The band's back together

at Phelps School Cross / PA State Champs

Double Double: Super Cross Cup Day 2

Not only do we wear matching spandex, we write interwoven race reports. Here it is from Mikey Green and Brendan McGrath who took 1st and 2nd in the Men's B at the Super Cross Cup Day 2.

Whistle.

After an unsuccessful marriage of cleat and pedal, the riders to my left and right dashed forward. I churned the hefty gear as hard as my right leg would allow while I determined when and where my pedal would be; a process of trial and error.

Clipped-in, I sprinted to catch up to the head of the race which Brendy was leading. Brendy: I actually made a good decision this day as compared to day 1 — I started in the big ring and actually got the hole shot instead of spinning out. After a few aggressive passings just ahead of the first turn, a 180º, I managed to squeeze into fifth wheel. The beginning section was of normal width, but due to the tricky, twisty, technical nature of the tree punctuated lane, the only place to safely ride was a thin tract no more than a few tire widths wide—passing was impossible and doing so would likely result in a high speed collision of man and wood. Patience was required until the course opened up…or else.

Brendy, still at the head of affairs, was causing the rider in 4th wheel ahead of me to lose ground on the uphill, off-camber traverse, taking with him Bremer and another. I knew I had to pass in order to maintain good position. I accelerated hard, bridging the small gap given to me with someone in tow.

The five-man group, now led by Bremer, started to pull away.

A super-fast, sweeping downhill transitioned abruptly into a technical, rooty, off-camber section taking us down towards the man-made lake. A hard downhill 180º and we hit the low & long stepped concrete staircase. We cut back and traversed down the same hill on the opposite side of the stairs we had just ascended. This is where misfortune caused Bremer a front flat after he rolled over the business end of a broken stake. To his credit, I’ve never seen a man scurry through a serpentine, technical hill section like that before. He was hard to pass. It was impressive.

We were down to four.

On cue, Brendy resumed the race lead and attacked with a hard effort. I was sitting in third position keeping my eyes on our lead foursome. We were well-away and had a two man tactical advantage. It was an ideal situation.

Through a soft-ground, pine straw covered tree slalom I managed to slip ahead of the rider in second wheel. To test the resolve of our group, I slowed the pace to let Brendy get some ground ahead and to force a reaction. Through the paved Start/Finish the isolated duo gave chase to close down the momentary separation as I sat right on them.

Brendy continued to push the pace for the remainder of the lap.

As if cursed, the same spot which cast its misfortune upon Bremer also gripped ahold of Brendy while he tangled in the high-side tape of the tricky, loose off-camber. We all stalled. In a moment of panic, I jumped off my bike and ran through the tape like a marathon finisher. I was in front at the perfect place to attack; a fast false flat power section just after a tricky bit. I attacked and got daylight almost immediately.

Brendy: After I boggle the off-camber root section Mikey got in 1st and I was in 3rd position. The kid in 2nd couldn't keep pace with Mikey through the next twisty section on the farthest side of the lake from the start-finish. As soon as Mikey had daylight I thought to myself "perfect" and literally sat up. We went through the start finish again as I was making faces at spectators. They encouraged me to get around the rider in front me as I just smiled and sat behind. At one point the rider in 3rd position encouraged the three of us to "not sit up" and I just replied "I have a teammate up there". My biggest fear at this point was that Bremer would catch us again...

Unfortunately, Brendy was delayed in a team tactic that involved him unable to contribute to the chase and rely on the strength of two strangers to reel me back.

Somehow Bremer got to the pit, changed his wheel, and continued to chase. At one point, I noticed through a section that doubled-back upon itself that he had clawed himself back into the chase group. Truly an impressive feat. I later learned that a second issue forced him out of that group and into no man’s land.

Brendy: Bremer caught our group at basically the same place he had fallen of the group in the first place. He took the lead and I knew I'd have to put in some effort at this point. The plan was 1-2, not 1-3. We went through a couple turns and he hit a nice root sending him over the bars and giving him a second puncture. He slowed the rider in front of me and I quickly got around. I put in a dig to get some distance. At this point I knew the 1-2 was going to become a reality. I stayed steady for the rest of the race to cross the line 2nd for the 2nd day in a row.

