I can explain.
Deflecting pain, overcoming adversity, being confident but not a brat. The sport of mountain biking presents all of the archetypal challenges of any great story. Those of us possessed by the instinct of conquering the world can take comfort in these details. I want to think that in the end it all made sense. Maybe that’s why I’m not ready to quit.
By Bruno | 7/21/08 | 6:29 PM
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Last weekend was the Canadian MTB Nationals held in Mont Ste-Anne, Quebec. The temperature was hot and the course very rough with the rain we had the days before. For sure, it was a real MTB course where the best rider should win the 6 laps race. It was not a surprise for us to see Geoff Kabush win is 4th Canadian title.
For me, I ended up 16th. My goal was a top 15. I almost achieved it. Riding 14th in the last lap, I had legs cramps so I was just surviving at the end to pass the finish. I am still happy with this result. Looking back at my race, the only mistake I made is that I should had made the 15 sec bridge between me and a group of 3 riders (position 11 – 12 and 13) at lap 2 and 3 instead of staying alone and lose them later.
Next race will be in 2 weeks with the epic race ‘’Le Raid du Bras du Nord’’. It is a 60 miles enduro race in a scenic one loop course.
By Travis | 7/21/08 | 4:15 AM
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This past weekend found the Trek Demo in both Mohican State Park Ohio & North Park in PA. I attended both days to help out and lead some rides around the trails while others got the chance to pick their ride from a plethora of Trek & Fisher Bikes. As expected the X-cal, Paragon & Superfly were all hot picks. Another well tested ride was the Fuel EX full suspensions.
A big thanks to Demo “Diamond” Dave, Bob Myers, Deans Foods (for the free Ice Tea) & Trek of Pittsburgh for a great day in the Burgh, until the rain rolled in.
stork
By Jim | 7/18/08 | 7:00 PM
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Today was the Fair Hills Classic down in Maryland. Seemed like an interesting event featuring a single 27-mile loop. Me and 2 members of the MTBNJ Cycling Team, Ben and Freddy, hit the road to check it out. We started our trip early in the a.m. in order to get down there, register, and warm-up before the 10:15 start time. Once down there, we met up with a few more friends and another MTBNJ rider, Chuck. A brief warm-up on the course made me realize 2 things. A)It was going to be HOT!! B) The course was FAST!! Sweet jesus was I so not wanting to be right about either of those things, but I was.
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By Tim | 7/17/08 | 8:22 PM
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A good day, not great, a few things that kept me from catching into the top three. Rolling well, when mechanicals didn’t slow me down too much. Then with about 2 miles to go in the race, I leave the ground on a section of trail I have ridden a 100 times and the front end never hooks up again, I think at about 25mph. Rough to scrub off that much momentum on rocks and dirt. I got off light, the important thing is I didn’t break the collarbone, and I finished. I think the bike is OK, I’ll check that soon. Not too worried about a broken bike when I nearly finished off the season in mid-July. Bikes are a hell of a lot easier to fix than bodies.
By Travis | 7/16/08 | 6:35 AM
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S&S trails - Ohio Mountain Bike Series
What do you do for the future of cycling? I know we all don’t have time or property to promote a race but Chris Skinner has made a name for himself in the Ohio area by providing both. First by being a multi year OMBC Champion and now by promoting the S&S trails race on his almost 100 acres. Add to this the fact that Chris manages a Jr team of cyclists from his school and a championship Archery Team and you almost feel embarrassed that your not pulling your weight. I’m pictured here with Chris @ S&S trails LeMans start.
Chris gets less time to train with all his other commitments but still rolls up to the start line prepared to have fun. I love to compete with Chris and he was one of the first individuals I meet when coming into the mountain bike scene a few years back. A class act from day one and it took me years to chase him down in the woods. Always dressed in the Trek Family colors and racing for our local rep Bob Myers, Chris displays the most positive manners and is always seen encouraging others. His group of High School students can be found at every race, some brought by their parents and others in the “Skinner Express”. Not only has he provided knowledge, training, trails & bikes for these young riders but he’s also instilled his polite demeanor & humbleness in everyone of them but don’t be fooled they also have his competitive drive and racing is racing which is done to win. I have to say that by taking a minute to speak with anyone of them and you’ll see what I mean.
Anyway A big thanks to Chris and his wife Colleen for the wonderful race last weekend and Congrats to the full Fisher podium in the expert classes! Vet and Womens expert classes both won on Superflies! For photos from the race go here
stork