The course was such that the opportunities to gain time were far fewer than the chances to lose time. An error could easily consume chunks of time. Thankfully, I flowed through the course without mistake. I had found that place we all seek. To say “the zone” seems corny and lame, but that’s where I was: the zone.

With a lap and a half to go I noticed Brendy freed himself from the obligation of the group and had established himself a substantial lead over the fractured chase. I knew in that instant this race was ours and that we would soon occupy the top two steps of the podium.

photo by Marco Quezada

I crossed the line on the final lap with arms raised. A cross-breeze almost made my rarely used victory salute and embarrassing “internet famous” moment. With a quick adjustment, I maintained an awkward balance until I coasted to a stop. I circled back to watch Brendy cross the line. We embraced just after the finish line and celebrated our team’s day of good fortune. Brendy: We had learned prior to our event that 4 other teammates had also tasted victory on this very day. Truly the best day in our team’s memory.

Brendy's Super Cross Cup Day 1: No Silver Platters

To my demise I started the race in my small ring. Not really sure why. I was clipped in and had a bike length on the rest of the field after the whistle. I continued to shift down my cassette until I was out of gears. I tried to put the bike in the big ring — no luck. That Crux front derailleur is very particular. I spun out and got 3rd wheel with Bremer on the front. 

Bremer had the taste of blood in his mouth sitting 2nd in the MAC standings and 1st place (Shane) not at the race. Before I knew it he opened it up and had a 5 second gap. Eventually I was able to get around the rider in front of me but at this point closing the gap felt hopeless.

We cross the start-finish and I notice that I only have one rider with me. He's made no attempt to get around. Pass a few corners and we come across Bremer off his bike with a rolled tire. I almost want to stop and help, almost.

At this point I'm COMPLETELY confused. I'M leading the race — this doesn't happen. The kid is still sitting on and even makes a comment to me at one point as I bif a turn — "come on". This doesn't make me very happy as I've been toting him around the course for a couple laps now. I turn up the volume and he's gone.

Now I'm riding the course alone. We're 2 laps into a 6 lap race. I knew this was my chance to win a race. It wouldn't be the classiest way to win a race but that's ok. I'm not very classy.

All I can think is that I need to ride steady and hard. Not mess up AT ALL and just keep the pace up.

Through the turny sections I see that Bremer has fixed his bike or gotten a new one and has now caught the kid I dropped. Now I'm worried but continue to keep the pace up and keep my wits about me. By the last lap Bremer had gotten around the kid and was coming for me full gas (this is a lot of gas since he's basically a pro crit racer).

As we're coming into the last 0.25 of the lap I hear a serious rustling of leaves. We're at the off-camber section by the lake and Bremer is passing me on the lower side. I knew this was a sketchy section and thought better of trying to squeeze him out. A lapped rider is in front of us and barely gets out of the way before we're back to the exact same spot where Bremer had rolled a tire earlier in the race. I'm behind Bremer and sitting on his wheel fine. We come out of the second to last turn and he puts in a hard sprint but I stay right with him. He speeds into the barriers and I'm somewhat timid. He comes out of them as I'm going into them. He sprints to the finish about 30 meters up the road as I sit up and clap for him.

That guy is a very good rider and a good sport. I'm happy to compete with him. Although this could've been my big day, Bremer got it. He fought back SUPER hard and took it. I wasn't going to serve it to him on a silver platter though. My day will come, right? Here's to cyclocross racing!

Super Cross Cup Weekend Report: Portabello Mushroom version

In Linda's own words, Women's B champ of the Super Cross Cup (MAC races #11 and #12) on November 19-20.



People kept on asking me after Saturday and Sunday's races how I got so fast. I've never won a cross race before and the ONLY thing I could come up with that made sense was the greasy, disgusting, stomach-knotting, New York chain restaurant portobello burger that I had both Friday and Saturday night. I think that's the key. I'm pretty sure anyway.

Both Saturday and Sunday played out pretty similarly (because of the fatty burger). Becca took off like a roadie at the start and I caught up to her in the first few turns like a mountain biker. Lucia gave me a bit of a run for my money on Sunday as I rounded almost every 180 turn with her intimidating race face coming at me. I wanna make this sound exciting but it there's not too much to draw out. I've never been out front like that for so long before...just riding my bike with people chasing me.

After winning Saturday, I almost wanna say I didn't like the feeling of being first (almost) because I felt this strange added pressure before Sunday's race. I normally put the targets on people's backs, they're not normally on my own back though. I take "training" and riding my bike as un-seriously as possible. (shout-out alert) I just really love being a part of this team and hanging out with you wonderful people, so when I actually do well, it's just an added bonus. It sort of blows my mind that I think I have the ability to Cat up to 3 after this weekend. I thought I'd be a 4 forever, and was actually totally fine with that.

BUT, with that all said, I'm still hungry for more (portobello burger)!!

photo by Marco Quezada

Back to the MAC at Fair Hill

It's been 5 weeks since the moment of boom and I, um, raced Fair Hill this weekend. In a super diminished field (the crosstastic NY party known as Staten Cross stole many of the MAC ladies, and November got to the rest) I'd somehow held on to a front-row callup and took off at a controlled pace, just fast enough to stay out of traffic. Not long after that, Linda passed most of us in sweet style on some turn or another. I can't describe it but I bet Linda remembers which one: after spending so much time around the species known as bikerus mountainiae this year I'm convinced they all wear secret bionic contact lenses that help them identify the best lines (and other goodies in the woods) through singletrack. Anyway, they were off, never to be seen again.

photo by dennisbike

I was riding in the middle of a group with 3rd-8th (or so) just before the off-camber sections along the white fence when the girl in front slipped on a switchback, tripped up the one behind her, and I jumped off the bike and ran around them. On the Fair Hill course, with no single epic feature but tons of chicanery (oh the chicanes!) I managed to go just barely smooth and fast enough to begin lap 2 at the front of that group. At this point my body said, HEY SHORT TRACK, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU RODE HARD FOR 40 MINUTES and 3 or 300 ladies blew by me on the long uphill drag. I almost caught some near the end of the next lap, got tangled up along with a masters' woman by a kid who substituted straight for right and almost guillotined us with course tape, and after that just focused on riding as smoothly as I could to save my ass from a hard-charging Heather Heinrich. Rolled in 7th.

Roses:

• Good job, ankle! Only a little bit achey breaky today. (Although you owe one to lace-up ankle brace)
• The ever-awesome mechanics at Bicycle Therapy. ("I think something's wrong with the bottom bracket..." "Well, you did some cross races. In a cement mixer. But we'll repack it so you can race this weekend, and then order a new one for next week.")
• Pre-riding with the Loam Ranger
• Having fun swooping through the chicanery
• Seeing Linda disappear as she stomped off to 2nd
• Fatmarc's beard, the visual

Thorns:

• Lungs don't remember this "racing" thing
• Oh, right, my beloved Nascar bike has mega toe overlap
• Nathalie on sick leave
• Hearing Linda cheering for me on the side of the course. Boo and hiss. The hiss would be from the slit in her tire that flatted her out with 1.5 laps to go.
• Fatmarc's beard, assuming Monkey's point of view

I'll let the fellows tell their own stories, but here's a preview: Dan Action getting his action on in the masters race, Gerry blowing us kisses while holding a top 10 position in the elites, Mike Mast winning crowd favorite for nose-wheelie style points, the Dutch Oven's flash-start TOTALLY WORKING this time, and... 867-5309.

Pride Goes Before A Fall

First I had the opening lap of my life at Town Hall Cross a month ago, climbing St. Luke's staircase within spitting distance of some super fierce ladies. And then I went boom real fast, landing me on crutches for 10 days (including attending a conference for work all gimped out). For 5 weeks, I swapped bike racing for bike race groupie-ing.

Which was an interesting way to learn that cross is all about the bike, but it's not about the bike.

It's about road trips:

It's about bushwacking and number-stapling and putting a little back into the back side of a race (Albany is now Philly's sister city of cyclocross):

It's about having your teammates forgive you when you accidentally leave their spandex at the following laundromat in Connecticut during a snowstorm in October:

Also, it's about the SWAMP THING:

Well Sh*t, I Wanna Be In Fifth

Among other awesome races by the team over the past few weeks, Linda Mattioni took 5th in the Women's 3/4 on Day 1 of Granogue Cross. In the money! (Or, in the free HEED and tires?) Here's her race report:

A repeat photo of Linda from Nittany Cross earlier this fall.

I started 4th or 5th row back next to Nathalie with Mountain Bike pro Kathleen Harding right behind me; her first cross race but she's a beast and I was scared. I'm still not sure how my race-self kicks in just yet, but the in first 20 feet I was kind of asleep and then...the switch flipped and I turned it on up the hill to blow past half the chicks in front of me before the hole shot. That stretch of asphalt with the strong tailwind felt like flying!! 

Coming around the first twisty, rooty section Cati Scheifele (one of the chicks I always have my eye on to stay with/catch) went down and popped her knee right in front of me which made me slow down and almost cry thinking about it but I shook it out of me head and motored on because Kathleen had just past me and I wanted to crush her! I caught up to Kathleen on the next little bit of asphalt and passed her never to see her again. In my dreams it would have been because I'm super fast, in reality: Kathleen had major mechanicals. 

I really, REALLY need to practice running up short hills. I would get to the top of the two run ups and stop...catch my breath...and sloooowly get back on my bike as one or two people passed me. I feel like people watching me are like WTF are you doing?? I would finally pass all of them again in the turns though. I cut it close the tape while they were taking it wide, it amazes me every time that they leave it open for me. I worked my way up to get behind Becca Schepps. I heard someone yell to her that she was in fifth. This verbal cue was crucial, because with all the 45+ women and the juniors, I never know where I'm at. I was like, well shit...I wanna be in fifth....so, I turned it up a notch and I passed her coming out of a turn. I tried to make a final move on the last climb up the asphalt to the finish but I couldn't grab anyone else. So in fifth I stayed.

Nittany Weekend In Brief: Sept 10-11, 2011

Let's see:

Baby Gerry rode himself into a payout in the Elite Men's field. Look, Cyclocross Mag got it on video! Go to 0:14.

Willem, fueled by hollers of Team BT's #1 fan, nabs 5th out of 5371 racers on Day 1. Obviously the Dutch Oven's temperature was set to BROIL.

The killer Bs slayed the huge field (92 prereg'd), scoring a 10th, 13th, 15th, 15th, 24th, 39th over 2 days.

Linda shows the roadies how to downhill your way to a top 15, with Nathalie and Angie close behind.

The Jersey Devil loosened his grip on me this weekend. I went the right direction around the cross course for 8th and 9th! Can you tell by the shocked expression that this has never happened before?

Add it all up, and Team Bicycle Therapy / Melitta is in a strong third (one point behind our Ciclismo friends) in the MAC team standings. Hup hup.

Ketchup.

It has been a while since our last post and a lot has happened. This post will be an attempt at catching up, so it will be a lot of pictures and a few results.

First the team bikes came in nice and early for the cross season to start.

here it is in parts

and here it is all built up. (thanks to my lovely wife for modeling with it)

Then we had a crazy hurricane that produced a little bit of flooding: (these are actually pictures of the week after the hurricane when it rained a little bit more and the river decided to spill over again right after they cleaned up the schuykill banks)

This flooding lead right into the nittany race weekend, which last year was a dust bowl that left every last MAC series racer wheezing for two months afterwards. This year, thanks to irene, we had mud and more mud.

The C's went off first with Anthony flying the flag: check out Anthony SKorochod's cycling captured for some pics of that race and Meisha's race. This is Anthony after the race:

This is anthony even later in the day

Like lipstick on a pig...

This is Meisha aftr the race: (no lipstick on this pig)

Then the lady's went off and every body looked pretty good:

there was Michelle and Linda:

and Angie

and Nathalie

Michelle killed it both days and is sitting pretty in the top 5 of the mac series. (front row callup)

Here's some action shots of Linda (she ain't afraid of no recalled fork):

Dan raced the elite masters race and looked good:

Then again Dan always looks good

Gerry raced the elite mens race for the first time and did great, finishing midpack in a field that included some international stars and J-pow

Here's Gerry getting pinned up:

Some action shots of Gerry:

Then it was almost night time and they decided to have the 2/3/4 rce:

team BT had a great showing:

Mike Miller of the Loam Rangers (or should I say, the Loam Ranger) also participated in his first cross race and killed it.

And we were all left with the beautiful memories of mudand getting clean: cue tommy boy